China the endlessly fascinating destination that seemingly everyone wants to explore, is now arguably most famous for its rapid and dizzying modernisation. Despite overwhelmingly growth and change, if you stay clear of the cities there are still many unspoilt places left to visit.Β Kasia Soszka the talented blogger from Photo WandererΒ has called China her home for the last six years, after exploring many off the beaten track destinations here’s her favourite collection of beautiful places to visit in China you’ve probably never heard of… Β
Badain Jaran desert
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This remote desert stretches across the provinces of Inner Mongolia, Gansu and Ningxia and is the third largest desert in China. What makes it so special are the mesmerizing sand dunes, which are some of the highest in the world. The average dune is 200m high, with some giants reaching up to 500m. Scattered through the desert are numerous colorful lakes, where you can swim as camels and other animals take a well-earned drink. Badain Jaran is also one of the few places in the world where the βsinging dunesβ phenomenon occurs.
Nalati Grassland
Located in north-west Xinjiang, Nalati Grassland is one of theΒ worldβs four largest grasslands and the highest one in China. The first words that come to mind when you arrive in Nalati are idyllic, pastorial, and serene – rolling hills with sheep and horses grazing on lush green meadows, shimmering streams, fresh air, all surrounded by high, snowy mountains. Summer, when the grassland is covered in colorful wild flowers, is the best time to visit.
Kanas National Nature Reserve
This nature reserve is locatedΒ in a valley in the Altay Mountains in the very northern tip of Xinjiang province. It’s easily one of the most beautiful places to visit in China and is famed for its alpine scenery and Kanas Lake. Kanas borders Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia and most of the locals living in the Kanas Vallay are either Kazakh or Mongolian, so while still in China you can experience a totally different local culture.
Labrang Monastery
Splendid Labrang Monastery is a small slice of Tibet outside of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, which means itβs easily accessible for independent travellers. Located in Gansu in Xiahe town, and part of the traditional Tibetan area of Amdo, Labrang Monastery is one of the biggest and most influential Tibetan monasteries outside of Lhasa. Itβs a huge, sprawling complex and also home to the largest number of monksΒ outside of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.Β
Sangke Grasslands
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Just outside of Xiahe town spread the epic Sangke Grasslands, a place where you can forget about everything and just enjoy the nature and breathtaking scenery of Tibetan Plateau. Near Xiahe town, some parts of these stunning pastures have been spoiled by large circus tent attractions catering to tourists, but they can be easily avoided and left behind, and you can just get totally lost in nature. The best way of exploring Sangke is by bicycle or on horseback.Β
Qinghai Lake
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Qinghai is the largest lake in China and itβs so crucial to the region, that it had a province named after it. Itβs located on the Tibetan Plateau on over 3000m above sea level, but the area around it is rather flat, making it a great cycling route. Despite being a salt lake, it has an abundance of fish, which attract large population of birds, making Qinghai Lake a popular destination for bird watchers.
Tongren
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Tongren is a small monastic town situated on Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai Province that attracts great number of pilgrims and art-oriented travellers. There are three temples inside the town: Longwu Monastery, Yuantong Temple, and the Mosque (which serves Tibetan Buddhism, Han Buddhism and Islam), but itβs Wutong Monastery, located just outside of the town, that attracts most visitors. Itβs famous for producing some of Tibetan world’s best thangkas β religious paintings that depict Buddhist deities, scenes from the sutras or mandalas.
Β Zhangye Danxia Geological Park
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The magnificent scenery of Zhangye Danxia Landform is completely out of this world and is a stunning place to visit in China. The astonishing multi-colored mountains, cliffs and valleys are referred to as rainbow or layer cake mountains, and the Chinese say they were colored by the paint palette of God. In 2010 Zhangye Daxia was added to UNESCO World Heritage list.
Jiuzhaigou valley
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The stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jiuzhaigou is a very popular destination for Chinese people, but still comparatively unknown by foreign tourists. Located in high mountains of northern Sichuan, this beautiful valley is famous for its crystal clear, blue, green and turquoise lakes, spectacular waterfalls and charming Tibetan villages. Jiuzhaigouβs Mirror Lake must be seen to be believed β a perfectly still body of water that reflects the surrounding valley of pine forest like glass.Β
Shennongjia Nature Reserve
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Listed on UNESCOβs World Network of Biosphere Reserves, Shennongjia is a truly marvelous place, famed for its dramatic scenery, abundance of medical plants and wildlife, and also for being a home to the mysterious Yeren, a Chinese mythical creature akin to the Yeti or Big Foot.
All words and photos byΒ Kasia SoszkaΒ find more of her work atΒ Photo Wanderer.
18 Comments
jason tian
24 July, 2015 at 2:59 amI am proud to be chinese.
Thanks for sharing the article to make more people know about china. These are amazing places! I will travel around there one by one.
Glory Godwin
5 June, 2015 at 11:01 amWow…!!
Tongren is so beautiful place in china.Thanks for sharing..!!
BB
4 June, 2015 at 3:08 pmI would love to visit China and all their ancient and unspoiled places – all these look a good place to start!
Chanel | Cultural Xplorer
30 May, 2015 at 12:55 pmAbsolutely stunning places! They make me want to hop on a plane to China right now π
Becky Moore
5 June, 2015 at 8:00 pmYes us too!
ivy kriste
27 May, 2015 at 10:30 amBeautiful places would love to visit them all one day!
Zascha
25 May, 2015 at 9:57 pmThe only place I’ve heard of before is Zhangye Danxia Geological Park. And I really want to go there!
But the first place you mention, the desert. My God, why haven’t I heard about this place before?! It’s absolutely stunning. Thanks for the list, there’s a bit of inspiration for future travels! π
Kasia
27 May, 2015 at 10:25 amYeah, there are still some hidden gems left in China to discover:) With such a diverse landscape, it’s definitely a great travel destination!
Peter Parker
25 May, 2015 at 1:40 pmThe Mountain behind Lebrang monastery seems to be made up of gold. They glister like gold awesome.
jennifer
24 May, 2015 at 10:50 amGreat list! When I try to explain to people that China is not all smog and people spitting on the streets, they never believe me. Their loss.
I will be in Zhangye next month and I am so excited to see it.
Kasia
25 May, 2015 at 10:03 amExactly! While it’s true that large part of China is grey and smoggy most of the time, there’s still so many fairly unspoiled, beautiful places! You just have to get a bit off the beaten track:)
Have a great time in Zhangye:)!
Suze The Luxury Columnist
22 May, 2015 at 11:22 pmYou’re right, I hadn’t heard of these! Labrang Monastery would definitely be on my to visit list and the geological park looks amazing. Which was your favourite?
Becky Moore
5 June, 2015 at 8:01 pmWe’d love to visit the Badain Jaran desert one day, but they all look like fantastic places to visit!
Jess @UsedYorkCity
22 May, 2015 at 4:20 pmWOW! It’s amazing to me that China has so many different terrains–I would love to spend an afternoon in the desert!
Lou
22 May, 2015 at 1:36 pmWow, amazing places would love to go the the Nature Reserve!
Scott
22 May, 2015 at 12:30 pmWould love to visit one day and if I do I’ll be going to as many as these as possible! Always good to veer off the tourist path!
Becky Moore
5 June, 2015 at 8:02 pmYep very true Scott!
Emma
22 May, 2015 at 12:27 pmGreat list (and photos)! of off the beaten track destinations! Now I just need to get myself to China π