China is the world’s 3rd largest country with a total landmass of 9.6 million square kilometers. Located on the western shores of the Pacific Ocean, it boasts a coastline of some 18,000 kilometers, and shares borders with North Korea, Russia, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Burma, Laos, Sikkim, Bhutan and Vietnam.

It is also home to approximately 1.26 billion people, roughly 22% of the total population of the world.

The country is divided into 22 provinces with 5 autonomous regions, and has 56 ethnic groups, the largest of which are the Zhuang, Yi, Uyghur, Hui, Miao, Manchu, Tibetan, Mongolian, Tujia, Bouyei, Korean, Dong, Yao, Bai and Hani minorities.

China has a very rich and diverse history dating back over 5,000 years, which is still evolving today at quite a vigorous pace as the old guard communists give way to a new wave of entrepreneurs - the momentum behind the country’s drive to create a socialist market economy.

From its mighty rivers, sacred peaks, wild grasslands, and vast deserts to its imperial heritage and shop till you drop metropolises, China encompasses a whole world of cultural and natural wonders.

BEIJING

Located in the far north of China, Beijing (also known as Peking) has remained the nation’s capital since the 13th Century. The name “Beijing” literally means Northern Capital.

The city stands on the site of several ancient settlements, and its symmetrical design has changed very little from its early Ming Dynasty lay out.

The city’s most famous monuments and places of interest are:

The Great Wall - Stretching more than 6,000 kms in length, considered to be one of the world’s greatest man made achievements.

The Imperial Palace - Also known as the Forbidden City, providing a rare glimpse into China’s imperial past.

Beihai Park, The Temple of Heaven, The Summer Palace and the Ming Tombs.

CHONGQING

Chongqing is a lively commercial and cultural centre situated at the junction of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, with a history dating back some 3,000 years.

As a result of its strategic location, Chongqing has become one of the busiest port cities in China, where you can see traditional junks and sampans alongside modern day riverboats at the bustling Chaotianmen Dock.

The city is also home to the wartime headquarters of the Communist party and former residence of Zhou Enlai at Red Crag Village.

Other places of interest are:

Jialing Bridge - With spectacular views of the city.

The People’s Assembly Hall - One of China’s most photographed buildings

The Three Gorges - Qutang, Wuxia and Xiling Gorges with magnificent natural and historical sites, as well as the construction of an enormous dam

Dazu Stone Carvings - Dating back to the Tang and Song dynasties.

GUANGZHOU

Located in southern China at the tip of the Pearl River, Guangzhou (also known as Canton) is the capital of Guangdong Province, and is one of the most well developed cities in China.

The city serves a major role as a gateway into the mainland, and every year hosts the Chinese Export Commodities Fair, which has proven to be an invaluable channel for developing and maintaining international trading ties.

Central Guangzhou is also home to several religious sites, such as the Huaisheng Mosque, one of the first Mosques ever to be built in China. The Temple of Six Banyan Trees, and ancient and exceptionally well maintained Buddhist temple with its century old octagonal pagoda, and the Sacred Heart Cathedral, a marvelous example of French architecture built some 120 years ago.

Other places of interest are:

Baiyun Mountain - White Cloud Mountain)

Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall - Built in 1931 in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the father of modern day China.

Yuexiu Park - Famous for its culture of the Five Rams – the symbol of Guanzhou

Orchid Park - A peaceful and tranquil garden with a spectacular display of orchids during the summer months.

Shamian Island - With its European style cafes and architecture dating back to the Island’s European rule in the 1900’s.

GUILIN

Guilin is one of the most famous cities in China with its breathtaking and enchanting landscapes. It is located in southern China in Guangxi Province and is home to the Muslim Zhuang minority.

It is best known for its fairytale like limestone hills that dominate the landscape surrounding the Li river, but is also well known as the home of transparent “glass” noodles, and the city’s Buddhist temples are famous for their vegetarian food.

Local attractions are:

Elephant Trunk Hill - An ancient pagoda rests on the top of this scenic hill, representing the hilt of a dagger used by a jealous god. There is also a Tang Dynasty temple here with exquisite examples of ceramics from China’s past.

Seven Star Park - The city’s most popular recreation area.

Zengpiyan Cave - One of China’s oldest historical sites, where tools and bone fragments have been found that date back over ten thousand years.

The Jingjiang Princely Tombs - Containing the remains of 14 Ming Dynasty princes.

Yongji Bridge - This 80 meter covered bridge supporting five multi-eaved pavilions was built entirely without nails or screws.

HANGZHOU

Hangzhou, one of China’s six ancient capitals, was once dubbed by Marco Polo as “the finest and most splendid city in the world”.

Located in Zhejiang Province, the city is best known for its numerous varieties of high quality silks, and is linked to Beijing by the Grand Canal, one of the world’s most extensive man-made feats of engineering.

Hangzhou became a terminus of the Silk Road in the seventh century, and ever since then, silkworm cultivation has been a major business enterprise in the surrounding areas.

The legendary Xi Hu (West Lake), former home of the Song Dynasty emperors, with its undulating emerald green hills, elegant gardens, pools, lavish temples and lakeside tea houses, is Hangzhou’s centrepiece.

Other popular attractions are:

Gu Shan (Solitary Hill Island) - A landscaped island that has become West lake’s most popular strolling area.

Yue Fei’s Tomb - A memorial to a Song Dynasty general who defended China against Tartar invaders, but who subsequently fell foul of the authorities. His tomb marks the exact spot where he was executed.

Longjing Tea - This is perhaps one of the most famous varieties of Chinese green tea, and is exported to all corners of the globe. Here in Hangzhou you can sample some of this locally produced tea.

Lingyin Temple - A well known monastery that was founded in 326 A.D. housing a whole wealth of Buddhist art.

Six Harmonies Pagoda - This unique and striking octagonal pagoda was built in the 970 AD, overlooking the Qian Tang river, where its spiritual force protects against frequent tidal waves. It also serves as a lighthouse for river traffic.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong is Asia’s primary economic centre, located in southern China at the mouth of the Pearl River. It is a fast paced and cosmopolitan city with a population of over 6 million people.

The city’s most famous feature, Victoria Harbour, is one of the worlds most spectacular waterways, constantly streaming with passenger ferries, cargo vessels, traditional junks and sightseeing pleasure boats.

From the top of the Peak, located on Hong Kong Island, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Hong Kong and Kowloon.

Hong Kong is a thriving East-meets-West metropolis with a truly unique fusion of western life styles and ancient Chinese culture.

Other popular attractions are:

The Star Ferry - These green and white ferryboats are are an excellent way to cross the harbour between Kowloon and Hong Kong and offer exhilarating views of the city and its constant marine traffic.

Stanley Market - A popular market town (located on Hong Kong Island) for both locals and visitors

The New Territories and Outer Islands - Literally Hong Kong’s rustic backyard, containing country parks and unspoiled beaches. Lantau (the territories largest island is home to Hong Kong’s New international Airport at Chep Lap Kok. The island also boasts one of the largest Buddha statues in the world.

Tsing Ma Bridge - Now a key Hong Kong landmark, this is the world’s longest suspension bridge carrying road and rail traffic, connecting the city with the new Airport.

KUNMING

Kunming, also known as the Spring City due to its mild climate is the capital of Yunnan Province. It is located in Southwestern China on a fertile plateau, neighbouring Vietnam, Laos, Burma and Tibet.

The city has an ethnically diverse population of about 2 million, comprising of Han, Yi, Hui, Bai and Miao peoples.

Yunnan’s best known attraction is the Stone Forest, located 125kms Southeast of the city. This stunningly beautiful scenic area is full of magnificently shaped limestone peaks that have been rated as one of China’s most beautiful scenic areas together with Guilin and the Yangtze Gorges.

Yuantong Park, surrounding a 13th century Buddhist temple, at the foot of Yuantong hill, is a favourite recreational area for locals

To the south of the city, Dianchi Lake, with a surface area of 340 square kilometers, is China’s sixth largest lake and is one of the most beautiful settings in Yunnan.

Other popular attractions are:

Bamboo Temple - Built on a mystical site where according to legend a rhinoceros turned into a monk, who then turned into a bamboo tree.

Green Lake - Surrounded by pleasant walkways, flower gardens, and meadows.

The Golden Temple - Standing on a carved marble base, this 300-ton structure is made entirely out of copper.

NANJING

Nanjing is also known as the “Capital of ten dynasties” and was China’s ancient capital from 220 AD to 1949. It is also a famous centre for astronomy.

The city is located in Eastern China in Jiangsu Province and has a population of approximately 5 million people

Nanjing is one of the cultural centres of China, and the Nanjing Museum houses displays and artifacts that span over five thousand years of history, including the world’s first seismograph, prehistoric pottery and bronzes.

The Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum, built on the slopes of Zijin Mountains is an impressive complex honouring China’s first democratic leader, containing archives relating to his life and the Chinese revolution.

Other popular attractions are:

Yangtze River Bridge - This intricate feat of engineering took 10 years to build and completed the first overland link between Beijing and the Yangtze Valley. It is of enormous symbolic importance to China as a whole.

Linggu Temple Park - This beautiful park has a myriad of well kept gardens and a dense pine forest. It also contains Wuliang Temple with its 200-foot tall pagoda.

Hong Wu’s tomb - This is the tomb of first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, also known as the Beggar King because of his humble origins. It was originally built in 1381 but was damaged during the Taiping Rebellion.

Xuanwu Lake - A beautiful lake containing five islets, linked by embankments and arched bridges, surrounded by thousands of weeping willow trees.

SHANGHAI

Shanghai is now the world’s 10th largest city and has a population of over 13 million. It is located on China’s mid-eastern coastline and has rapidly become one of the worlds most glamorous and cosmopolitan cities.

Having established itself on the world map as an important commercial hub for nearly a century, much of the city’s charm, as well as its historical architecture, is well preserved.

Shanghai’s best known attractions are the Bund - a promenade between the Wusong River and the Old Town. This are was once the thriving business centre for former European colonial powers.

And Yu Garden, a wonderfully harmonious series of halls, pavilions, ponds and streams set in a classical Chinese garden that was designed by a Ming Dynasty Mandarin called Yu.

The city is also famous for the Jade Buddha temple which houses two Buddha sculptures carved from rare white Burmese jade.

Other attractions include:

Shanghai Museum - This world renowned museum of ancient art was established in 1952, and is home to a collection of over 120,000 pieces of cultural relics and treasures.

Jazz Band at the Peace Hotel - Every night at the bar on the ground floor the Band (of rather elderly musicians) plays New Orleans style Jazz reminiscent of the Big Band Era.

Oriental Pearl TV tower - Shanghai’s newest landmark, symbolic of the “modern” China, reaches a height of 468 meters and provides exhilarating views of Shanghai and it’s surroundings.

Jin Mao Building - This 88 storey modern skyscraper is the tallest in China and is a monument to Shanghai’s economic boom.

Nanjing Road - This bustling pedestrian street is Shanghai’s commercial centre and a real shopper’s paradise.

WUHAN

Wuhan is the Yangtze River’s major inland port. The city was established in 1957 by joining the 3 points of land where the Han and Yangtze rivers meet, and the city boasts a wealth of history, culture as well as breathtaking scenery.

The city’s main attractions include Hankou, formerly a treaty port and home to thousands of overseas merchants and officials during the early 1900s, here you can see fascinating homes and office building sin British, French, German, Russian and Japanese styles.

The Guiyuan Buddhist Temple in Hanyang - One of the most important Buddhist sites in central China and a spectacular showplace for Buddhist art.

Tortoise Hill and Snake Hill - These two famous landmarks face each other across the river and have inspired many famous poets and painters.

The Lute Pavillion - According to legend, this spot is also known as the Terrace of Ancient Music. This beautifully restored site consists of pavilions and terraces amid spacious gardens on the shore of Moon Lake, and is the site of many open-air musical performances.

XIAN

Xian is the capital of Shaanxi Province and is one the most famous of China’s ancient Capitals.

The city’s oldest monument is a Neolithic village dating back to 6000 B.C. However Xian’s best known attraction is the tomb of China’s first Emperor with its army of terracotta warrior guardians.

Xian was the Imperial Capital during the Tang Dynasty and was originally known as Chang An.

The city is also famous for the Small Goose Pagoda, located in the city centre; this fine Buddhist pagoda lost two storeys in an earthquake, but still has exceptional views over the city.

And the old City Wall, one of the very few city walls still standing in China. It was built in the Ming dynasty between 1347 and 1378. Its full extent can be seen from the air before landing at Xian.

Other attractions include:

Qian Ling - The tomb of Emperor Gao Zong, and his wife Empress Wu. Upon the emperor’s death, Empress Wu usurped the throne and ruled with great harshness for 21 years.

Ban Po - The site of a Neolithic village dating back to around 6000 BC.

Hua Qing Hot Springs - This was the site of a pleasure palace built by Tang Emperor Tai Zong. It became particularly famous because the Emperor Xuan Zong use to spend so much time here with the beautiful concubine Yang Guifei, neglecting affairs of state to such a degree, that he almost lost the kingdom during a rebellion.

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