Chinatodo
A Thousand-Year Hidden Gem in the Mountains—More Tranquil Than Lingyan Temple, and Best of All, Free! When it comes to ancient temples in Jinan (济南 jǐ nán), most people think of the bustling incense fires of Qianfo Mountain (千佛山 qiān fó shān) or the renowned Lingyan Temple (灵岩寺 líng yán sì). Yet, deep in Tongming Mountain (通明山 tōng míng shān) in Changqing District (长清区 cháng qīng qū) lies a quieter, more understated thousand-year-old monastery—Yijing Temple (义净寺 yì jìng sì). Here, there are no crowds of tourists, no commercialized incense stalls—only…
Nestled at the northern foot of Mount Tai in Wande Town, Changqing District, Lingyan Temple (灵岩寺 língyán sì) stands as one of China's Four Great Ancient Temples (alongside Guoqing Temple in Zhejiang, Qixia Temple in Nanjing, and Yuquan Temple in Hubei). Founded during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420 AD), this sacred site blends ancient architecture, stone carvings, mountain scenery, and Zen philosophy, offering a serene escape for history and nature lovers. Transport Guide By Car Route: From downtown Jinan, take G3 Beijing-Taiwan Expressway to Wande Exit, then follow National Highway…
Towering over Shandong Province, Mount Tai (泰山 Tài Shān) is more than a mountain—it is an altar for imperial sacrifices, a sanctuary of Confucian wisdom, and the spiritual benchmark of Chinese civilization. As the "Chief of the Five Sacred Mountains" (五岳之首 Wǔyuè zhī Shǒu), its every stone tablet bears the legacy of emperors, and every step echoes Confucius’ revelation: "Ascend Mount Tai, and the world seems small." The Emperor’s Divine Path, The Sage’s Classroom 1. Imperial Fengshan Ceremonies (封禅大典 Fēngshàn Dàdiǎn) 72 emperors, from Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇 Qín Shǐhuáng) to…
If you're tired of overcrowded tourist hotspots and crave a quiet town blending southern water-town charm with northern historical heritage, Liaocheng (聊城 Liáochéng) in Shandong will surprise you. Dubbed the "Water City of the North," this town cradled by Dongchang Lake (东昌湖 dōngchāng hú) boasts a unique "city within a lake, lake within a city" layout, offering a rare watery landscape in the north. How to Get There From Jinan (济南 jǐnán): High-speed train: ~1 hour Regular train: ~2 hours Bus: ~2 hours Ideal For: Slow travelers, those interested in…
Beyond the Bund and Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s quieter corners reveal nostalgic lanes, avant-garde art spaces, and untold urban legends. Fuxing Park (复兴公园 fù xīng gōng yuán) A Parisian-style garden built during the French Concession era (1909). Elderly locals dance tango under plane trees, play mahjong on stone tables, or practice water calligraphy on sunlit pavements.Why Visit: Witness Shanghai’s jazz-age elegance—weekend tea dances revive 1930s glamour with live brass bands and vintage cheongsam dresses. 1933 Old Millfun (老场坊 lǎo chǎng fāng) A labyrinth of Art Deco concrete ramps, spiral staircases, and…
Beyond the Great Wall and Forbidden City, Beijing hides centuries-old temples, artsy hutong enclaves, and culinary treasures untouched by mass tourism. Fahai Temple (法海寺 fǎ hǎi sì) A 15th-century Ming Dynasty temple famed for its exquisitely preserved Buddhist murals, rivaling Mogao Cave artworks. The dimly lit halls glow with gold-leafed deities.Why Visit: Only 20 visitors allowed daily—book ahead for an intimate glimpse of China’s forgotten Renaissance-era art. Zhihua Temple (智化寺 zhì huà sì) A serene 1443 temple with original black-glazed roof tiles and daily performances of imperial-era “jing music” by…
Discover lesser-known wonders in this coastal city, where European heritage meets local charm. Textile Valley (纺织谷 fǎng zhī gǔ) A post-industrial art zone transformed from a 1930s Japanese textile factory. Graffiti-covered warehouses host indie galleries, vintage markets, and craft coffee roasters.Why Visit: Snap photos of retro machinery repurposed into sculptures and attend weekend vinyl record fairs. Xiao Maidao Park (小麦岛公园 xiǎo mài dǎo gōng yuán) A grassy islet with wildflower meadows, rocky tide pools, and panoramic sea views. Locals fly kites here while fishermen cast lines off the cliffs.Why Visit:…
Nestled along the Grand Canal in Shandong Province, Linqing (临清 lín qīng) flourished as a bustling trade hub during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today, its legacy lives on through well-preserved waterways, multicultural landmarks, and unique local flavors. Grand Canal Relics (大运河遗址 dà yùn hé yí zhǐ) Walk along ancient stone wharves where grain, silk, and porcelain once flowed to Beijing. The Aotouji Watergate (鳌头矶 áo tóu jī), a 15th-century hydraulic marvel, showcases ingenious engineering from China’s canal golden age.Why Visit: Touch the stones that built empires—this UNESCO World Heritage Site…
Explore the lesser-known wonders of Jinan’s Southern Mountains, where ancient history, serene temples, and breathtaking nature converge. Perfect for travelers seeking authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences in China. Lingyan Temple (灵岩寺 líng yán sì)A 1,600-year-old Buddhist temple complex nestled in pine forests. Don’t miss the vivid Song Dynasty clay sculptures in the Thousand Buddha Hall.Why Visit: Witness UNESCO-tentative “Oriental Sculpture Masterpieces” and wander among ancient stupas. A spiritual retreat blending art, history, and misty mountain vistas. Simen Pagoda (四门塔 sì mén tǎ)One of China’s oldest stone pagodas, built in the Sui Dynasty…
When Li Bing and his son split Mount Yulei in 256 BC, they likely never imagined their creation would still be irrigating millions of acres of Chengdu's farmland today! Dujiangyan's ancient genius stuns modern engineers:▸ Yuzui Bifurcation Dam: Nature's original "water circuit board" dividing flow 60-40▸ Feishayan Weir: A sand-flushing wonder using centrifugal force▸ Baopingkou Channel: The world's first damless water diversion system UNESCO declares: "The most ecological hydraulic marvel in human history!" No concrete, no electricity—just mountain topography and water flow achieving:✓ Flood control ✓ Irrigation ✓ Navigation ✓ Ecological balance Standing…
Photographing snow-capped mountains from Chengdu is a game of visual roulette—most days, the hazy skyline renders telephoto lenses useless against the monotonous gray, with 100-kilometer treks yielding nothing but empty frames. Yet during those rare 0.01% magical moments, when the Gongga Mountain Range pierces through the clouds and sunlight crowns Yaomei Peak's snowy summit, the entire Chengdu Plain transforms into your personal viewing platform. Key factors for success: a 48-hour window after heavy rainfall, northwest winds above level 3, and precise focus on Longquan Pass at 5:23 AM. After all,…
'This is Chongqing, the Cyberpunk City of China!'As sunset hues dance on the Yangtze River and night falls with a symphony of lights, the city's nightscape will absolutely take your breath away.
When your drone ascends over Chongqing at night, the city transforms into a living cyberpunk dream. Hongyadong's golden lights cascade down the cliff like liquid sunshine, its stilted houses stacking like glowing Lego blocks. The Yangtze River mirrors this spectacle, turning into a swirling galaxy of reflections - where it's impossible to tell where the real city ends and its watery twin begins.
I captured Chongqing's natural beauty at 7:30 PM - the city glowing in its magical blue hour. As the last sunlight disappears behind the mountains, Chongqing begins to shine. Street lamps flicker on, car lights illuminate the roads, and buildings emit a gentle glow from within. From this angle, the Yuzhong Peninsula resembles a colossal starlit spaceship ready to sail through the night.
When adventure photographer Paul Zizka turned his MJ lens toward Zhangjiajie, the UNESCO World Heritage Site revealed its secret language of light. Known for conquering extreme environments, Zizka scaled vertigo-inducing sandstone pillars at golden hour, his camera tracing the same mist that inspired Avatar's floating mountains. These aren't just photos - they're adrenaline-fueled love letters to Earth. Each composition forces your eye to dance between:• Spider-like climbers clinging to quartzite cliffs• Pillars swallowing thunderclouds whole• Moonlight carving phantom silhouettes in the sea of clouds Why It Matters:Zizka's work does the…
When Wuyi Square crowds disperse,Changsha at 4AM activates its luxury mode—The 93-story IFS curtain wallsheds flashy LED costumes,breathing only through geometric light leaks,while Xiang River flows blackmirroring the financial district's muted elegance. This is the early bird's privilege:Watch sunrise bleed from Yuelu Mountain,gilding IFS' steel frame in rose gold,even Jiefangxi's bar neon becomescyberpunk movie fill lights. Summer alert:At 6:02AM on Orange Isle,you'll witness a waking"Star City Edition" Manhattan.
Click! Freezing the city's most poetic heartbeat—As train C204 leaps across Liuyang River Bridge into the concrete jungle, its light trail makes all of Changsha vibrate along the rails. This is the most lyrical section of Beijing-Guangzhou Railway:Where over 100 trains daily pulse through the city,Steel dragons slicing through sunsets or vanishing into neon,But my lens caught that magical beamof morning light piercing precisely through IFS' glass facade.
Perched atop Snake Hill's ancient beacon site, the Yellow Crane Tower was never just a building—it's the "March of fireworks" when Li Bai bid farewell to Meng Haoran, the homesickness in Cui Hao's verse "where white clouds have been wandering for thousands of years", and the cultural medal the Yangtze River has worn for 1,800 years! Though the current five-tiered eaves were reconstructed in 1985 based on the Qing Dynasty Tongzhi Tower, when you touch those cool bronze tiles, your fingertips still connect with the wartime drums of the Three…
When the 18-kilometer riverfront illuminates, Hankou transforms into a cyberpunk wonderland! The chimes of Jianghan Customs House still echo, while the Wuhan Tiandi skyline across the river dons a glittering cloak of lights.
A poetic collision of eras unfolds before your eyes - the timeless elegance of 1300-year-old Tengwang Pavilion standing proudly before the glittering skyline of Honggutan CBD. This breathtaking frame captures Nanchang's dual soul: the historic pavilion where Wang Bo penned his immortal poetry now shares its horizon with the 303-meter Greenland Twin Towers, the new icons of Jiangxi's prosperity. The Gan River mirrors both worlds - reflecting golden sunset on classical eaves while bouncing off blue-tinted glass facades. It's more than a skyline; it's a dialogue between Tang Dynasty craftsmanship…