beautiful spots of the week 3:

beautiful spots of week in CHINA,RUSSIA,AUSTRALIA:

China is awesome

Russia is great

australia oppurtunities

China is a vast and extraordinary country spanning thousands of miles from the deserts in the west to the ocean on the east. Culturally, China has one of the most rich and textured histories of all civilizations that encompasses over 5,000 years. This is rich stuff for a traveler. 1. The Forbidden City Photo: Sara Naumann The Forbidden City, or Palace Museum, sits at the center of Beijing, directly north of Tiananmen Square where the famous portrait of Mao Zedong hangs on the palatial crimson wall. It was the imperial seat for Ming and Qing dynasty emperors from 1420 until 1912 when the last emperor, Pu Yi, abdicated. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Visiting the Forbidden City Best of Beijing Beijing Itinerary Best to See Beijing Beijing for Kids 2. The Great Wall China Photos/Getty Images The Great Wall winds its way across China covering over 5,500 miles (8,850 km). While the latest construction occurred after 1368 during the Ming Dynasty, construction of the Great Wall began over 2,000 years ago. In fact, the Great Wall is actually made up of a number of interconnecting walls spanning China that different dynasties and warlords constructed over the years. How Long is the Great Wall? How Long did it take to build the Great Wall? Sections of the Great Wall to visit History of the Great Wall Commune Hotel by the Great Wall 3. The Terracotta Warriors © 2007 Megan Inman & Lincoln Schroth, licensed to About.com, Inc. Discovered in 1974 when a local farmer was digging a well, the terracotta army, buried in 210 BC with the first emporer of the Qin dynasty, is a breathtaking site. The thousands of life-size figures have individually unique faces and hair and armor styles appropriate to their rank. The museum of the Terracotta Army is located in Xi'An, Shanxi province. Visiting the Terracotta Warriors Xi'an City Profile History of Xi'an Xi'an & Terracotta Warriors Photo Gallery 4. Karst Mountains in Yangshuo Sara Naumann Illustrating the 20 Renminbi (Chinese currency) note, the karst mountains are famously beautiful in China. Located in the south of China in Guangxi province, they can best be viewed from Yangshuo, a small town outside Guilin, a major city in Guangxi Province. Visiting Yangshuo Yangshuo Photo Gallery Visiting Guilin and surrounding area 5. Hangzhou - Paradise on Earth (c) 2006 Sara Naumann About.com, Inc. China's "Paradise on Earth", Hangzhou is a lovely city centered around the famed West Lake. This green city is full of gardens, tranquil temples and pavilions and bustling historic streets to venture through. The hills surrounding the city grow the famous longjing green tea. Hangzhou is close to Shanghai but is a much more laid-back, cultural city. Hangzhou City Profile Hangzhou History West Lake Photo Gallery 6. Jiuzhaigou Photo submitted by Denise Gilman. All rights reserved. Jiuzhaigou Valley is a nature reserve located in China's Sichuan province. A beautiful example of China's varied landscape, Jiuzhaigou is famous for crystal blue lakes and multi-level waterfalls. It is populated by a number of Tibetan villages so is also a superb place to see and experience Tibetan local culture. Jiuzhaigou Photo Gallery 7. Potala Palace, Lhasa © 2006 Megan Inman & Lincoln Schroth, licensed to About.com, Inc. Now a Chinese museum, the Potala Palace was traditionally the seat of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhists' spiritual leader. Famous for its imposing white walls surrounding the inner red palace, the building sits at 3,700 meters or over 12,000 feet. The Potala Palace is located in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Tibet Photo Gallery Tibet Travel Guide How to Get to Lhasa, Tibet Tibet Attractions 8. The Bund, Shanghai © 2007 Sara Naumann, licensed to About.com. The Bund, meaning embankment, was historically the seat of Shanghai's most powerful businessmen in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Bund is a fabulous place to see examples of Shanghai's rich architectural history, illustrated by the HSBC Building, built in 1923 and at the time said to be "the most luxurious building between the Suez Canal and the Bering Strait." (Quote source: Wikipedia) Visiting Shanghai Shanghai Photo Gallery History of Shanghai Free Things to do in Shanghai Activities for a Weekend in Shanghai BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN AUSTRALIA: Sydney Australia Australia Hotels Sydney Information Sydney Attractions Sydney Places Sydney Surrounds Sydney History Sydney Map Sydney Restaurants Sydney Tours Sydney Kids Fun Aboriginal Culture Sydney Beaches Blue Mountains Bondi Beach Sydney CBD - City Darling Harbour Hunter Valley Wineries Manly Beach Rocks Sydney Australia Tourist Guide New South Wales NSW Northern Territory NT Queensland Australia South Australia Tasmania Australia Victoria Australia Western Australia Sydney Work - Jobs Tourist Spots in Russia The inner and international tourism in Russia has improved since the Soviet years. The place is popular for having 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Aside from these sites, the country also features cultural and natural attractions. Below is the list and brief descriptions of the top 10 tourist spots in Russia. Moscow Kremlin A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Moscow Kremlin is located at the heart of the City of Moscow. This site is a fortified complex that has a historic value. It provides an overview of the other tourist destinations in the city like the Red Square and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Red Square One of the most popular city square in Moscow, the Red Square is surrounded by attractive sites including the Lenin’s Mausoleum and the Kazan Cathedral. At the spot, people can find the famous statue of Dmitry Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin, which is made from bronze. Saint Isaac’s Cathedral Located at Saint Petersburg, the Saint Isaac’s Cathedral is the tallest church in the country with a height of 101.5 meters. Inside this tourist spot, people can find paintings created by Carlo Brullo. Outside the cathedral, guests can see the Bronze Horseman sculpture. Mamayev Kurgan Also called The Motherland Calls, Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd is a memorial complex built to commemorate the Battle of Stalingrad. The remains of Vasily Chuikov lies at the complex. The site provides a nice view of the Volga river. Summer Palace The Summer Palace in Saint Petersburg promotes Baroque architecture. This place was constructed for Tsar Peter the Great. It has an extant central heating system as well as a porcelain ductwork. Inside the Summer Palace, people can find beautiful ornamental paintings. The State Russian Museum Found within the premises of Mikhailovski Palace in Saint Petersburg, the State Russian Museum features different collections of artworks and artifacts that are important to the history of the country. Some of the buildings assigned to the museum include the Rastrelliesque Stroganov Palace and the Saint Michael’s Castle. The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood One of the most famous attractions in Saint Petersburg, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood features Neoclassical and Baroque architecture. The place is popular for featuring 7500 square meters of mosaics. The church features a shrine for Alexander II of Russia. The Tretyakov Gallery The Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow features Russian fine art deposits. Some of the artworks inside the gallery are Socialist Realism sculptures and Peter the Great statue. Examples of exhibits featured at the gallery include the Thetokos of Vladimir. State Hermitage Museum Found at Saint Petersburg, the State Hermitage Museum is one of the world’s oldest museums. The collections inside the museum include the Egyptian antiquities, prehistoric artifacts as well as French and German fine art. The place also features paintings and sculptures including the Knight’s Hall. Bolshoi Theater One of the historic theaters in Russia, the Bolshoi Theater plays home to one of the greatest and oldest ballet companies in the world, the Bolshoi Ballet. Some of the attractions in the theater include the Beethoven Hall and the Petrovsky Theater. By spending some time at these destinations, foreigners can have a glimpse of the culture of Russians. These sites are open to public daily. To avoid delays, it is best to make prior arrangements with the administrators of these sites. Related Destinations: Tourist Spots in Ukraine Ukraine is one of the countries in Europe that is rich in natural and manmade wonders. In order to have a memorable visit to the country, it is best to... Tourist Spots in Poland Poland is one of the most industrialized countries that belong to the European Union. To have an exciting and enjoyable visit to the country, it is important to see the... Tourist Spots in Serbia Serbia is one of the most visited countries in the Middle East. To have a wonderful visit to the country, it is important to see the top 10 tourist spots... Tourist Spots in Afghanistan Afghanistan is one of the South Central Asian countries that feature numerous archaeological and historic sites. To understand the nation’s culture, it is best to see the top 10 tourist... Tourist Spots in Slovakia Slovakia is a country that has a rich history, heritage and culture. To know more about this nation, it is best to see the top 10 tourist spots in Slovakia... Posted in Asia | Tags: destinations, places, travel