Top 8 forgotten attractions in China

1. The Hidden Village of Guoliang in Henan Province

BEIJING, May 17 -- Years ago, local villagers could only descend the village’s mountain on a dangerous path. They tunneled a road through the mountain and named it Guoliang Cave, which was composed of exposed red shale. Guoliang Village is now an attractive spot because of its unique scenery and stone buildings.

2. Xianglu Temple in Shaanxi Province

The temple, which lies on the banks of the Yellow River in Jiaxian, Shaanxi Province, is supported by a stone column that is more than 20 meters high. It is indeed a marvel.

3. Bayanbulak Grassland in Xinjiang

Resting at the foot of Tianshan Mountain, the Bayanbulak Grassland is the second-largest grassland in all of China. It is also home to the famous Swan Lake. Each year in April, swans and other rare birds return from the south to live and breed there. The Nadam Fair, held from June 4-6 of the lunar calendar, is another good time to visit the grassland.

4. Red Beach in Panjin, Liaoning Province The beach’s red color comes from a kind of grass that grows in saline and alkaline soils. It is a wonderful scenic wetland tourist resort area. October is the best time to enjoy the beautiful scenery. 5. Dalinor National Nature Reserve in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia Dalinor, perched in Chifeng City of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is an important wetland ecosystem in Asia and a state-level nature reserve designated for the protection of rare species. About 160 species of rare birds live in the swamps and prairie there. 6. Zhuge Bagua Village in Zhejiang Province Zhuge Bagua Village (bagua means “Eight Diagrams” in Chinese), was designed by Zhuge Liang, a remarkable Chinese politician, strategist, and diplomat during the period of the Three Kingdoms (A.D. 184 - 280). The village is located in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province. 7. Malinghe Valley in Guizhou Province The valley around the Malinghe River is a national scenic spot in south western part of Guizhou. It was formed during the Yanshan movement of the earth. With fantastic views, precipices and waterfalls, the valley is absolutely fascinating. Boat rides down the river provide great views of the beautiful scenery. 7. Malinghe Valley in Guizhou Province The valley around the Malinghe River is a national scenic spot in south western part of Guizhou. It was formed during the Yanshan movement of the earth. With fantastic views, precipices and waterfalls, the valley is absolutely fascinating. Boat rides down the river provide great views of the beautiful scenery. 8. Qiantong Town in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province Qiantong is an ancient town in Ninghai County. Tong descendants have lived in the area for more than 760 years, maintaining the traditional architecture of their homes from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.