Duoyishu
Duoyishu is a village in southwest China’s Yunnan Province where the farmers are noted for the rice terraces. The terraces are spectacular and should be considered works of art. Duoyishu residents belong to the Hani and Yi minority groups. Sunrise over the terraces is not to be missed. Viewing platforms allow you to get that perfect photo. Besides rice terraces, the Hani are known for their family-oriented Chinese New Year celebrations.
Zhouzhuang
Often referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’, Zhouzhuang – located in between Shanghai and Suzhou in China’s Jiangsu province – is one of the country’s most beautiful water towns. Simply walking the town’s pretty streets and the charming stone bridges that cross its rivers and waterways is a pleasure in itself. But the 900-year-old town is also home to plenty of sights bound to please history buffs. These sights include Zhang Ting – a sprawling, Ming Dynasty era residence home to six courtyards and more than 70 rooms – and Quanfu Temple, a beautiful Buddhist temple nestled on the edges of Baixian Lake.
Heshun
Heshun Town is a small town in western Yunnan Province that is considered one of the most charming villages in China. This is not too surprising since Heshun Town is set among forested hills and its name means peace and harmony. Heshun Town is famous for its well-preserved ancient architecture, with its stone houses with tile roofs looking more like museums than homes. There are narrow lanes running between the closely packed homes. Heshun Town was a stop on the old Tea-Horse Road.
Fenghuang
Nestled at the foot of verdant mountains on the edges of the Tuojiang River, Fenghuang was hailed as the most beautiful town in China by New Zealand-born writer and political activist Rewi Alley. The ancient Hunan town is home to many Miao people whose customs and culture can be seen everywhere. There are traditional stilted wooden houses, or ‘diaojiaolou’, along the river and batik printed cloths sold in its stores alongside local culinary delicacies like spicy pickled red peppers and ginger candy. Meanwhile, local historical sites of note include Huang Si Qiao Castle – built in 687 and China’s best-preserved stone castle. It is located a few kilometers west of town.
Hongcun
A village shaped like an ox may sound far-fetched until you get to Hongcun near Mount Huangshan in Anhui Province. Much of the village – which, alongside neighboring Xidi, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 – centers around its half-moon shaped pond. A stream running through the village is the animal’s innards. Besides the unique shape, Hongcun is famous for its Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. Moreover, film buffs might recognize Hongcun, an ancient Anhui village nestled in the mist-shrouded foothills of Huangshan Mountain, from Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
Jiaju
If you don’t have time for a trip to Tibet, you can still get a feeling for that culture by visiting Jiaju, a Tibetan style village in Sichuan Province. Dubbed the “Tibetan fairyland,” Jiaju is considered one of the most beautiful towns in China. Built on a forested hillside, it’s hard to argue with this assessment, especially in the spring when pear trees blossom. The homes are uniquely shaped, with crowns on top of several floors; the eaves are red and the exterior walls are white.