Cultural & Historic Sites

The rulers of ancient China were willing to spend many years of their reign to build extravagant mausoleums or tombs for themselves. The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, located at the foot of Li Mountain, Lintong District, Shaanxi Province, is the first and largest imperial mausoleums. It took 38 years to construct this giant underground palace. The Ming Tombs are the best preserved imperial tombs with a history of 500 years.

History of the Chinese civilization began in the Neolithic Age, about 4,000 years to 10,000 years ago. Numerous cultural treasures are displayed in different museums where you can see potteries, porcelains, bronzes, weapons, jade, silver and gold utensils, ancient currency, furniture, tiles and bricks. Shaanxi History Museum is one of the great history museums with the span from Prehistoric Times to the Qing Dynasty.

The following seven theme museums exhibit Chinese silk, tea, traditional medicines, porcelain, rare stones, stone steles and Jewish Refugees in Shanghai.

From the Northern Wei Dynasty, many grottoes and caves were initially built to worship Buddhism. As time goes on, they have become the treasures of stone carving art. The Four Famous Grottoes in China are the Mogao Caves and the Maiji Mountain Grottoes in Gansu Province, Longmen Grottoes in Henan Province, and Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi Province. The Buddhist grottos in different places reflect the stone carving art in ancient times from the middle part of the Northern Dynasty to the Sui and Tang Dynasties.

The Chinese folk houses architecture is an epitome of traditional culture, which embodies the concept of the syncretism of nature and human, geomantic omen and patriarchal clan system.

The old streets have a long history. They are paved with flagstones with many shops on both sides selling curios, local products and souvenirs, such as tea, handicrafts, brush, painting and chopsticks.

The old towns in the south of the Yangtze River are picturesque with old buildings, small bridges, rivers and boats. The ancient towns in the northern part of the country are with characteristics of complete layout, magnificent buildings and history of culture.

People often say that the gardens in the south of the Yangtze River are the best under heaven, and among them the gardens of Suzhou are the best. They are famous for tranquil environment, delicate layout and exquisite buildings.