Qinghai: Qinghai Lake

China's largest inland saltwater lake. This view is one of the great
draws of Qinghai Province in China's far northwest every June and
July.
The lake sits 3,205 meters above sea level and is a three-hour bus
ride from the nearest traffic hub of Xining. Few tourists make it to
this part of China to enjoy this oil painting of a scene, not counting
packs of mad cyclists who come for Tour de Qinghai Lake
International Cycling Race every summer.
Tour companies in Xining organize trips to Qinghai Lake. Buses
bound for Qihai Lake are available every morning (7:45 a.m.) from
Xining Train Station.
Shaanxi: Xi'an City Wall

In addition to the world-renowned Great Wall, the city wall

belonging to Xi'an, first constructed more than 2,000 years ago, also
represents the power and wisdom of the Middle Kingdom in its
ancient heyday.
What exists of the wall today are remains from 1370, when during
the Ming Dynasty the fortification was 13.7 kilometers long, 12
meters high and between 15 to 18 meters wide. It now surrounds
downtown Xi'an.
Spend three or four hours biking along the wall and you'll get great
views of China's old capital city.

Climb up the city wall from Yongning Gate () on Nan Jie in

Xi'an's Xincheng District.