China's Tourism Industry Awaits Restructuring in the Downturns

 China's domestic tourism market plummeted in the third quarter, blocking the recovery momentum in the first half of this year. The reason was that inter-provincial tourism was suspended due to the intermittent reports of COVID cases. 

According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the number of domestic tourists in the third quarter fell by 18.3% year-on-year, while the growth rates in the first and second quarters were 247.1% and 33%, respectively.

Due to the strong performance in the first two quarters of this year, the total domestic tourist arrivals from January to September increased by 39.1% year-on-year to 2.689 billion.

Experts familiar with the Chinese culture and tourism industry said: "If the tourism situation in the next two months can reach the level of last year, it will be a fairly optimistic forecast."

The expert pointed out that there are no public holidays in the rest of this year, which aggravates the problems faced by winter tourism. Coupled with the fact that the COVID pandemic has not yet been completely eliminated, a recovery in the fourth quarter is unlikely.

Top 5 China Tourist Spots To Travel

China is an ancient and beautiful country with rich tourism resources! For those who love to travel, there are too many places to go. The following 5 famous scenic spots are the ones I personally think are the most worth visiting:

Top China Tourist Spots #1: The Great Wall, Beijing

Chairman Mao once said, "One who fails to reach the Great Wall is not a hero". As one of the Seven Wonders of the Medieval World, the Great Wall, representing the wisdom of the working people in ancient China, definitely ranks first. The Great Wall is not a purely isolated wall, but It is a defense system that combines the city walls as the main body and a large number of towns, barriers, pavilions, and signs. The total length of the Great Wall is 21,196.18 kilometers. The Great Wall, also known as the "Great Wall of Ten Thousand Miles", is the general name for the vast military projects built in different periods in ancient China to resist the invasion of the northern Saibei nomadic tribe alliance.

China Tourist Spot - Badaling Great Wall

Badaling Great Wall (Located at Yanqing, Beijing), Mutianyu Great Wall (located at Huairou, Beijing), Simatai Great Wall(located at Miyun, Beijing), and Jinshanling Great Wall (located at Luanping County, Chengde City, Hebei) are among the most famous sections of the Great Wall.

Tourist Spots #2: West Lake, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province

The West Lake was formerly known as Wulin Water, Qiantang Lake, and got its current name West Lake in the Song Dynasty. There is a Chinese saying, "Up in heaven, there is paradise; down on earth, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou." Hangzhou's status as a paradise equivalent is mostly due to the West Lake. Throughout the ages, many literati and writers have visited here, and left a number of well-known stories about West Lakes. The great writer Su Shi's "The West Lake looks like the fair lady at her best Whether she is richly adorned or plainly dressed" pushed the West Lake to a climax. The legend of the 

Tourist Spots #2: West Lake

White Lady on the Broken Bridge adds a touch of romance to the West Lake. 

The West Lake has become a well-known tourist attraction at home and abroad for its beautiful lakes and mountains and numerous historical sites. The West Lake is also one of the few cultural heritages in the world heritage list and the only lake-like cultural heritage site in China.

Tourist Spots #3: Huangshan Mountain, Anhui Province

Huangshan Mountain is located in Huangshan City, Anhui Province, spanning Yi County, Xiuning County, Huangshan District and Huizhou District within the city, covering an area of 1,078 square kilometers. Huangshan is one of the Three Mountains and Five Great Mountains. It has been one of the top famous mountains in China (the Great 3 + 5 Mountains) since ancient times. The unique pines, spectacular rocks, sea of clouds, and hot springs are known as the "four uniques" of Huangshan. In addition, rime, snow scenes, and sunrise are also sights that tourists will not miss. As an ancient saying goes, trips to China's five great mountains render trips to other mountains unnecessary, and a trip to Huangshan renders trips to the five great mountains unnecessary.  Huangshan Mountain is not only famous for its charming beauty, but also a national-level scenic spot with abundant resources, complete ecology, and important scientific and ecological environmental values.

Tourist Spots #3: Huangshan Mountain, Anhui Province

Tourist Spots #4: Dali, Yunnan Province 

Dali, a small city like spring all year round, has many bookstores. It's a tranquil place that never lacke visitors. You can't imagine why people living in this comfortable city love art so much. Dali, known as a city of romantic themes seems always full of fragrance in the air. The art here will be unforgettable for a lifetime.

China Tourist Spot: Erhai Lake of Dali, Yunan Province

Located in the low-latitude plateau, the temperature difference in the four seasons is not large, the dry and wet seasons are distinct, and the low-latitude plateau monsoon climate is dominant. The most representative scenic spots in the territory are Butterfly Spring, Cangshan Mountain, Erhai Lake, Dali Ancient City, and the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple.

China Tourist Spots #5: Guilin Scenery, Guangxi Province

"East or west, Guilin landscape is best." Guilin is well known for its picturesque mountains & water. It has become a world-famous tourist attraction for its peculiar karst landforms. The fascinating scenery "green mountains, clear waters, marvellous caves, and beautiful stones" has made countless people in China and abroad admired and moved by it. Guilin is  a city that "thousands of pinnacles stand towering around and the river Lijiang winds its way about" (“千峰环野立，一水抱城流” ). 

China Tourist Spot: Guilin Scenery

Tourist Attractions Near Me (Shenzhen Travel)

Top-Rated Attractions

Top 8 Tourist Attractions Near Me to Travel in Shenzhen

The "Top 8 Tourist Attractions in Shenzhen" selected in August 2004 refer to: Dapeng Fortress (Da Peng Suo Cheng), Lianhuashan Park, Overseas Chinese Town, Shennan Avenue, Wutong Mountain, Meisha Beach, One Street Two Systems ("Zhongying Street") and Yangtaishan Forest Park stood out among the 31 candidate landscapes.

Senic Spot #1: Wutong Mountain (Wutongshan)

Ticket: Free admission, 7x24 Open

The peak point of Wutong Mountain rises to 943.70 meters above the sea level, the highest in Shenzhen. Several hiking trails from valleys and ridges converge here. But for most of those who don't exercise or hike much, whichever route they choose, it takes at least 3 hours to climb to the top, if they finally make it.

At the highest point of Wutong Mountain crouches a large rock, bearing inscription of "The First Peak of Shenzhen, Elevation: 943.7 meters". The highest peak is called the Great Wutong (Dawutong).

Wutong Mountain is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the modern & international metropolis, not just because of the glory of the highest altitude. 

Wutong Mountain Shrouded in the Mist

Spring of Wutongshan beside the TV Tower at Xiaowutong

Xiaowutong( literally small or shorter Wutong as compared to the highest peak, the Great Wutong) is also one of the most popular hiking destinations. It's where the TV Tower is located, as shown in the above picture.

Wutong Mountain Hiking

Wutong mountain is be one of the best destinations, either for sightseeing, hiking or relaxing and getting close to nature. Below video clip is said to be the scene at the peak point of Wutong mountain in the early morning of Oct. 1, 2021, the first day of China's 7-day long National Day holiday. That means these hundreds of visitors seen here must have been hiking in the dead of night (and more are coming). After all, it is quite tempting to watch the sunrise from the highest point of this metropolis. 

Bustling Early Hikers at the Top of Wutong Mountain, Oct. 1, 2021

Senic Spot #2: Dapeng Fortress

Ticket: Free admission, 7x24 Open

Dapeng fortress is a walled village, also called Dapengsuocheng which means "Garrison Town Guarding Thousand Households", located on the Dapeng (Roc) Peninsula in Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province. It was the place where the Opium War started. Besides, Shenzhen's another name "Pengcheng" (City of Roc) originated from this.

Dapeng Fortress was built in 1394 in the Ming Dynasty as an important coastal defense station. It has a history of over 600 years. The layout of the walled village is approximately trapezoidal, covering an area of about 100,000 square meters. The fortress wall is 6 meters high and 1,200 meters long. There are 654 battlements on the top and horse lanes as well. The fortress has four gates: east, west, south, and north (the north gate was blocked during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty). Since its establishment, Dapeng Fortress has been responsible for the coastal defense security of Shenzhen and Hong Kong. It has repeatedly resisted invasions by Portugal, Japanese pirates and British colonialists. 

Dapeng Fortress Bird View

The magnificent gate tower of Dapengsuo fortress has preserved the original scale, pattern and overall style of the Ming and Qing dynasties' building. 

Time-honored Alley

Senic Spot #3: Meisha Beaches

Ticket: Free admission, Open hours: 7:00-24:00; (Xiaomeisha requires an entry fee of RMB 50 for adults)

Location: Located on the bank of Roc Bay, Shenzhen.

Highlights: Known as the "Oriental Hawaii", it is an ideal place for citizens and foreign tourists to cool off the heat and ride the sea waves.

Landscape display: Meisha includes Great Meisha (Dameisha) and Small Meisha(Xiaomeisha). The sea sand there is yellow and white,  delicate, flat and soft. The beach is like a crescent moon inlaid between the mountains and the sea. There are cultural relics of the Shang Dynasty more than 3000 years ago found on the edge of Dameisha Mountain, and the Spring and Autumn Period relics have been found on the sand dunes.

The Crowded Dameisha Beach

Beautiful Meisha Beach

Senic Spot #4: Yangtai Pinnacle

Ticket: Free admission, 7x24 Open

Yangtai Mountain Forest Park is not as daunting and exhausting as Wutong Mountain, in terms of either elevation or roughness. But it also attracts many tourists and hikers. 

Yangtai Mountain is located in Shiyan, Baoan District, Shenzhen. It is magnificent and beautiful. It has an altitude of 587 meters, the highest peak in the west of Shenzhen. In 2008, "Yangtai Pinnacle" was rated as one of the eight scenic spots in Shenzhen, becoming a good place for Chinese and foreign tourists and the general public for sightseeing, traveling, leisure and fitness.

Senic Spot #5:  the Early Spring of Lotus Mountain

Ticket: Free admission, 7x24 Open

Located at the northern end of the central district of Shenzhen.

Highlights: From the top of the mountain, you can overlook the whole view of the central area.

Landscape display: The mountain is named because it resembles a lotus flower. With a total area of 166 hectares, Lianhua Mountain is the largest public green space in the central area. The Lotus Mountain Park is built with winding paths and green grass. Lianhua Mountain is one of the most important municipal parks in Shenzhen, with rich landscapes and beautiful landscapes. The main landscapes of Lianhua Mountain include artificial lake, kite square, sparse forest grassland, coconut wind forest grassland and leisure tea house. 

Bird View from the top of the Lianhua mountain

When the sky is high and the sky is clear, the vast lawn in Lianhuashan Park becomes an ideal place for flying kites. As the kites rise in the sky, visitors can not only relive the fun of childhood, but also make them feel like a kite, flying happily and freely. 

Senic Spot #6:  Splendid Overseas Chinese Town

Tickets: each theme park charges entry fee separately.

Beside the Shenzhen Bay, is located the small scenic town, the  the Overseas Chinese Town (OCT). Covering an area of 4.8 square kilometers it condenses the civilization and history of thousands of years at home and abroad. Here in OCT, you can"Walk" all across in one day, "travel" all the waters and mountains of the world in one day, and see the customs of 56 ethnic groups of China in one day.

The OCT landscape area boasts the largest, most spectacular, and most profitable theme parks across China so far. These OCT scenic spots include theme parks such as "Splendid China Folk Culture Village", "Window of the World" and "Happy Valley"!

Shenzhen Travel: OCT Theme Parks

Senic Spot #7: Shennan Avenue

Tickets: Free admission, 7x24 Open

 Shennan Avenue is like Beijing's Chang'an Avenue or New York's 5th avenue. It spans across the 3 most prosperous districts of Shenzhen: Luohu, Fu Tian and Nanshan. Shennan Avenue is a mainline of cross-city communication as well as a timeline of the short but brilliant city history.  From east to west, it witnessed Shenzhen sprawling from a humble fishing village, to then Luohu-centered China's experimental Special Economic Zone, up to the currently international metropolis.

Shenzhen Travel: Shennan Avenue

Senic Spot #8: One Street Two Systems

Ticket: Free admission (Obtain Daily Pass on site), Open hours: 09:00 - 18:00

Located in Zhongying Street, Shatoujiao Town, Yantian District.

Highlights: Walking into Zhongying Street, a peculiar feeling of vicissitudes of history and modern prosperity will come to your face at the same time.

Landscape display: The boundary monument of "The Boundary of Sino-British Land X in the 24th Year of Guangxu", carved in 1898, is erected in the center of the street, dividing Sha Tau Kok into two. Sha Tau Kok, hence the name "Zhongying Street". It is still a mark of the dividing line of "one country, two systems". Zhongying Street is famous for its unique political history of "one street, two systems", and there are other rich tourism and cultural resources around it. There are cultural landscapes such as the Zhongying Street History Museum, boundary monument, ancient well, bunker and Jingshi Bell, and folk customs attractions such as Wu's Ancestral Hall, Tin Hau Temple, and Old Streets and Ancient Alleys.

Tips for Foreigners Traveling in China

Tips for Foreigners Traveling in China: 

1. Pay attention to passports and visas. Go to the local police station for filing whenever you visit. In addition, some hotels do not accept foreign guests, so you need to pay attention when booking hotels.

2. Not recommended at a time when the Covid pandemic is still not fully eliminated. Because after arriving in China, you need to be quarantined for at least 14 days, and accept the nucleic acid test.

3. You cannot use Google Maps, Youtube, Twitter, etc., you can download the VPN in advance. At the same time, it is recommended to download Mafengwo or other travel Apps to find travel guides. To book air tickets or high-speed trains, you can use Ctrip, Zhixing train tickets, download Baidu maps to mark travel locations, navigation, and taxis. WeChat and Alipay can be used for payment. Short-distance bicycles (for cities only) can be downloaded mobike. 

4. China is too big. If the travel time is less than a week, it is recommended to check around Beijing and Shanghai. If it is more than 1 week, you can arrange to check around the big city or change the area. If it is more than 2 weeks, just choose There are too many, it is recommended to refer to the 5A scenic spot for selection (the Baidu map has a tourist map in the layer, you can refer to it). But it is not recommended to tour the country unless there is enough time. 

In addition, some areas, such as some scenic spots in Beijing, require reservations 1 day in advance. 

5. All the major public museums in China are free of charge (some also require advance reservation), it is recommended to check it out. 

6. There is no shortage of food, accommodation, transportation, travel, shopping, and entertainment. It is recommended to hike the mountains in the morning, play in the water in the afternoon, and eat delicious food in the evening. For food, please refer to the App Dianping and choose those with a score of 4.5 or more, which is more reliable than Michelin.