Brief China Tourism Resources

China's tourism industry has become one of the hot spots in the country's already sizzling economy. As the country becomes increasingly ‘tourist-friendly' with improvements to infrastructure and transportation, especially at major tourist sites, the number of overseas visitors to China grows each year.

China possesses a near inexhaustible supply of unique attractions for the traveler to enjoy. China boasts vast terrain, splendid landscapes, rich cultures, multiple nationalities and ethnic backgrounds with various customs and exquisite arts and crafts. The possibilities for exploration and enjoyment are endless. Moreover, with the diversity of Chinese cooking, a visitor is guaranteed to find something that suits his or her appetite.

What follows is a brief outline of the must-see sights when making a trip to China.

Mount Everest:

Rising to an altitude of 8848.13 meters from the Turpan Basin, which is 155 meters below sea level. It has an total height of 9003 meters, which makes Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.

Hengduan Mountains:

Extreme fluctuations in the topography of the area have led to such descriptions as, "the climate differs every ten miles" and "four seasons coexist on one mountain" - apt descriptions as valleys covered in monsoon rainforest occur alongside alpine peaks covered in snow and ice.

Peking Man:

Though China is famous for being one of the birthplaces of human civilization, it is also known for its rich Paleolithic history. The discovery of Peking Man at Zhoukoudian on the outskirts of Beijing confirmed the existence of hominids older than Neanderthals, and brought international research into the beginnings of man to China.

Terra Cotta Warriors and Bronze Chariots:
Known as the eighth wonder of the world, the Terra Cotta Warriors and Bronze Chariots of Xian were built to accompany the first emperor of China into the afterlife and took 700,000 laborers 36 years to build. They now attract millions of visitors annually.

Mogao Grottoes:

Located near Dunhuang, the Mogao Grottoes are a collection of Buddhist cave temples whose walls are covered in beautiful, well-preserved murals and statues. Some caves have thousands of exquisitely painted Buddhas lining the walls inside.

The Great Wall:

One of the grandest construction feats in the history of the world, the Great Wall winds for 6700 kilometers (4163 miles) across deserts, grasslands, mountains, and plateaus maintaining a height of 15-20 feet, and a width of up to 25 feet.

Minority Cultures:

China is home to 56 ethnic groups, each with its own history and culture.

China Theme Travel

Since 1992, China's National Tourism Administration has sought to increase overseas travel to China by organizing their promotional work according to different themes that change annually. This year's theme is "Catch the Lifestyle", and will be reflected in advertisements, promotional materials, and promotional activities.

Contained within this year's theme is the offer and sincere wish that China's overseas friends will take an interest in and seek to understand the everyday lives of the Chinese people. Yes, the Great Wall and the Terra Cotta Warriors of Xian are great reasons to come to China. But this year, the National Tourism Administration is making the point: there are no tourists in China; there is no distance; it's time to live. Go deeper, immerse yourself; go native: food, costume, residence, entertainment, festival, conversation, custom, leisure - grab all you can, don't hold back - Catch the Lifestyle!

Theme Travel Programs Launched by the National Tourism Administration:

1992 Friendship Sightseeing
1993 Landscape Scenery
1994 Cultural Relics & Historical Sites
1995 Folk Customs
1996 Relaxing Vacation
1997 China Travel Year
1999 Ecology & Environment
2000 New Millennium
2001 Health & Fitness
2002 Folk Arts
2003 Culinary Kingdom
2004 Catch the Lifestyle

Eight Major Cuisines of China

Shandong Cuisine

Genre: composed by the local dish style of Jinan and Jiaodong.

Characteristics: thick taste, prefers scallion and garlic. Special in cooking seafood, soup with meat inside.

Famous dish: Fried Shrimp, Fried Conch, Sweet and Crispy Carp.

Sichuan Cuisine

Genre: divided into Chengdu and Chongqing genre.

Characteristics: famous for rich, broad, thick and deep taste.

Famous dish: Kung Bo Chicken, Top Class Bare Palm, Fish Flavor Pork Shreds, Dry Fried Shark's Fin, Fried Spicy Crabs.

Jiangsu Cuisine

Genre: developed from Yangzhou, Suzhou and Nanjing local dishes.

Characteristics: well known for braising, stewing and roasting. Pay attention to soup and savour the original sauce.

Famous dish: Dried Tofu Shreds Boiled in Chicken Broth, Crystal Hoofs, Braised Crab Meat Balls.


Zhejiang Cuisine

Genre: composed by Hangzhou, Ningbo and Shaoxing local dishes. And the most famous one is Hangzhou dish.

Characteristics: Fresh, tender, soft, smooth, fragrant and not greasy.

Famous dish: Dragon Well Shelled Shrimps, Beggar's Chicken, West Lake Vinegar Fish.


Canton Cuisine

Genre: Divided into 3 sub genres, Guangzhou, Chaozhou and Dongjiang dishes, represented by the Guangzhou dish.

Characteristics: Outstanding sautéing, deep frying, braising, boiling. Taste is featured by clearness, lightness, crispiness and freshness.

Famous dish: Gathering of Dragon, Tiger and Phoenix. Roast Suckling Pig, Winter Melon Cup and Sweet and Sour Pork.

Hunan Cuisine

Genre: Pay attention to the various kinds of spices: fragrant, numbing, regular, burning numb and fresh. And the most popular taste is sour and spicy.

Famous dish: Rock Sugar with Lotus, Braised Shark's Fin.


Fujian Cuisine

Genre: Developed from Fuzhou, Quanzhou and Xiamen dishes. Represented by the Fuzhou dish.

Characteristics: Seafood is the main ingredient. Pay attention to sweetness, sourness, saltiness and fragrance. Beautiful color combines with delicious taste.

Famous dish: Snowflake Chicken, Jiaji Fish in Orange Sauce, Taiji Shrimps and Dry Fried Fish.


Anhui Cuisine

Genre: Made of the local cuisines of southern Anhui and Huai River range. Represented by the southern Anhui dish.

Characteristics: Ham is often the main ingredient and accompanies rock sugar. Famous for roasting and braising. Focus on heat control.

Famous dish: Gourd Duck, Fuliji Roast Chicken.