When most travelers come to China, they first think of visiting major cities such as Beijing, or historic sites like the Great Wall of China. Hiking trails in China are unlikely to be on the obligatory list of travelers.
But in China there are many unusual and beautiful forests and mountain ranges. Some of them are not far from large cities, but there are also those that will be difficult to get to. But believe me, these places are worth it. Next, we present to you the best walking routes in China, which clearly shows that this is one of the most underrated tourist destinations in the world. So, pack your bags and go!
1
Hua Mountain (Shaanxi Province)
If you came to Xian to see the Terracotta Warriors, then you can make your trip more dangerous and sharper several times. Try a night trip to Hua or Huashan in Chinese. Adrenaline will be provided. By sunrise, you will reach one of the five peaks of the mountain. On each of them is a sacred temple. You will see how the first rays touch the edge of the mountain and gradually the light fills everything around. This is truly a bewitching sight. In the summer, the area is quite hot, so night climbing will be easier.
It is worth saying that this climb is not for cowards and nervous people. Get ready to climb to a height of almost 2 thousand meters, including the passage through a narrow staircase on a steep mountain range. On the sides there are only steep ledges, rocks and a chasm underfoot. From another site, your hair can certainly stand on end - this is the path along a narrow wooden platform that adjoins a steep cliff. It is so narrow that you have to hold on to the fastenings made, turning to face the rock, and only emptiness is behind.
Not everyone will decide on such a journey, but it will definitely be remembered for a lifetime. The view from the east side of the mountain of the rising sun will fully pay off your efforts. The way back will be much easier. After two hours, a bus or train will take you back to Xi'an.
2
Jushaigou Valley National Park (Sichuan Province)
Jushaigou Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This place is most famous for colorful lakes with various shades of blue, green, aquamarine flowers. The valley is located in southwest China on the Tibetan plateau, which extends from the borders of India through Tibet to the Chinese province of Qinghai. The park is located at an altitude of 1,800 meters, and the highest point reaches 4,500 meters.
Here you can take walks in the picturesque valleys of Shujen, Rize and Zehawang. You can take some food with you and go camping. At the end of the route, a bus will be waiting for you, which will take you back. You will see mountains, forests, mirror-clear lakes with amazingly colored water and incredible waterfalls. In the fall, forests here are also painted in different colors. Do not miss, there is a fascinating article on the most beautiful lakes in the world on our site.
Getting to the Jushaigou Valley is not easy. The nearest major city is Chengdu, to which there are bus routes and a high-speed train from Beijing. Once you find yourself in Chengdu, you can take a bus or get by car. By bus, the journey will take more than 11 hours, by car - 7-8 hours. You can also fly from Chengdu Airport to Jiuang Airport, which is 30 minutes from the park. In 2019, the construction of a high-speed railway from Chengdu to the Jushaigou Valley will be completed, which will significantly increase the number of tourists. So far, there you will find solitude with nature. Hurry up to visit this place before a large influx of travelers.
3
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Hunan Province)
If you have ever seen strange elongated mountain spiers in pictures crowned with grass and trees, then this is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. There are more than 3 thousand similar spiers in the park. They are made of quartz and sandstone. This rock eventually collapsed and was blown away by the winds, leaving long towers in the sky. If you look at the park from above during a thick fog, it seems that these mountains seem to soar in the sky. One of the spiers is called Avatar. These mountains inspired the director to create “soaring mountains” in the famous movie “Avatar”.
Hunan province and the park itself are far from the main central areas of China. For a long time, few people knew about this place. Today the park is visited by millions of people, hotels and rest houses are being built there. Zhangjiajie Airport built. Flights from Beijing are regularly operated, which also increased the flow of tourists to these protected areas.
To avoid crowding, skip the cable car and lift to the top. Waiting for a lift can take 4 hours. By the way, this is the highest elevated external elevator in the world. Its height is more than 300 meters. It is made right on the rock and lifts to the top. Tourists pay entry to the park for a four day stay. During this time, most-beauty.ru recommends that you visit the wilder areas of the park, where there are not many tourists. Such places are especially loved by photographers.
4
Fushan Mountain (Shandong Province)
South of Beijing is the coastal city of Qingdao. Before him, about seven hours on a regular train, or a little less than five on a high-speed train. Fushan Mountain Park is located right in the city center. First you will be hike through the bamboo forests, and then a wide trail goes to Fushan Mountain. It is located at an altitude of 385 meters above sea level. At the foot of the mountain are Qingdao University and the University of Ocean Research.
Pictured: Qingdao University
It is very easy to break away from the bustle of the city and plunge into the atmosphere of the park, which offers magnificent views of the city of Qingdao and the Pacific Ocean. But the most interesting for tourists are tunnels, bunkers and secret passages on the side of the mountain, which were built by the Germans during the First World War. After the war, Japan already captured the area and expanded and strengthened these tunnels. You will need flashlights and good shoes to explore the area. Fushan Mountain is located next to the Lao Shan Forest Park, where there are also many interesting hiking trails.
5
Kanas Nature Reserve (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region)
Kanas Nature Reserve is located in the Altai Mountains in northwest China, close to the borders with Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia. There are hundreds of lakes, but the most unique is Lake Kanas. This is a magnificent lake. The color of its waters changes depending on the time of year. Melt water from the top of the mountains changes the color of the lake from blue to green and milky white. It is the deepest freshwater lake in China. Its average depth is 122 meters.
Kanas is located at an altitude of more than 1,300 meters above sea level. The highest peaks of the reserve reach 4,200 meters. The route around the lake includes a visit to the observation deck of Guanyu, which offers a beautiful view of the snow-capped mountains and the valley.
6
Jiankou, Great Wall of China (Huairow District)
Before you claim that walking along the wall is not a walking route, you should know: Jiankou is considered one of the most difficult sections of the Great Wall of China. This is due to the fact that the wall in this area was not subjected to restoration and restoration. There are such steep sections as “Flight of the Eagle”, named for the coolness of the walls. Even an eagle will have to fly up to cross it. There is also a section with a staircase that only one person can climb at a time.
By the way, the Great Wall of China on our site most-beauty.ru is included in the list of new seven wonders of the world.
Jiankou is a great option for a hiking trail because it is only 72 kilometers north of Beijing. There are signs in English all the way, which is also very important. The entire route from the Tower of the Nine Eyes to the Wall of the Bull Horn will take about two days.