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Beijing 北京
Beijing is not only the capital of the PRC but also one of it's premiere attractions for the traveller. Considered to be rapidly becoming one of the 21st Century world cities it also hosts a wealth of historical sites and thankfully, much of the historical side has survived the construction boom of the last decade. In short, Beijing has it all - rich historical sights, modern masterpieces, fantastic cuisine and a vibrant culture with one foot in the past and the other firmly striding into the future.
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Xian 西安
Many centuries ago Xian was once the fabled Chang An - a thriving city of Emperors, soldiers, art and culture and the capital of the Tang Dynasty, regarded as a golden period in Chinese history. It was also one of the world's great trading cities being both the beginning and end of the fabled Silk Road. It is all this history that people come to see today and Xian still has much in evidence of this glorious past, including one of China's most famous sights - the breathtaking Terra-cotta Army.
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Chengdu 成都
With a population topping 13 million and growing (the fifth most populous city in China) Chengdu is the capital of mountainous Sichuan province and the place to come to to see Giant Pandas. The city does have charm beyond Pandas though, the people are friendly and the food excellent making Chengdu and easy place to spend a few days. It is also a natural base for exploring more of Sichuan including nearby Leshan and Emeishan as well as the further afield Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou.
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Shanghai 上海
Shanghai aims to be a vision of China's future and is hurtling towards it's goal of being China's financial capital and eclipsing its rival Hong Kong. There are few cities in China that are such a testament to China's phenomenal growth of the last few decades and what it perhaps lacks in historical sites it more than makes up with its sheer energy and dynamism giving you a taste of the New China that is making it's mark on the world stage.
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Yangtze River 江长
The Yangtze is Asia's longest river and the third longest in the world. A cruise along part of it offers the spectacular Three Gorges whose sheer height seems little effected by the rising waters of the dam of the same name. The dam itself seems almost as monumental and passing through it's great locks has become an unforgettable part of any Yangtze river cruise. There are several stops along the river route to visit historical sights all in all making this one of China's premiere attractions.
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Guilin & Yangshuo 桂林
Once in China it is likely you will see Guilin frequently as it is on the back of the RMB 20 note! Most people come to Guilin to take a trip down the Li River to Yangshuo, a destination firmly on the top 10 list of places to visit in China. The surrounding limestone karst scenery is as breathtaking as the life along the river banks is fascinating. Yangshuo is the perfect place to take all of this in with it's relaxed atmosphere and easy access to the surrounding countryside by foot, boat or bicycle.
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Lijiang 丽江市
Lijiang is a stunning old UNESCO World Heritage recognised city of cobbled streets and tiled roofs set against the magnificent backdrop of the 5,596m thirteen peaked Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. All this wrapped up in one destination means Lijiang is crowded with visitors year round but it still has what it takes with quiet streets off the main tourist paths and continues to be an unmissable part of any Yunnan itinerary.
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Hong Kong 香港
Hong Kong is still a mecca for travellers and for good reason. Still very distinct from Mainland China this city state is often a start or end point for a trip to China. Aside from having one of the worlds most impressive skylines (pictured left) Hong Kong also offers fine food, vibrant nightlife, world class shopping and tranquil islands dotted with timeless temples and fishing harbours. All this but a stone's throw from the Central business areas.
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Mount Huangshan 黄山
If you can be on this mountain in the right weather conditions you will come away like many an ancient Chinese poet and painter feeling you have seen one of China's top sites. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Huangshan offers you the scenery seen in so many traditional Chinese paintings with the tops of peaks seemingly floating above cloud seas. Much of the mountain area is accessible thanks to up to 60,000 stone steps although some of the paths are not for those who have issues with heights!
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Hangzhou 杭州
At first glance Hangzhou looks like a huge modern urban expanse like so many east coast Chinese cities but it has one trump card, the stunning West Lake, the legendary beauty of which has been praised and written about for centuries. A few days exploring the West Lake area and National Park are highly rewarding taking time to relax in the many gardens and pavilions. A relative stone's thrown from Shanghai and at the southern end of the Grand Canal finding time to fit in Hangzhou's ancient pagodas and misty lake views is unlikely to disappoint.
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Lhasa 拉萨
Lhasa, capital of Tibet province, is an astonishing city and a must see in China if you are able to visit the spiritual land of Tibet. The setting, the history, architecture and the contrasts all make a trip here well worth the time, expense and relative discomfort of high altitude. Tibet is rarely out of the news and much of it is controversial but it really is one of these places you need to come and see yourself to make your own mind up. If you come here try to find extra time for one of our more extensive Tibet trips.
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Pingyao 平遥
Pingyao is a Ming Dynasty city with the only complete city wall of that era left in China. Centuries ago it was the centre of Chinese banking and this wealth has left an abundance of Ming architecture from houses to temples giving the most complete example of what a Ming city would have looked like. Pingyao also holds an International Photography Festival every September which draws in entries from all over the world providing a stark contrast with the aura of history Pingyao creates.
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