When you think of China, what type of sites come to mind? World-class cities like Shanghai and Beijing and legendary cultural monuments like the Great Wall of China are probably the first things that you’ll think of, and it’s easy to understand why!
Did you know that China, however, is hiding a wealth of spots related to natural rock formations that have either been left as is or transformed into fascinating monuments? Here are three that you absolutely have to see.
Dazu Rock Carvings
The Dazu Rock Carvings, located in the south central region of the country, are a set of impressive monuments reflecting Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist beliefs that were made between the 7th and 12th centuries. This site was only opened to foreign visitors in 1980!
South China Karst
Karst is one of the most fascinating topographies on earth, showcasing places where limestone has been carved and altered due to wind and water to make dramatic structures. This can be seen at the South China Karst site, where imposing limestone towers dominate the landscape.
Yungang Grottoes
Located four hours west of the capital city of Beijing are the Yungang Grottoes. Here, rock-cut Buddhist temples were painstakingly sculpted into the natural rocks of the Shanxi area to create one of the best examples of stone-cut architecture in the world.