Historical and Cultural Cities in China

China is one of the four ancient civilizations in the world with the history of over 5000 years. Most of the famous China historic and cultural cities were the political, economical and cultural center in ancient China, or the key cities of important historical events. These of historical and cultural cities save a large amount of historical relics and revolutionary cultural relics and embody the long history, glorious revolutionary tradition and effulgent culture. To date, there are 120 cities were listed as historical and cultural city by the State Council. 

According to the characters, these historical and cultural cities can be divided into 7 categories:

1. Ancient capitals, which were the capitals in ancient China with historical relics and architectures: Xian, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Anyang, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Zhenzhou, Jinzhou, Datong and so on.
2. Traditional style cities with complete architectural complexes of historical periods: Suzhou, Yangzhou, Shangqui, Pingyao, Chaozhou, Liaocheng and so on.
3. scenic spots, which with both ancient architecture and natural landscapes: Dunhuang, Taian, Guilin, Zaoqing, Chengde and so on.
4. Cities with local and ethnic characteristics: Lijiang, Lhasa, Karshi, Kuqa and so on
5. Modern and contemporary historic sites: Shanghai, Wuhan, Zhunyi, Yanan, Harbin
6. Cities with special functions: the salt city-Zigong, ceramics metropolis-Jingdezheng, the First Pass Under Heaven-Shanhai Pass.
7. General historic sites with scattered cultural relics all over the city and historical tradition: Xuzhou, Changsha, Liuzhou, Changshu. 

China Historical and Cultural Cities (by province)