Beijing
The city of Beijing is best enjoyed by bike. Due to the incessant traffic at all hours of the day, and Beijing’s location on the northern triangle of the North China Plain, biking Beijing is both efficient and easy. For a change of environment, biking the arid Jundu Mountains to the north of Beijing city proper, offers impressive views of tectonic folding, and, during the fall, brilliant displays of turning foliage.
Sichuan Province
Sichuan Province, located in the heart of China, has a land area of roughly 480,000 sq meters, which is only slightly smaller than the entire country of Spain. Sichuan contains an astounding array of ecosystems throughout its vast borders, and entire trips can be easily spent exploring Sichuan’s gorgeous valleys, magnificent peaks, marshes, tablelands, and grassy plains. It’s estimated that Sichuan Province contains more than 10,000 kinds of usable plants, and ranks second in China in terms of its flora and fauna resources. Numerous nature reserves, such as the Wolong Panda Reserve, exist to maintain the impressive biodiversity of the region, and to give travelers an opportunity to visit these gorgeous places.
Guizhou Province
Another one of China’s biodiversity goliaths, Guizhou Province is a mountaineer’s dream, with mountains and hills taking up some 97% of the total area of the province. In addition, within Guizhou’s borders, one can find a plethora of waterfalls, canyons, forests, lakes, hot springs, karst caverns, and terraced hillsides. The Fanjingshan Nature Reserve, in northeast Guizhou, is characterized by impressive peaks, dressed in thick forest cover. Over 800 animals have been recorded inhabiting the reserve, making Fanjingshan an ideal destination for animal tracking and bird watching.
Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province
The tropical environment of Xishuangbanna in southern Yunnan Province resembles the bordering nations of Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam more than that of mainland China. Xishuangbanna is an ethnically diverse region that contains a number of China’s oldest minority groups, including as the Yao, Dai, Bulang, Aini, and Ake peoples. Numerous trekking options exist for travelers that offer encounters with fascinating rainforest plant species, ancient tea plantations with tea trees that are over 800 years old, and trips along the northern section of the Mekong River.
Inner Mongolia
The landscape of Inner Mongolia is dominated by vast grasslands that have been the home of nomadic pastoralists and their herds for thousands of years. Opportunities exist for travelers to explore the region on horseback or camel, witness Mongolian wrestling competitions, or visit the homes of local herdsman. Travelers directly influence the preservation of Inner Mongolia’s natural environment by infusing alternative sources of income. Unfortunately, increasing agricultural production, a result of greater population pressure, has begun to exacerbate the desertification of the region’s magnificent steppes.
Kanas Lake, Xinjiang Province
In Xinjiang Province’s far-flung northern tip sits one of China’s most remarkable natural features: Kanas Lake. Kanas, meaning “beautiful and mysterious” in Mongolian, is nestled within the Alti mountain range, in between the borders of Mongolia, Russia, and Kazakhstan. The long and slender, crescent shaped Kanas Lake is only 38 square km, yet arguably unlike anywhere else in the world. Its distinct ecosystem abounds in fauna and flora typical of southern Siberia, and is home to more than 100 different kinds of birds.
Tibet
The autonomous area of Tibet is China’s second largest province, and encompasses more than a million square kilometers of earth at an average altitude of 4, 000 meters. In addition to the province’s marvelous mountain topography, large swaths of the Tibetan Plateau are spotted with innumerable lakes, ponds, and bogs that comprise over 6 million hectares of precious wetlands. The Lhula wetland, known as the “Lung of Lhasa,” located in the north part of the capital city, is the largest wetland in all of China. It’s been recognized as an essential environment for breeding waterfowl, and is remarkable place for witnessing rare birds, such as the Black-necked Crane.
Thousand Islets Lake, Zhejiang Province
Zhejiang Province is home to the stunning Thousand Islets Lake; a manmade reservoir created in 1958. The thousand or so islets are what remain of the mountains that lined the Xin’an River prior to being dammed. The lake is partially fed by the Nongfu Spring, which makes it one of the cleanest lakes in all of China. The Thousand Islet Lake is also China’s largest protected forest reserve, making it an ideal destination for those who wish to escape the city, or photographers seeking that perfect picture.
Sanya Coral Reef
Numerous coral reefs exist along the fringes of the South China Sea Islands, and are home to a giant number of underwater plants and animals. As is the unfortunate trend throughout the world, China’s coral reefs are being seriously damaged and degraded, as a result of increased negative human activities and pollution. In an attempt to combat this massive problem, the Chinese government has taken a number of measures to protect and manage these reefs. One such action has been the creation of protective sanctuaries, such as the Sanya Coral Reef Natural Reserve. In addition to raising awareness and aiding in coral recovery, the Sanya Coral Reef Natural Reserve offers travelers an opportunity to safely explore these magnificent underwater worlds.
Yarlung Zanbo Grand Canyon
By some estimates the Yarlung Zanbo Grand Canyon is considered the biggest, longest, and deepest canyon in the world, stretching some 496 kilometers, with an average depth of 5,000 meters. As a result of the canyon’s enormous size, numerous ecosystems can be found along the Yarlung Zanbo, with climates ranging from subtropical to arctic. One of the most spectacular views occurs very near Mt. Namch Barwa, when the Yarlung Zangbo River drastically bends creating a perfect horseshoe shape. The Yarlung Zanbo Grand Canyon offers hiking, climbing, and kayaking options for experienced adventurers.
Zhalong Natural Reserve, Qiqiha’er
One of the most important wetland areas in China is located within the Zhalong Natural Reserve in the city of Qiqiha’er. The reserve is known for the extensive marshlands that attract an impressive 295 different species of birds. Six of the estimated 15 crane species that exist throughout the world can be found in this 40,000 sq km reserve in northwest Heilongjiang Province. Unfortunately, the region has recently been plagued by fires, and some of the birds are finding it difficult to find the reserve. Nevertheless, natural resource managers have worked diligently to put out the fires and restore the damaged areas. Volunteer opportunities are often available for natural resource restoration projects, such as this one.
Heavenly Pool, Jilin Province
Northeast China possesses the deepest crater lake in the entire country, which occupies over 10 sq km. The Heavenly Pool of Changbaishan Mountain in Jilin Province is 373 meters deep, and is enclosed by 16 magnificent peaks. Its beauty has earned it the epithet, “a sapphire set in gold.” Springs and waterfalls abound around the Heavenly Pool, including a spectacular 68-meter high waterfall. However, hiking in this picturesque landscape can be tricky due to unpredictable rain storms, as well as the creature with “the body of a dinosaur and head of an ox” that locals rumor to inhabit the lake.
Guangxi Province
In the southern province of Guangxi exists one of the world’s most spectacular karst formations. Primarily occurring within the drainage basins of the Yangtze and Pearl rivers, Tiankengs, or “heavenly pits” in English, are scattered throughout lush, conical hills. These massive, steep-walled sink holes are unlike those found anywhere else in the world. It’s estimated that some are so large they could fit a couple of Empire State Buildings in them. What is most remarkable of all is that the Tiankengs weren’t fully discovered until only very recently, as little as 15 years ago
Qinghai Lake, Qinghai Province
On the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, within the boundaries of Qinghai Province, sits China’s largest saltwater lake. During the spring and summer months, Qinghai Lake is magnificently framed by fields of wildflowers that coat the surrounding mountains. In addition, every April, it becomes the stopover for thousands of birds during their annual migration across Asia. Qinghai Lake is also recognized as a fantastic place to gather data pertaining to the history of the earth. The saline lake contains sedimentary records that date back some 10 million years.
