China

China’s cultural riches and 5000 years of tumultuous history place it, without doubt, among the world’s greatest travel destinations. The Great Wall, X’ian’s Terracotta Army, the Forbidden Palace and Tiananmen Square: the very names reverberate with history and legend.

China’s paradoxes are many: Shanghai’s skyscrapers contrast with Beijing’s historical treasures, while in rural provinces, mechanisation has not yet reached many traditional farming villages. Celebrated places and sights abound – this is the land of the Yangxi River, the Silk Route and the bamboo forests of the panda. Spectacular Guilin brings the vistas of rivers and misty peaks in traditional ink paintings to life, while far to the west, the fabled Tibetan city of Lhasa beckons pilgrims to ‘the roof of the world’.

Chinese food – from noodles to Imperial banquets – ranks among the world’s great cuisines. From acrobatics to martial arts, calligraphy to Chinese opera, the vibrant, distinctive culture of this great land is everywhere to be seen.

Now reunited with the mainland, visually stunning Hong Kong offers a warp-speed ‘shop till you drop’ lifestyle combined with enclaves of tradition and tranquil outlying islands. Nearby, exotic Macau is a gambler’s paradise with colonial Portuguese flair.

Beijing, as the site of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, is facing enormous investment, which will see its historic areas refurbished and protected, and transport and accommodation improved.

China’s tourism infrastructure is rapidly improving, but flexibility and patience are still required. In return, China rewards visitors with memories to be treasured for a lifetime.