To start with, travelling to China is popular and we expect it to be a hot trend this summer. With over 82 million tourists visiting in 2023 according to Statista the Chinese tourism industry is booming, for reference this figure is double the amount of tourists who visited the United Kingdom in the same period and almost four times as many as those visiting Japan.
It’s apparent that visiting China is a popular choice but why should you visit off of the beaten track and explore the road less travelled?
Well China has an even bigger internal tourist market with plenty of hidden gems that those outside of China might not be aware of. So let’s explore them!
Let’s take Yu Quan temple, a major historical and cultural site under national level protection and the birthplace of the Guan Gong religion. Believers of the Guan Gong faith pay their respects to Guan Yu the warrior general who served under the command of Liu Bei in the Three Kingdoms Saga, they honour his courage, loyalty and righteousness.
This holy site is a must visit, not only do you get a taste of Chinese mythology but you will also see some of the best preserved Chinese artifacts. Take for example the Iron Tower which is the tallest and heaviest in the whole of China.
Iron Tower At Yu Quan Temple
The next step you should take on this journey would be the home of the 1st patriotic poet Qu Yuan where you can learn about the Dragon Boat festival and how it commemorates his life. Legend has it that out of despair that the Chu capital city was captured by the Qin, poet Qu Yuan threw himself into the Miluo river taking his own life.
As the poet was so highly venerated by the locals they splashed the water with their paddles and threw ZongZi (balls of sticky rice) into the river to prevent his body from being eaten by the fish. And it’s from this splashing of paddles we get the Dragon Boat races. This honoured site along the river is an excellent place to see something historic outside of the major cities.
China also has an abundance of nature to explore with national parks and sanctuaries protecting the surprisingly green and luscious country. Take Hubei, a province in central China, which translates to the “Lake Province” which is home to wonderful nature reserves such as the Bamboo Sea. This retreat into the mountains offers cool weather even in the summer months and is a place of natural beauty with mountains jutting out of the land like a sleeping dragon’s back, filled with forests of Bamboo and playful birds you will imagine you’ve found a paradise in the countryside.
As mentioned earlier Hubei is the lake province or lake district if you will of China and is a fisherman’s haven, with over a thousand lakes this scenic province is spectacular. Hubei also enjoys unique wildlife such as Chinese sturgeon, paddlefish, wild pigs, pheasant and deer. Exploration takes many out of the preconception of China being a smoggy industrial country with the truth being quite different. You will even find huge green energy projects that are the wonder of modern engineering such as the Three Gorges Dam.
The internal tourist market is vast and varied but you will often find themed parks or festival towns if you will. Take Riddle Town as an example, a whole town devoted to riddles but with a carnival-like feel. You will be able to enjoy Chinese street games and classic carnival games after puzzling through riddles on your tour of the town.
For example take a ride in the dodgems and let off steam with the locals or why not try your artistic talents and paint yourself a custom fan. If a festival town doesn’t take your fancy why not take a river cruise and explore some of the traditions of the people living on the river. With several major rivers including the Yangtze it is possible to enjoy many scenic boat trips along China’s expansive rivers.
Chinese cities and towns are also full of surprises and it’s not just the major cities holding all the excitement. With China constantly developing and evolving with modern and traditional structures intertwined you will find its municipalities charming places of exploration. One example of China living in modernity is the rise in AI, you will find AI fountains which make the water dance to music with accompanying light shows to make spectacular viewing. But you will also see plenty of structures linked to China’s rich history with pagodas lining city skylines.
Riverside Pogoda In Yidu
It’s not just the sites and the places which take you off of the beaten track, it’s also the food!
Chinese food is so varied it’s essential to not be drawn into the food catered for foreign tourists. And if you stick to Shanghai and Beijing you might miss the opportunity to explore the great depth of Chinese cuisine. Going off of the beaten track guarantees you won’t be catered for as a tourist, with local delicacies out there for you to try.
Explore Xi’an food, it’s famous for its variety of noodles. You can have a bowl consisting of one long piece of noodle so be careful not to drop it as it might just sliver away out of your bowl. In summer, why not try Liang Pi, a cold noodle dish which is served best with a bottle of iced Bing Feng, a delightful fizzy orange drink.
If you are a fan of lamb and hot broth, it’s time to try Yang Rou Pao Mo which is hearty and full of savoury goodness perfect for those colder days. It is made of sliced lamb, glass noodles, and small pieces of Mo which is a type of bread in Xi’an. You can also take pleasure in breaking bits of Mo into your bowl too.
You should also look out for Chinese hot pot and barbecue with both being staple foods of the restaurant culture in China. With Chinese barbecue you will get the opportunity to cook your own meats and vegetables to your satisfaction, combine that with a selection of dry spices and lettuce wrap for a mouth watering crunchy treat. Hot pot is a must and again allows for a certain amount of DIY as you boil your meats, fish and vegetables to perfection in a delicious broth. Most often the broth will be a rich red colour with a numbing spicy taste throughout.
It’s important to step out of the major cities to see the people of China.
China is a multi ethnic country with over 50 ethnicities recognised by the People’s Republic of China, each with its own unique customs, traditions, heritage and most importantly food. Exploring the different regions of China will give you the opportunity to meet and interact with its people, learn some of their local dialects and gain new travel experiences.
It should be noted that China is an extremely safe country to live in, you can walk the streets at night and not feel a hint of threat. With no sense of having to watch your pockets or keep tabs on your backpack, travelling becomes a lot easier.
Being a tourist people will take an interest in you but this is out of curiosity and for the same reasons tourists explore. Take the opportunity to interact with them and learn about their ways of life.
Now if we have managed to convince you the road less travelled is the place to go, please consider taking a holiday to China off of the beaten track with Happy Li Travel. We will be happy to help you explore China as freely and easily as possible.
source https://freeduhm.com/travelling-to-china-off-of-the-beaten-track-is-a-must/
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