The following are scenic spots with dual top-level certifications of China 5A level scenic spots and UNESCO World Heritage, classified and organized by World Heritage type, with authoritative information.
| Scenic Area Name | Location | Reasons for Recommendation | Best Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural and Cultural Dual Heritage Sites (4 locations) | |||
| Mount Taishan | Tai’an, Shandong | The first of the five mountains, the holy land for emperors to worship, the perfect integration of nature and humanity | May June, September October |
| Mount Huangshan | Mount Huangshan, Anhui | “Four Wonders” of odd pines, strange rocks, sea of clouds and hot springs, the source of inspiration for Chinese landscape painting | April May, September October |
| Mount Emei – Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area | Leshan, Sichuan/Mount Emei | One of the four famous Buddhist mountains, the world’s largest stone seated Buddha, the wonders of Buddha and the treasure house of biodiversity | Spring and Autumn |
| Mount Wuyi | Nanping, Fujian | Danxia landform, birthplace of Zhu Xi’s Neo Confucianism, perfect combination of Dahongpao tea culture and natural ecology | May October |
| World Cultural Heritage Sites (all 5A scenic spots) | |||
| Palace Museum (Beijing) | Beijing | The world’s largest and most complete wooden structure ancient architectural complex, the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and the pinnacle of Eastern architectural art | April May, September October |
| Badaling Great Wall | Beijing | One of the Seven Wonders of the World, a symbol of the Chinese nation, and a magnificent military defense project | April May, September October |
| Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang and Terracotta Warriors | Xi’an, Shaanxi | The eighth wonder of the world, the underground corps of the Qin Dynasty, the perfect combination of ancient military and art | Suitable for all seasons |
| Mogao Caves | Dunhuang, Gansu | “Esten Louvre”, a millennium Buddhist art treasure trove, an art palace of murals and sculptures | May October |
| Pingyao Ancient City | Pingyao, Shanxi | The most well preserved ancient county town of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the financial center of ancient China, and a representative of Jin merchant culture | April May, September October |
| The Old Town of Lijiang | Lijiang, Yunnan | “Plateau Gusu”, a living fossil of Naxi culture, small bridges, flowing water and snow mountains contrast each other | Suitable for all seasons |
| The Classical Gardens of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province | Suzhou, Jiangsu | The peak of esten gardening art, “creating the universe within a short distance”, a model of harmonious coexistence between man and nature | April May, September October |
| Potala Palace | Lhasa, Xizang | palaces on the roof of the world, holy places of Tibetan Buddhism, masterpieces of Tibetan architectural art | June September (avoiding rainy season) |
| Qufu Three Confucius (Confucius Temple, Confucius Mansion, Confucius Forest) | Qufu, Shandong | The birthplace of Confucian culture, the sacrificial temples, mansions, and tombs of Confucius and his descendants, and an important symbol of Eastern culture | April June, September November |
| Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains | Shiyan, Hubei | Taoist Holy Land, perfect integration of royal architecture and natural landscape, a true portrayal of the “Fairy Mountain and Qiongge” | April May, September October |
| Longmen Grottoes | Luoyang, Henan | One of the four major grottoes in China, a treasure trove of stone carving art from the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, and the famous Lushena Buddha from April to May and September to October | |
| Summer Palace | Beijing | China’s largest existing royal garden, the “Royal Garden Museum”, a fusion of Jiangnan water towns and northern architecture | April May, September October |
| Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples | Chengde, Hebei | Imperial Palace of the Qing Dynasty, integrating northern and southern architectural styles, summer resort, and testimony of multi-ethnic cultural integration | June August |
| Dazu Rock Carvings | Dazu, Chongqing | Stone Carving Art in Tang and Song Dynasties, Perfect Integration of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism | April May, September October |
| Yungang Grottoes | Datong, Shanxi | A treasure trove of stone carving art from the Northern Wei Dynasty, the pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist art | April May, September October |
| Gulangyu | Xiamen, Fujian | “Sea Garden”, International Architecture Exhibition, Piano Island, a model of cultural integration between China and the West | Spring and Autumn |
| Liangzhu Ancient City Site | Hangzhou, Zhejiang | A Holy Land for Demonstrating China’s 5000 Year Civilization History, Urban Civilization in the Late Neolithic Age | Suitable for All Seasons |
| Qingcheng Mountain – Dujiangyan Irrigation Project | Chengdu, Sichuan | The birthplace of Taoism and the world’s miracle of water conservancy projects, water conservancy projects that are still working for more than 2000 years | April May, September October |
| World Natural Heritage Sites (all 5A scenic spots) | |||
| Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area | Aba, Sichuan | “Six Wonders” of Green Sea, Cascaded Waterfall, Colorful Forest and Snow Peak, Fairy Dream World, Colorful Mountains and Lakes | October (Autumn) |
| Wulingyuan National Scenic Spot, Zhangjiajie | Zhangjiajie, Hunan | Quartz sandstone peak forest wonders, Avatar suspension mountain prototype, spectacular stone columns and canyon landscape | Spring and Autumn |
| Huanglong | Aba, Sichuan | “Human Yaochi”, calcareous colorful pools and waterfall groups, outstanding representatives of plateau wetland ecosystems | June October |
| Yunnan Stone Forest | Kunming, Yunnan | essence of the world’s karst landform, sword shaped and columnar stone forest wonders, “the first wonder in the world” | suitable for all seasons |
| Libo Karst | Qiannan, Guizhou | Cone shaped Karst Landform, Secret Realm of Blue Water in Xiaoqikong and Wolongtan, Natural Landscape Like Landscape Paintings | April October |
| Fanjing Mountain | Tongren, Guizhou | Hongyun Jinding, Mogushi, Lingshan in eastern Guizhou, Buddhist holy land and habitat for rare animals and plants | April May, September October |
| Mount Sanqing | Shangrao, Jiangxi | Granite peak forest wonders, “Esten Goddess”, “Monty Python out of the Mountain” and other landmark landscapes, Taoist cultural holy land | Autumn |
| Shennongjia | Hubei Shennongjia | Rudimentary Forest, Legend of Wild Men, Golden Monkey Habitat, Model of North Subtropical Forest Ecosystem | May October |
| Kekexili | Yushu, Qinghai | Tibetan antelope homeland, beauty of uninhabited wilderness, outstanding representative of plateau lakes and grassland ecosystems | July September |
| Three Parallel Rivers | Diqing, Yunnan | A rare natural wonder in the world where rivers flow together without intersecting, featuring high mountains, canyons, and a treasure trove of biodiversity | May October |
| Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang | Xinjiang | The largest mountain ecosystem in the world’s temperate arid region, a perfect combination of snow capped mountains, grasslands, forests, and lakes | June September |
| Yellow (Bohai) Sea Migratory Bird Habitat (Phase I) | Yancheng, Jiangsu | An Important Station for Global Migratory Birds, Wetland Ecosystems, and Home for Rare Birds | Spring and Autumn Migration Season |
| South China Karst Karst (Guilin Karst) | Guilin, Guangxi | “Guilin’s mountains and waters are the best in the world”, karst peak forest and river scenery, 20 yuan background image location | April October |
| China Danxia (Langshan, Danxia Mountain, etc.) | Hunan, Guangdong, etc. | Red Cliff, red sandstone landform wonders, “as colorful as Woldan, as bright as the clouds” | April October |
| Badain Jaran Desert Shashan Lake Group | Alxa, Inner Mongolia | Wonder of the coexistence of the world’s highest sandstone and lake, outstanding representative of desert ecosystems | September October |
Complete UNESCO World Heritage List of China (in English)https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/?search=china
