205 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in China - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in China

Hanging Temple of Hengshan

A 5th-century temple improbably built into the side of a cliff.

Panjin Shi, China

Red Beach

A part of the world's largest marsh seems to be growing bright red Martian grass.

Zhangjiajie, China

Avatar Hallelujah Mountain

This vertical pinnacle in China was the inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie “Avatar.”

Shengshan Island, China

Houtouwan

This abandoned fishing settlement may well be the greenest village in the world.

The Forbidden City

The most famous location in China was home to whole dynasties worth of imperial rulers.

Huanglong Travertine Pools

Intensely colorful calcite pools in Southern China.

Zhangjiajie, China

Tianmen Shan

999 stairs lead visitors through a massive hole in a mountain known as the Gateway to Heaven.

Dragon Escalator

The world's longest outdoor escalator takes visitors to the top of China's largest dam and is also shaped like a dragon.

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in China

China Watermelon Museum

This Chinese museum proves that it's a watermelon world, we're all just living in it.

Fangweng

Cliff-hanging restaurant.

Du Fu KFC

A KFC honors an eighth-century Chinese poet with holograms and verse.

Changsha, China

General Tso's Tomb

The man who is mainly remembered for a chicken dish he had nothing to do with is buried under a large concrete dome.

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Atlas Obscura Trips

China: The Great Cuisines of the Middle Kingdom

From bustling night markets to fine-dining institutions, this journey down China’s east coast reveals the story of countless delicious dishes and culinary traditions.

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Stories About China

Clever wordplay makes this festive dessert especially appropriate for the new year.

The Easy, Edible Art of Lunar New Year Dumplings

Celebrate family and good fortune with these simple goldfish.

February 18, 2021

The stickiness of nian gao is part of its power.

How a Monster-Repelling Cake Became a Lunar New Year Staple

Nian gao is a sticky cake for sticky situations.

February 12, 2021

A Tang dynasty wall painting depicts horsemen playing a polo-style game. A similar sport may have been played at Yanghai.

Leather Balls and 3,000-Year-Old Pants Hint at an Ancient Asian Sport

They were found in the Yanghai Tombs in modern-day Northern China.

by Isaac Schultz

November 17, 2020

Chen Guorui's artworks—no matter the shape or size—are formed from base units of rice grains formed into triangles.

This Artist Sculpts Animals and Flowers From Grains of Rice

Guorui Chen brought a hometown tradition back from extinction.

October 9, 2020

The Shilin scenic zone in Yunnan Province is a popular destination for tourists.

What Candy Can Teach Us About the Origin of Mysterious Stone Forests

A stunning geological phenomenon, sweetly explained.

September 21, 2020

Lacewing or lichen? In this illustration, they're lookalikes.

When Prehistoric Lacewings Disguised Themselves as Middle-Jurassic Lichens

Researchers recently found evidence of some very, very old camouflage.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

September 10, 2020

This style of "vase within a vase" was crafted for just two years in the early 1740s (left). The Qianlong emperor ruled from 1735 to 1796 (right).

A $9 Million Chinese Vase Turned Up in a Central European Cupboard

It may have been crafted for the Qianlong emperor more than 275 years ago.

by Karen Chernick

Berthold Laufer's cylinders: one row for vocals, the other for instruments.

Do These Tubes Hold the Oldest Known Stereo Recordings?

In 1901, a traveling researcher recorded some Chinese opera, and accidentally made music history.

by Matthew Taub

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