Discover China

The China Tourism Association has announced the 2011 list of top 10 leisure cities in China – find out more in the China Daily article China’s top 10 leisure cities announced.

As well as hosting a treasure trove of historic landmarks, China has a large number of nature reserves designed to protect wildlife, especially endangered animals. In the China Daily article Wild things find out about five classic reserves – Shennongjia Nature Reserve, Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, Wolong Nature Reserve, Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve and Badaling Wildlife World.

Words of wisdom have flowed through the streets of Handan, located in Hebei province, for thousands of years. There are more than 3,000 famous Chinese chengyu (four-word idioms) that are still widely used in modern conversations, scholars attribute the source of more than 1,500 chengyu to Handan. Places to see include Wu Ling Cong Tai three-story terrace, Huangliangmeng town, Wahuang Palace, Daming county and Jingniang Lake. Find out more in the China Daily article City of the idiom.

Shaoxing in eastern China’s Zhejiang Province is a typical ancient water town where there are many rivers to cross. And a visitor can do so on more than 4,000 stone bridges of various styles and sizes. Abundant waterways and the number of stone bridges are among the most memorable features in this fascinating town – read more in the China Daily article Venice of China.

The China Daily article Hefei well worth a visit introduces the capital of eastern China’s Anhui province. Hefei is at the junction of Dongfei and Nanfei rivers, and is known as a garden city because of its many parks, which include Belt Park, a “green necklace” that circles the old town.

Hefei has many historical and cultural sites, such as the Memorial Temple of Lord Bao (999-1062) and the former residence of Li Hongzhang (1823-1901), a leading statesman during the late Qing Dynasty. It is also a great base for exploring the many other attractions of Anhui Province such as the beautiful Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), the ancient villages of Hongcun and Xidi, and the Yangtze River city of Wuhu.

I was fortunate to be able to visit Hefei and other Anhui attractions during my trip to Henan, Anhui and Zhejiang Provinces in 2009.