China’s most beautiful landscapes

China is a vast territory scattered with landscapes that look like figments of the most wonderful imagination. Mountains and towering karsts crowned with lush vegetation pierce through the clouds to look like islands in the sky. Rice terraces ripple around hillsides like green and gold patchwork quilts. Fishermen nudge flat boats along tranquil rivers with cormorants balanced on the bows. It’s a land for dreamers and photographers alike, and we’ve picked out China’s most beautiful landscapes that showcase the country’s spectacular beauty.

China’s most beautiful landscapes

Mount Huangshan

Mount Huangshan – a UNESCO World Heritage site – is a breathtakingly beautiful mountain in eastern China. It has captured the imagination of generations with its soaring peaks and surprising tranquility, earning itself the name Yellow Mountain.

You will find the best views at the tops of the peaks, often rising above the aptly named Sea of Clouds. There, you will see just the crowns of the surrounding mountains, like floating islands. These are, arguably, some of China’s best landscapes.

The Li River and Yangshuo

This is one of the most picturesque area of China, an archetypal land of rice paddies and a meandering river dotted with limestone karsts. Whether you choose to explore by foot, bike or boat, you will come face to face with scenes that have featured in Chinese art for generations.

Farmers lead their water buffalo from the river into lush green fields while limestone karts soaring into the heavens in the background. Wading birds stalk through the shallows and fishermen direct their cormorants into the depths of the river in a display of partnership that has delighted travelers for centuries.

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

The spectacular Zhangjiajie National Forest Park almost feels like it’s defying gravity. Slim pinnacles of basalt rock shoot skyward side by side in a magnificent display. It’s a unique landscape that inspired some of the magical scenery featured in the film ‘Avatar’, with some of the scenes shot here. These ‘sky columns’ are often partially draped in mist and cloud, making them even more ethereal, while vegetation and trees cling to them at impossible angles. There are several hundred columns in the park with the highest reaching a staggering 3500 feet high. 

Tianmen Mountain

Not far from the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain offers more breathtaking sights. On the approach, the hair-raising 99 bend road switchbacks and snakes through the mountains. Once up on high you can take a cable car soaring over the valley and look back down at the slithering ribbon of road. Other dramatic sights are the Heaven’s Gate rock formation and a series of glass walkways offering dizzying views directly down into plunging valleys. Visiting Tianmen Mountain is quite the ride.

Hangzhou and West Lake

Described by Marco Polo as “the city of Heaven”, Hangzhou is still one of China’s true gems many years later. Its most famous site is the UNESCO recognized West Lake, a freshwater lake split into sections by causeways and surrounded by beautiful gardens, pagodas, temples and pavilions.

The West Lake is a year-round destination as it is beautiful no matter what the season. Arguably the best time to visit is in spring when the willow trees unfurl their leaves and the area is awash with peach blossom. But summer is also lovely when the lotus flowers are in bloom and tranquility can be found in the cool shade of the bamboo forest and temples.

Sip on tea and admire the fiery foliage reflected in the lake if you travel in autumn. Delight in the stark beauty of the snow-covered landscape as you wander the shores in winter.

Blue Moon Valley, Lijiang

This spectacular spot lies within the popular Jade Dragon Snow Mountain scenic area, but is a little more tucked away. To get there, take a gentle hike along spruce forest paths before emerging into a valley boasting a series of brilliantly blue lakes. There are four in total, several of which are separated by terraced waterfalls of tumbling whitewater rapids. On a clear day, the sapphire waters reflect the Jade Dragon peak against a deep blue sky. 

Tiger Leaping Gorge

One of the best hikes in China, this spectacular gorge is one of the deepest in the world. It is also part of UNESCO’s Three Parallel Rivers World Heritage Site.

Tourists can wander along a well-maintained trail along the river at the bottom of the gorge. But you can also lace up your hiking boots and set off on more challenging multi-day hikes along the top of the valley. If you like walking, this is a great way to take in the area’s beauty. If you’re in the mood for a wild ride, then whitewater rafting is another option. 

The Yuanyang Rice Terraces

These are some of the oldest rice terraces in the world and certainly take first prize on China’s most beautiful landscapes list. The local Hani faced a great challenge some 2,000 years ago when it came to cultivating crops on the steep-sided mountains they had made their home. As a result, they came up with these terraced fields as a solution.

Most terraced fields weren’t built in southeast Asia until around the 14th century, so they were years ahead of other peoples. These days, the terraces have been recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site and make for some truly beautiful views. If you can’t make it to Yuagyuang, then head to Longji to see some equally spectacular rice paddies.

Jiuzhaigou National Park

Situated near the Tibetan border, the Jiuzhaigou National Park is an area of incredible colors and beautiful scenery. There are 114 lakes throughout the park which vary in color from dazzling blue to emerald green. Paired with the accompanying foliage of thousands of deciduous trees, these are the main attraction.

Legend has it the lakes came into being when a young boy presented a mirror made from the wind to a goddess. She shattered the mirror and let it fall to earth, forming the fairytale lakes that you see today.

Extreme weather conditions and occasional earthquake activity have meant that the park can sometimes be closed to the public. So it is always worth checking that it is open before making the journey to visit it.

The rainbow mountains of Zhangye National Geopark

Hard to access but worth the journey, the wonderful Danxia landscape is very popular with photographers visiting China. The name translates to “red, red clouds”. When you see them in person, it is easy to understand how they earned this name. The bands of color across the stone vary from golden and rusty shades to deep ochre reds. The landscape undulates towards the horizon looking just like its namesake – a rainbow of fiery hues.

Make it happen

If you would like to travel to China to take in its beauty as well as its many other offerings, then get in touch with our local experts. They will plan the perfect custom-made holiday for you – just tell them what’s most important to you on your trip.