In October 2005, Chinese National Geography and 34 media co-evaluated and co-graded "China's most beautiful places." The result was a compilation of over 100 scenic splendors -- divided into 17 types of attraction: mountains, lakes, forests, grasslands, deserts, Danxia landscapes, islands, coastlines, waterfalls, glaciers, gorges, city districts, country towns and villages, show caves, peak forest, Yadan landforms and wetlands.
Tourism resources in China can be divided into three groups: natural sites, historical and cultural sites, and folk customs.
Natural Sites
Mount Taishan in the east, Mount Hengshan in the south, Mount Huashan in the west, Mount Hengshan in the north, and Mount Songshan in the center of China have been called the five Sacred Mountains since antiquity. Mount Taishan, in central Shandong Province, is admired by Chinese as paramount among them. Another mountain celebrated for its beauty is Mount Huangshan in southern Anhui Province, known for its graceful pines, grotesque rocks, cloud seas and hot springs.
Jiuzhaigou, Huangguoshu Waterfalls, and Guilin are all located in southwestern China. Jiuzhaigou in northern Sichuan Province is a beautiful "fairyland" valley stretching over 40 km and covering a 620 sq km area of snow-capped mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and forests. The Huangguoshu Waterfalls in Guizhou Province is a group of 18 above-ground and four under-ground waterfalls, and can be heard from five km away. The Lijiang River in Guangxi Province has a section of 82 km between Guilin and Yangshuo, which winds its way through karst peaks.
On the plateau in northwestern China are many spectacular lakes. The Tianchi (Heavenly Pool) in the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang Autonomous Region is 1,980 meters above sea level. This 105-m-deep lake is crystal clear, surrounded by high mountains covered with green grass and colorful flowers.
Along the renowned Three Gorges of the Yangtze River are many scenic spots and historical sites. The Qutang Gorge is rugged and majestic. The Wuxia Gorge is elegant, deep and secluded. The Xiling Gorge has many shoals, swift torrents and reefs. The Lesser Three Gorges are lush and green, its water so clear you can see to the bottom. The Three Gorges Dam built here is the biggest key hydropower project in China.
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