Top 8 natural tourist attractions in China

china.org.cn | Updated: 2010-01-20 13:40

1. Huangguoshu Waterfall in Guizhou Province

Top 8 natural tourist attractions in China

The Huangguoshu waterfall, the largest and one of the six most beautiful waterfalls in China, is located on the Baishui River in the Bouyei Miao ethnic minority Autonomous County, southwest China's Guizhou Province. The Huangguoshu waterfall runs down through plenty of rocks and is surrounded by steep mountains.

The waterfall is 30 meters wide (can reach 40 meters in summer) and has a fall of 66 metres.There are 17 more waterfalls in the upper and lower reaches of the Baishui River, where the Huangguoshu Waterfall lies. These 18 waterfalls form the largest cluster of waterfalls in the world and was listed in the Guinness World Records in 1999.The best time to visit the Huangguoshu Waterfall is from May to October.

2. Mt. Qomolangma in Tibet

Mount Qomolangma, also called Mt. Everest, is the highest peak in the world. Its Tibetan meaning of 'Goddess the Third' adds more mysterious color and magic power to the subject. As a result, it has intrigued all kinds of people since it was first discovered. Pilgrims trek long distances to present a pious worship, climbing enthusiasts run great risks to challenge its high altitude and the common tourists also yearn for a reverent look at this holy peak.

The altitude of Mt. Everest is now about 8,844.43 m. (29,017 ft.). It is the dominant peak of Himalayas, the northern brae in Tingri County of Tibet and the southern in the Nepal. The area has 4 peaks above 8,000 m. (26,247 ft.) and 38 peaks above 7,000 m. (22,965 ft.), hence the laudatory title 'the Third Pole of the Earth'.

3. Taklimakan Desert in Xinjiang

The Taklamakan Desert, also known as Taklimakan, is a desert in Central Asia, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. As one of the largest sand deserts in the world, the Taklimakan Desert covers an area of 330,000 square kilometers.It is bounded by the Kunlun Mountains to the south, and the Pamir Mountains and Tian Shan (ancient Mount Imeon) to the west and north. It is crossed at its northern and at its southern edge by two branches of the Silk Road as travelers sought to avoid the arid wasteland. "Taklimakan" has the meaning that you can never get out of the place once you step in it. The sand hills in the desert are 300 meters high. When wind blows the sand up, the hills can reach a height of 900 meters.

4. Namtso Lake in Tibet

Some 60 kilometers to the northwest of Damxung County of Lhasa, Namtso Lake is the highest salt lake in the world and largest salt lake in Tibet. It is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and receives high respects among the local people. On the Tibetan year of sheep, pilgrims from faraway come here to walk around the lake. It takes more than 10 days to circle the lake once.

Namco, once dubbed as the highest inland lake in the world, is located at an altitude of 4,718 meters. The sacred lake attracts lots of pilgrims and visotors each year.Situated at north Tibet, Namco areas boast numerous scenic spots and diversified geographic features, such as snowbergs, wetlands, Gobi deserts, lakes and swamps.

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