Capital of China and of course, a must see! Must see sites include: The Great Wall, The Sacred Path of Ming Tomb, The Summer Palace, The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and The Temple of Heaven.

This historic and very unique site contains 13 tombs from the Ming Dynasty. The first tomb belonged to Emperor Yong Le in 1407. The main features are the Underground Palace, Soul Tower, Stone Bridge and Baocheng. The palace is completely made of stone, and the Soul Tower represents the main entrance to the underground chambers. A must see are the 3,000 historic artifacts on display within the stone halls. Often times a trip to the Ming Tombs is grouped with a trip to the Great Wall. Admission: CNY30
Enjoy a pleasant 45minute walk along the path lined with the original large statues built centuries ago, which were meant to protect the emperor’s bodies. Halfway down the path, to the left, you will find the descriptions of the Ming emperors and what they accomplished in life.

Some 50 kilometers northwest of Beijing and hidden amongst scenic mountains

One of the seven wonders of the world, and the only human-made object that can be seen from space during the daytime, the Great Wall of China is a must see, and that’s still an understatement. The wall stretches from east to west for over 5,000 km. Construction began during the seventh century B.C., and during the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.) the sections of the walls were all connected together. During the Great Wall’s prime, it was used to keep invading enemies from entering the kingdom. At certain sections of the wall it can get very crowded with visitors.
It was very crowded during the time when I went, but still extremely fun. You can walk along the side of Great Wall for a less taken route. The ‘roller-coaster’ ride back down the great wall is a lot fun, but a ‘lil rickety. Overall this was one of my favorite places to visit of all time.

Architecture is such a beautiful thing. The lilly pond, turtle bridge, details on the ceilings and roofs of the buildings, antique furniture, all a wonderful taste of ancient Chinese culture and life.

A popular tourist destination and rightfully so. The Summer Palace was built in 1750 during the Qing Dynasty. It was practically demolished in 1860 during the war, but was quickly restored in 1886. This World Heritage Site has dropjaw scenic views, splendid cultural Chinese gardens, and a simply amazing display of ancient artwork and architecture. The Summer Palace is also known as the Garden of Clear Ripples.
Admission Fee: CNY 25 (Nov. 1 to Mar. 31)
CNY 35 (Apr. 1 to Oct. 31)

12 km (7.5 mi) northwest of downtown Beijing.
Bus Route: 907, 375, 801, 808, 732, 394, 718

Recommended time for a visit: One and a half hour

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties this temple was used as sacred grounds for prayer to the gods for plenty of rain and a properous harvest. Notable is Echo Wall, a circular shaped area out in the open, where you can whisper at one end, and be able to hear the whisper at the other end. The main for sections of consist of the Echo Hall, Round Altar, Vault of Heaven and the Hall of Prayer. This palace is simply splendid with a magnificent garden that is fit for a great emperor. Admission CNY35

Bus Route: 34,6,35

Be prepared for a good walk that can last for about one and a half hours.

The largest square in the world, with monuments on all four sides of the square, including The Forbidden City and Mao Ze-Dong’s Mausoleum. Some good restaurants are nearby too!
Tiananmen Square is the “Center of China,” and is known to be the single largest public square in the world. All four-sides of the square are surrounded by historical buildings including the The Forbidden City, Mao Zedong’s Mausoleum, The Monument of the People’s Heroes and the Great Hall of the People. In recent years this location has served as a place of international political significance. Can anyone really forget the image of the man standing before a tank?
Admission Fee : Free for square visiting; CNY 15 for tower ascending

Bus Route: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Recommended Time: Half an hour

Oh my… this place is a must see. Prepare yourself for a good 3hour walk through the forbidden city, but this place could easily consume a whole day. The architecture, history and artwork is simply amazing. The place is built like a massive fortress, with the emperor’s chambers located right in the center of the city.
The permanent residence of emperors of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. This place is simply a must see for any Beijing visitor. The place is built like a fortress, with a castle like wall surrounding the huge complex as well as a moat with a bridge. The walls are extremely thick, and the gate doors look impossible to move. The complex has over 70 different structures inside, with over 9,000 rooms. The garden behind the palace is gorgeous. The Nationalist Party removed the majority of China’s treasures to Taiwan, but over 900,000 relics still remain on the mainland. Admission Fee: CNY 40 (Nov. 1 to Mar. 31) CNY 60 (Apr. 1 to Oct. 31))

Bus Route: 1, 4, 20, 52, 57, 101, 103, 109, 111

Three hours
A day

For a night out, be sure to go to this famous Chinese opera house. Watch amazing performances, comedians, magicians, and enjoy tons of musical fun, all while sipping on tea and munching on snacks.

One of the most elite universities in China. Be sure to go to the Peking University gift shop located underground near the basketball courts. There is some great shopping for DVD’s, electronics and clothes.

Go to the student store to find super “deals” on all region DVD’s and music (hint, hint… arggh pirates!), the kind of deals you can only find outside of the country.

Shanghai is the largest commercial and financial center of China. Shanghai has many different types of traditional European architecture from the times when they were being colonized by the west. Stroll the Nanjing Road and the Bud (Wai Tan) waterfront area, a sweeping area along the Huangpu River, where there used to be foreign concessions, but now is the symbol of modern Shanghai. Here is the best place the western influence of the old days. Sightsee the Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Museum and the Mausoleum of Song Qingling, the wife of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Enjoy local cuisine at the New Lubolang Restaurant.

This is a wonderful museum with great exhibits, many of which teach you about Chinese culture and the history of Shanghai. Be sure to see the Jade exhibits and antique furniture displays.
This museum features over 120,000 Chinese artifacts and archeological findings. Permanent exhibits feature bronzes, ceramics and paintings, among other artifacts. Adjoining facilities include a library with 20,000 books, a conservation laboratory and a lecture room. There is a gift shop on the first floor, a non-smoking teahouse and several antique stalls.
Admission: Adults CNY20, Audio Tour in English and Japanese available for CNY60.

Route: 574, 112, 123, 71, 934, 145, 46
Subway No. 1
Tunnel No. 6

• no entry one hour before closing time
• Recommended time: One and a half hours

Tour the gardens with beautiful koi ponds, the street market & Shanghai old antique market. The Yuyuan Garden was originally the Ginshan Sheng Miao (Temple of the Golden Mountain God), but was renamed as Cheng Huang Miao (Temple of the City’s Gods) in the Ming Dynasty. Since then, the temple had foregone several severe damages, and had each time it was properly restored to its beautiful former self. During the latter years of the Qing dynasty, teahouses, street performers, and hawkers formed an extremely lively marketplace in front of the temple. During the Cultural Revolution, the temple was thoroughly destroyed. The surrounding marketplace was given a new name, “Yuyuan Bazaar”. The temple was again restored and opened to the public in 1981. Admission: 5RMB

Walk south along The Bund then swing a right at Jinling Dong Lu.
Bus Route: 11, 26, 64, 730, 926, 980, 932

Worth checking out to learn about the three Song sisters. If a tour group takes you inside to learn more about the history, feel free to go and learn, but don’t feel pressured to buy the stuff they will be trying to sell you after the lesson!

Just to look around will take around a half hour or so. Going inside will take longer…

One of Nanjing’s main shopping areas and a popular tourist attraction, Nanjing Road stretches 5.5 km and carries over 600 shops many with top-notch brands. The eastern end of the road is closed to street traffic, and is the place to congregate with friends and let kids run freely. At night time the street is illuminated with dazzling lights. A cute trolley can carry your family across the blocks of shopping and restaurants.

This is an awesome night spot. It’s like a local street fair, where they close off all the streets, have trolley’s and tons of people just walking, talking and shopping. The lights are Las-Vegas-like, and you can enjoy a real pleasant evening desert stroll here.

Spectacular night skyline of Shanghai, home to one of the tallest buildings in the world. Definitely a must see for a sight that you won’t forget. Large crowds form to get a clear waterfront view, so snap that picture when there’s an occasional break in the action!

Care of pickpocketers.

Suzhou has been praised as the “Paradise on the Earth” since ancient times and is an extraordinarily delicate and elegant city. Known as “Venice of the East”, Suzhou is built around Grand Canal. The city’s many excellent classical gardens have entitled Suzhou the “Garden City.” My siteseeing included Tiger Hill, Garden of the Master of the Nets and a Silk factory.

A beautiful mansion with a garden fit for royalty. The history and architecture of the pond is very interesting. Rock sculptures are a specialty for Chinese gardens such as this.
Sometimes the smallest package can contain the most magnificent gift. The Garden of the Master of the Nets is a clear example of this. It is the smallest of the Suzhou residential gardens, yet it is the most impressive because of its use of space which creates the illusion of an area that is much greater than its actual size. Even more than the architectural achievement is the mood of tranquility and harmony that this humble garden embodies.
Admission Fee: CNY 30 (Mar.1 to May 31 and Sep. 1 to Nov. 30) CNY 20 (June 1 to Aug. 31 and Dec. 1 to Apr. 30) CNY 80 during the night

Bus Route: 2, 4, 14, 31

Check out how silk is made! Learn to tell the difference between real and fake silk. If you’re lucky you can see a silk fashion show. Don’t feel pressured to buy anything, unless you really want to.
Suzhou, in Jiangsu Province, is not only a famous cultural city and a city of gardens, but also the silk capital of China. During the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, it was the silk producing center; in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties most of the high-grade silk produced for the royal families was made by Suzhou silk weavers. The Suzhou Silk Museum is located in this historic city.
The entire museum design is old-school traditional with modern style. The Suzhou Silk Museum is divided into several parts: the Introductory Hall, the Ancient Exhibit Hall, the Silkworm-Rearing Room, the Silk Weaving Workshop, the Neoteric (1840 – 1919) Exhibit Hall, and the Modern (1919 – 1949) Exhibit Hall. There are also retail stores for purchasing silk.

Wuxi is also one of the oldest cities in China with a history of more than 3000 years. Visit the Turtle Head Peninsula Park, where you can enjoy the beauty of the Lake Tai, the third-largest lake in China. Other must see sites are Three Kingdom Movie Site, which is called “the Hollywood in China,” and the Freshwater Pearls Farm. If you get a chance order the specialty cuisine amongst locals, the Wuxi spare ribs.

China’s version of Hollywood, in the morning you can see a performance that you wouldn’t want to miss. A reinactment of an ancient war, with horse-riding, bomb-blasts, fire and all the great special effects.
Admission Fee: CNY 55 (Three Kingdom City)
CNY 35 (Shuihu City)

Bus Route: 212, K82

Recommended visit time: 2-3 hours

Take a brisk 45minute walk along Turtle Head Peninsula. You can’t miss the blossoming lily and lotus gardens when you cross over the bridges. You can see Sun Yat Sen’s and Mao Ze Dong’s private mansions in the distance, across the lake.
Admission Fee: CNY 35
Located in the southern part of the Yangtze River delta, Taihu Lake is the third largest freshwater lake in China. With a surface area of about 2,338 square kilometers (about 902 square miles), Taihu Lake is a famous scenic spot in China and is famed for its lake, its hills and its splendid human-made scenery.

Ship Route: Take regular ship at Yuantouzhu Wharf (The last ship is at 15:00)

Learn where pearls come from, different grades of pearls, and how to tell the real and fake pearls from eachother. Don’t feel pressured to buy anything, because you don’t have to.

The 2500-year-old Yangzhou City is known for its numerous pavilions and delicate Huaiyang cuisine. Sightsee the Slender West Lake and the Ge Garden.

I really liked this garden, one of the most memorable during my trip. For some reason this garden has a unique home-style touch to it. It feels more comfortable, relaxing and welcoming. People who visit the garden feel as if they have experienced the essence of the four seasons of the year… I dunno about all that but I do know this garden was exceptional.
Ge Garden was rebuilt as a private garden in 1818 during the Qing Dynasty. Huang Zhiyun, a rich salt merchant and the owner of the garden, thought highly of the upright character of the bamboo. At the same time, bamboo leaves look like the Chinese character ‘ge (个)’, so the name of ‘Ge Garden’ was given. At one point in time there were more than one hundred different kinds of bamboo in the garden, today only a few different types can be seen. Ge Garden now is best known for its rocks and stone sculptures, which take on different aspects as the seasons change.
Admission Fee: CNY 30

Bus Route: 8, Tourism Bus No. 1

Slender West Lake is situated in the northwest suburb of Yangzhou City. With continuous development and remodeling throughout the dynasties, it eventually became a scenic area with many enchanting lake sites. It is located to the west of the city and is slim in its shape, so people call it Slender West Lake.
The lake is 4.3 kilometers in total length with an area of over 30 hectares. It boasts many famous scenic spots, such as the White Pagoda, the Five Pavilion Bridge, and Xiaojin Hill.
The Long Dike is on the western bank of the lake, extending about one hundred meters from the entrance of the park to the Xiaojin Hill. Weeping willow trees are sighing all along the dike. Be sure to checkout the where Zheng Banqiao’s calligraphy of couplets can be seen in a house on the lake.
Admission Fee: CNY 50

located in a northwest suburb of Yangzhou City. Bus Route: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 16, 18

Nanjing is the capital city of Jiangsu Province. It served as the capital of six dynasties in China’s history and is filled with cultural relics, museums and nice scenery. Visit Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, Xuanwu Lake and Nanjing Museum. Travel to Hangzhou after enjoying the local Qinhuai flavor snacks lunch.

Take a walk up the mountain of stares to get to the top. A moasoleum built for the people. There are two life size stachues at the top, and also where the actual body is buried.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum is located in the Zhong Mountain Scenic Area in the east suburb of Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province. This whopping mausoleum spans an area of 80,000 square meters (about 20 acres). Dr. Sun Yat-sen is the father of the Republic of China, therefore this place is considered the sacred land of Chinese people both home and abroad. With deep historical significance, magnificent architecture and beautiful scenery, it is a must see for any traveller in Nanjing.
Admission Fee : CNY 80

Bus Route : 9, Tourism Bus No. 1 & 3

Take a quick refreshing walk around one part of Xuanwu Lake. This sure would be a nice place to have a picnic or bag lunch!
Situated at the foot of Mt. Zhongshan in Nanjing, Xuanwu Lake is a gorgeous natural scenic spot that is under government preservation. The surrounding area includes the scenic Circumvallation, Mt. Jiuhua and Jiming Temple.
Admission Fee: CNY 20

at the foot of Mt. Zhongshan
You can take the boat just outside the Nanjing Train Station to reach the lake, or just take Tourism Bus No. #1 or #3

Splendid museum with beautiful Jade exhibits and many more collections just filled with Nanjing and Chinese culture.
The Nanjing Museum is situated inside the Zhongshan Gate of the city from which it takes its name. It was originally established in 1933 by Mr. Cai Yuanpei (a modern democratic revolutionary and educationist), and now numbers some 2,000 first class treasures and collections of national and cultural interest.
The Art Exhibition Hall lies to the west of the Basic Hall. It consists of eleven sections in all: 1. Bronze Ware hall, 2. Jade Article hall, 3. Painting hall, 4. Embroidery hall, 5. Pottery Ware hall, 6. Porcelain Ware hall, 7. Lacquer Ware hall, 8. Folklore hall, 9. Modern Arts hall, 10. Calligraphy and Painting hall, 11. Treasure hall.
Admission Fee: CNY 20

Bus routes: 5, 9, 29, 36, 51, 55, 59, You 1, 2, 5 (Tourist buses)

Hangzhou is a city with a rich history and culture. Marco Polo described this place as “the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world”. Take the boat cruise on the magnificent West Lake, the symbol of the city and crammed full of interesting sights, visit the Yellow Dragon Cave, taste the well-known Dragon Well Tea at the No.1 tea plantation, and enjoy the famous local cuisine lunch.

The lake itself and surrounding area is very traditional but on a large ‘central park’ type scale. The natural setting of picturesque mountaintops, peaceful forests and springs, dense forestry and countless flowers especially in springtime brings chills.
The lake is comprised of five distinct sections. The largest part is known as the Outer Lake and it is bounded by the North Inner Lake, Yuehu Lake, West Inner Lake and Lesser South Lake. Scenic hilly mountain tops on three sides surround the area. Visitors come see this water paradise that has been an attraction for ages. The average depth of the lake is just five feet.
No Admission to walk around.

Take a boat cruise around the lake and get the unobtrused views of the city skyline. Enjoy wonderful sites, great skyscapes, and local life from a cruise boat!

Visit the Number 1 Tea Plantation in China, serving super-gourmet tea from the best of leaves. They actually teach you the tricks-of-the-trade of tea making, and you can buy some if you’d like (it’s not cheap). Definitely a fun trip.
The National Tea Museum opened in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province in 1991. It is located in Longjing (Dragon Well) Village, west of charming West Lake. The museum is comprised of four groups of buildings which tell the history and development of tea in China. The exhibition building is divided into six halls to show the history of the growing and processing of tea. They are the Hall of Tea History, the Kaleidoscope Hall, the Hall of Tea Properties, the Tea-friendship Hall, the Tea Sets Hall, and the Tea Customs Hall.
Admission Fee: Free (people are normally expected to purchase some tea)

Bus Routes: 27, Tourism Bus No. 3

The Tea Customs Hall is recommended.

I got sick and ended up not going to this spot.

Mt. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is the most famous mountain in China and the rich heritage of mankind. It has been famous for thousands of years for its unique pine trees, stones of strange shapes, the sea of clouds, and hot springs. Take a cable car to the top of the mountain. Explore the famous peaks. From the summit the neighboring peaks look dwarfed and in the distance the whole scene gradually merges into one shade of color, simply breathtaking.
Admission: there is a CNY201 “Entrance charge” for Mt Huangshan.

Stay here at least 2-3 nights.

Rise early to catch the breath-taking view of the sun rising from the horizon with mountain peaks shrouded in the sea of clouds. Continue the excursion on the Mt. Huangshan. Descend by cable car and tour the Hongcun Village, which has been recognized as the World Culture Heritage of mankind.
There are over four hundred scenic spots that can be found on Mt. Huangshan, and these sites can be categorized into the following six areas: Hot Springs Scenic Area, North Sea Scenic Area, Jade Screen Scenic Area, Pine Valley Scenic Area, Cloud Valley Scenic Area, and White Cloud Scenic Area.

Enjoy a nice hike up the mountain. Smell some fresh clean air, and enjoy the wildlife and scenery. The Jade Screen Scenic Area is one of the four main scenic areas and it is about a 3-hour hike up the mountain. Once you reach the top, you can take a telpher ride back down the mountain, or visa versa.

• Cloud Valley Telpher runs from the Cloud Va