China is a vast land, rich in tourism resource. It has scenic spots and historical sites, spectacular landscapes, and colorful and varied national customs. China encompasses a great diversity of landscapes and a corresponding variety of natural resources and climate types.

A visitor to China is attracted by green mountains and meandering rivers south of the Yangtze River and by grasslands and forests in North China. Touring the country, one seems to have entered a traditional Chinese landscape painting.

China is home to one of the world's four great civilizations. A history of 7000 years has left behind great numbers of cultural relics and places of historical interest spread across the vast country.

The Chinese civilization has nurtured a brilliant culture and art. Music, dances, opera, martial arts, calligraphy, painting, engraving, silk-weaving, porcelain-making, cuisine, architecture...all have a unique Chinese flavor and attractions.

China is a big family of 56 ethnic groups. Chinese music, dance and opera, and the culture and customs ethnic minorities are treasure stores of tourism resources.

Major National Scenic Resorts

Over the past five decades since the founding of the People's Republic, the Chinese government has devoted its efforts to the protection and development of natural landscapes and cultural remains. Since the State Council examined and publicized the first list of national-level scenic resorts in 1982, China has formed a complete network integrating national with provincial and municipal (county) scenic resorts. By 1998 the State Council publicized 119 national scenic resorts on three lists; and China's scenic resorts at various levels totaled 512, covering about 96,000 square kilometers.

China acceded to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the Cultural and Natural Heritage on December 12, 1985. The Chinese government has made constant progress in applying for world heritage to the UNESCO since 1986. By the end of 2001, 28 scenic resorts including Mount Huangshan and the Great Wall were listed as the world cultural and/or natural heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

List of the World Heritages in China

01.The Great Wall(1987)
02.Mount Taishan(1987)
03.Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties(1987)
04.Mogao Caves(1987)
05.Mausoleum of the First Qin Emporer(1987)
06.Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian(1987)
07.Mount Huangshan(1990)
08.Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area(1992)
09.Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area(1992)
10.Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area(1992)
11.Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde(1994)
12.Temple and Cemetery of Confucius, and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu(1994)
13.Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains(1994)
14.Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa(1994, 2000, 2001)
15.Lushan National Park(1996)
16.Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area(1996)
17.Old Town of Lijiang(1997)
18.Ancient City of Ping Yao(1997)
19.Classical Gardens of Suzhou(1997, 2000)
20.Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing(1998)
21.Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing(1998)
22.Mount Wuyi(1999)
23.Dazu Rock Carvings(1999)
24. Mount Qincheng and theDujiangyan Irrigation System(2000)
25. Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui - Xidi and Hongcun (2000)
26.Longmen Grottoes(2000)
27.Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties(2000)
28. Yungang Grottoes (2001)