The Top-10
Reasons to Recommend: Opened in 1995, the Shanghai Wild Animal Park was one of the first AAAAA (highest-rated) tourist attractions in China. Visitors can see more than 10,000 exotic animals, most of which are rare wildlife, including giant pandas, snub-nosed monkeys, takins, crested ibis, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, white rhinos, and cheetahs. The park is divided into drive-through and pedestrian areas. The drive-through portions are modeled on safari parks where animals roam through natural habitats. Another popular attraction is the park’s tiger feeding pen where you can witness up close giant tigers. With lots to see and do, the Shanghai Wild Animal Park is fun for people of all ages.
Reasons to Recommend: Mount Huangshan is famous for its long history. "You would not want to visit mountains after visiting the Five Sacred Mountains, and you would not want to visit the Five Sacred Mountains after visiting Huangshan." Xu Xiake, a great traveler and geographer of the Ming Dynasty, twice ascended Huangshan to witness its magnificence, exclaiming it as "a wonder in life." Dramatic Pines, grotesque rocks, sea of clouds, and hot springs are known as the “Four Musts” of Huangshan. They are the uncanny workmanship of nature and cannot be missed. In addition, the haze, snow scene, and sunrise are unique landscapes of Huangshan. Each landscape has its unique beauty and makes you feel like you are in a fairyland.
Reasons to Recommend: Putuo Mountain is the only sacred Buddhist mountain in China that is located by the sea. The beautiful natural landscape merges with the long-standing Buddhist culture, earning it the title of "Heaven of the Sea and Kingdom of the Buddhist" at home and abroad. Putuo Mountain is not only a sacred place of Buddhism, it also has the characteristics of a seaside city: beach and seafood. The island has two sandy beaches of Qianbusha and Baibusha. Beachside hotels and seafood restaurants are gathered there.
Reasons to Recommend: Lingshan Township's Nianhua Bay is a Zen-inspired resort town where you can go on a journey of spiritual discovery. The town is built in ancient Chinese style, with Zen as the central theme. During the day, you can visit the Zen music halls, the flower chamber, the music gazebo and Nianhua flower garden and tower, and other architectures. You can check out the arts and crafts shops. When you get tired, you can sit down somewhere to get a drink or grab a bite. In the evening, you can photograph the quiet night of Nianhua Bay and take a look at the novelty 3D water screen movie on Nianhua Lake.
Reasons to Recommend: Wuzhen is an ancient town with over 1300 years of history. It was the filming location for the popular television drama Si Shui Nianhua starring Huang Lei and Liu Ruoying. The town is full of classic bridges, canals, and many elegant residences in the Jiangnan style particular to the region south of the Yangtze River. Here, a rich variety of culinary specialties abounds in a laid-back setting. This is a prime location for experiencing classic Jiangnan water scenery. Today, Wuzhen has two major scenic areas: East Gate and West Gate, where you can soak in the small-town atmosphere and sample local snacks like stinky tofu, “victory cake” (dingsheng bing), or “sister-in-law cake” (gusao bing). You can visit the historic Zhaoming Library or old post office. Of course, you have to see the town from one of the traditional canal boats, and you can't miss seeing the night-time beauty of West Gate.
Reasons to Recommend: Hangzhou Songcheng Park is a large theme park in Hangzhou featuring the cultural characteristics of the Song Dynasty. It is located at the southwest of the West Lake Scenic Area with Wuyun mountain to its north. They have antique markets, tea houses, grocery stores, ironsmith shops, and wine shops that illustrate day to day life in the Song Dynasty era. You can enjoy chinese cultural performances like puppet shows and chinese shadow play or get your heart pumping by watching some chinese boxing. You might also encounter fully armored soldiers patrolling the street or hunting down fugitives. All of these adds up to give you a wonderful sense of traveling back in time. The large-scale musical “Song City: Thousand Years of Love” is a must-see in Songcheng.
Reasons to Recommend: In 1984, a painting by famous chinese artist Chen Yifei announced Zhouzhuang Water Town to the world, and since then Zhouzhuang has been regarded by many as one of the best water towns in China. This ancient town has a history of more than 900 years old with many houses built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Known as Yao City or Zhenfang lane in ancient times, the town was once a part of the Kingdom of Wu, playing an important role in the distribution of silk, ceramics, art pieces, and food. With lakes on the four sides, the beauty of Zhouzhuang has to be discovered through its water lanes and stone bridges. Taking a boat ride would be an interesting option to tour around the town. Famous sites include Zhang Hall, Shen Hall, and the underwater tomb of Shen Wansan, a famous Yuan Dynasty Businessman. If you stay around till the lights light up at night, you can enjoy a view that is seemingly made up from a fairytale.
Reasons to Recommend: The Lingshan Giant Buddha is located on Xiaoling Mountain on the edge of Taihu Lake in Wuxi. Its scale is grand and spectacular. Many great masters came to hold grand ceremonies during its opening, and thus Chinese locals believe that it will bring good fortune if one prays to the great Buddha. There is also an interesting thing to try out when visiting the Buddha. When you look up at the Buddha and walk left or right, regardless of where you go, the eyes of the Buddha are always watching you, as if "the Dharma is boundless and sees everything."
Reasons to Recommend: Thousand Island Lake is a huge man-made reservoir covering an area of 580 square kilometers on the upper reaches of Xin'an River, 160km from Hangzhou and Mount Huangshan. It is named after the 1,078 islands that spread across the lake. The lake is known for its crystal-clear waters and picturesque scenery. It is a popular choice for vacation and relaxation in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Meifeng Island, Huangdao Island, Monkey Island, Qiandaohu Stone Forest, Shilin Lake and Jiuyijie Waterfall are all attractions worth seeing. The several rafting spots around the lake should also not be missed in the summer heat, as you will definitely be rewarded with a fun and exciting experience.
Reasons to Recommend: The Nanshan Sea of Bamboo is an eco-tourism area located at the junction of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces. Over 98% of the forest is covered by vegetation. Scenic sites include Lake Jing, Guguan Road, a bird sanctuary, and Wuyuedi peak. When you reach the Nanshan Sea of Bamboo, you can take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and stroll through the forest. It’s like being in a natural oxygen bar where you can breathe in fresh air. When you reach Wuyuedi peak, you can see the beauty of the 3 provinces and the vast forest of bamboo, bringing you closer to nature.
Reasons to Recommend: There is a chinese saying “Taihu Lake is a wonderful place because of Turtle Head Island.” During the early 20th century, social celebrities, officials and nobles built private gardens and villas on Turtle Head Island. After the founding of the People's Warlord Era, these assets were mostly taken over by the government and merged into the Turtle Head Park. It is currently an AAAAA attraction. There are taoist temples and buddha statues on the island. If you visit during the spring season, you will also be able to enjoy charming surroundings filled with cherry blossoms!
Reasons to Recommend: Moganshan is a retreat hotspot for many Shanghainese who are looking for a tranquil respite from the hustle and bustle of Shanghai. A three hour drive from Shanghai takes you up to the mountains where there are dense bamboo forests and hundreds of charming villas awaiting you. It resembles a paradise. Many famous people such as Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek had stayed here previously. A weekend trip to the mountains will get you recharged and ready to conquer all challenges coming your way the following week.
Reasons to Recommend: While having fun and enjoying the countryside at Hangzhou Safari Park, you can also find out more about science and ecology. The park creates a harmonious atmosphere between people and animals, helping people to find the joy of returning to nature. The park features special landscapes, such as an African wilderness, Australian outback, and Asian wetlands, where more than 10,000 animals of more than 200 representative species from all over the world live and roam. Among these, you can see rare wildlife under first-tier protection and second-tier protection from China.
Reasons to Recommend: Ningbo Fangtawild Oriental Heritage is located on the south bank of the cross-sea bridge in Hangzhou Bay New District of Ningbo. It is a large scale high-tech theme park that incorporates ancient chinese myths and cultural connotations into its rides. "Nuwa Mends the Heavens", "The Love of the Thousand Ages", "The Great Wall Love Story", "The Spirit of the Soul", and "The Tower of the Gods" are examples of such initiatives. The 4D visual feast, and grand performances will give you your money's worth.
Reasons to Recommend: Located near Hongqiao Airport, Shanghai Zoo is a modern metropolitan zoological garden featuring more than 6,000 animals in additional to various plant life. Species native to China include giant pandas, golden snub-nosed monkeys, lions, South China tigers, hoopoe, black bulbuls, scimitar-horned oryx, great hornbills, and Bactrian camels. With its convenient location and visitor-friendly design, the Shanghai Zoo provides a fun outing for the entire family.
Reasons to Recommend: The ancient city of Shaoxing is an ancient city with a lot of cultural heritage. The white walls and grey tiles of the ancient city houses are well-preserved and do not have a strong commercial atmosphere. Cangqiao Street Historic District, Bazi Bridge Historic District and Lu Xun's Hometown Historic District are all good choices. The ancient city is surrounded by water, with criss-crossing rivers and known as the "ancient city floating on the water." Therefore, the boat with black awning is one of the most popular modes of transportation.
Reasons to Recommend: Xitang is a famous old town in Zhejiang Province where you can come to embrace the slow paced life. You can drink tea at a local teahouse, listen to Chinese opera and sit on a rowboat to explore the ancient town of Jiangnan. Xitang is also a filming location for movies and television dramas. Fans of the movie “Mission Impossible 3” will vividly remember Tom Cruise running through these corridors. The Xitang night scenery is also something not to be missed. In the evening, ride the boat to immerse yourself in the night atmosphere of Xitang, or take a walk along the corridors filled with red lanterns. There is also a bar street at Xitang East Street.
Reasons to Recommend: Fantawild Dreamland is a modern all-around amusement park that uses a high-tech interpretation of themes to intricately combine elements of international entertainment, such as animation/cartoons and movie stunts, with symbols from traditional Chinese culture. The park has over 10 areas, including a magic castle, a show recreating the Flood of Jinshan Temple, and the Cave of the Seven Spiders. In Fantawild Dreamland, taking different paths leads to different experiences. The park is a blast for adults as well as children.
Reasons to Recommend: Hanshan Temple is located in the western suburbs of Suzhou. The temple dates back more than 1,400 years. The temple gained renown from its mention in the famous poem “A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge” by the poet Zhang Ji of the Tang Dynasty: “From the monastery on Cold Mountain, the sound of the bell reaches the guest boat at midnight.” Hanshan Temple is a famous site to pay. Every day, a steady stream of believers comes to the temple to strike the bell, light incense, and pray for the future.
Reasons to Recommend: Located in Suzhou Wujiang, Tongli Ancient Town is a Jiangnan Ancient Water Town established in the Song Dynasty. It has a history of over a thousand years with the bulk of its buildings now constructed during the era of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. River canals divide the town into 7 sections, but the sections are all interconnected by 49 stone bridges. Almost every residential house is facing a river canal. The main attractions of the town include Jiayin Hall and Congben hall, The Tuisi Garden, Three Bridges, and The Pearl Tower. The attractions and be toured in one or two days. The town is 18 kilometers from Suzhou and 80 kilometers from Shanghai.