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Not every destination appears on the map. But even when you get there, you'll still have to ask.
Explore hidden and breathtaking places in China, from ancient towns and sacred mountains to mysterious lakes and unique natural wonders.
Key Takeaways
- China hosts numerous hidden and culturally rich destinations beyond typical tourist maps.
- Ancient traditions and natural wonders coexist, preserving history, faith, and unique ecosystems.
- Many sites offer breathtaking landscapes that combine natural beauty with spiritual significance.
- The diversity of China's geography includes mountains, lakes, grasslands, and stone forests.
- Visiting these places provides insight into China's cultural heritage and natural history.
What the video covers
- Discover Fenghuang Ancient Town with its preserved traditional culture and stunning lantern-lit nights.
- Explore Golang Island, a peaceful place blending European and Fujian architecture with a rich musical heritage.
- Witness towering red sandstone mountains with unique rock formations and ancient cave temples.
- Experience the thunderous Yellow River waterfall with its distinctive yellow sediment and powerful currents.
- Visit Mount Emei, a sacred Buddhist mountain featuring the golden Samantabhadra statue and ancient temples.
- Admire Karna's Lake in the Altai Mountains, known for its changing colors and legendary dragon guardian.
- See Qinghai Lake, China's largest saltwater lake, surrounded by grasslands and a habitat for migratory birds.
- Explore the Azure Stone Forest in Inner Mongolia, a rare granite formation part of a UNESCO Global Geopark.
- Marvel at the Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest stone Buddha statue carved into a cliff over 1200 years ago.
- Experience the vast grasslands of Hulunbuir with its peaceful pastoral life and changing seasons.
Chapters
- 00:00Introduction to Hidden Destinations in China
- 03:11Fenghuang Ancient Town and Lantern Festival
- 05:54Red Sandstone Mountains and Cave Temples
- 08:39Yellow River Waterfall and Natural Wonders
- 11:24Mount Emei and Sacred Buddhist Sites
- 13:48Karna's Lake and Altai Mountains
- 15:28Qinghai Lake and Migratory Birds
- 16:32Azure Stone Forest and UNESCO Geopark
- 18:35Leshan Giant Buddha and Historical Significance
- 21:13Hulunbuir Grasslands and Pastoral Life
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
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Do they really exist? A mountain peak completely separated from the world below. Glimpses through rows of carved stone reveal Buddha statues standing hundreds of feet tall.
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And an ancient town still keeps its peaceful way of life as if time had forgotten it.
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This is another China, where every place holds stories of culture, history, and faith. The journey today will take you to the most unbelievable places in China.
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Where every rock and every tree reveals secrets that have lasted for thousands of years.
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In Fenghuang Ancient Town, it feels like time stopped thousands of years ago. The two old Yang River flows with calm blue water, almost perfectly still.
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Along the riverbank, wooden houses stand one after another by the water's edge. Some thin wooden pillars support an entire house.
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Ancient stone bridges cross the river. Below, wooden boats slowly drift with the current. As night falls, the hidden beauty of the ancient town finally reveals itself.
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Thousands of lanterns glow in a dreamy light. Their red and yellow reflections shimmer across the river.
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Fenghuang has been home to the Miao and Tujia people for centuries. So far, their traditional rituals are still preserved.
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Less than 2000 feet from Seamen, Golang Island appears like a world apart. The island is surrounded by clear blue water and long stretches of white sand.
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Hidden inside is an incredibly peaceful way of life. There are almost no vehicles on the island to explore it.
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You can only walk along the stone-paved streets. In the late 19th century, many European merchants and diplomats settled here.
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The houses on Galang are a unique blend of European architecture and traditional Fujian style homes.
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The old villas still stand quietly. Amidst the stillness, their rows. The melodious notes of the piano.
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Was once home to thousands of pianos. It also trained many of China's most famous classical musicians.
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A range of towering red sandstone mountains rises above a sea of deep green forests.
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The landscape looks like something from a fantasy movie. Over more than 100 million years of weathering, nature carved steep cliffs into the mountains.
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Some of the rock pillars have incredibly unusual shapes. The red cliffs hide many secrets.
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Cave temples sit quietly beneath the rock overhangs. A lonely temple stands on the mountain peak.
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To reach it, you have to climb hundreds of steep stone steps carved directly into the mountainside.
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With its breathtaking scenery and one-of-a-kind landscape, it is a trekking destination that offers a truly relaxing experience.
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Across the plateau of northern China, a muddy yellow waterfall suddenly crashes down. Steep cliffs rise on both sides.
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The water rushes through a narrow gap at speeds reaching 2000 cubic meters per second. Its distinctive yellow color comes from the massive amount of sediment carried by the Yellow River.
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Even from a distance, you can hear its thunderous roar. Mist rises like smoke. Sunlight passing through the tiny water droplets creates rainbows.
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During the flood season, powerful currents surge down from upstream. Despite the roaring waterfall, hundreds of people still stand right by the railing to watch it as if there were nothing to fear.
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Mount Emei rises like an isolated island, floating above a sea of clouds. At its summit, the golden summit stands more than 10,000 feet above sea level and is one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains.
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At the center of the square stands the golden Samantabhadra statue. It is 157 feet tall.
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The ten faces represent wisdom reaching in all directions. The statue stands on majestic golden six-tusked elephants.
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Right beside it are the two ancient temples, the Golden Hall and the Silver Hall.
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From the golden summit, you can look out over the magnificent landscape below. In winter, snow covers the temple rooftops, the Buddha statues, and every tree.
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Its isolation makes the mountain feel even more peaceful and mysterious. Every year, thousands of people still climb the long stone steps to reach this sacred place.
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They quietly press their hands together in prayer and walk around Samantabhadra as part of their pilgrimage.
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Hidden in the Altai Mountains of Xinjiang is a secret gem called Karna's Lake. The lake never stays the same color.
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Under the sunlight, its water can appear emerald green, turquoise, or the blue of the sky reflected on its surface.
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Every morning, a thin layer of mist covers the lake, making it feel almost unreal.
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Karna is surrounded by endless forests of Siberian pine, fir, and birch. In autumn, the entire forest turns a brilliant golden color.
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When winter arrives, snow blankets the Altai Mountains. The lake almost completely freezes over. Karna attracts people not only for its beauty but also for a mysterious legend.
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According to legend, an ancient dragon guards the bottom of the lake. If you see it, you'll have good luck.
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But if you try to chase it, the lake will rise with violent waves. A vast expanse of deep blue water stretches all the way to the horizon.
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This is Qinghai Lake, the largest saltwater lake in China. On clear days, the lake looks like a giant mirror reflecting the sky.
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Endless grasslands surround the lake. The bright yellow rapeseed flowers contrast with the lake's sapphire blue water.
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The view looks like something out of a painting. Qinghai Lake is also a stopover for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds every year.
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Thousands of birds gather here. Their calls echo across the island. For Tibetans, this is also a sacred place.
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Prayer flags flutter in the wind, carrying prayers for peace across the land. In the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, hundreds of massive stone pillars suddenly rise from the ground.
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This is the Azure Stone Forest. These granite formations were created during the Ice Age.
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Over millions of years of weathering, they have taken on many different shapes and sizes.
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The tallest pillar reaches 130 feet. Some look like fortress walls. Others resemble giant human statues.
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Up close, they look as if they were built from hundreds of smaller stone slabs stacked tightly together.
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What makes this place special is that the ground beneath the stone pillars isn't barren.
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Lush green plants create a sharp contrast with the gray stone. It is part of the UNESCO-listed Hexigten Global Geopark.
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It is also one of the world's rarest and most valuable granite stone forests. The Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest stone Buddha statue in the world.
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Carved directly into the cliff of Lingyun Mountain, the statue stands about 233 feet tall.
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Its foot alone is wide enough for dozens of people to stand on at the same time.
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To truly appreciate its scale, you can take a boat on the river and look up at the entire statue.
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Or you can follow the steep stone stairway to view the Buddha from above. The Buddha sits upright in a meditation posture with both hands resting on its knees.
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Its peaceful face looks straight ahead. This is where the Min, Dadu, and Jinsha Rivers meet.
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More than 1200 years ago, these dangerous waters often swallowed passing boats. During the Tang dynasty, monks carved this giant statue in the belief that the Buddha would protect people crossing this place.
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The grassland stretches out like an endless green ocean. The sky and the earth almost seem to touch.
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The grasslands extend for thousands of miles, divided by gently winding rivers. In Hulunbuir, you'll see herds of horses, cattle, and sheep peacefully grazing as if time doesn't exist here.
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Scattered across the land, quiet white yurts. When autumn arrives, the gentle green slowly gives way to shades of golden yellow.
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The birch forests turn a warm amber color. Then winter comes. Snow covers everywhere. The silent grassland is left with only horse tracks and the faint light of dawn.
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Even as the four seasons constantly change, the people of Hulunbuir continue to live on one of the most beautiful grasslands in the world.
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Crossing the stone bridges hidden beneath the
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The massive Huangpu waterfall plunges straight from the cliff into the gorge. The waterfall is about 255ft tall and more than 331ft wide.
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Fed by the by Shui River. During the rainy season, its flow can exceed 700m³ per second.
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Mist fills the air. The roar of the waterfall echoes through the valley. Stone bridges cross the water below as you step onto them.
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You can feel the rushing water right beneath your feet. But the real secret lies inside the cave behind the curtain of water.
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This passage lets you walk behind the waterfall. Inside, nature has shaped the stalactites into all kinds of strange forms.
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At night, the waterfall constantly changes color under the lights, shifting from blue to purple, then red and yellow.
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Like something from a fantasy world. A complex of temples and palaces hangs between the steep cliffs of Mian Shan.
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The most impressive is Barfi rock. This natural rock overhang stands nearly 200ft high and stretches more than 590ft long.
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It shelters hundreds of ancient halls. The curved, multi-story temples blend into the mountains so completely that it's hard to tell they were built by people.
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For centuries, this has been a center for both Buddhism and Taoism. Getting here has never been easy.
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Stone steps are carved directly into the cliffs. Wooden walkways wind deep into the forest.
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Inside the complex, the preserved bodies of many monks have remained intact for hundreds of years.
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Countless bronze bells and red ribbons hang from the cliffs. Ringing in the wind. But no one knows who hung them there and how they did it.
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Chichi National Wetland Park is completely separated from the heart of modern Hangzhou. From above, lush vegetation is divided by winding canals into hundreds of small islands.
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More than 70% of the park is made up of canals, marshes and lakes. Has the richest wetland ecosystem in eastern China.
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Its plants and wildlife are incredibly diverse and change with the seasons. Scattered throughout the landscape are ancient rock gardens, small stone bridges, and wooden houses built in the traditional Gangnam Style.
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To experience the park at its best. Take one of the wooden boats that quietly drift along the waterways.
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There are no modern buildings, no busy traffic. Only the gentle sound of oars. Birds singing through the forest.
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And the slow pace of life in the riverside villages. From the outside. The young gang grottoes looked like a long stretch of yellow brown sandstone cliffs extending for nearly one kilometer.
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Standing in front is Eun Gang Temple, built in a traditional style with blue tile roofs and multiple curved eaves.
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Along the cliffs. Hundreds of square cave openings are carved directly into the rock. Through the openings.
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Giant Buddha statues can be seen hidden in the darkness. The complex includes 252 caves and more than 51,000 Buddha statues.
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The largest statue stands about 56ft tall. Built during the Northern Wei dynasty, it became an important center of Buddhism.
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You can walk through the narrow tunnels to explore the world of sculptures inside. Beside every large statue are hundreds of smaller ones.
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Every fold of clothing and every expression on each face has been carved with remarkable detail.
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Few people would expect to find a massive canyon in China's Low's Plateau. This is where the yellow River has carved deeper into the earth over millions of years.
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From above, the muddy yellow River winds through almost perfect curves, wrapping around towering mountains.
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In some places, the river makes a turn of nearly 180 degrees, creating a giant ink painting.
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Steep, reddish brown cliffs rise on both sides. Layers of rock, shaped by nature over millions of years are slowly revealed.
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The yellow River, the reddish brown cliffs and the dry plateau blend together. Only when you stand at the edge can you truly appreciate the overwhelming scale of the yellow River Grand Canyon.
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It is one of the most untouched, ancient and breathtaking views in China. In the middle of the East China Sea sits a small island covered with green forests, white clouds, and the sound of temple bells.
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This is Mount Putu, one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains. The entire island is separated from the mainland.
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To get here, you have to cross the sea by ferry. As you get closer.
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Golden curved temple roofs slowly appear beneath ancient trees through a thin layer of mist.
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On this island, which is less than five square miles in size. Dozens of temples are scattered from the foot of the mountain to the hilltops.
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They are connected by winding stone paths through the forest. The most striking is the Guanyin statue, about 108ft tall, facing the ocean and quietly watching over the boats at sea.
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As the sun sets, golden light covers the rooftops. The temples appear and disappear among the clouds.
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Mountains, the sea and Buddhism come together in one place. It's so peaceful that it's hard to believe this place is real.
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This forest in Yunnan has no tree trunks or leafy canopies. Instead, thousands of gray limestone pillars rise straight into the sky.
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Some are as sharp as blades. Others are split into jagged ridges. Some stone spires stand nearly 98ft tall.
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They rise so closely together that they look like an alien maze. Few people realize that 270 million years ago, this entire area lay beneath the sea.
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As the land rose. Rain and wind slowly wore away, the limestone, leaving behind the strange rock formations you see today.
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Winding between the massive stone pillars a narrow paths. Every turn reveals a different view.
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It feels like you're exploring a world no one has ever seen before. Among the cold gray stone spires, trees continue to grow, filling every open space.
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The contrast between the ancient stone pillars and the lush green vegetation makes the forest feel both wild and otherworldly.
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Beautiful beyond belief. As you pass through the gate of Pingyao ancient city, the modern world almost disappears.
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Before you stand. Gray brick walls nearly 39ft tall. They have completely surrounded the city for 600 years, like a fortress, preserving an entire era.
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Inside the walls. Stone paved streets stretch into the distance. Wooden signs, traditional shops, and red lanterns make every corner look like a scene from a historical Chinese drama.
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From above. Thousands of gray rooftops stretch one after another. They are barely interrupted by modern buildings.
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Along the streets. Our traditional courtyard homes, ancient towers and shops that have stood for centuries.
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As the sun sets, lanterns light up the entire ancient city. The brick walls are covered in a deep golden glow.
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Pingyao quietly remains hidden within the flow of Chinese history. Rising to 12,359ft, Mount Tai by is the highest peak in eastern China.
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Gray rocky peaks disappear into clouds and cold winds all year round. The scenery changes constantly with the elevation.
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Lush forests gradually give way to alpine meadows, bare rocky slopes. And patches of snow that remain on the summit.
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Even in summer. Hidden among the mountains, a crystal clear glacial lakes as still as mirrors reflecting the sky.
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With every season, the landscape takes on a different color. Green in summer, bright golden forests in autumn.
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A blanket of white snow and ice in winter. For many people, this is not only one of the most beautiful trekking routes, but also a sacred mountain.
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The grandeur of nature blends with the peaceful atmosphere. It feels as if you're walking toward the sky.
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On the shore of the vast Dongting Lake. You, a young tower, has quietly stood for more than 1700 years.
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The tower has witnessed countless dynasties come and go. Its three levels of gracefully curved golden roofs showcase the beauty of traditional Chinese architecture.
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From the top of the tower. The lake stretches so far that it seems to merge with the sky.
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At sunset, golden light covers the rooftop before spreading across the lake. The entire landscape becomes a living ink painting.
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The wind blows. Gentle waves ripple across the water. Boats drift slowly by. Time seems to stand still.
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Union tower is like a peaceful note. Full of poetry. On your journey of discovery.
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Near the borders of Laos and Myanmar, Qishan Banner Tropical Botanical Garden reveals a completely different side of China.
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Steppe. Past towering palm trees and ancient trees rising dozens of meters high. And you'll enter a world of deep green.
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Thick vines, giant roots gripping the ground. And the strangest tropical plants. Across the still lake.
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Giant Victoria water lily leaves nearly ten feet wide cover the surface. There, large enough to support the weight of a baby.
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Surrounding the lake is a layered rainforest. Soft sunlight filters through the dense canopy. With more than 13,000 preserved plant species.
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This place is like a hidden mini Amazon. It's hard to believe that in a country known for towering mountains and ancient temples, a tropical world like this exists.
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The Thai Grand Canyon is like a giant maze hidden among towering cliffs. From above, narrow canyons cut through massive rock formations.
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A green river winds along the canyon floor. Seas of clouds roll over the mountaintops.
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The whole landscape feels cut off from the outside world. Deeper inside the canyon, stone walls thousands of feet high.
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Almost block out the sky. Wooden walkways cling to the cliffs, cross deep ravines and wind between giant rock formations.
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Around every bend is another surprise. A waterfall. A turquoise pool. Or a small stone bridge.
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Autumn arrives. Forests covering the mountainsides turn yellow, orange and red. From the viewpoints above.
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The entire canyon looks like a giant crack, splitting the Thai Hang mountains in two.
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People seem no more than grains of sand before nature. The Huangdi mausoleum makes you lower your voice the moment you arrive.
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A sacred feeling fills the air. Located on Xiao Mountain, the mausoleum is surrounded by more than 86,000 ancient cypress trees.
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This dark green forest has stood here for thousands of years. A stone path climbs through giant cypress trees.
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Many are thousands of years old, with rough trunks, exposed roots and branches covering the sky.
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The deeper you go, the more the wind through the trees drowns out every other sound.
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This is the memorial site of the Yellow Emperor Xuan Yuan, the legendary ancestor of Chinese civilization.
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For more than 2000 years, emperors and ordinary people have come here to burn incense.
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History, legend and faith come together here. WangJi is more than a mausoleum. It is a gateway back to the roots of Chinese civilization.
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Granite, pine forests and the sea come together at Mount Lao, one of China's most sacred Taoist mountains.
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Along the mountainsides facing the sea, giant white granite rocks are stacked one upon another.
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Millions of years of weathering shaped them into countless sharp peaks, cliffs, and strange valleys.
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Following the winding mountain paths. Taoist temples slowly appear among the pine forests and the sea of clouds.
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At the highest point, the Yellow Sea stretches to the horizon on one side. On the other, layers of granite mountains are covered in green forests.
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When the fog rolls in, the entire mountain seems to float between the sea and the sky.
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The story that Jinshi Wang once sent people here to search for the elixir of immortality makes the mountain even more mysterious.
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Today, the old Summer Palace is left with quiet lakes, stone bridges, and ruined walls.
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But more than 300 years ago, it was the Qing dynasties most magnificent imperial garden.
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Hundreds of palaces, pavilions and lakes once covered this vast landscape. They blended the finest Chinese architecture with distinctive European design.
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Among the green trees, Corinthian columns still appear. Stone arches and fountains lie scattered across the grounds.
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Time seems frozen in a single moment. The lakes still reflect the weeping willows. Ancient corridors still mirror themselves on the water.
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But its former glory now exists only in the imagination of those who visit. It's no coincidence that Mount Dewa is regarded as one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains.
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For more than a thousand years, it has been a sacred place associated with Bodhisattva and an important pilgrimage site.
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Dozens of ancient temples with traditional curved tile roofs are scattered across the mountainsides. Some stand on rocky cliffs.
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Some hide among pine forests. Others are tucked behind sheer rock walls. To reach them, you must follow winding, ancient stone steps.
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Cross bamboo forests, and climb mountain paths covered in mist. At sunrise. Seas of clouds rise from the valleys, revealing only the temple rooftops and rocky peaks above the sky.
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Amid the mountains, the giant statue of bodhisattvas stands quietly, making this sacred land feel even more solemn.
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The Ming tombs lie at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains like a place forgotten by time.
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To enter the complex, you must walk along the sacred way for several miles. Stone statues of elephants, camels, horses, civil officials and military officials stand motionless on both sides.
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They have guarded this place for more than 500 years, as if protecting another world.
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At the end of the road lies the resting place of 13 Ming emperors. Behind red walls and golden roofs, the vast tombs remain hidden among ancient cypress forests.
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Beneath several of the tombs are underground stone palaces, passageways, burial chambers, and stone doors weighing several tons.
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Much of the complex remains unexcavated. Many secrets still sleep beneath the ground. An empire disappeared, but it never truly left this place.
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Sun Island Scenic Area sits on an island in the Songhua River in Harbin. Every winter it becomes a world covered in snow and ice.
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Temperatures fall below freezing. The trees, paths, and ground are all covered in white. The island's biggest attraction is the Harbin International Snow Sculpture Art Expo.
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Millions of cubic feet of snow are transformed into enormous works of art. From animals and palaces to towering buildings.
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Every sculpture is carved entirely from snow. The remarkable thing is that this entire snow city exists for only a few months each winter.
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When the weather warms, every sculpture slowly melts away. Then the following winter, they return in completely new forms.
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Dating back to the early fourth century. Tanduay temple is one of the oldest temples in northern China.
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Pine forests, cypress trees, and green mountains surround it. Beyond the ancient gate and moss covered stone steps are the temple halls.
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Yellow glazed tile roofs, red wooden columns, spacious courtyards shaded by ancient trees. The atmosphere is peaceful.
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Only the sound of temple bells, the wind through the trees, and the scent of incense remain.
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Ancient Buddhist pagodas stand throughout the temple grounds. Gingko trees and other ancient trees have stood here for centuries.
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Every autumn, golden leaves cover the paths. In winter, light snow settles on the rooftops and stone courtyards.
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People once said there was Tanja temple before there was Beijing. After more than 1700 years.
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This forgotten corner of China remains almost unchanged. The mausoleum of Genghis Khan is where the Mongolian people honor the Great Khan, who changed the history of Eurasia.
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Its architecture is inspired by traditional nomadic tents. Majestic in appearance yet in harmony with the vast grasslands.
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Inside. Giant reliefs and monuments tell the story of the unification of the Mongol tribes.
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But what makes this place truly remarkable is a mystery that has lasted for more than eight centuries.
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To this day, no one knows the true burial place of Genghis Khan. The present mausoleum mainly preserves the memory of the Great Khan and traditional Mongolian artifacts.
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The location of his actual tomb remains one of history's greatest mysteries. From a distance, the Long men grottoes look like an ordinary gray cliff.
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But as you get closer, the mountainside slowly reveals thousands of large and small niches carved deep into the rock.
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The complex contains more than 2300 caves and nearly 110,000 Buddha statues. Large and small figures appear everywhere.
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From tiny Nietzsche's, barely wide enough for one person to vast shrine halls carved directly into the mountain.
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The most impressive is the Buddha, about 55ft tall, seated in quiet majesty with a peaceful face overlooking the ye River.
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Surrounding it. A finely carved bodhisattvas, disciples and guardian figures. Stone paths along the cliffs lead you from one cave to another.
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Natural light brings out every detail of the carvings that have survived for more than 1500 years.
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Every step feels like exploring an ancient Buddhist city forgotten by time. The palace rises above Mapo RI like a giant fortress reaching into the sky.
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From a distance. Its layered red and white structure stands out against the Gray Mountains.
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It looks less like a man made building than an ancient fortress growing straight from the cliffs.
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The higher you climb, the more overwhelming its scale becomes. The palace stands about 380ft tall and nearly 1200ft long.
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It's 13 stories, and more than 1000 rooms form a vast maze on the roof of the world.
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Thick white walls. The red Palace at the center. Golden rooftops shining in the sunlight.
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Inside a temple. Halls Buddha statues. Thank ancient scriptures and gilded stupas. More than a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism, the Potala Palace is an architectural masterpiece.
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It's hard to believe a structure of this scale has stood for more than 1300 years.
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Mount Tai is known as China's most sacred mountain. For more than 2000 years, emperors came here to perform ceremonies honoring heaven and earth at what they believed was the closest place to the sky.
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From the foot of the mountain, a stone path with more than 7000 steps. Wines between steep cliffs.
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Higher up stone gates, ancient temples and carved steles slowly emerge through the mist. The journey reaches its peak at the South Heavenly Gate and the Jade Emperor Peak.
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Where seas of clouds cover the mountains below. The sun slowly rises. The first rays of light turned.
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The clouds and ancient rooftops golden. The entire mountain feels like a heavenly realm. Mount Tai is more than a mountain.
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It is a symbol of Chinese faith, power, and culture. Every stone step bears the mark of history.
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Every sunrise feels like standing at the boundary between heaven and earth. A giant crack cuts through towering red sandstone cliffs.
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This is Tianshan Grand Canyon, one of the most spectacular canyons in the Tian Shan mountains.
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Sheer cliffs rise on both sides. The path below grows narrower. Every step feels like entering a hidden passage.
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Deeper inside the rock layers reveals shades of red, orange, and brown. Wind and water have carved strange patterns into the stone.
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In some places, the canyon is so narrow that sunlight reaches the ground only as a thin beam.
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The cliffs change color throughout the day. Its immense scale, surreal colors, and untouched wilderness make it one of the most remarkable natural wonders of the Tianshan region.
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At nearly 7000ft above sea level lies a vast lake inside the crater of an ancient volcano.
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It is called Tianqi, the Heavenly Lake. 16 towering peaks surround the lake, forming a giant stone basin around its deep blue water.
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For most of the year, clouds and mist cover the entire area. The lake appears only for brief moments.
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The still surface reflects the sky like a giant mirror. The water shifts from turquoise to deep blue as the light changes.
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In winter, Tianqi freezes beneath a sea of snow. Legends of mysterious creatures beneath the lake continue to be told making this place even more.
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China still holds countless extraordinary places that rarely appear on familiar travel maps. From giant canyons and jade colored lakes to strange rock formations and temples hanging above the clouds.
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Every place makes you wonder whether it could really exist. And perhaps these are only a small part of what nature and history have hidden here.
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If you'd like to discover more incredible places around the world. Don't forget to subscribe and join us on the next journey.
Topics:China travelhidden places ChinaFenghuang Ancient TownMount EmeiLeshan Giant BuddhaQinghai LakeAzure Stone ForestKarna's LakeChinese culture4K travel documentary
