So to China again - the world's most populated country!! Now, when you think of World Heritage Sites in China you must mean The Great Wall, The Forbidden Palace, The Terracotta Warriors, etc...?? No, sorry, not today and not for this travelling Northern Irishman. China was the first Asian country I ever visited and my flirting love affair with it's land of endless possibilities continues...so here I bring you 3 very unknown and unusual UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China which I have visited recently.
1. Fujian Tulou Buildings in Fujian Province, China - situated is deep countryside with valleys and mountains all around, this is a splendid set of old style buildings known as Tulou. There are hundreds of them and they were built to house full families and Chinese clans back in the day. You can go inside most of them and they are not too busy or touristic, especially for those non-Chinese. This makes your visit seem so special and amazing. A great heritage site! []
Quick tips - First up arrive in the city of Yongding. From there you'll get some details on trips out to the Fujian Tulou Buildings - shop around and get a good deal. You can get a bus tour or hire a driver, worth getting out to for a real different Chinese world heritage experience!
2. Danxiashan Mountains, Guangdong Province, CHINA: Hidden shyly in the north of Guangdong Province, this range of mountains, hills and odd rock formations lets your mind wander into a real unknown part of China, at least for the non-Chinese amongst us. It's not a guided tour or anything like the buildings in Fujian, this is very much a Do It Yourself style hiking and climbing opportunity. The views at sunset are amazing, as is the tough ascent for sunrise the following morning.
Easy Guide- Head to Shaoguan in China and then get a bus from the main bus station out to the Danxia mountains - you will probably arrive at a resort called Jin Jiang or Yao Tang village. You can stay the night there and use it as your base to do the hiking. Don't miss penis rock on the hikes!
3. The Kaiping Dialou in the Guangdong Province of China: A country as big as China you will be surprised that there are so many world heritage sites you haven't even heard of! These buildings are totally epic and worth a trip - scattered all over the nearby towns and villages to the city of Kaiping, you can enjoy some old style buildings in the peaceful countryside! []
Quick Guide - Get to the city of Kaiping and stay in the Milan Hotel. It's a great central hotel within a 2 minute walk from the bus station (YES a real 2 minute walk - I really travel remember!). From there ask at reception about doing the tour out to the amazing Diaolou. There are leaflets in reception.
That's my rundown on these 3 excellent unknown World Heritage Sites in China - head out and check them out!
1. Fujian Tulou Buildings in Fujian Province, China - situated is deep countryside with valleys and mountains all around, this is a splendid set of old style buildings known as Tulou. There are hundreds of them and they were built to house full families and Chinese clans back in the day. You can go inside most of them and they are not too busy or touristic, especially for those non-Chinese. This makes your visit seem so special and amazing. A great heritage site! []
Quick tips - First up arrive in the city of Yongding. From there you'll get some details on trips out to the Fujian Tulou Buildings - shop around and get a good deal. You can get a bus tour or hire a driver, worth getting out to for a real different Chinese world heritage experience!
2. Danxiashan Mountains, Guangdong Province, CHINA: Hidden shyly in the north of Guangdong Province, this range of mountains, hills and odd rock formations lets your mind wander into a real unknown part of China, at least for the non-Chinese amongst us. It's not a guided tour or anything like the buildings in Fujian, this is very much a Do It Yourself style hiking and climbing opportunity. The views at sunset are amazing, as is the tough ascent for sunrise the following morning.
Easy Guide- Head to Shaoguan in China and then get a bus from the main bus station out to the Danxia mountains - you will probably arrive at a resort called Jin Jiang or Yao Tang village. You can stay the night there and use it as your base to do the hiking. Don't miss penis rock on the hikes!
3. The Kaiping Dialou in the Guangdong Province of China: A country as big as China you will be surprised that there are so many world heritage sites you haven't even heard of! These buildings are totally epic and worth a trip - scattered all over the nearby towns and villages to the city of Kaiping, you can enjoy some old style buildings in the peaceful countryside! []
Quick Guide - Get to the city of Kaiping and stay in the Milan Hotel. It's a great central hotel within a 2 minute walk from the bus station (YES a real 2 minute walk - I really travel remember!). From there ask at reception about doing the tour out to the amazing Diaolou. There are leaflets in reception.
That's my rundown on these 3 excellent unknown World Heritage Sites in China - head out and check them out!
About the Author:
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