As I reflect, I think of the wind that drifts gently over the ancient city walls, its worn stones quietly whispering the secrets of the ages. Perhaps, in the end, Liangzhu City China itself is the answer I’ve been searching for.

Stumble upon Xiangshan Campus China Academy of Art and understand why it stands as one of China’s most prestigious art institutions, featuring award-winning architecture, world-class museums, and alumni whose works grace international collections.

Set against the backdrop of Hangzhou Xixi Wetland—a living landscape of mist, water, and wild reeds that reveals a dialogue between craft and nature—the fan’s artistry is visually and culturally echoed, creating a harmonious fusion of landscape, tradition, and modern reinterpretation.

How does a struggling industrial city reinvent itself without losing its soul? Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue in Jingdezhen provides the answer, proving that authentic transformation preserves the past while building the future.

Opened in April 2025 near Hupao, the Xiao Feng Art Museum displays nearly 500 works spanning 80 years of artistic careers from the former China Academy of Art president and his wife.

A laid-back approach to the Shanghai to Ningbo journey – covering train connections, timing, and must-visit spots without the rush. Ideal for travelers who prefer to wander and discover at their own rhythm.

Amidst life’s relentless rhythm, Qita Temple beckons weary souls to pause beneath its ancient eaves, where the resonant temple bells and whispered chants of centuries wash away worldly concerns like autumn leaves from ginkgo trees.

If you’re looking for interesting things to do in Ningbo, visiting this unique Japanese tableware store should definitely be on your list!

Baoguo Temple Ningbo: No statues, no incense—just a thousand-year-old wooden sanctuary where time bends to stillness. Here, the air hums with quiet permanence.

The Ningbo Museum, another masterpiece by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Wang Shu, is a fusion of recycled heritage and avant-garde design, blending millions of recycled historical materials into its mountain-like structure while housing 60,000 precious artifacts that chronicle the rich heritage of this ancient Chinese port city.

Embrace spring in Longwu Tea Village with a tranquil 3KM hike past emerald plantations, bustling markets, and the shimmering Guangming Temple Reservoir—a sensory journey through China’s tea culture and natural beauty.

Standing in Ningbo is Baoguo Temple, China’s best-preserved wooden structure from the Song Dynasty, which directly influenced Japanese temple architecture. This thousand-year-old building has survived intact while many similar structures have vanished, making it not only a religious site but also an irreplaceable record of ancient construction techniques that shaped architectural traditions across East Asia.

The Tianyi Pavilion (Tianyi Ge) stands as Asia’s oldest surviving private library, built on one man’s dedication to preserving knowledge and sustained by the unwavering commitment of generations that followed. Established by Ming Dynasty official Fan Qin, this literary treasure house now safeguards nearly 300,000 ancient volumes, including over 80,000 rare editions, and remains a cultural landmark of profound historical significance.

Discover the reborn ecological wonder of Tongjian Lake, where layered blooms, reflective waters, and secluded mountain paths create Hangzhou’s most captivating spring landscape.

As canola blossoms unfurl their golden petals across the landscape, they paint the fleeting years with sunshine’s hue—a tender warmth embracing our mortal realm with quiet romance. This spring’s ephemeral treasure invites you to a special rendezvous among the canola fields, where nature’s poetry and human presence intertwine in perfect harmony.

Skip the crowds, soak in spring vibes along Hangzhou’s timeless avenue.

Known as “China’s Geological Bermuda Triangle,” Moshi Park in Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan captivates visitors with its color-shifting stone forest. This natural wonder transforms dramatically with the seasons—each change in weather, temperature, and light creating an entirely new landscape to discover.

Gushan brings the saying “Solitary Hill is not solitary” to life with its rich cultural heritage. Once home to the Northern Song poet Lin Bu, who lived surrounded by plum blossoms and cranes, this park is a sanctuary of history and natural beauty.

Hangzhou Safari Park: Where silver flames dance like whispers from distant snowfields, as Arctic foxes grace the East with their otherworldly presence.

If West Lake is a distinguished lady of noble birth, then Maojiabu is a graceful beauty from a humble family, sheltered from public view. Lakewaters and ancient pavilions stand beneath trees reaching skyward in deep emerald hues. Spring brings a rain of cherry blossoms, while autumn witnesses the descent of crimson maple leaves.

Like celestial jade scattered from the heavens, the Heavenly Lake of Tianshan (Yaochi) emerges as a peerless beauty, cradled in the serene embrace of snow-capped mountains.

Ever wondered what it’s like to wander where wild geese glide across turquoise waters, framed by snow-capped peaks? Welcome to Sayram Lake (or Sailimu Lake) in Xinjiang—China’s 5A-rated “Last Teardrop of the Atlantic.” Here, plump swans paddle alongside rare white salmon, and even in winter, the lake never freezes over.

While Zhangye’s Danxia Rainbow Mountains dominate itineraries for Gansu tourist attractions, discerning travelers venture northeast to Pingshanhu Grand Canyon, a raw geological marvel hailed by China Geography Magazine as “China’s answer to the Colorado Grand Canyon.”

Embark on an 8-day Northern Xinjiang tour itinerary, weaving alpine thrills—from Dushanzi Grand Canyon’s vertigo-inducing glass skywalk to the Martian-like Yardang desertscapes of World Devil City—with frozen turquoise vistas at Kanas Lake, Silk Road feasts in Urumqi, and more.

Heavenly Lake of Tianshan (Tianchi Xinjiang)—where ancient myths of the Queen Mother of the West intertwine with winter’s icy grandeur, snow-capped peaks, and Guo Moruo’s poetry, mirrored in Tianchi Lake’s ever-changing, ethereal waters.

A quintessential Xinjiang travel guide to its untamed beauty, where snow-covered wooden villages, crescent-shaped alpine waters, and starry night skies merge with horseback adventures and autumn’s fiery forests.

A philosophical reflection on architecture that challenges visual dominance, suggesting that Wang Shu intentionally created spaces at the China Academy of Art that disrupt conventional sight lines to engage other senses.

Emerald waters meander gently through Xixi Wetland, embracing lush grasses that sway in the breeze. Small bridges arch over flowing streams, their timeless silhouettes blending with the warm, rustic essence of traditional Chinese living. Even winter cannot silence the sweet melodies of birds or hasten time’s leisurely passage through this tranquil Jiangnan landscape.

Nestled at the confluence of three rivers, Hangzhou Oriental Culture Park stands as a lesser-known marvel for travelers seeking off-the-beaten-path gems—a tranquil fusion of I Ching philosophy, vibrant incense rituals, and Thai-inspired golden vistas, hidden away from crowds yet brimming with spiritual and photographic allure.

Experience the captivating allure of Colorful Yunnan, where the azure waters of Lijiang’s Blue Moon Valley and the cultural richness of Baisha Ancient Town are perfectly complemented by the comforting warmth of authentic Crossing the Bridge Rice Noodles.

Discover the soul-stirring beauty of Yunnan’s ancient towns, from the cobblestone streets of Lijiang Old Town to the white-walled serenity of Xizhou and Baisha, where the culturally immersed vitality of daily life harmonizes with breathtaking mountain landscapes.

Lijiang Old Town, Baisha Ancient Town, and Xizhou Ancient Town are more than just postcard-perfect backdrops—they’re stages for travel in Yunnan, where visitors chase romance, mend broken hearts, or simply ask: What’s the point of it all?

The MAKK Museum Cologne dazzles visitors with its bold evolution of furniture design, from Riemerschmid’s revolutionary pieces to sleek modern icons that breathe life into Germany’s rich artistic landscape.

A tranquil place to spend half a day, the Flora Botanical Garden Cologne offers an impressive collection of global plants, vine-covered corridors, fountains, and tiered pools

Where the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City meet spring’s floral symphony—this Hangzhou travel guide unveils a dreamlike Liangzhu itinerary of cherry blossoms, rapeseed fields, and photography tips amid ancient UNESCO heritage landscapes.

This Spring Festival, I skipped the crowds and paid another visit to the Xiangshan Campus China Academy of Art—and it still lived up to the hype! This place rivals even Xiamen and Tsinghua when it comes to campus beauty. The stunning red-brick Design Museum greets you first with its Bauhaus collection. Seen Wang Shu’s Building 19 yet? Those traditional tiles and orange bamboo details are pure Instagram gold.

Discover Liangzhu City, where seasonal flowers, birdsong, and bamboo forests surround a UNESCO World Heritage Archaeological Site, blending natural splendor with 5,000 years of cultural history.

Tucked away from Hangzhou’s bustling tourist trails, Qingnianlin in Xiasha offers a peaceful riverside retreat ideal for environmental portrait photography.

Step through the circular gateway to frame your first glimpse of West Lake in Hangzhou—a stone stele and traditional pavilion anchor the view, while lakeside tea tables invite autumn moonlit serenity. Sip local brews under the ‘Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake,’ a timeless ritual of tranquility.

Experience Western Sichuan’s alpine majesty in Mount Siguniang National Park, where Shuangqiao Valley’s Swiss-inspired landscapes—snow-capped peaks, meadows, and rushing streams—connect scenic highlights like Rabbit Peak and Chasing Fish Dam, fusing outdoor thrills with Tibetan cultural wonders.

The Sacred Yala Mountain rises from Tagong Grassland, its snow-crowned peaks contrasting the golden splendour of Tagong Monastery against the prairie’s endless green. Here, the monastery’s gilded roof meets Yala’s alpine purity—a Zen harmony echoing between earth and sky.

Being shattered and buried wasn’t the end for these porcelains—as time flowed on, their story was just beginning. Unlike typical museums, the Imperial Kiln Museum proudly displays colorful ceramic fragments once deemed failures, smashed and buried beneath Jingdezhen soil. These kilns produced exclusively for royalty with impossibly high standards—perhaps one piece in ten thousand made the cut. The chosen few traveled to the Forbidden City while their rejected siblings were broken and laid to rest. Now lovingly unearthed, each fragment speaks not of failure but of growth, their once-forgotten beauty shining again, celebrating their unique, broken perfection with renewed life.

Here is a harmonious illustration of traditional Tibetan dwellings—each stone meticulously placed, every roof tile a testament to timeless craftsmanship, and prayer flags whispering ancient devotion. Framed by the soaring peaks of Yala Snow Mountain and cradled by rivers that carve serenity through the valley below, Jiaju Tibetan Village is a sanctuary that invites travelers to witness the intertwining of nature and spirituality.

Stroll through Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue—Jingdezhen’s sunlit, high-saturation canvas of linear brick architecture and soaring kiln chimneys, where crimson-red walls mirror the ‘Porcelain Capital’s’ timeless evolution. This spacious, modernist gem anchors Jingdezhen travel with moonlit markets, UNESCO heritage, and gourmet flair.

Snow-capped peaks unfold like a divine painting, cleansing the soul of every upward-gazing wanderer. Mist dances through the mountains of Shuangqiao Valley, inviting all who encounter it to share in a heavenly adventure above the clouds.

Jingdezhen, the thousand-year-old porcelain capital, where kiln fires have burned for millennia. Surrounded by three sides of lush green mountains, with one side defined by the glow of its ancient kilns. In this city, porcelain flows through every street, with half of its soul shaped by the flames of creation.

Fall in love all over again at Fields & Monsoons.

A child’s laughter joins the dance of petals in sunlit joy at Liangzhu, a moment of fresh life.

Xiangji Temple’s restored twin pagodas stand sentinel over China’s sole sanctuary for the horned musical deity Kinnara, where stone and faith have danced in harmony since Kangxi’s reign.

Here, water and memory intertwine—each reed a brushstroke, each ripple a verse. The landscape whispers with Song Dynasty echoes, transforming moments into revelations where reality and dream dissolve like mist over silent waters.