Natural Areas In China That Will Surprise You
Lovers of landscapes and nature tourism will undoubtedly enjoy the natural spaces in China. Its wide territory and geographic variety make this country, the largest in the world, a place where you can discover surprising spaces. Therefore, in this article we want to offer you a selection of some of these landscapes worthy of admiration.
1. Namtso Lake, one of the sacred natural spaces in China
Namtso or Nam Lake is a large saltwater lake that is located in the middle of the Tibetan mountains. Its name means celestial lake. It is one of the best known lakes in China because it is considered a sacred lake by Tibetan Buddhism.
In fact, it is very common to witness great ceremonies in it, such as the celebration of the year of the sheep every 12 years. In addition, it is located just over 100 kilometers from the city of Lhasa.
Another important fact is that Lake Namtso is the highest lake in the world, it is located at no less than 4718 meters high. Therefore, since it is not near any nearby route, it must be programmed within the trip. In addition, within the tour you can visit the monasteries of Ganden, Tsurphu and Tidrum, among others.
2. Tian Shan Mountains
Another of the natural spaces in China most recognized by lovers of climbing and mountain sports are the impressive Tian Shan Mountains. This great mountain system of Central Asia is located in the border region between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and China.
It ranks fifth among the highest and most unique mountain systems in the world, after the Himalayas. Its highest peak is Jengish Chokusu Peak, at 7439 meters. In addition, this block of mountains over 6,000 meters high offers different sections of difficulty, as well as valleys and lakes as beautiful as Lake Issyk-Kul, which attracts a large number of visitors every year.
3. The Xixi Wetlands National Park
Located west of the city of Hangzhou, this park is home to a large number of animal and plant species. In fact, it has more than 100 species of freshwater fish. In addition, this natural park stands out because it is the only wetland park in China.
With more than 1800 years of history, it offers, in addition to its impressive landscape, a wide architectural and cultural heritage. Visitors will enjoy their visit touring the park by boat along its more than six navigable rivers, which converge in the center. An important fact is that the Dragon Boat Festival is held every summer.
4. The Jiulong waterfalls
Also known as the Nine Dragons Falls, they are located in Yunnan province. This impressive landscape of waterfalls is one of China’s natural icons.
Despite the fact that the falls between waterfalls are not high, the route is worthy of being photographed. The softness and modeling that the water has exerted on the terrain has recreated a landscape worthy of classical Chinese legends.
5. Rice fields of Yunnan, another of the natural spaces in China
This ancient rice farming system has given rise to one of the most characteristic landscapes in China. The rice terraces of Yunnan are one of the most visited and well-known places due to their antiquity and their unique beauty.
They have a history of nothing more and nothing less than 2,000 years since their construction and an area that exceeds 400,000 hectares. Likewise, in 2013 they were declared a World Heritage Site.
6. The stone forest of Lunan
This peculiar landscape is located southeast of Kunming. It is characterized by one of the strangest and most striking rock formations in the world. The origin of its formation is due to a long process of erosion caused by the drop in sea level and by movements of the tectonic plates.
The Lunan stone forest extends beyond 26,000 hectares and each of these peaks can reach more than 30 meters in height. However, only a small part is available for tourism.
7. Zhangjiajie, one of the most famous natural areas in China
We finish our selection of natural spaces in China with one of the landscapes most visited by international tourism. Since its appearance in the blockbuster film Avatar , by James Cameron, it is one of the most photographed and well-known landscapes in the country.
It is located in Hunan province and has more than 3,100 stone pillars made of quartzite and sandstone. These pillars exceed 200 meters in height. The park was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992.
