A journey through China is as historically intriguing as it is scenically stunning. From the culture-rich capital of Beijing and the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Shanghai, to the stunning delights of Guilin's limestone landscape and the picturesque cities of the Yangtze Delta, China offers an inexhaustible treasure trove of history, culture and adventure.

Don't forget to explore the hutongs (back alleys) by cycle rickshaw to see Chinese life at its most traditional. Or delight in China's cuisine, from dim sum (a classic Cantonese breakfast, but equally good for lunch) and Beijing duck - small pieces of meat which you dip in plum sauce, then wrap with chopped onions in a pancake, to Mongolian hotpot - it's all delicious!

Highlights

 

The Great Wall - An astonishing feature of engineering, this awe-inspiring, monumental barrier stretches from Shanhaiguan, by the Yellow Sea, to Jiayuguan Pass in the Gobi Desert. The 'Long Wall of Ten Thousand Li' can be seen at Badaling - the most popular; at Mutianyu - less crowded; and distant Simatai and Jinshanling - even less so, and far more beautiful. To explore the Great Wall in all its crumbly glory, head out to Huanghua.

The Forbidden City - So called because it was off-limits to the general populace for 500 years, The Forbidden City is the largest and best-preserved group of China's ancient buildings. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the most important and the largest structure in the Forbidden City, which was home to two dynasties of emperors, the Ming and the Qing.

The Terracotta Army - Located near the old capital of Xi'an, these stunningly well preserved 2200-year-old life-size soldiers and horses arranged in battle formation guard the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shihuang. Facing east in a rectangular battle array, every figure differs in facial features and expressions.

Li River scenery - Discover a scenic paradise as you ply the Li River south from Guilin. Cruise gently past a procession of jutting ridges, towers and peaks, eroded by the elements into bizarre shapes. See pretty rural scenes of grazing water buffalo, farmers working their fields in conical hats and wave to locals poling themselves along on half-submerged bamboo rafts and fishing with cormorants. Best seen during the wet months between May and September, when the water is deepest and the greenery at its lushest.

Huanglongxi - An atmospheric Qing-dynasty village in Sichuan that sports several old temples and was featured in the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

The Grand Buddha - Carved into a cliff face, The Grand Buddha stands 71m in height and is recognised as the largest Buddha in the world.

Confucius Temple - A lavish complex in Confucius's hometown of Qufu.

A cruise down the Yangzi River - Enjoy awesome scenery and a wealth of historic sights.

Kashgar's Sunday Market - Up to 100,000 villagers and nomads from the surrounding area descend to trade horses, sheep, cattle, goats, carpets, knives and clothes at this weekly event. Discover various ethnic minorities, all sporting different headwear.

Yungang Caves - The caves, cut into the southern cliffs of Wuzhou Shan, are home to more than 50,000 Buddhist statues including the earliest Buddhist carvings in China. Images surrounding the main statues include pagodas in bas-relief, the omnipresent '1000 Buddha' motif and flying apsaras (angels draped in flowing silk). The remains of a huge, mud-brick 17th-century Qing dynasty fortress sits on top of the mountain ridge. From the caves you can walk east to a remnant of the Great Wall.

Best time to go

China is best in spring or autumn, when the weather is at its mosttemperate. In spring, it's best to start in the south and work north orwest as summer approaches. In autumn, start in the north and work south.

China's climate is extremely diverse, from bitterly cold to unbearably hot with a lot in between: the south is subtropical, with wet, humid summers between April and September and temperatures of around 40°C; July to September brings the typhoon season to the south-east coast; in the north, temperature averages -8°C during winter in December to 30°C in summer during July; the north-west experiences dry, hot summers, with China's nominated hottest place - Turpan - receiving maximums of around 47°C.

Shopping

 

China is a shopper's paradise, with a wide range of new and 'old' goods available, including Chinese silks, tea, antiques, paintings and calligraphy, Chinese medicines, jade, pearls and various handicrafts. Different Chinese cities have different local specialties: Beijing is noted for cloisonne enamel and freshwater pearls; Shanghai is renowned for jade; Xi'an is celebrated for antiques and rugs; while Guilin is famous for scroll paintings and bijouterie. Suzhou and Hangzhou are well known for silk and tea. All antiques over 100 years old are marked with a red wax seal by the authorities and require an export customs certificate.

Cultural tips

 

Gifts - Should someone invite you to their home, a gift may well be expected -but don't expect your host to open it in front of you or to express profuse gratitude for it. In Chinese culture, the way to express gratitude is through reciprocal actions rather than words; elaborate thanks may be taken as an attempt to avoid obligation.

 

Sharing - In China, restaurant bills are not shared. Rather, someone - usually the person regarded as the most senior - will claim the honour of paying the total amount for everyone. As a foreigner, that person could be you, however it is more likely that someone else will pay before you do. Attempting to pay a 'share' of the bill may cause some embarrassment.

Privacy - The Chinese have little concept of privacy. People often stare and point at each other from point-blank range.

 

Clothing - China has a relaxed attitude to dress except in mosques where men and women alike should cover their bodies above the wrists and ankles. Skimpy clothing in summer is quite normal. To earn the respect of any Chinese however, it's best to dress smartly - useful for checking into a hotel or getting served quickly in a restaurant.