Exploring the Great Sights of China

You will, naturally, be expecting to see some wonderful sights when hiking in China - and you will not be disappointed. From incredible natural wonders to manmade masterpieces and cultural icons, there is so much in this fascinating country to relish the memory of. Visiting the cities of Xian and Suzhou will give you access to some excellent historical sites.

Xian

Most famously, Xian is known as the home of The Terracotta Army. The sculptures representing the warriors and horses of the first Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang are indeed an impressive sight, with lines and lines of figures stretching into the distance. They were buried with the Emperor to protect him in his afterlife, and he certainly wasn’t taking any chances! They were discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a water well, and Chinese archaeologists then went on to discover the largest collection of pottery figurines ever found in China.

Most of The Great Mosque of Xian was constructed during the Ming Dynasty and is still used today as a place of worship. Unusually, the mosque is of totally Chinese construction with only a little Arabic lettering and decoration; there are no domes or minarets.

Near to The Great Mosque you will find The Drum Tower, which is the sister building of The Bell Tower. The drums were used to monitor time and sometimes as an alarm in emergencies. It was built in 1380 during the reign of Emperor Hongwu and is a combination of styles from the Tang Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty. Occasionally musical performances are put on inside it.

Suzhou

Suzhou is known as the ‘Venice of the East’ and is well worth a visit when on a holiday hiking in China. This title is largely due to the beautiful gardens, of which there are around 50, and which date back to the 6th century BCE. First built as royal hunting gardens, private gardens soon sprang up in an extreme case of "keeping up with the Joneses", continuing up until the 19th century. These included the Lingering Garden, the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the Net Master’s Garden and the Retreat and Reflection Garden. The gardens have been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Hanshan Temple is a Buddhist Temple and Monastery about five miles outside the city. It is thought to have been founded in the Tianjian era in around 502-519. The poem, A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge, by the Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ji, has immortalised the temple, and his statue can be seen at the Maple Bridge. The bells at the Hanshan Temple are a matter of some controversy, as the original Tang Dynasty bell is thought to have been taken to Japan in ancient times. The two bells used today both date from the Qing Dynasty.

For art lovers, a visit to The Suzhou Museum should be on the itinerary of your holiday as it houses a wonderful collection of ancient Chinese art and paintings and great examples of calligraphy.

There are some wonderful treasures to explore in both Xian and Suzhou, and time taken in these wonderful cities will be time well spent during your holiday hiking in China.

Tony Maniscalco is the Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Join us on a holiday hiking in China to the most scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices. We offer over 140 guided group walking holidays in over 60 different countries.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.