by Christopher Pierce,
For most people, a trip to China just wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, or the Potala palace. These incredibly famous attractions draw thousands of tourists each year for both their spectacular beauty, and their ancient intriguing histories.
For many tourists that visit the country, some of the more modern attractions, such as the elegant Bund in Shanghai and the vibrant Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong are also places that are on the very top of their places to see list. In fact, China has so many incredible sights to offer, a return trip may be necessary to have the time to see them all.
As well as these more well known places of interest, there are also a number of things to see and do in China that are cheap, interesting and relatively easy to get to by either public transport or taxi.
1. Sanlitun Bar Street
For the more intrepid tourist that would like to sample a bit of the nightlife that Beijing has to offer, Sanlitun Bar Street is well worth a visit. With its numerous bars and restaurants, you can get a good feel of modern China at its best. Just south of the embassy district, it’s easy to get to, and of course, easy to get back from. Most bars open at about 2.pm and stay open late into the night.
2. Panjiayuan Flea Market
Located on the south eastern corner of the third ring road in Beijing, Panjiayuan flea market is a 48.000 square meter area of stalls and restaurants. You can buy just about anything from the thousands of vendors set up there, from antique furniture to stone carvings and modern electrical goods. If you enjoy a day out in an interesting Chinese market, Panjiayuan would be just the thing for you.
3. 798 Art Zone
798 Art Zone or 798 Space is regarded as Beijing’s Greenwich or Soho. Situated in the Dashanzi District of Beijing, 798 Art Zone is based in an abandoned military factory that is now the home to some of China’s many new up and coming artists. Around the old factory there many sculptures, exhibits and, of course, plenty of establishments selling food and refreshments. If you would like to spend the day doing something completely different, 798 Art Zone will most certainly fit the bill.
4. Maliandao Tea Street
Maliandao Tea Street in Beijing is said to be one of the largest tea markets in Northern China. There, you can sample a huge variety of Chinese teas as well as take in the wonderful sights and sounds of a tradition Asian tea market. You can get to the market by taking the subway to Changchunjie subway station. A visit to Maliandao Tea Street makes a great day out for anyone visiting the capital that would like to see something a little different.
5. Sichuan Province
The province Sichuan in China’s southwest is famous for its stunning valleys and mountain scenery. With its three world heritage sites of Jiuzhaigou Valley, Huanglong Valley and Mount Emei it should be on the top of anyone’s places to visit list that enjoys incredible natural scenery. You can easily arrange day trips to these stunning areas by either pre-booking from home or making reservations whilst travelling in China.
6. Hongcun Village (Anhui Province)
Hongcun Village located 70 km northeast of Huangshan City is a 900-year-old village that has attracted tourists for many years. With its tranquil traditional lanes and the incredible backdrop of the Huangshan Mountains, it can transport any visitor back in time to a more simple and natural era. If you would like to experience a bit of ancient China, Hongcun Village will certainly not disappoint. Huangshan City airport has direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Guangzhou. Entrance fee to the village is only $16.00.
If you are in the process of planning a trip to China for a holiday, some of the above mentioned attractions and activities would most definitely make for some fun and interesting days out. If you use local transport and taxis you can also have an authentic Chinese experience at, of course, local prices.
Images credits: Helga’s Lobster Ste, Jirka Matousek, >Visit Beijing ,>nasrulekram,>frans16611
