A Guide for Travelers to China

The People's Republic of China is a land of superlatives. China is the largest country in East Asia and the most populous country in the world. China contains the world's longest human-made structure and some of the world's most ancient architecture. As one of the world's largest exporters, China is home to some of the world's tallest skyscrapers.

This page is an overview of China's architectural wonders, with links to must-see sights in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Xi'An, and other regions of mainland China.

Must-See in Beijing :
Beijing in is the capital city of China and home to some of China's most important historic landmarks.

• Great Wall of China. Extending about 6,500 km (4,000 miles), the Great Wall is the longest man-made structure in the world. Portions of the wall north of Beijing have been preserved.
• The Forbidden City, Beijing
• Tiananmen Square (Gate of Heavenly Peace), Beijing
• Summer Palace, Beijing
• Tian Tian Gongyuan (the Temple of Heaven), Beijing
• The Big Bell Temple (Dazhong Si), Beijing
• Ming Tombs, Beijing
• Yuanmingyuan (Garden of Perfect Splendor), Beijing

Must-See in Shanghai:
Shanghai is the largest city in the People's Republic of China and largest cargo port in the world. The busy metropolis has more than 3,100 skyscrapers and some of the nation's most innovative modern architecture. Also in Shanghai are historic buildings along the Huangpu River in a region called The Bund.

• Jin Mao Building, Shanghai
• Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai
• World Financial Center, Shanghai
• Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai
• The Bund, Shanghai

Must-See in Hong Kong :
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was a crown colony of the United Kingdom from 1842 to 1997. The region is known for its thriving capitalist economy and soaring skyscrapers. Many of the world's tallest buildings are located in Hong Kong.

• Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong
• Two International Finance Centre (IFC), Hong Kong
• Central Plaza, Hong Kong
• Hong Kong Skyscrapers
• Temple of the 10,000 Buddhas, Hong Kong

Must-See in Guangzhou:
Also known as Canton, Guangzhou is a densely-populated commercial and manufacturing center. Guangzhou is the capital of the Guangdong Province.

• China International Trust and Investment Company (CITIC) Building, Guangzhou

Must-See in Nanjing:
Nanjing is the capital of China's Jiangsu Province and one of the oldest cities in southern China.

• Ancient Walled Capital City, Nanjing

Must-See in Shenzhen:
Bordering Hong Kong, Shenzhen is an important foreign investment center and one of the busiest ports in China.

• Shun Hing Square (also known as Di Wang Mansion or Di Wang Commercial Centre), Shenzhen

Must-See in Xi'An:
Xi'An is capital of Shaanxi province and the first historic capital of China. Here is the site of one of the world's greatest archaelogical wonders.

• Qin Shi Huang Terracotta Warriors, Xi'An

Must-See Along the Yangtze River:
Spanning about 410 miles (660 kilometers) along the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges Dam is China's biggest construction project since the Great Wall. The massive dam is expected to become the world's largest producer of hydro-electric power.

• Three Gorges Dam (the Yangtze River Dam Project)

Vernacular Architecture in China:
Houses and other folk architecture in China take on a variety of forms to provide the need for basic shelter in a widely varied landscape.

• Yin Yu Tang. This 18th century home from southeastern China has been reconstructed at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusettes, USA
• Chinese Rural Architecture. Photographs by Olivier Laude.
• Chinese Earth Sheltered Dwellings. China's man-made cave dwellings date back to 2,000 BC.