Exotic & Fascinating China

While I was watching the 2008 Olympic Games held in Beijing, one thing struck me more than the skill of the athletes and that was the sheer beauty of China itself.  Before viewing these pictures shared on the television screen, I had images in my mind of China, The Great Wall and the Imperial Palace, to name a few.

I could not have imagined the beautiful landscape, modern architecture of metropolitan cities or the breathtaking ancient sites that lay ready to be discovered.  These images pushed China much higher on my travel to-do-list.

China is an exotic country, with a unique blend of old and new, and for many travelers it may seem beyond their comfort zone.  Taking China tours can provide a little comfort, by allowing active travelers to leave many of the details in the hands of the experts, taking away much of the stress and hassle that makes travel to Asia overwhelming.   No one wants be left up the Yangtze River without a paddle, so to speak.

For me, a trip to China would not be complete without a tour of the Forbidden City.  A magnificent palace compound in the heart of Beijing, the Forbidden City served 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.  Covering 720,000 square meters, the buildings with their yellow tile roofs, laid out in symmetrical patterns, are unmistakable. The Forbidden City contains majestic structures,  scenic gardens and is filled with millions of historic and art treasures.Constructed during the early 1400′s, the imperial palace is the largest, most complete and oldest buildings not only in China, but the world.

In strong contrast to these fragile pieces of art are the intricate yet powerful Terracotta Warriors.  Declared the most important archeological find of the 20th Century, these soldiers were discovered by peasants, digging a well in the spring of 1974.

In the Shaanxi providence of northwest China, lay the unearthed tomb of the self-declared first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdi.  It was near this tomb that an entire life-size army of soldiers and horses had been buried for over 2,000 years.  Archeologists have discovered a vast underground series of vaults.  Three major pits are enclosed in a four acre Museum of the Terracotta Army.  Here warriors each with top-knots or caps, armor or vests, facial hair and features, all exhibiting an individualism yet united cause, to protect the emperor in the after-life.

Having seen these grand statues in person as part of a traveling exhibition, I was struck by the immensity of the exhibit, knowing that this was only a fraction of the magnificent legion of guards.  I can only anticipate the awe of observing the row after row of protectors.

From the well known tourist destinations to the lesser known charms, China holds many amazing attractions and I cannot wait to witness them all.

Photo Selections: flickr   The Forbidden City; Terracotta Warriors

NOTE:  This post is sponsored by Wendy Wu Tours; the opinions expressed herein are those of the author.