Travel · Tag
History & Heritage
Ancient capitals, grottoes, fortresses, and heritage sites worth a dedicated trip.
Cities for History & Heritage
Shaanxi
Xi'an
西安
A major northwest China hub with high-speed rail, metro, and airport access.
Hebei
Chengde
承德
From Beijing by high-speed train in about 1 hour.
Qinghai
Ta'er Monastery
塔尔寺
A classic first stop south of Xining.
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Shanxi
Datong
大同
From Beijing by high-speed train in about 2-2.5 hours.
Sichuan
Leshan
乐山
From Chengdu by high-speed train in about 1 hour.
Jiangsu
Nanjing
南京
From Shanghai by high-speed train in about 1-2 hours.
Henan
Luoyang
洛阳
From Xi'an by high-speed train in about 1.5-2 hours.
Henan
Kaifeng
开封
From Zhengzhou by train in about 20-40 minutes, or from Xi'an via Zhengzhou.
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Gansu
Mogao Caves
莫高窟
Dunhuang's essential Silk Road heritage site.
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Gansu
Yumen Pass
玉门关
A remote Silk Road pass west of Dunhuang.
Gansu
Yangguan Pass
阳关
A poetic Silk Road frontier stop near Dunhuang.
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Gansu
Jiayuguan Pass
嘉峪关关城
The western fortress landmark of the Ming Great Wall.
Gansu
Mati Temple
马蹄寺
A cliff-temple and grotto stop south of Zhangye.
Qinghai
Riyue Mountain
日月山
A highland pass between Xining and Qinghai Lake.