5 Magnificent Historical Places to Visit in China

Are you considering to visit China? If you do, you will never go wrong with this wonderful country! Rich in culture and historic places, the Chinese people are deeply hospitable. With the country’s amazing scenery and spectacular landmarks, it is definite that travelers will always be entertained for the duration of their stay.

China is very popular with its man-made attractions. From the Great Wall to the Forbidden City, it is simply impossible to limit China’s best historical destinations. Aside from palaces and temples, China is also gifted with natural beauty. The lovely mountains, lakes, waterfalls, hills and rivers are favourite destinations of photographers, and once you get there, it is near impossible to stop yourself from clicking your camera!

Ready to travel back in time in China? Here are 5 magnificent historical places to visit!

Top Magnificent Historical Sites in China to Travel Back in Time

1. The Forbidden City

One of the top historic places in China, the Forbidden City housed China’s imperial family for five centuries. It was constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and its reign as an imperial residence lasted until the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The Forbidden City has housed 24 emperors, including the last Chinese emperor, Emperor Puyi who lost his imperial title in 1924.

The name Forbidden City was derived from the fact that despite the palace’s location in the capital Beijing, it is too restricted with all its high walls. It is known to be a city within a city, with 9,900 rooms and halls, and a more than a thousand surviving buildings.

2. The Terracotta Army

Another iconic history site in China is the Terracotta Army which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the largest military underground museum created by the First Qin Emperor back in third century BC. The museum is comprised of 7,000 life-sized clay sculptures of soldiers (with distinct individual features), horses, and carts, complete with weapons all in a battle formation. Interestingly, the Terracotta soldiers face the east, towards the believed location of Emperor Qin’s enemies.

The Terracotta Army is a chance find by a group of peasants in 1974. Since then, the site has started to become a popular tourist attraction visited by travellers from all over the world.

3. The Great Wall of China

Known as the longest defense system in the world, the Great Wall of China is also the lone man-made architecture visible in space. It is one of the greatest tourist spots in the world, an extreme engineering grandeur.

The Great Wall of China was first built by the Qin Dynasty. It took a millennium to finish with five dynasties contributing to finish the gigantic construction effort. Building the walls is a superhuman feat. It employed more than a million people, and as many as 300,000 workers died on the site. The wall played a great role in military communication as messages were relayed through smoke signals in its beacons and watch towers.

4. The Potala Palace

The Potala Palace showcases the ancient Tibetan architecture. It was first built in 617 and was rebuilt in the 17^th century to become the residence of the Dalai Lamas.  Aside from the beautiful architecture, the palace also showcase grand historical relics such as Buddha statues of gold, silver, and jade. Mural paintings and splendid decors are all over the place, and it is truly a delight for its visitors.

5. The Three Confucius Sites

The Confucian teaching is the cornerstone of Chinese tradition and belief as well as many other Asian countries. The Three Confucian sites in China are consisted of the Temple of Confucius , the Cemetery of Confucius (where his descendants are buried), and the Kong Family Mansion where his descendants lived.

The Qufu Confucius Temple is the second largest ancient historical site in China after the Forbidden City.

When to Go in China:

China is a vast territory and is comprised of different weathers. The most popular times to visit the country during early autumn in the month of October where the most popular attractions are with comfortable climate. Late Spring is another option, it starts from late April until Early May.

China is a wonder in itself, there are so many places to discover aside from these marvellous historical sites. Search out for more unique travel destinations. Be adventurous! You can even book for a train travel to experience more of its incredible landscape.

By the way, we want to introduce you our friend Catherine Esser from travelingwithjc.com. She currently lives in China and she blogs about many amazing things related to travel, especially if you plan to visit China. Be sure to check her blog out and follow her on Instagram at @contoured_bycat for more inspiration.