China Cities

Shenzhen

Covering 2,020 square km with a population of 3 million, the central-south Guangdong city of Shenzhen is a major trading port that faces Daya Bay to the east and Pearl River to the west and is adjacent to Hong Kong to the south. Shenzhen is the earliest special economic zone to be opened in China to foreign investors. With a complete line of facilities, it is also a rising tourist city, where visa formalities have been simplified to facilitate the entry of foreign visitors. A variety of high-tech exhibitions take place in the city on an annual basis. Major attractions: "Splendid China", a miniature scenery park that epitomizes the charms of the Chinese landscape and cultural scene, enabling the visitor to finish a tour of the country and see the 5,000-year China Folk Culture Village, where folklore activities are held in 20-odd life-size replicas of villages of different ethic backgrounds; Window of the World is a park in which visitors can get a glimpse of the world's wondrous buildings, cultural ruins, natural scenes and folkways, and be entertained by folk singers and dancers from various countries; Wildlife Zoo, where there are nearly 3,000 animals in 150 species from all the continents of the world; Xiangmihu Summer Resort is a large tourist and recreational center where tropical garden scenes mingle imperceptibly with ethnic buildings.

Dunhuang

A Silk Road terminal, Dunhuang played a pivotal role in China's trade and cultural exchanges with the West in ancient times. Dunhuang Grottoes is a colossal treasure-trove of, among other things, 45,000 square metres of frescos and 2,415 painted sculptures. The discovery of Tripitaka Cave at Dunhuang 100 years ago uneiled one of mankind's important disciplines of learning: Dunhuang studies. The famous Mingsha (Humming Sand) Hill and Crescent Moon Spring are found south of Dunhuang, while to the north there is Yumen Pass on the Great Wall. The ruins of the Yanguan Pass lie south of the city.

Hangzhou

The capital of Zhejiang Province is poised on the lower reaches of Qiantang River and the southern Terminal of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Hangzhou is also regarded as one of China's seven ancient capitals-it was the capital of the states of Wu and Yue of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Southern Song. A mesmerizing landscape and a rich cultural legacy combine to earn Hangzhou, a famed scenic and historical and cultural city, the glamorous byname, "Paradise under Heaven".

Chengdu

Chengdu, also known as Rongcheng and jincheng, is capital of Sichuan Province. Among this famed historical and cultural city's historical sites are Marquis of Wu's Temple dedicated to Zhuge Liang, prime minister of Shu of Three Kingdoms Period; Thatched Cottage, where the celebrated Tang poet, Du Fu, lived during his stay in Chengdu; famous Buddhist sanctuaries, such as Baoguang, Zhaojue, manjusri, and Daci temples; Qingyanggong, the best preserved memorial temple for Lao Zi, father of Taoism; Tomb of Wang Jian; and Wangjiang Tower. The giant panda breeding center of Chengdu is a must for panda-loving visitors. Chengdu's restaurants serving Sichuanese cuisine and refreshments, and teahouses hold forth the fascination of local mores. Sichuan brocade, embroidery and lacquer ware are famous souvenirs. with its trademark grimacing skills and uncanny sense of humour, Sichuan Opera is a major branch of the Chinese theatre.
Qingcheng Mountain-Dujiang Weir
Qingcheng, standing in the city of Dujiangyan to the northwest of Chengdu, is one of the four leading Taoist mountain sanctuaries of China. With its peaks forming a circle and covered with green vegetation all the year round, the mountain is known for its secluded repose. In 250 BC, Li Bing, garrison commander of Shujun Prefecture, and his son organized the construction of the famed Dujiang Weir. Two thousand years later today, the weir is still playing a pivotal anti-flood and irrigation role, protecting West Sichuan Plain from the menace of drought and flood, and bringing rich harvests for local farmers.

Haikou

Haikou is capital of Hainan Province as well as a rising international tropical tourist seaside city. As befitted its reputation as a "Coconut City", the air of Haikou is filled with the aroma of coconuts and the smell of the sea. Haikou also woos visitors from around the world with a myriad scenic spots and places of cultural interest. These include Haikou Park, Five Lords' Temple, Hai Rui's Tomb, Holiday Beach Resort, and amusement Park-on-the-Water, just to mention a few.

Huangshan

A major international tourist city in south Anhui, Huangshan is noted for its statuesque mountains and rich cultural heritage. It was also the cradle of one of China's three local academic schools, the school of Anhui studies. Under the jurisdiction of Huangshan are the national scenic resorts Mount Huangshan and Mount Qiyun, the famous historical and cultural city Shexian, and four key cultural relics under state protection (Xu Guo's Stone Archway, dwelling houses at Qiankou, the group of archways in Tangyue, and the temple dedicated to Luo Dongshu), and such scenic resorts as Xin'an River and Taiping Lake.

Hohhot

Hohhot (meaning "green city") is capital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Hohhot Airport, 18km from downtown, operates regular flights to and from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen Wuhan and Shijiazhuang. The local railway station runs fast through trains to many major cities in China and international trains bound for Moscow and Ulan Bator.

Shenyang

Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, and a major industrial city. In 1625, Nurhaci, founder of the Jin, moved his capital to Shenyang, which later became the capital of the Manchus before they took control of central China. Much of Shenyang's rich historical heritage is attributed to the Qing's formative years.

Dalian

The beautiful seaside city of Dalian on the southern tip of Liaodong Peninsula is a nice sightseeing, recuperating and holidaymaking destination. It is particularly suitable for convention or awarded tours. Dalian is skirted on three sides by the sea, and its long coast opens onto a myriad of islands. The landscape is fabulous, the weather pleasant, and the urban environment neat and tidy. When night falls the city takes on an enchanting look. Dalian is the venue of a series of annual large-scale events, including Dalian International Fashion Festival, the festival to greet New Year with firework displays, International Marathon competition, and International Locust Watching Festival.

Suzhou

Suzhou, located in the Taihu Lake Basin, which is the most prosperous part of the Yangtze River Delta, and 199km east of Shanghai, is a famous cultural city with a history of more than 2,500 years. Rising simultaneously with the city itself were a Venice-like layout with tiny bridges sitting gracefully on rivulets and streams, which ran parallel with the streets. Suzhou is celebrated for its many classical gardens, and the UNESCO has endorsed some of them as world cultural heritage sites. The suburbs of Suzhou are studded with ancient waterfront towns-Zhouzhuang, Tongli and Luzhi are three of the most prestigious ones.

Fuzhou

The famous historical and cultural city of Fuzhou, which was designated as an open city in 1979, is the capital of Fujian Province, where passenger transportation by waterway, highway or airway is rather convenient. Fuzhou's hot springs are known throughout China, and so is its jasmine tea. Major tourist attractions: Gushan Mountain, West Lake, Majiang River, Three mountains and Twopagodas. Gushan Mountain in the eastern suburb of Fuzhou is the site of one of Fuzhou's five major Ch'an temples, Yongquan Temple, whose magnificent buildings dating back to the Qing are enshrined with written and stone-inscribed texts of Buddhist sutras. The walls of Lingyuan Cave east of the temple are covered with calligraphic inscriptions in cursive, official and seal scripts.

Xiamen

The beautiful seaboard city of Xiamen in southeast China is one of the country's four earliest special economic zones under the open policy. Encompassing Xiamen Island, Gulang Island and some areas on the northern shore of Jiulong River, Xiamen attracts an increasing number of visitors with its enchanting island scenery, pleasant subtropical climate, splendid history and culture, and colorful folklore. It is the hometown of so many Chinese living overseas. Major attractions: Gulang Island, Jimei School Village, Southern Putuo Temple and Kaige Golf Club.

Nanning

Nanning is capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and a rising industrial city. Under a subtropical climate, it is a fine tourist city that is extolled as an "evergreen metropolis". This garden city has so much to offer its visitors, such as Guangxi Museum, Guangxi Ethnic Artefact Garden, and Guangxi Medical botanical Garden. Its outskirts are clustered with attractions as well. These include the Yiling Cave of Wuming County, Stone Forest and one of the world's eight major slanting pagodas in Chongzuo, the mysterious Huashan Murals in Ningming County, the waterfall that crosses the Sino-Vietnamese border in Daxin County, Friendship pass at Pingxiang, as well as the exotic folklore on the Sino-Vietnamese borderline.

Beihai

Beihai in south Guangxi is subtropical seaside city as well as a top tourist city where summer is long and winter warm, with an annual average temperature of 25.3 degrees Celsius. The air is fresh, and the environment very beautiful. The local Silver Beach is a national summer resort marked for its gentle waves, long beaches, white sand and safety from killer sharks. There are also the Weizhou Island, extolled as "Penglai Isle South China", mangrove forest at Shankou, a national marine nature reserve, the Star-Isle lake, where mountains are set off beautifully by rippling waves, and the Pearl City, now crumbling in ruins in a place called Bailong.

Lhasa

At an elevation of 3,700 metres, Lhasa (meaning: "Holy Place") is capital of Tibet Autonomou Region and a famous cultural city with a 1,300-year history. Bathed in sunshine for more than 3,000 hours a year, it is also a "Sunshine City". Major landmarks: Potala Palace, Jokhong Monastery, Sera Monastery, Drepung Temple, Gaindain Monastery, Norbulinka Palace. Lhasa's original look and old lifestyle are largely intact at Barhkor Street in the old part of Lhasa, where all sorts of arts and crafts are on sale. Lhasa is linked with Beijing, Chonqing, Chengdu, Xi'an and Kathmandu by airlines. The Xining Lhasa and Chengdu-Lhasa highways also provide major accesses to Lhasa.

Changchun

Changchun, capital of Jilin Province, is lauded variously as "Forest City", "City of Spring North of the Great Wall", "Auto City" "Motion-picture City", where transportation is convenient, auto making has become a full-fledged industry, commerce is thriving, and tourism is making big strides.