Incredible images show China's geographical and cultural splendour

Stretching more than 5,000 miles, the Great Wall of China was built by first emperor, Qin, who began construction in the 3rd century B.C.

This dramatic area in China's Hunan Province is dominated by more than 3,000 narrow sandstone pillars and peaks towering over streams, and waterfalls, plus around 40 caves and two large natural bridges.

Spectacular red cliffs and towering natural pillars in this region were formed by layers of different colored sandstone and minerals, pressed together over millions of years.

Southeastern China hosts more than 40 tulous—circular housing complexes, also called "earthen houses"—that sit among rice, tea, and tobacco fields.

Along the Ailao Mountains on the Hong River, visitors discover elaborate, reflective rice terraces, designed by the Hani people with support from buffalos, ducks, and eel.

The temples, palaces, and monasteries on the scenic slopes of the Wudang Mountains hold 1,000 years of Chinese art and architecture.

The birthplace of Taoism, Mount Qingcheng hosts a series of temples and an irrigation system—an epic engineering feat originally constructed around 256 BC that's still active today.

Home to 41 monasteries, this sacred Buddhist mountain boasts the East Main Hall of Foguang Temple, the highest surviving timber building of the Tang dynasty with incredible life-size clay sculptures.

The ancient village of Hongcun brings visitors back in time, with well-preserved buildings dating back hundreds of years.

Considered sacred, Mount Songshang is home to prominent structures, including three Han Que gates—remains of the oldest religious edifices in China—plus temples, the Zhougong Sundial Platform, and the Dengfeng Observatory.

After centuries under Portuguese administration, this port town uniquely blends Chinese and Portuguese architecture.

Located in central Beijing, the imposing Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace for centuries, from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty.

Perched on Red Mountain in Lhasa Valley, the Potala Palace was the winter retreat of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century, symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism, and plays a central role in the traditional administration of Tibet.

Temples of distinct architectural styles and imperial gardens blend perfectly into a landscape of lakes, pastureland, and forests in Hebei Province.

The old town of Lijiang in Yunnan Province sits high in the mountains with a complex ancient water system feeding canals and channels still in use today.

Home to more than 30% of the world's pandas, these sanctuaries include seven nature reserves and nine scenic parks in the Qionglai and Jiajin Mountains.

Although thousands of life-sized terra-cotta soldiers, horses, and bronze chariots famously were discovered in 1974, there's no doubt that many more treasures are still to be unearthed in the archeological site of Emperor Qinshihuang's tomb.

Classical Chinese garden design, which aims to recreate natural landscapes in miniature, is seen nowhere better than in the nine gardens of the historic city of Suzhou.

These village houses integrate Chinese and Western influences in their unique forms, including communal towers, residential towers, and watchtowers.

The well-preserved city of Ping Yao lets visitors explore a traditional Han Chinese city, with nearly 4,000 shops and traditional houses on meandering lanes.

The Longmen Grottoes, located on the Yi River, encompass more than 2,300 caves and niches carved into the steep limestone cliffs—holding almost 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, more than 60 stupas, and 2,800 inscriptions carved on stele.