THE BEST 20 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN CHINA

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Our trip to China was one of the rarest we remember: for almost a month we immersed ourselves in a culture so rich and so different that we ended up loving this country almost as confused our heads were. And it is that China does not leave anyone indifferent. But one thing we have clear, disconnect from your life for a few days and travel to a land as far away as in customs will be worth it. Of course, in the backpack carries a good dose of patience, hehe. Next we tell you which ones are for us the best 20 things to see and do in China (at least once in a lifetime).

1. Walk on the Great Wall of China, one of the most spectacular engineering works in the world (although not, it is not seen from space). The easiest is to do it on a day visit from Beijing. There are several perfectly prepared sectors, we went to Mutianyu and we recommend it. In this post we tell you how to visit the Chinese wall for free or on tour (we did it for free and it is very simple).

2. Know Shanghai It is one of the issues we leave pending. On our first trip for a matter of time we skipped it, but we are clear that we will return to China, and then we can wander through The Bund and see its colonial houses, take this free tour or fall in love with its famous skyline. You win we are not missing!

3. Where we did enjoy some wonderful days was in the capital. Pekin It was our final point of the trip and he welcomed us with a radiant sun and a blue sky, which would remain for the next 6 days. Apparently it is something quite unusual, so we did not waste time and kick it from top to bottom, and we probably lack time. Believe us, Beijing is much more than the Forbidden City delicious dumplings. In this post we tell you everything you can see and do in Beijing.

4. One of China's biggest surprises was Yangshuo. This small town just 80 km from Guilin and bathed by the Li River, is surrounded by spectacular karst mountains, in a fairytale landscape. Our advice is that you rent a bicycle to get to know the surroundings (the Moon Peak is a must) and, of course, take a boat tour (it calculates about 100-200 ¥, it is better to hire it there). Curiosity: the 20 ¥ bill has drawn the landscape of Yanghsuo. This was our passage through Yangshuo.

5. At the same distance from Guilin, but in the opposite direction are theLongji rice terraces, in Longsheng. They are so pretty that they look fake. The reality is that they were built by the Zhuang ethnic group over 700 years ago.

6. Although if we talk about charming corners, we cannot forget about Pingyao, one of the most beautiful medieval villages in China, which seems to have been anchored at another time. It is located in the province of Shanxi, halfway between Xian and Beijing, so it can easily be included in an itinerary through China. Do not miss the wall, the Zhenguo Temple and the Shuanglin Temple during your visit. Tip: in Pingyao you eat suuuuper well, here we tell you.

7. As we say, after visiting Pingyao he spends a few days in the big and beautiful city of Xian. If you walk through its streets and avenues you will find lots of attractions such as the Tambor and Campana towers, the wall or the Muslim quarter. But here the important thing is to make an excursion to know the Terracotta warriors. As always, you can ride it for free and go by bus (it's like we did) or sign up for an organized tour. Choose what you choose we assure you that they will surprise you more than you expected. This was our passage through Xián.

8. If you have seen Avatar surely the landscapes of Zhangjiajie they will sound to you, since they served as inspiration to create the planet Pandora. The truth is that the site has to be of those who remove the hiccups. And we speak in conditional because, after getting beaten up to arrive, this time the luck was not on our side and we found rain, fog and thunder. Two days praying to all the gods, but there was no way, so as we arrived we left. But we will return.

9. Move in train through China It is a trip within the trip. At first everything will seem complicated: from buying the ticket to knowing what it says, but little by little you will get the trick and you will enjoy it to the fullest. Here we tell you how to get around China by train.

10. One of the most famous images of China is that of the Leshan Buddha, sculpted on the side of a cliff. It measures about 70 meters high, making it the largest rock sculpture in the world. There are tours in the day from Chengdu, although you can also visit for free and save money (there are buses and shuttles that reach the Buddha).

11. There is no better place to see China's contrasts than Hong Kong. We personally loved it: its skyscrapers remind of New York but its streets are pure Asia. And his food. And his light and sound show. And its markets. You should definitely include Hong Kong in your itinerary. Here we tell you 20 things to see and do in Hong Kong.

12. The other autonomous region of China, which also has an American touch, is Macau, known as "Las Vegas of Asia". What stands out here are its impressive casinos, although it is a place of cultural mixtures, thanks above all to its Portuguese legacy. Did you know that Macao was the last European colony in Asia? In 1999 and after 442 years of Portuguese rule, I became dependent on the Chinese government.

13. If you are a lover of epic experiences, go reserving a place in the “Train of the Clouds”(Or Transtibetan). This train travels thousands of km and links cities like Shanghai or Beijing with Lhasa, in Tibet. It is not a trip for everyone (it costs their own), but it must be one of those adventures that a traveler could never forget. A good idea to save a little money is to travel only the part that goes from Goldmud to Lhasa since it really is the prettiest.

14. Far from rice three delicacies, Chinese cuisine seemed very, very rich. In fact in China we became dumplingomanos and even learned to prepare homemade dumpling. Definitely, Chinese food It is one of the great riches of the Asian Giant and therefore can not be missing in this list of the best of China.

15. Another of the most beautiful villages in China is Suzhou, which many define the "Venice of the East". Walking around here is like taking a leap into the past and you can see canals, bridges, gardens, pagodas. It can be easily reached from Shanghai (the train takes about 40-60 min approx).

16. AND Wuzhen, the city of bridges, is not far behind: they say that this floating town is over 7,000 years old (very well taken, huh?) and everyone who visits it is delighted. You can also get there from Shanghai, in this case it is best to do it by bus. The trip takes about two hours.

17. One of the most suggestive natural corners of China is the Mountain of Colors of Danxia, which is located about 30 km west of Zhangye. Visiting it for free is quite simple: there are buses that leave you in the geological park from Zhangye. Once there, after paying the entrance fee of 75 yuan, you can tour the park by bus (or walking).

18. Do not leave China without living the experience of stroll through a local market: they are the best places to discover the life, real and authentic, of its inhabitants. You also can't stop going to Beijing Silk Market, although prepare psychologically before because the clerks are super aggressive. Here we tell you.

19. If you are in good shape, consider doing the Trekking of the Gorge of the Tiger Falls passing through cliffs and landscapes of the Yangtze River Valley that take away the hiccups. Everyone who did it says it is one of the best travel experiences they had.

20. Although if what you want is to run out of breath for a few moments, look for some of the glass platforms on the void that the Chinese like so much. Some of the most famous are the Tianmen Mountain Skywalk, theZhangjiajie Glass Bridge, the Hongyagu Glass Suspension Bridge, the Shiniuzhai Geopark Glass Bridge or theYuntai Mountain Glass Walkway.

These are just the 20 best things to see and do in China. But we are talking about one of the largest, most varied and interesting countries in the world, with just one trip you can only see the tip of the iceberg. Come on, there is "hidden ice" that needs a few more trips. And why not arrive after touring the legendary Transmongolian? It is one of our traveling dreams ... ains, sooner or later we will! Do you know more things to see and do in China?