LIFETRAVEL 19 DAILY THURSDAY MARCH 1, 2007 Sights on the roads less traveled New book features authoritative coverage of China’s best sights, A F as Ye Jun discovers

oreign tourists visiting China might fi nd many more alternatives for their travel destinations with the help of a recently published book, ScenicF Splendor of China by Chinese National Geography magazine. The book aims to expand people’s understanding of the country’s most beautiful places, and differs greatly from conventional wisdom. “The book gives a fresh ranking of scenic spots in China, which are B no longer restricted to more known G tourist destinations such as Mount Taishan in Shandong Province and in Province, but cover a whole lot of different natural and cultural sceneries,” said Shuanke, a general manager with Chinese National Geography. The book lists 114 of the most beautiful places in 17 categories. These include more conventional classifications such as mountains, lakes, coastlines, waterfalls, forests, desserts, gorges, islands, grass- lands, cities, countryside towns and villages. But others fall into unusual classifications, such as the most beautiful caves, marshlands, Yadan (wind-eroded precipitous hillock) landforms, Danxia (red sandstone and conglomerate) landscapes, peak forests, and even glaciers. Contradictory to the fact that China’s national-level scenic areas are mostly located in the densely populated eastern part of China, most of the places mentioned in the H C book are located in the western part of the country. Li explained that in the past, the scenic spots most familiar to the Chinese people are mostly associated with poems, paintings and legends about them. For example, there are hundred of poems and literature works describ- ing Mount Taishan and West Lake, which make them very famous among the Chinese. But this time, the crite- ria to judge the sceneries are more related to their geographical beauty than cultural fame. “Scenic landscapes are (more likely) to be found in less popu- lated areas,” wrote Shan Zhiqiang, executive editor-in-chief at Chinese National Geography, in the preface to D the book. “(These places are) remote I from the attention of literati and art- ists of the past.” For example, the No 1 most beauti- ful mountain is Namjagbarwa Peak in Tibet Autonomous Region, and No 2 Mount Gongga in Sichuan Province, while the better-known Mount Qo- molangma ranks No 3. in Uygur Autonomous Region and Nam Co Lake in Tibet, which many people consider the most beautiful lakes in China, rank No 2 and No 3 in the most beautiful lakes ranking. in Qinghai Province is ranked No 1. West Lake comes as the 5th. Glaciers in China have never been covered before as in this book, which lists six most beautiful glaciers in its ranking. Two of these are in Tibet, two in Xinjiang, and one each in Sichuan and Gansu. Rongpo Glacier, ranked No 1, is located at the foot of Qomolangma. It is one of the world’s most completely developed and best-preserved val- ley glaciers. Hailuogou Glacier in Sichuan, ranked No 3, has an ice waterfall that is 1,100 meters wide, with a drop of 1,080 meters. E The Shichahai area in is J ranked in 5th place in the fi ve most beautiful city districts ranking. ■ China’s three most beautiful Yadan landforms , a beautiful islet dubbed ■ China’s three most beautiful coastlines Photos courtesy of Chinese 1. The Wind City in Karamay in Xinjiang A “garden on the sea” in Xiamen, Fujian 1. Yalong Bay, Sanya, Hainan F National Geography 2. Bailongdui in in Xinjiang Province, ranks No 1 in the category, 2. Yeliu, Keelung, Taiwan 3. Sanlongsha in Lop Nur in Xinjiang followed by Suzhou, a garden city in 3. Chengshantou, Rongcheng, Shandong Jiangsu Province. ■ China’s three most beautiful caves On the other hand, the texts ■ China’s fi ve most beautiful glaciers B G 1. , Bijie Perfecture, Guizhou are beautiful introductions to and 1. Rongpo Glacier, Qomolangma, Tibet 2. , Jiangkou Town, Wulong County, Chongqing descriptions of these beautiful 2. Tomur Glacier, Wensu County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang 3. Huanglong Cave, Suoxiyu Town, , places, written by professional 3. Hailuogou Glacier, Luoding Country, Gaze Prefecture, Sichuan journalists, expeditioners and 4. Midui Glacier, Yupu Town, Bomi, Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibet ■ China’s three most beautiful waterfalls mountaineers. 5. Telamkanli Glacier, below Telamkanli Peak, Xinjiang 1. Tsangpo Badong waterfalls, Yarlung Zangbo River, Tibet C The ranking was done by nearly 2. Detian waterfall, Daxin County in Guangxi 100 experts, who include representa- ■ China’s three most beautiful islands H 3. Hukou waterfall, Shanxi-Shaanxi Section of Valley, Shanxi/Shaanxi border tives from fi ve professional Chinese 1. Xisha Archipelago—Yongxing and Dongdao, northwest part of South China Sea, Hainan geographical societies, and more than 2. Weizhou Island, Beihai, Guangxi ■ China’s three most beautiful lakes 10 academicians from the Chinese 3. Nansha Archipelago—Yongshu and Taiping, South China Sea, Hainan 1. Qinghai Lake, Qinghai D Academy of Sciences. 2. Kanas Lake, Xinjiang The hardback version of the book, ■ China’s three most beautiful mountains I 3. Nam Co Lake, Tibet numbering 479 pages, contains sev- 1. Namjagbarwa Peak, Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, Tibet eral hundred photos, the work of more 2. Mount Gongga, Miya Raogang, Sichuan ■ China’s fi ve most beautiful country towns and villages than 130 photographers. 3. Qomolangma, Tibet 1. Rongchag Tibetan village in Garze Prefecture, Sichuan E In addition to its Chinese version, 2. Dayangjie Hani village, Honghe County in Yunnan the book has been translated into ■ China’s three most beautiful deserts J 3.Tuwa village at Kanas Lake in Xinjiang English, German, French, Italian, 1. Badain Jaran Desert, Alaxa League, Inner Mongolia 4. Zhaoxing Dong village, Liping in Guizhou Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Korean 2. Taklimakan Desert, Tarim Basin, Xinjiang 5. Wuyuan village in Jiangxi and Russian. 3. Gurbantunggut Desert, Junggar Basin, Xinjiang