iReport: My favorite China travel photos

Travelers from around the world share their best moments in China

21 February, 2012

Cutest panda cub ever, and it’s not in Sichuan

U.S. iReporter Lawrence Craig Smith shot this photo of a three-month-old panda cub in the wild during his trip to China in November 2009. The California-based shutterbug spent one week in Foping Nature Reserve (陕西佛坪大熊猫自然保护区) in Shaanxi Province with a specific goal in mind -- to locate and photograph pandas. The cub was found under a rock ledge, where it had been left by its mother while she was foraging for food.

My favorite China travel photos -- panda

Wild panda in winter

When Smith stayed at Foping, an early winter storm sent the area's temperature to below zero, which made it more difficult to spot wild pandas. “I took this picture as snow began to fall; the afternoon sunlight disappeared, plunging the area into darkness and cold,” says the avid traveler, who has covered 75 countries in the past 20 years. In terms of general China travel tips, Smith suggests all travelers to China have a chat with the locals because the people “are highly educated, friendly and polite.”

Beijing Temple of Heaven

Indonesian iReporter Gregorius G. Suharsono shared a collection of photos taken during his two trips to China. The Java-based traveler visited the Temple of Heaven (天坛) in 2000 on his first trip to the nation with his family. “China is an amazing great country with so many different places to visit and a great place for photography lovers,” says Suharsono.

My favorite China travel photos -- beijing

The Badaling Great Wall

Suharsono recommends all travelers should climb The Great Wall at dusk to see the sunset.

Peking Opera

Suharsono returned to China on a 10-day business trip in 2010 and captured this photo during a Peking Opera performance in Beijing. Although traditional Chinese culture, such as the opera, is a major draw for many international travelers, Suharsono picks the word “dynamism” to describe the nation. “One word to describe Asia is dynamism and China is the greatest example of this dynamism that keeps changing as the world around us changes,” he says.

Shanghai skyline

This shot of Shanghai’s breathtaking Pudong skyline was taken by Chris Parr in September 2009. The Australian iReporter was in China on a one-month exchange program. He traveled to various cities, including Kunming, Lijiang, Guilin, Shanghai, Xi'an and Beijing. Although Parr is enthralled by Shanghai’s larger-than-life skyline, his fondest memory of China was feasting on a six-course dinner at Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant (北京烤鸭饭馆) with his host family on his last evening in China’s capital.

My favorite China travel photos -- shanghai

Sidewalk bicycle repair shop in Beijing

This is one of U.S. iReporter Doug Simonton’s favorite pictures taken during his weeklong trip to China in 2007. As an independent traveler, the Oklahoman screenwriter and filmmaker enjoyed complete freedom of movement throughout the trip, though he warns first-time visitors that the stories of Beijing’s notorious traffic jams and pollution are true to life.

My favorite China travel photos -- bicycle

The Mutianyu Great Wall

Simonton’s fondest China moment was visiting the Great Wall, but unlike Indonesian iReporter Suharsono, Tulsa-based Simonton prefers the stretch at Mutianyu, which lies 73 kilometers north of downtown Beijing and is much less touristy. He suggests travelers find a quiet place and “just stand there thinking about the 5,000 years of history it represents.”

My favorite China travel photos -- mutianyu

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Few countries around the world can provide travelers with such a diverse experience as China.

Spreading over approximately 9,600,000 square kilometers, the nation’s vista stretches from the winding lanes of Kashgar’s Islamic old city to the surreal Shanghai Pudong skyline to the palm tree-lined tropical beaches in Hainan.

In our recent iReport assignment, we asked travelers to share their favorite China photos and we received myriad incredible views and thrilling travel tales.

The gallery above showcases a selection of the best responses.

More on CNNGo: iReport: My favorite Hangzhou travel photo

Interested in submitting your own stories, photos and videos? Visit our iReport page.

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