Huangshan 黄山 (Huángshān): Embark on an unforgettable journey to the Yellow Mountain, known for its dramatic peaks, deep valleys, and mystical beauty. Huangshan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has inspired countless poets and artists with its ethereal landscapes. Visitors can hike along scenic trails lined with ancient pine trees, explore hidden caves and waterfalls, and witness breathtaking views of the sea of clouds that often shroud the peaks.
Emei Mountain 峨眉山 (Éméishān): Explore one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China, known for its stunning scenery, ancient temples, and diverse wildlife. Emei Mountain is home to the majestic Golden Summit, where visitors can watch the sunrise over a sea of clouds and admire the towering statue of Samantabhadra. Along the way, hikers can encounter playful monkeys, explore serene forests, and visit historic Buddhist monasteries.
Jiuhua Mountain 九华山 (Jiǔhuáshān): Discover the beauty and tranquility of Jiuhua Mountain, one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. Jiuhua Mountain is renowned for its sacred temples, including the Tiantai Temple and the Huacheng Temple, which house ancient Buddhist relics and offer stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Visitors can hike through lush forests, meditate in serene meditation halls, and immerse themselves in the spiritual atmosphere of this sacred mountain.
Wudang Mountain 武当山 (Wǔdāngshān): Explore the birthplace of Wudang Kung Fu and the ancient Taoist culture at Wudang Mountain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its magnificent ancient buildings, including the Golden Hall, the Purple Cloud Palace, and the Nanyan Temple. Visitors can practice Tai Chi in the peaceful surroundings, hike through scenic valleys and forests, and explore the rich cultural heritage of this historic mountain.
Mount Tai 泰山 (Tàishān): Ascend the sacred Mount Tai, known as the "Eastern Mountain of the Five Sacred Mountains." Mount Tai has been a place of worship and pilgrimage for thousands of years and is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty and cultural significance. Visitors can climb the 7,000 steps to the summit, visit ancient temples and shrines, and admire panoramic views of the surrounding landscape from the Jade Emperor Peak.
Mt. Hua 华山 (Huàshān): Challenge yourself with a trek up the steep and rugged trails of Mount Hua, one of China's Five Great Mountains. Known for its precipitous cliffs, narrow plank paths, and breathtaking vistas, Mount Hua offers a thrilling adventure for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can hike to the famous Chess Pavilion, brave the spine-tingling plank walk along the cliff face, and enjoy panoramic views from the mountain's five peaks.
Mount Gongga 贡嘎山 (Gònggǎshān): Explore the "King of Sichuan Mountains," known for its stunning glaciers, alpine lakes, and diverse ecosystems. Mount Gongga is one of the highest peaks in the Hengduan Mountains and offers spectacular scenery and challenging trekking opportunities. Visitors can trek through pristine wilderness, climb to high mountain passes, and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, including the iconic Minya Konka.
Haba Snow Mountain 哈巴雪山 (Hābā Xuěshān): Discover the rugged beauty of Haba Snow Mountain, located on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Haba Snow Mountain is known for its dramatic landscapes, including towering peaks, deep gorges, and cascading waterfalls. Visitors can trek through alpine meadows adorned with colorful wildflowers, cross suspension bridges over rushing rivers, and summit the snow-capped peak for breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 玉龙雪山 (Yùlóng Xuěshān): Explore the stunning landscapes of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, known for its towering peaks, deep gorges, and alpine meadows. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas and is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Visitors can take a cable car ride to the summit, hike along scenic trails, and admire the views of the famous "13 peaks."
Mt. Siguniang 四姑娘山 (Sìgūniángshān): Journey to the "Four Sisters Mountains," known for their towering peaks, alpine lakes, and pristine forests. Mount Siguniang is located in the heart of the Qionglai Mountains and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries. Visitors can trek through scenic valleys, visit Tibetan villages, and admire the stunning beauty of the snow-capped mountains, including the four distinct peaks that give the mountain its name.
Here’s a brief overview of some of the places visited in this video.
After a short introduction, we begin this journey near the spectacular rice terraces of Yuanyang, before moving on to the captivating Buddhist temples of Dali. Via the peculiar Shilin Stone Forest and the ‘Rainbow Mountains’ of Zhangye, we arrive in Guangzhou (Canton), one of China’s largest cities. After the Yellow Mountains national park, and the intriguing ‘tulou’ buildings, we visit the Great Wall and the Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest such statue in the world.
After flying through the ice and snow city of Harbin, where people enjoy a unique Winter event, we take a brief look at the imposing Yellow River, Hukou waterfall, Zhengzhou and Changsha cities, before stopping at the breathtaking Jiuzhaigou national park, filled with crystal clear blue lakes. The next place is the countryside in between rural Yangshuo and urban Guilin, easily one of the most popular tourist destinations in China, where the Li river meanders through bizarre karst scenery.
For more diversity, we travel to Dunhuang to visit the arid Gobi Desert. We also have a look at a solar panel field and windmill park, before we fly over some heavy industry, including a steel factory, coal mine, oil refinery, concrete dam, shipyard, an oil rig, and a massive bridge. Hong Kong is our next destinations, before moving on to several places along the Yangtze river (or its distributaries), including Tiger Leaping Gorge, Chongqing, and Wuhan.
On Hainan island we see the ‘tropical’ side of China, while in Xiahe and Tibet we visit the country’s highlands. From the frozen cities of Jilin and Xining we arrive in Qingdao, with its German colonial architecture and coastal vibe. In Macau we fly over the famous casinos, but also visit the Portuguese quarters, and after the rice fields of Longji (Dragon’s Backbone), we increase our altitude in the Yulong national park.
After Hangzhou and Shenyang, we briefly look at one of China’s many ‘ghost towns’ and construction sites, before flying on to the surreal pillars of Zhangjiajie, and the (perhaps) equally stunning skyline of Shanghai. After showing the modern part of the city and the port (harbor), we also explore some of the disappearing neighborhoods, destroyed factories, and the strange looking ‘bicycle graveyard’.
From the freezing ‘Xuexiang’ village and walled city of Pingyao we continue our journey in Xian, Shenzhen, Suzhou, and Changzhou. Finally, we take a look at the mesmerizing Yuanmou ‘Earth Forest’, Kunming city, and Lijiang, one of China’s most famous historic towns.
Video chapters / timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
3:29 Yuangyang rice terraces
4:59 Chengkan
5:17 Dali
6:08 Shilin stone forest
6:50 Zhangye national park
7:55 Guangzhou
10:22 Huangshan national park
11:24 Fujian ‘tulou’
12:03 The Great Wall
12:33 Leshan
12:55 Harbin
15:00 Yellow River
15:28 Hukou waterfall
15:50 Zhengzhou
16:20 Changsha
16:31 Jiuzhaigou national park
17:26 Yangshuo
20:25 Dunhuang
21:42 Qinghuangdao
21:58 Guazhou
22:47 Benxi, Fushun, Guangzhou, Hainan
24:19 Danjiangkou
25:12 Aizhai bridge
25:39 Hong Kong
29:19 Tiger Leaping Gorge
29:44 Chonqging
31:45 Yangtze River
33:03 Wuhan
35:41 Hainan island
38:02 Xiahe
38:51 Tibet
40:26 Jilin
40:44 Xining
41:25 Linxia
41:51 Qingdao
48:22 Macau
49:34 Longji rice terraces
49:59 Shexian
50:21 Yulong national park
51:42 Hangzhou
53:06 Shenyang
53:32 Shenfu ‘ghost town’
54:26 Chengdu
54:46 Zhangjiajie national park
56:12 Shanghai
1:04:26 Xuexiang
1:05:49 Pingyao
1:06:28 Shenzhen
1:06:54 Xian
1:07:12 Suzhou
1:10:05 Changzhou
1:10:44 Yuangmou Earth forest
1:11:23 Kunming
1:12:43 Lijiang
An awesome film - don't miss it ...
September trip, in 2017; charming couple.
XinJiang, north west China, includes the Tien Shan and Kunlun Shan mountains, the Taklimakan Desert, and the Tarim Basin.
Follow this traveler's videos of places walked and adored.
Discover some of China's incredibly diverse natural landscapes.
Including JiuZhaiGou, the YuLong River, the ShiLin Stone Forest, DunHuang desert and oasis, Tiger Leaping Gorge and ZhangJiaJie.
Chinese culture is founded on the harmony of people and nature and the reverence of natural beauty ...
Plus, the beautiful Flight of the Dragon ...
Mountains, gorges, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, forests, geoparks, nature reserves, national parks and scenic spots.
A wonderful film by ChongQing TV (a 25 minute excerpt from the full hour-long video).
The Nine Dragon Waterfalls, LuoPing County, YunNan province.
The succession of water falls, some gentle and some powerful, are set in a landscape of patchwork fields and mountains. The grandest has a water drop of 56 meters and is 110 meters wide.
An overview of China's wonderful scenery.
Yessian Soars Over China in this epic ride film at Happy Valley Theme Park in Shanghai. Directed by Super 78.
In SiChuan province.
The Giant Buddha, which is around 70 meters in height, was carved from the cliff face during the Tang dynasty (618 - 907). It took 90 years to complete.
At 3,100 meters (10,170 feet), the nearby Mount EMei is the highest of the four sacred Buddhist mountains in China and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
