China Major Cities
China Major Cities
If you love the happening atmosphere of the rapidly changing cities, then Chinese cities are the best place to enjoy it. Being the fastest growing economy in the world, you can feel the buzz of urbanization rush in the cities. These cities which you see today were only a fraction of their size 30 years ago. But now they are the best metropolitans in the world. Most of these cities are in the eastern part of the country. They are also known as the 'Factory of the World' because of their manufacturing capabilities.
So. get ready to explore the cities from where majority of your everyday goods come from. Here are top 10 largest cities in China.
So. get ready to explore the cities from where majority of your everyday goods come from. Here are top 10 largest cities in China.
1. Beijing - The Capital City
Beijing ranks top among the major Chinese cities. Reputed as the world's historical city, Beijing has been the capital of China for last 800 years since the Liao Dynasty.
It is a political, cultural ans educational center with some light industries like science, technology and research. Beijing also has the world's largest airport.
The city has also preserved its imperial architecture. The Forbidden City is the most famous among them. It is located at the center of the city with streets,shops and houses laid around both sides of it in a symmetric fashion. The city also has Imperial Palace from the Ming Dynasty. Along with this you can also fine winding rivers, ancient temples and beautiful gardens all over the city.
Two Major sections of the Great Wall - the Badaling Section and the Mutianyu section can be reached from Beijing.
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| The Forbidden City |
2. Shanghai - The Richest City
The undisputed champion, Shanghai is the richest and the wealthiest city of China. It is located midway along the Chinese coastline, on an estuary of Yangtze river. It is directly under the control of Central Government.
Shanghai plays an important role in the national economy. Major industries including metallurgy, machine building, ship building and textiles. It is also a highly developed commerce center.
If you want to witness the development of China, Shanghai is the best place to be. Shanghai has a blend of urban and historical culture. The traditional culture and immigrants from different places have given Shanghai a unique culture of its own.
Shanghai also has the largest and the busiest port based on the containers and cargo tonnage. It is the major center for export of all the 'Made in China' products. It also has two large airports, world's fastest train(the Maglev) and an amazing3d network of elevated highways.
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| Shanghai Elevated Highways |
3. Hong Kong - The International Trade Center
It is aptly called as the International Trade Center of China. After being returned to China in 1997, Hong Kong has become world's major manufacturing and financial centers. It is located on the Pearl River Port in Southeast China. It is the most developed city in China with the highest cost of living.
All major industries in Hong Kong belong to tertiary sector i.e. finance, communication and foreign investment. It also has the 3rd largest container port in the world.
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The shortage of land coupled with high population has made people become keen on building high skyscrapers. There are more than 200 skyscrapers in Hong Kong which are more than 150m tall. It has one of the best skylines to watch.
There are also many colonial buildings and traditional temples in the city. Hong Kong can be ideally called the 'Gastronomical Capital' of China due to its large chain of restaurants offering all sorts of cuisines.
All major industries in Hong Kong belong to tertiary sector i.e. finance, communication and foreign investment. It also has the 3rd largest container port in the world.
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The shortage of land coupled with high population has made people become keen on building high skyscrapers. There are more than 200 skyscrapers in Hong Kong which are more than 150m tall. It has one of the best skylines to watch.
There are also many colonial buildings and traditional temples in the city. Hong Kong can be ideally called the 'Gastronomical Capital' of China due to its large chain of restaurants offering all sorts of cuisines.
4. Guangzhou - The Manufacturing Base of China
The third largest city in China is also the manufacturing base of the country. Guangzhou has been the administrative center since the Qin Dynasty. It has been the political, economic, cultural and educational center in South China for last two thousand years.
There is a story which says that Guangzhou was built by five celestial beings who rode 5 different colored sheep. They saved the city from famine and hence it is also called as the 'Ram City'. Because of many foreigners in the city, it is also called the 'Capital of 3rd World'.
Guangzhou is the largest and the oldest port in China.It exports plastics, electronics, toys, clothing etc. It was also the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. Guangzhou also hosts biannual China import and export fare.
5. Shenzhen - A new tourist attraction
Shenzhen is located between Guangzhou and Hong Kong. It is a modern metropolis that links Hong Kong to mainland China. It is also a manufacturing center that has sprung up overnight. It has a long coastline along the South China Sea, which makes it a major port for foreign trade and international exchange. Shenzhen is also known as the Business and Transportation Hub of China.
Recently it is getting more popular among tourists as well mainly because of a large number of amusement parks and shopping destinations. The most important among them being the Louhu Commercial City,which is a massive mall with a vast array of wares, tailor's custom clothing and faux designer bags. It is also known for its amazing restaurants.
6. Hangzhou - Marco-polo's Favorite City
Hangzhou is located to the south of Yangtze river delta and is known for its complex and varied topography. It is one of the most rapidly growing economies in the country and is famous for its textile industries. Hangzhou s the largest producer of gunnysacks in China. It is also an important logistics hub and manufacturing base in coastal China.
Hangzhou is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the country and is known for its natural beauty and historical sites. Marco-polo, a famous ancient travel writer, in his travel books has described Hangzhou as one of the finest and splendid cities in the world. The major tourist attractions include Lingyin Temple, West Lake and Water towns of Wuzhen and Nanxon.
It is also famous for its Dragon Well tea and Hangzhou Silk. Hangzhou is known as the cradle of Chinese Silk culture and production.
7. Tianjin - Diamond of Bohai Gulf
Tianjin is located on the Bohai Gulf in the northeast part of China. It is a huge port on Bohai Gulf, with a significant history due to its location on the Grand Canal. It is among the four municipalities that are directly under the control of the Central Government.
It is the seventh largest container port in China. It is also known as the 'Diamond of Bohai Gulf' and is a major commercial and shipping center in the north.
The Hai river, the Tianjin Eye and Tianjin International Cruise Port are some of the major tourist attractions in the city.
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| The Tianjin Eye |
8. Chongqing - Largest Inland city in China
This city is also directly under the control of Central Government. It is the largest commercial and industrial center in Southwest China and also the largest inland city in the country.
There are many advanced iron and steel plants, chemical factories, electronics, automobile industries, ship buildings, textiles and machine building. Due to its so many heavy industries, Chongqing is included in the list of most polluted cities in the world.
In spite of this, Chongqing gets a lot of tourists every year. A boat ride in Yangtze river through three Gorges Dam is one of the famous tourist activities. The Buddhist Daku rock carvings located at about 3 hours journey from Chongqing is one of UNESCO's world heritage site.
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| CapitaLand's Raffles City |
9. Chengdu - Home of Chinese Giant Pandas
This city is located in the southwest part of China and is the capital of Sichuan province. It is the largest city in the west-arid part of China and hence has a high population density.
Chengdu has become an important economic, transport and communication center in west China in the last few decades.
In contrast to other Chinese cities, this city has a very slow and relaxed pace of life. It ranks 4th in China's best cities to live in.
Chengdu is famous for its delicious Sichuan food like the kung pao chicken and the hotpot. It also one of the most scenic places in China. Jiuzhaigou National Park and Huanglong National Park are known for their clean lakes, waterfalls, colorful ponds and gorges.
The city is also home to the famous Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a conservation center, where visitors can view endangered giant pandas in their natural habitat.
10. Taipei - Street Food and Night Markets Center
This city is located on the northern coast of Taiwan, an autonomous region of China. It is a modern day metropolis with Japanese colonial lanes, busy shopping streets and contemporary buildings. Its major industries are textiles and electronics .
Taipei is known for its street food and lively night markets. The most famous among them being the Shillin market.
The skyline of Taipei is crowned by a bamboo shaped skyscraper, Taipei 101 (509 m) which is the second tallest building in the world after Burj Khalifa (829 m) in Dubai, UAE. The view of Taipei from the observatory on top of the building is breath taking.
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| Taipei 101 |
So, which do you think is the best. Let me know in the comments below. Also read my post on How to travel China without a Visa .
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