As a multi-religious country, there are many religious travel resources in China, especially for the Buddhism. Generally, the western provinces of Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Tibet and southwest Yunnan and Sichuan are the best destinations to explore the Chinese religions, especially the Islam and Buddhism. To travel in religious areas and attractions, visitors should respect the religious as well as their living habits and customs and follow the ways as the people do. In case of in troubles, especially in Tibet, ask for information from your guide before traveling about the religious customs and taboos.

Four Taoism Mountains are Wudang Mountain in Hubei Province, Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi Province, Qiyun Mountain in Anhui Province and Qingcheng Mountain in Sichuan Province.

Famous Buddhism Attractions

Tibet is the most popular destination for Tibetan Buddhism with rich Buddhism culture. And other popular Buddhist attractions are:

Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang, Longmen Grottoes of Luoyang, Yunkang Grottoes of Datong;

Shaolin Temple in Henan Province, Ci’en Temple in Xi’an, Huayuan Temple and Yonghegong lamasery in Beijing, Linyin Temple in Hangzhou;

Wutai Mountain in Shanxi Province, Jiuhua Mountain in Anhui Province, Emei Mountain in Sichuan Province and Putuo Mountain in Zhengjiang Province (the Four Chinese Buddhist Mountains).

The Plgrim's Progress

Xuanzang, who lived from AD 602 to 664 was the most famous Buddhist philosopher of the Tang dynasty. His epic journey to India made possible Chinese translations of some of the most important Buddhist texts, as well as providing the inspection for the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West (西游记）and its stories of a brave pilgrim and mythical Monkey King.

Interested in the life of a Buddhist monk from an early age, Xuan Zang was ordained a priest when he was only 13 years old. He joined a monastery in Chang'an( now Xi'an ) that was translating Indian scriptures, but was disappointed by the quality and accuracy of the works available. He decided that an expedition to the home of Buddhism was the best recourse to resolve contradictions he found in the Chinese translations. In AD 627 he set off on foot to India. He was only 26 and would not return for 18 years.

The recently established Tang dynasty refused to give him permission to leave, but with the aid of sympathetic officers - Buddhists themselves, he sweated across the Taklamakan desert and reached the oasis city of Turpan. The Great Khan of Western Turks, who controlled an area stretching from modern day Afghanistan to China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, took a looking to the adventurous monk and tries to force him to stay. Xuan Zang refused and threated a hunger strike. His unswerving devotion to his mission convinced the Khan to release him and he was sent on his way.

His first five years in India were spent learning Sanskirt and studying at the Nalanda Monastery under the many masters there. During the 14th and 15th centuries Nalanda was the largest Buddhist" university" in the world, attracting Buddhists from as far as Mongolia, Korea and Japan.

For the next six years he traveled around India and consulted erudite Buddhist dharmas in over more than 100 different regions of the subcontinent. He began to give lectures himself and the charisma that had charmed the Great Khan won him large audiences which helped spread a new and intensely abstract school of meditation called Yogacara.

On his return to China, he was given a hero's welcome by the same Tang emperor who had made his outbound journey so difficult years before. The 600 scriptures brought back were translated into Chinese and are still used in many monasteries throughout China. His legacy in spreading Buddhist knowledge throughout China can not be understated.