No. 1 Zhuhai
Located in the southeast Guangdong Province and is close to Macau for a day trip, Zhuhai (literal meaning Pearl Sea) is one of four earliest Special Economic Zones in China. It is a laid-back as its neighbour Macau and has the fewest maniacal drivers in China.
No. 2 Xi’an
Xi’an, named Chang’an in the ancient China, is the starting point for Silk Road. With the history of 3100 years, Xian is rich in the historical and cultural ruins. The city walls remains intact, vendors of all descriptions still crowded the narrow lanes of the warrenlike Muslim Quarter, and there are enough places of interests for amateur historian busy.
No.3 Hangzhou
Hangzhou, 180 kilometers away from Shanghai, is one of the great four ancient capital in the ancient times. With history of 2200 years old, Hangzhou, as the capital city of Zhejiang, is one of centers of politics, economy and culture. As one of famous tourist city, Hangzhou’s unparalleled beauty can be description with a famous Chinese sayings, “”Above there is heaven, below there are Hangzhou and Suzhou””
No. 4 Lhasa
Lhasa is the spiritual and political center of Tibetan world. Despite rampant Chinese-led modernisation Tibet’s premodern and sacred heritage survives in the form of the grand Potala Palace, the ancient Jokhang Temples, the great monastic centers of Sera, less other smaller temples, heritages, caves,sacred rocks, pilgrim paths, and pray-flag-bedecked hilltops. In addition to the most visited sights, Lhasa’s old town is worth exploring for its backstreet temples, craft shops and interesting Muslim neighbourhood.
No.5 Beijing
It is no doubt that Beijing should not be missed in the list. As the world-famous cultural and political center, Beijing is also a confident and modern city that seems assured of tis destiny to rule over China till the end of time. Its architecture traces every mood swing from Mongol times to the present, from the neglected hutong times to bomb shelters scooped out during the 1970s and the shimmering baubles of contemporary architects.
It’s Beijing’s olympic imperial grandeur that is awe-inspiring and there’s still much more substance here than in China’s other dynastic capitals, bar Nanjing or Kaifeng. You just need to do a bit of patient exploration to tap into its historical narrative.
