The tourist attractions in China are as varied as the vast country itself. Whether you prefer visiting sights with cultural and historical importance, ones renowned for their natural beauty, architectural wonders, or even sprawling cities -- China has something for everyone.

It's ok to play the tourist occasionally during your stay in China! And you've got an advantage on a normal tourist who has to try to cram all the sights to a last-minute holiday. You are able to space out your excursions and take the opportunity to soak in the marvels of all of the tourist attractions in China.

Defending the Empire: The Great Wall of China

If you ask a person to name one historical landmark in China, chances are they'll say the Great Wall. This giant (in fame and size) among the tourist attractions in China mirrors the power and glory of the world's oldest continuous civilization. At its summit, the Wall was over 5,000 kilometers long, the longest in the world. Nearly All the Great Wall was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368--1644 AD) to protect the Chinese Empire in northern invaders. Even though the Great Wall after stretched from China's western frontier to the east shore, the best-preserved segments are now located near Beijing.

Several renovated sections of the wall are open to the general public.

• Badaling: This section is situated 2 hours (72 km) from Beijing and will be the most popular and many touristy section. It has also been open to people the longest, because 1957.
• Mutianyu: This is actually the longest fully restored section of this wall, including watchtowers, fortresses, and crenellations. It's located 1 1/2 hours (73 km) from Beijing.
• Jinshanling: A favorite hiking route, this part of the wall includes restored beacon towers and can be located approximately 2 1/2 hours (154 km) from Beijing.
• Simata: This is definitely the most steep and dangerous part of this wall, although recent restoration work has made the route a bit safer. In 1987 it had been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is well known for its surrounding trees' beautiful red leaves in the fall. It is also found about 2 1/2 hours (120 kilometers) in Beijing.

Beijing: Highlights of the "Northern Capital"
Beijing has grown from a dynastic stronghold into a national capital over the past 800 years and is now home to a fascinating mix of old and new, historical and modern. Jacqlyn Bears A number of the top tourist attractions in China distribute within this metropolis's boundaries.

One Emperor and 9,999 Rooms: The Forbidden City
The most popular tourist attraction in China's capital is that the Forbidden City. This huge palace complex has been home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties within a span of more than 500 years in 1406 to 1911. Whereas in times past ordinary folks were forbidden entry, giving rise to its fear-inspiring title, now the palatial complex is a museum and is open to anyone who pays the entrance fee. With nearly 1,000 brightly painted buildings housing innumerable artifacts of Chinese cultural heritage, it would be impossible to see everything in just one visit.

Serene Lakes and Fragrant Pavilions: The Summer Palace
Located in the northwest of Beijing, the Summer Palace, once the playground of the royal court, is currently open to the general public. It's easy to while away the better part of a day wandering one of its beautiful lakes, temples, gardens, and pavilions. Visitors can respect halls and pavilions with fantastic names such as the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity, the Buddhist Fragrance Pavilion, and the Cloud Dispelling Hall.

The Hutong: A Glimpse of Ancient China
To get a taste for the lives of everyday urban Chinese beyond the royal household, wander through the town's hutong (narrow alleyways), a crisscrossing network of narrow roads lined with historic courtyard houses. The hutong initially date back to the 13th century, when the town was jeopardized by Genghis Khan's army, destroyed, and then redesigned. Some of the historical homes and courtyards along the hutong were originally built in this period of time.

The Sights of Shanghai
In contrast to this cultural and historic richness of the sights in Beijing, Shanghai provides a look in the future. Although construction of its rough skyline from the Pudong district started just 25 decades back, now it's hard to envision Shanghai without its collection of soaring skyscrapers. Whereas Beijing points to China's past, Shanghai blazes its way to the future. Shanghai has an inescapably Western feel, which is partially because of the colonial past and partly due to its numerous skyscrapers and the ubiquitous signs of rapid modernization.

A Soaring City: The Shanghai Skyline
If you enjoy modern design, then you won't need to miss the tourist attractions in China's most modern and high-tech town. Voicesunited.net Pudong, Shanghai's commercial and financial district, is home to magnificent skyscrapers such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center, the Jin Mao Building, as well as the up-and-coming Shanghai Tower, that upon completion will be the second tallest building on earth.

Also not to be overlooked for architecture aficionados is the Bund, meaning "embankment", lined with remarkable art deco buildings and prior home into Shanghai's equivalent to Wall Street in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Then continue on to the French Concession to roam down tree-lined streets and explore the district's many restaurants, bars, and stores.

Paradise on Earth: The Classical Beauty of Hanzhou
In Hangzhou, located not far from Shanghai, you will discover an escape from urbanity in the "Paradise on Earth". This town was built across the West Lake, a manmade lake constructed in the 8th century as the epitome of classical beauty in China. During an excursion to West Lake, you will find islands and causeways, pagoda-topped hills, and willow-lined water -- just the break you want following the wrought modernity of Shanghai.