I Heart China

Temple of Heaven in Beijing was once one of the most sacred locations in all of China. This huge temple complex was for the sole use of the Emperor with the single purpose of worshiping of heaven. The entire site was off limits to ordinary Chinese. Twice a year, on the solstice, a procession would set off from the Forbidden City in the centre of Beijing to the Temple of Heaven. Now the temple complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is used as a large public park and museum. Tourists may come and look a the unique, ancient buildings. The park surrounding the temples is popular with locals and here you can get a view of traditional Beijing park activities with people singing, dancing, playing chess or practising their calligraphy.

The Small Three Gorges is an off shoot of the famous Yangtze River Three Gorges. Set on the Daning River (大宁河), a tributary of the Yangtze, the Small Three Gorges runs from Wushan city, north to Dacheng ancient town. The Daning River splits from the Yangtze just after the Wu Gorge of the Three Gorges.

Gulangyu scenic spots, Xiamen (厦门市鼓浪屿风景名胜区) is a small island with a big history. This was once a major international trading port which in the 19th century, rivalled Hong Kong in importance. All major trading nations set up consulates on the island. They built large houses of a western, 19th century style. The foreigners also imported their culture to the island. This makes it distinct from other places in China.

Jiayuguan is the fortress at the extreme western end of the Ming Great Wall of China. Depending on your direction of travel, this is either the first or last gate in the Great Wall. Its position on the ancient silk road trading route made it an important location. The city of Jiayuguan slowly developed beside the fortress to take advantage of the trade.

Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town Tourist Resort is a collection of amusement parks within Nanshan District of Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. The area contains the amusement parks Splendid China, Chinese Folk Culture Village, Window of the World and Happy Valley. These mainly focus on Chinese themes but integrate elements form all around the world. Examples include a replica Eiffel Tower and Greek statues.