5,000-year is a long time conception, but it creates China which focuses on the Chinese civilization birthing on the Central Plains earth. About 4,000 years ago, central plains area centered settlement groups and turned into countries and dynasties. Depend on the situation at that time, they built their capitals in different areas, but mostly gather in the present Beijing, Xian, Nanjing and Luoyang mainly, well-known as Four Ancient Capitals in China.

Beijing
Forbidden City - Landmark of Beijing

As the present capital of China, Beijing called Yandu in old times, with the capital history of 778 years and city history of 3,000 years. Recently the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties set capital here, so that Beijing becomes the capital city with most historical and cultural relics, and is also the city with most cultural heritages. From Ming Dynasty, emperors formally built Beijing as the capital with the imperial palace - Forbidden City, military project - Great Wall, royal garden - Summer Palace and sacrificial building - Temple of Heaven, which let them become the main destinations in Beijing cultural trips.

Xian
Terracotta Warriors - Landmark of Xian

Xian, called Changan in old times, is the first of China Four Ancient Capital, as most dynasties built capital city here. As one of the world famous World Four Civilizations, Xian is also the oriental start of Silk Road. In history, the most famous dynasties built their capitals there are Qin Dynasty and Tang Dynasty, and they left the world famous relics. Terracotta Warriors is reputed as the 8th World Wonder, Qin Shi Huang Tomb is the earliest Chinese relic listed into the World Heritage List, Xian Ancient City Wall is the best preserved and largest ancient city wall relic in the world.

Nanjing
Place to Visit in Nanjing

Thousands of years, Yangtze River rolling ahead ceaselessly not only breeds Yangtze River civilization, but also expedites a typical southern city Nanjing. Wandering in Nanjing just like wandering in antique shop, everywhere has the traces of times, you have chance to try to fathom, to ponder past, and to be lost in wild and fanciful thought. Nanjing, also known Jinling in old times, is famous for the Qinhuai River which is the pronoun of wonderful night life. The flourish both sides of Qinhuai River is the gathering place of business and entertainment since Jin Dynasty. And before moved capital to Beijing, Qing Dynasty built the first capital in Nanjing.

Luoyang
Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang

As one of the wombs of Chinese civilization, Luoyang had been the capital with longest time. Luoyang has city history of 3,000 years and capital city of 800 years, which breeds it become the important city along the Yellow River. Since the Buddha was popular in China, the first Buddhist temple was built in Luoyang White Horse Temple, and then Shaolin Temple becomes one of the most important Buddhist temples in China. During so many dynasties, there is an artistic treasury left to now, which is the Longmen Grottoes.

Following the trace of history, you will enjoy the most valuable treasuries in China.

Lhasa, also known as the Sunlight City, is an ancient city with long history of 1,300 years. As a mysterious city for most people, Lhasa always attracts amounts of travelers to explore it and enjoy the closest place to heaven.

No. 1 Potala Palace - Please follows the tour guide
Symbol Attraction in Tibet

It is completely right that you never come to Tibet if you miss the Potala Palace. Potala Palace stands at the height of 3,700 meters above the sea level, and covers an area of 360,000 square meters including the total building area of 130,000 square meters. With 13 floors in the height of 117 meters, Potala Palace is the largest fort type building in the world's highest place, and is also the important landmark in Lhasa, so it is reputed as the "World Roof Pearl".

Potala Palace was built depend upon mountain, with overlapping groups of buildings, towering palaces and granite walls. Really resplendent and magnificent! The only one advice I offer you just following the tour guide to visit the Potala Palace.

No. 2 Jokhang Temple - No photographing
Supreme Tibetan Buddhism Temple

Jokhang Temple is located at the center of old town of Lhasa, has a long history of 1,350 years. It is the existing most glorious building in period of Tubo, is also the earliest civil architecture in Tibet, and it creates the special layout for temple. Jokhang Temple has supreme status in Tibetan Buddhism.

About one hour, the most impressive in temple for me is the life-size figure of Buddha Sakyamuni which was built when Sakyamuni was alive. Tibetan think it is valuable, not only as its historical value and value of cultural relic, but it is thought has no difference with the Sakyamuni in 2,500 years ago. It was the most exquisite and valuable as one of the existing three figures of Sakyamuni in the world.

Owing to the cultural protection, it is no photographing in temple, so you just record these shocked values by your eyes.

No. 3 Barkhor Street - sells various kinds of goods
Commercial Street in Lhasa

Barkhor Street close to Jokhang Temple is the third must-see in Lhasa. The whole street is roundness, seems like a huge clock, and the glorious Jokhang Temple is the clock-axle.

Barkhor Street is about 1 kilometer long, with totally 2,000 families about 6,000 persons. The both sides of street are crowded with stores and stalls, extraordinarily lively! The common goods include card pads, Dsi, Tibetan quilts, silver ornaments, Tibetan shoes, gemstone rings, Tibetan Knives, prayer wheels, etc. Besides some local Tibetan opening store here, there are some merchants from Nepal.

The tour guide explained, the border trade in Tibet is very active in recent years, and more and more foreign goods appear in Barkhor Street.
 
No. 4 Makye-ame - Leave mood in note
Famous Bar located in Barkhor Street

Makye-ame is a name of a bar which sits at the street corner of Barkhor Street, and it was a bar full of legendary colors.
Nowadays, the reason why Makye-ame is well known to many people is stranger. Don't know since when, travelers come from all over the world to Tibet to find the Makye-ame Bar, and record the feelings when they visit Tibet in the note prepared by the bar.

The Makye-ame is not very big, but decorated full of Tibetan amorous feelings, and what more attractive are the piles of notes on every desk. Turning over anyone, it is easily find various words, including the Chinese characters, Tibetan, Nepali, English, Japanese, etc. I believe there is a different story back of every kind of word.

It is not the complete Lhasa, but it is the must-see in Lhasa.

Would you want arrange your summer vacation to China? Find out the best places to travel in China during the early summer (from May to June). Here some best places that could be some of your recommendation places to visit:

No.1 Tibet
Potala Palace, landmak of Tibet

July, August and September is Tibet peak season with some rainy season. That time many famous attractions in Tibet will be overcrowded by visitors. In the early summer, visiting Tibet could be comfortable with less rain and sun will not shines too strong.
Explore many famous antique, sacred and mysterious tourist attractions in Tibet as well as view fabulous nature sceneries around the city.

No.2 Shangri-la
Shangri-la, pure land in Yunnan

Became a beautiful city located in Yunnan Province, Shangri-la offers charming natural landscapes. With amazing canyons, grasslands, alpine lakes, forests, snow-capped mountain, national customs and the comfortable weather all the year round, Shangri-la will never failed to satisfy visitors who come.
Get peaceful, calm and romantic vacation in the early summer.

No.3 Li River, Guilin
Beautiful Sunset along Li River

Li River is a favorite attraction in Guilin which offers stunning nature karsts landscapes along the river. In the early summer, you could take comfortable cruise boating through limestone cones, and hills blanketed with green plants. With fresh air, no pollution you could breathe some fresh air far from the city along the river.
Boating through Li River Scenic Spot, Crown Cave, Yangdi Village, Xingping Town and Yangshuo Town, you will be cruising about 55 kilometers long beauty river.

No.4 Three Gorges
Three Gorges along Yangtze River

The Three Gorges is the most favorite and charming section along Yangtze River. It will be great make a plan to experience a cruise trip explore Yangtze. The cruise route is from Chongqing City in the west to Yichang City in the east. Visitors onboard will pass through the beauty Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, the largest Xiling Gorge and the Three Gorge Dam (huge dam project in China).
Enjoy the mountain landscapes while cruising and get yourself comfortable inside the cruise in this early summer.

No.5 Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Grand View in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie has the unique landscapes with lush forests dominated by huge quartzite sandstone pillars. Regarded as one of the beauty nature reserves in China, this stunning and magical place actually have inspired the creation of Avatar's Hallelujah Mountains. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 and was recognized as China's first national forest park (4,810 hectares). Capture lots of amazing and priceless photos, enjoy the magical of several mountain peaks and cool wind in the summer. It is a great leisure and relaxation places that could not be miss.