Traveling from Beijing
Spring is the best time to visit regions south of the Yangtze River because the weather is pleasant and flowers are blossoming. Along the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway, there are many stations in cities such as Wuxi, Zhenjiang, Suzhou and Nanjing.
Henan province is also a good choice for cultural heritages and natural sceneries, such as Luoyang, Zhengzhou and Kaifeng. You can enjoy various colorful peonies in the annual Luoyang Peony Culture Festival in April and early May. White Horse Temple, which is believed to be the first Buddhist temple in China, demonstrates traditional architecture and the long history of Buddhism.
The city's Longmen Grottoes is one of the three most famous grottoes in China; the other two are Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi and Mogao Grottoes in Gansu. There are tens of thousands of different sized Buddha statutes in caves that sit along mountain cliffs. The largest one is 17.14 meters high and the smallest is only 2 centimeters.
In Shanxi province, you can climb the Wutai Mountain in Xinzhou city, one of the top four Buddhist mountains in China, to burn joss sticks and worship Buddha.
After that, you can visit Datong city for the Yungang Grottoes and the Hanging Temple. The grottoes have 252 caves and 51,000 statues, representing the high point of Chinese stone carving art in the 5th and 6th centuries. Guides are available to tell you more about the history of the statues.
The temple was built on the side of a cliff more than 1,500 years ago, and is the only existing temple in China that combines Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism.
Another great destination is Pingyao county, which is 80 km from Taiyuan. It's famous for its well-preserved city walls and traditional architecture such as the ancient government office building.
At night, you can walk through a theater than has been renovated to blend in with the ancient town and observe the performance Another Glance at Pingyao.
From Shanghai
It's easy to travel to Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces, which feature attractions such as cultural relics, steep mountains, delicious cuisines and beautiful ancient towns.
An old Chinese saying goes that "just as there are heavens above, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on Earth", to describe the picturesque views of the two cities.
In Hangzhou, you can rent a bicycle to pedal around the banks of the beautiful West Lake and get a closer look at the lake's bridges, which have inspired numerous Chinese poets throughout history. Take a boat ride at night to enjoy the peaceful lake.
It's also a good time to have a sip of the city's famous Longjing tea, which has a long-lasting aroma. The locals like to visit Lingyin Temple, where there are numerous pagodas and Buddhist grottoes.
Suzhou is known for its traditional Chinese gardens from different dynasties, with well-designed landscapes including rocks, hills and rivers. The Lion Grove Garden, Canglang Pavilion, Lingering Garden and Humble Administrator's Garden are the city's most famous gardens, for their elegant aesthetics and delicate styles.
You can watch Kunqu Opera such as The Peony Pavilion or Suzhou Pingtan performances. The local dialect and traditional musical instruments such as pipa will take you back in time.
Historic towns such as Xitang, Wuzhen and Tongli are home to traditional Chinese houses and pavilions along the rivers and stone bridges.
The family-run hotels often have traditional wooden furniture such as wooden beds with delicate carvings. You can stroll the stone streets, have a rest at a coffee house, and enjoy a moment away from the hustle-and-bustle of the big city.
