Top 10 Cities to Visit in ChinaChina is big and it has a lot of beautiful cities. Good China tour consists of wonderfulChina cities. As a China tour advisor, we would like to advise these top China touristcities to you. Each city has its own characteristic: Beijing-Capital of China,Shanghai-Chinese Largest City, Xian-A Window on Chinese Ancient Civilization,Suzhou-Oriental Venice, Guangzhou-The Ram City Renowned for Worldwide Fair,Guilin-The Most Beautiful Mountain and Water in the World, Hong Kong-Pearl of theOrient, Hangzhou-Heaven on Earth, Chengdu-Hometown of Giant Pandas,Huangshan-Magnificent Beauty, Lhasa-Holy Pilgrimage Destination, Lijiang-OldEthnic Town, Shenzhen-Give You A New Wish Everyday, Tianjin-WaterTransportation Capital, Qingdao-Coastline City, Capital For Beer And Wine,Dalian-Dynamic Capital, Kunming-Spring City, Changsha-Star City, Wuhan-HomeToWonders, Xiamen-Lover For Amoy Straits.

1. Beijing

As the capital of China, Beijing is the center for politics, culture and education.Known as one of the “Four Ancient Capitals of China”, the importance of Beijing as apolitical center has been existent for centuries. With most of the famous landmarksand structures located in Beijing the history of the city can be traced back almost 2000years. The city is famous for its opulent Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, GreatWall of China and its art treasures and universities have made it a centre of cultureand art in China. Visting Tiananmen Square and Hutongs in Beijing are some of thehighlights of the city.

2. Shanghai

Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and is also one of the four provincelevel municipalities. Its presence and influence in commerce, culture, finance, mediaand fashion are prevalent. On the contrary apart from its modernity, Shanghai still hasit historical cultural elements.

Located in the Yangtze River Delta of eastern China, Shanghai city sits at the mouthof the Yangtze River in the middle portion of the Chinese coast. The municipalityborders Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces to the west, and is bounded to the east by theEast China Sea. Shanghai literally means “the City by the Sea”.

3. Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two special administrative regions SARs of the People’sRepublic of China PRC, the other being Macau. It is situated on China’s south coastand enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is known for itsexpansive skyline and deep natural harbour. With a land mass of 1,104 km2 426 sq miand a population of seven million people, Hong Kong is one of the most denselypopulated areas in the world. Hong Kong’s population is 95 percent ethnic Chineseand 5 percent from other groups. Hong Kong’s Han Chinese majority originate mainlyfrom the cities of Guangzhou and Taishan in the neighbouring Guangdong province.

The city has some of the best and most sophisticated restaurants in the world, but italso has dai pai dong, street-side food stalls. Hong Kong is home to one of the world’slargest shopping malls, but lively makeshift street markets are virtuallyeverywhere.The more you search for in Hong Kong, the more you’ll find. Before long,you, too, may find yourself swept up in the drama.

4. Guilin

Guilin is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang AutonomousRegion of far southern China, sitting on the west bank of the Li River. Its name means“forest of Sweet Osmanthus”, owing to the large number of fragrant SweetOsmanthus trees located in the city. The Guilin city has long been renowned for itsunique scenery.

Guilin is considered to be the pearl of China’s thriving tourist industry on account ofthe natural beauty and historic treasures. Covering an area of about 27,800 squarekilometers (10,734 square miles), Guilin is rather compact when compared with otherleading cities in the country. However, situated within this area one may find greenmountains, crystal clear waters, unique caves and beautiful stones.

5. Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a beautiful coastal city, standing against mountains and facing the sea. Itis China’s first and one of the most successful Special Economic Zones. The city isfull of innovation and hope. 81.4km long from east to west and 10.8km at thenarrowest spot from south to north. It is 160km fom Guangzhou and 35km fromKowloon in Hong Kong. Shenzhen borders the Dapeng Bay in the east, the estury ofthe Pearl River in the west, and New Terriory of Hong Kong in the south.

6. Chengdu

Chengdu, formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province inSouthwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status. The urban area houses14,047,625 inhabitants: 7,123,697 within the municipality’s nine districts and6,730,749 in the surrounding region.

Chengdu is one of the most important economic, transportation, and communicationcenters in Western China. According to the 2007 Public Appraisal for Best ChineseCities for Investment, Chengdu was chosen as one of the top ten cities to invest in outof a total of 280 urban centers in China. It was recently named China’s 4th-mostlivable city by China Daily.

7. Lhasa

Lhasa is the capital city of Tibet, which is also the center of Politics, Economics,cultureal and religion in Tibet. Lhasa is also known as “the city of sunlight”. Lhasa isthe largest city in Tibet and is located in southeastern Tibet Autonomous Region,north bank on the Lhasa River (the tributary of the Brahmaputra). It is the secondmost populous city on the Tibetan Plateau (after Xining) and at an altitude of 3,490metres, covering a total area of ??29,518 square kilometers.

Lhasa is an ancient city with a history of 1,300 years and has long been the political,economic, cultural and religious center in Tibet region. In 1960, it was officiallyapproved as a prefecture-level city by the State Council. In 1982, it was listed as oneof 24 national historical and cultural city.

8. Lijiang

Lijiang, a magical, pretty and quiet place, has stunned the world with its unspoiledbeauty. The unimaginable peace and harmony between nature and humans in the cityhas made it a Xanadu on the earth. The whole county of Lijiang has about 1.2 millionpeople in area of about 21,200 square kilometers. The city is in the cradle of a numberof minority regions – the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the north, DaliBai Autonomous Prefecture in the south, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in thewest and Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province in the east.

Lijiang is the political, economic and cultural centre of the northwestern YunnanProvince. It once was an essential stop on the Southern Silk Road and Tea-HorseRoad leading to Tibet, Sichuan, India and other southeastern Asian countries. TheLijiang city contains the only Naxi Autonomous Prefecture in China and is the hometo Naxi ethnic group, who created a unique system of Dongba Culture throughouthistory. Dongba language is known as the only complete living pictography in theworld. The prolific religious Lijiang Murals , or that Baisha Murals, testifies to themystery of this culture. Additionally, the melodious Naxi Ancient Music , called‘Living Fossil of Music’, has stepped out of the stage of China and won the acclaimof the whole world.

9. Xiamen

Xiamen, also known as Amoy, is a major city on the southeast coast of the People’sRepublic of China. It is administered as a sub-provincial city of Fujian province withan area of 1575.16 km2 and population of 3.61 million. Its built up area is now biggerthan the old urban island area and covers now all six districts of Xiamen.

Xiamen is a scenic port tourism city. It is home to a large number of egrets, hence the

name “Egret Island”. Located in the southeastern coastal area of China, Xiamen islinked with Zhangzhou, presenting the landscapes of the Golden Triangle in SouthFujian, and it is like spring all the year round. With various kinds of beautiful flowers,a great number of egrets flying leisurely and carefree, and some natural bathinggrounds formed by undulating sand beaches, Xiamen is an ideal holiday resort, aparadise for tourists.Hope this xiamen tourism guide can help you.

10. Hangzhou

Located in China Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou is one of the most important touristcities in China. As the saying goes, “Above there is heaven, below there areHangzhou and Suzhou.” It’s famous for its natural beauty and historical and culturalheritages. Hangzhou city is the political, economic and cultural center of Zhejiangprovince as well. It is also one of China’s seven ancient national capitals.

The eight-thousand-year Kuahuqiao Site and the five-thousand-year Liangzhu Sitebear the history and tell the immemorial lingering charm of Hangzhou. Hangzhou’scultural of ancient capital is enriched by stained Genshan Gate, Yongjin Gate, theRoyal Palace site of Southern Song Dynasty and the Eight Diagrams Field ofSouthern Song Dynasty. Hangzhou is also well known for its silk and tea. A trip toHangzhou can be easily combined with a visit to a tea plantation in the hills near theWest Lake. The famous attractions in Hangzhou should not be miss the LingyinTemple and Six Harmonies Pagoda.

Reference, http://www.chinatouradvisors.com/city/Tourist.html