The Great Wall: the Longest Defensive System in the WorldChinese: 长城 cháng chéng /channg chnng/location: Beijing, the capital of ChinaThe Great Wall of China is one of the greatest sights in the world. It's an ancient defensive architecture. The "Long Wall" has a long history — more than 2,300 years. It was built in different areas by different states/dynasties to protect different territorial borders.The entire Great Wall of China zigzags across the mountains of northern China. We highly recommend hiking along the best-protected sections of the Great Wall: Mutianyu and Jinshanling.Things to Do in BeijingRecommended tour: Beijing Essential Tour with Great Wall Hiking at Mutianyu2. The Forbidden City: 9999 Rooms for 24 EmperorsChinese: 故宫 gù gōng /goo gong/location: Beijing, the capital of ChinaThe Forbidden City (or the Palace Museum) is one of the must-visit attractions for travelers to China. It used to be an imperial palace in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.The layout of this palace is strictly according to Chinese fengshui theory. China's best-preserved imperial palace is the world's largest ancient palatial structure (7.2 ha. or 17.8 ac.), the essence and culmination of traditional Chinese architectural accomplishment.How to Visit the Forbidden City: for Discerning TravellersRecommended tour: Private 4-Day EMPEROR's Tour of Beijing3. The Terracotta Army: First Emperor Qin's Buried BattalionsChinese: 兵马俑 bīng mǎ yǒng /bing maa yong/location: Xi'anThe museum, with three pits containing the Terracotta Army, covers an area of 22,780 square meters. Over 8,000 life-size terracotta soldiers and horses, and more than 10,000 bronze weapons were unearthed in these three pits.The Terracotta Army is candidate for the title "eighth wonder of the world" and the is largest military museum underground. An interesting FACT is that all the terracotta soldiers were made to face east towards Emperor Qin's enemies of the Warring States Period (475-221 BC).Click to see Facts You Won't Know about the Terracotta Army and How to Visit the Terracotta Army — an Insider's Guide.Things to Do in Xi'anRecommended Tour: 3-Day Essence of Xi'an Private Tour4. The Potala Palace: Masterpiece of Tibetan ArchitectureChinese: 布达拉宫 bù dá lā gōng /boo daa laa gong/location: Lhasa (Tibet Autonomous Region)If you are interested in Tibetan culture, the Potala Palace is the attraction which you should not miss. It was first built as the palace of Songtsen Gampo (617-650), founder of the Tu-Bo Dynasty (吐蕃王朝). After being rebuilt in the 17th century, it was the residence of Dalai Lamas.There are plenty of PRECIOUS historical relics in the palace, including over 10,000 Buddha statues made of gold, silver, jade, WOOD, or clay, and about 10,000 thangkas (scroll paintings related to Budhhism). The gorgeous mural paintings, wooden carvings, and COLOR paintings used for decoration are outstanding.Things to Do in TibetRecommended Tour: 4-Day Lhasa Highlights Tour