27 Reasons China Is The Best Place For Your Next Epic Adventure
New Year's resolution: book ticket ASAP.
1. The swimming holes are damn sexy:
The one above is in Changbaishan, Jilin, but they are all over the country.
2. No place is as beautiful as Karakul Lake:
Nope, not a desktop background. Karakul Lake, in the Xinjiang province, ACTUALLY EXISTS. And you can go to there.
3. The big cities are surprisingly green:
China has way more trees than you'd think. Exhibit A: Forbidden City, Beijing.
4. Even the bridges are exceptional:
Just look at the one in Chengyang, Guangxi!
5. It's the perfect place for lovers:
No but seriously though. Could the couple above, in Harbin, Heilongjiang, BE any more romantic?
6. And also the best spot to kick back and relax in nature:
Proof: Mount Cangshan, in Dali, Yunnan.
7. Sunsets on the Great Wall of China are amazing:
Oh hello heaven on Earth, a.k.a. the Gubeikou Great Wall Section.
8. And you can camp there, too:
You can actually wake up like that.
9. In fact, you can also pitch a tent in a Tibetan monastery:
Head to Ganzi, Sichuan to get the experience.
10. It even looks good in bad weather:
Look how beautiful the Longji Rice Terraces in Guangxi are, despite the fog!
11. The old buildings are damn cool:
Now introducing some seriously rad architecture in Shanghai.
12. The history is old AF:
These are the Terracotta Warriors, located in Xi'an. They were discovered in 1974, and date back all the way to the late third century BCE, when they were buried with the first Emperor of China to protect him in his afterlife.
13. You really need to see Yangshuo with your own eyes:
What's Yangshuo, you ask? It's a magical place in the Guangxi province that has some of the most beautiful views in all the land — evidence above.
14. You can explore the real Avatar Mountains:
You got to know these beauties in the movie Avatar. But these guys, in Zhangjiajie National Park in Hunan, are the real deal.
15. There are pandas all around, and they are everything:
Don't you just want to give this one in Chengdu, Sichuan, a giant ~panda~ hug??
16. The hiking views are hard to beat:
Oh, nbd, just another normal-looking stroll through Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan.
17. And, yeah, they're also kinda scary ...
This hikes in Huashan, Shaanxi is legit one of the "most dangerous ones in the world." Not for the inexperienced!
18. You can actually buy a camel at the local market:
Head to Kashgar, Xinjiang, for the MOST AMAZING SLASH RIDICULOUS SOUVENIR EVER.
19. The locals are super stylish:
Right?! The locals above are in Shangri-La, Yunnan, but really, the entire country is filled with beautiful people.
20. And the monks are pretty dope, too:
That is one cool monk in Litang, Yunnan.
21. The prayer flags are beautiful:
How relaxing is this scene in Shangri-La, Yunnan?
22. There are volcanic lakes galore:
Like this one in Changbaishan, Jilin.
23. You can even get the French experience in China:
Seriously, the country really does have everything. (Everything, in this case, being the Eiffel Tower replica in Hangzhou, Zhejiang.)
24. The skyscrapers are straight out of the future:
Shanghai skyline = not 2015.
25. The hidden spots are oh so peaceful:
The secret is finding them in the first place. Hint: This one's in Zhangjiajie National Park, Hunan.
26. You can get lost for days in all of the old alley ways:
Like these in Shaxi, Yunnan.
27. And, quite frankly, in all of the picturesque beauty around the country:
This scene is in Qibao, Shanghai — but there's beauty everywhere!
So, what are you waiting for?
It's time to buy that plane ticket...
2016 is your year. And since the flight is pricey, be sure to check out how to get the cheapest one possible.
Happy travels!