Qinghai Province is located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau -- the cradle of the Yangtze and Huanghe rivers. The spectacular snow mountains and glaciers make the province even more mysterious. Qinghai Lake is not only a scenic spot, but also a natural reserve under State protection. Minority groups like the Tibet group, Tu and Sala live in Qinghai, demonstrating the region's strong ethnic flavor and a large number of Tibetan Buddhist temples reflect its special religious art.

Helongjiang Province is situated at the highest latitude in China. Known as Snow World, the province is famous for its immense forests, snow fields, glaciers, rimes, ice lanterns and snow carvings. The province also has the largest stretch of forests in the country, which is home to various plants and animals. Xingkai Lake, Jingpo Lake and the Five Interconnected Lakes are also known for their pleasant and beautiful sceneries. Northern ethnic groups like the Russian group, Hezhe, Elunchun and Dawoer also live there and attract a large number of tourists due to their special way of life. In addition, the cities' architecture features a flavor of European style.

Lingning is where the Qing Empire was born and is the site of the famous Shenyang Imperial Palace (second to the Beijing Imperial Place). Liaoning is also an important industrial center of metallurgy, coal, machine building, chemical plants and shipbuilding. And the Qianshan and Fenghuangshan mountains are renowned for their natural scenery. Dalian is a maritime open city known as the "Garden City."

Jilin, a province of advanced agriculture, is one of the major provinces of surplus grain. The Changbai Mountain, with its boundless forests and lofty mountains, is a key natural reserve under State protection. The graceful Songhua River and Songhua Lake are known for their unique rime phenomenon. And the special Korean culture and customs are also important features of the province.

Beijing, as the political, economic and cultural center of the country, is also the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is not only a city of a long, glorious history and brilliant culture, but also a modern international metropolis with a dynamic pulse. A great number of historic relics, elegant gardens and spectacular landscapes make Beijing famous around the world. The ancient Great Wall, Imperial Palace, Beihai Park and Summer Palace are among the most popular tourist attractions on the planet. Beijing's new emerging constructions and the ever-changing attitudes and outlook make it a window to understanding the changes and achievements in China.

Zhejiang lies in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It has always been known for its natural beauty and prosperity in Chinese history. The weather there is pleasant and the scenery is picturesque. The natural scenery and cultural sites are perfectly combined in Zhejiang: the charming West Lake, imposing Yandang Mountain, secluded Putuo Mountain and spectacular Qianjiang River are famous all over the world. Hangzhou, Shaoxing and Ningbo are listed as National Historical and Cultural Cities, and Hangzhou is called Heaven on Earth.

Shanghai is not only the biggest commercial and financial center in China, but also an important international harbor in the Western Pacific Region. It is a hub of communication in China, with more than 40 air routes that lead to both international and domestic cities. The industry in Shanghai is prosperous and its technological level is advanced, excelling in research and development. As early as the 1930s, Shanghai has become A Fairyland for Adventurers. As an international metropolis, Shanghai has an unparalleled flavor.

The main characteristic of Jiangsu Province is its strong, southern Yangtze River flavor. Beautiful gardens and historical relics abound there, and the province has the greatest number of national historical and cultural cities, which occupy more than one-tenth of the country's total. Lying in the south of the Yangtze River, Jiangsu is crisscrossed by a number of small rivers -- an area known as Water Village. The Suzhou Garden is also world famous and reputed as the representative of the Chinese southern gardens, which is why Suzhou is called the" the city of gardens."

Shandong is not only a place of developed economy and advanced culture, but also where philosophers abound. There are 157 cultural relics and historic sites under provincial protection in Shandong. And Qufu and Jinan are listed as National Historical and Cultural Cities. Shandong is also a place of natural beauty where Taishan Mountain has been listed as a Cultural and Natural Heritage by UNESCO. Located beside the ocean, Laoshan Mountain is a holy, Taoist location. Along the coast are many fine harbors and beaches. Qingdao, Yantai, Penglai and Weihai are also famous summer resorts with beautiful sceneries.

The Hebei Plain has always been a communication center of the country, with a long and glorious history. The province teems with cultural relics sites: Chengde and Baoding are listed as National Historical and Cultural Cities and Shanhaiguan is the place where the Great Wall begins. The Chengde Summer Resort is one of the grandest imperial gardens in the country. Zhaozhou Bridge has a prominent position in the history of world bridges and was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1991. The grand East and West Tombs of the Qing Dynasty and the Jade Clothes Sewn With Golden Thread, unearthed in Mancheng, are also situated in Hebei Province.

Jiangxi is a province of green hills, clear waters and a picturesque scenery. It is also known for its rich natural resources. The Yangtze River runs across the province where the famous summer resort, Lushan Mountain, is located. Boyang Lake is the biggest of the Five Great Freshwater Lakes in China, and around it are other well-known scenic spots, such as Bokou and Shizhongshan. Jiangxi is also famous for its porcelain culture: Jingdezhen is known as the City of Porcelain. The red earth across the province, together with its hardworking and honest people, reflect the special countryside glamour of Jiangxi.

Guangdong Province stretches across the tropical and semi-tropical zones. As a result of hot weather, the province is teeming with various tropical plants. Guangdong is home to many overseas Chinese and it borders on Hong Kong and Macao. It is also one of the earliest places where the opening-up policy was implemented, and its people are bold trailblazers. Shenzhen, a coastal city in Guangdong Province, is representative of the achievements of opening-up and the reform policy. With a bold and adventurous spirit, Guangdong people built their hometown -- one of the most prosperous provinces in China.

Hunan Province is vast in territory and plentiful in products. It is one of the cradles of Chinese democratic revolutions, and it is also the hometown of revolutionary leaders like Mao Zedong and Liu Shaoqi. West Hunan Province still retains an uncontaminated, natural scenery and the special culture and custom of its native peoples. Wulingyuan is a newly developed scenery spot that was listed as a World Natural Heritage site.

The karst and waterfalls, together with its rich and colorful ethnic flavors make Guizhou Province exceptionally charming. The spectacular Huangguoshu Waterfall is the biggest across China. Dancing, singings and festivals from various nationalities are spectacular. Ethnic buildings and costumes are also characterized by the special ethnic flavor.

Guangxi Province is characterized by karst and ethnic flavors. Guilin is said to be a leader in world landscapes. Many ethnic groups live within the territory of Guangxi Province, including the Zhuang nationality -- the largest ethnic group in terms of population in China. All such minority groups have their own special customs and cultures. Unique festivals, marriages, costumes and eating habits emit the strong flavor of ethnic groups. The March 3rd Song Festival in antiphonal style of the Zhuang People exhibits their amazing musical talents. The story of Liu Sanjie is also widely known. The Storm-Proof Bridge and Mapang Drum Tower are the unique constructions of the Dong Nationality.

The Silk Road springs to mind when mentioning Gansu Province. It is where the Four Great Chinese Inventions as well as silk and porcelain were transported to the West. Nowadays, Gansu is also known for a great number of cultural and historic relic sites. The Galloping House bronzeware of the Han Dynasty, which was unearthed in Wuwei is now the symbol of Chinese tourism. The magnificent Dunhuang frescos achieved a very high standard of art, and Gansu is therefore reputed as the Hometown of the Grotto Arts. Yugu, Bonan and Dongxiang minority groups are exclusive to Gansu Province. Most of them are Muslim, and each has its own rich and colorful special culture.

Yunnan is the province with the biggest number of ethnic groups. They include the Yi, Bai, Hani, Zhuang, Dai, Miao, Hui, Lahu, Wa, Naxi, Yao, Tibet, Jingpo, Blang, Pumi, Nu, Achang, Deang, Mongol, Dulong and Jinuo, each of which has its own style of clothing, architecture, dance and song. The stone forest scenery is unparalleled; Xishuangbana is home to many tropical plants. The perfect combination of natural and ethnic landscapes emits a special feeling of the frontier.

Sichuan Province is concurrently a place of natural beauty, cultural relics and ethnic influences. Emei Moutain and Jiuzhaigou attract tourists in large numbers due to its extraordinary natural beauty. The Wuhou Ancestral Temple and Dufucaotang have a close relationship which includes many prominent historical figures. The Yueshan Buddha and Dazu Stone Carvings are famous religious relics. While Zigong abounds with dinosaur fossils, the Wolong natural reserve attracts worldwide attention with its pandas. Various ethnic festivals demonstrate a very diversified culture in Sichuan.

Most of regions in Tibet are located above sea level, which is why it is called the Roof of the World. Mount Everest, at 8,848 meters above sea level, is the highest mountain in the world. The amazing Tibet culture is ancient and colorful. The relics of the Guge Kingdom, Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple all demonstrate the glorious historic culture of Tibet. Customs, habits, festivals, rites and ways of life also exhibit the eternal glamour and mysterious temptation of the region.

Xinjiang features spectacular natural scenery. Tianchi on Tianshan Mountain is a famous lake at high altitude and Aiding Lake is at the lowest altitude in China. Twelve ethnic groups that specialize in singing and dancing -- Uygur, Kazak, Hui, Mongol, Kirgiz, Xibo, Tajik, Uzbek, Dawoer, Manchu, Tatar and the Russia group -- live in Xinjiang. All of them make Xinjiang one of most distinct places in China.

Henan Province is located in the lower reaches of the Huanghe River where the Chinese nation originated. Henan used to be the political, economic and cultural center of ancient China, and is still a big agricultural province with a dense population. Cultural relics abound in this province and scenic sites, such as the Longmen Grottoes, Baima Temple and Songshan Mountain are major tourists attractions. Luoyang used to be the capital of 13 dynasties in Chinese history and it is also known for its annual Peony Festival.

Hubei Province is located in the middle reach of the Yangtze River and contains many lakes. The province boasts many historical sites such as Quyuan' s hometown in Zigui, the Yellow Crane Tower, Chibi relics of the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280) together with the holy Taoist place Wudang Mountain, which almost stringed up the outline of Chinese history. Natural beauty there is even more famous, such as the spectacular and perilous Three Gorges of the Yangtze River and the world nature reserve, Shennongjia. In the west of the province live many minority groups like the Miao, Dong, Manchu and Zhuang.