China’s modern, brash, yet charmingly antique all at the same time. There’s stunning landscapes, futuristic cities, famous landmarks and a rich, deep history. This truly is a mysterious, magical place with every province offering visitors something new and exciting to explore.

China is the most populous country in East Asia and its landscapes are vast and varied, from grassland, deserts, mountains, lakes, gorges, rivers and vast coastlines.

The capital city of this gigantic country is the sprawling city of Beijing, located in northern China and the world’s most populous capital city.

China covers a massive area and its climate varies from region to region.

North-east China has hot and dry summers, but the winters are freezing cold. North and central regions have frequent rain, hot summers and cold winters. South-east China has plenty of rainfall, semi-tropical summers and cool winters.

The best time to visit China overall would be the months of April, May, September and October as these will have the most pleasant weather. The capital city, Beijing is cold from late November through to February. July and August are hotter throughout most of China but also less crowded at key tourist areas.

China has a comprehensive travel system and most is of its transport is fast and convenient.

Buses

Most big cities in China have a good, well developed bus system and is the main choice for transport in most urban and suburban areas mainly for its price and convenience. There are also inter-city long distance buses which can be boarded at coach stations, most of which can also be found at a city’s railway station.

Train

Travelling by train is a great way to cover some of the longer distances within China especially with the newly added bullet trains. The slower trains offer excellent value for money but can take over two days to get from one city to another, for example Beijing to Kunming. The same journey on a bullet train will only take 11 hours, however the ticket will be more expensive. There will be different priced tickets no matter which long distance train you choose, ranging from different classes of seats to hard or soft sleepers.

Subway

Subways when available are another great means of transport as they are safe, easy to use and inexpensive. There has been a rapid expansion of subways in China and now about 31 cities have subway lines, with more being built all the time. As many of the lines are still under construction, some of the cities may only have one or two lines up and running. The majority of stops have English signs and maps, making this way of getting around very convenient for tourists.

Taxis

Taxis can be found in nearly all the cities and can be flagged down anywhere, they are usually relatively cheap and journeys are done by the meter. If limited on time taxis can be hired for a half or full day, but make sure you agree a price first.

Air Travel

Airplanes are the fastest way to travel between the major cities in China, especially when travelling long distances, with many different airlines operating on the most popular routes. For most internal flights you will be able to find an affordable plane ticket, but generally they are not as cheap as internal flights in other countries in Asia.

The currency in China is the Chinese Yuan (CNY), although the official name of the currency is Renminbi, abbreviated to RMB. The note denominations are 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100.

Cash is the preferred method of payment throughout most of China however large hotel chains and some bars and restaurants do accept Visa and MasterCard. International ATM’s are available in major cities but not in the more remote towns.

Average costs (in Chinese Yuan)

• Mid range hotel (3–4 star) 140–900
• Budget accommodation from 100
• Meal in a cheap restaurant 15–30
• A three course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant 110–180
• A local beer 4–8
• Imported beer 12–25
• Bottle of water 1–3
• A regular coffee 15–30

Forbidden City in Beijing

Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, is situated in the centre of Beijing and is the best preserved imperial palace in the whole of China. The palace was built in the early 1400’s and has been home to 24 emperors over the years. There are 90 palaces and courtyards and 980 buildings covering an area of around 178 acres and it is a remarkable gold mine of Chinese artefacts, dating back hundreds of years. It is open everyday apart from Mondays from 8:30 am–5:00 pm from April to October when the entrance fee is 60 yuan and 8:30 am–4:30 pm from November to March when the entrance fee is 40 yuan.

Terracotta Army in Xi’an

Discovered by local farmers in 1974 stood the Terracotta Army, built to guard the tomb of the first Emperor of the unified dynasty of Imperial China, Emperor Qui Shi Huang. It took over 40 years to complete and construction finished in 206 BC. In 1976 two more pits were also discovered. The first pit that was found, aptly named Pit 1, is the most impressive and by far the largest. It is said to contain around 6000 terracotta figures of soldiers and horses, of which 2000 are on display. Pits 2 and 3 also contain terracotta figures, but on a smaller scale. The elaborate Exhibition of Bronze Chariots, found in 1890 and beautifully restored, are also on display here. You can take a bus or taxi to the entrance of the Terracotta Army that takes around 45–60 minutes to reach from central Xi’an. Tours can also be arranged. It is open between 8:30 am–5:30 pm (5:00 pm off-peak) everyday and entrance fee is 150 yuan March to November and 120 yuan December to February.

Great Wall of China

The longest wall in the world is an impressive and awe-inspiring sight. Its winding path stretches for thousands of miles throughout China over rugged terrain, towering mountains and weaving through wonderful landscapes. Visiting the wall is hugely popular with both Chinese and foreign tourists and the most visited and famous sections are around Beijing’s north and east. There are several sections to visit here, with some having been brilliantly restored, such as Badaling and Mutianyu and others being completely wild, such as Jiankou and Gubeikou. The sections range from a 1½ hour drive to a 3 hour drive from Beijing depending on which section you choose to visit.

The Yellow Mountains (Huangshan)

This scenic area is located in the Anhui Province and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the most stunning mountainous areas in China and is famed for its peculiar shaped pines and rocks. It is a magnificent place to watch the sunrise and sunset with atmospheric seas of cloud only adding to the beauty of the place. The mountain top can be reached by trekking or by one of the 3 cable cars available. Once at the top there are various trekking paths and plenty of viewpoints. There are a handful of hotels located at the top of the mountain and plenty more located at the bottom. At the base of the mountain there are also hotels with natural hot springs that are perfect for relaxing after hiking. The most popular way to get there is to get a train, bus or plane to the city of Huangshan and then take the bus to the mountains which takes an hour. The shortest flight is the one hour flight from Shanghai. Trains, buses and flights are also available from some of the other cities around China.

Giant Pandas in Chengdu

The best places to see the Giant Panda is in their hometown of Chengdu. As pandas prefer cooler weather it is highly recommended to visit the centres early in the morning when the pandas are more active.

The Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Base is just 6 miles (10km) from the city of Chengdu and has open-air enclosures designed to be as close to the pandas natural habitat as possible. It is a successful breeding centre so you can see both baby pandas and adults of varying ages. There is also an on-site panda museum.

Bifengxia Giant Panda Base has a stunning setting with forests and waterfalls and it also has a successful breeding centre so you can see pandas of all ages. It is situated nearer to Ya’an City and is 2 hours from the city of Chengdu.

Dujianguan Panda Base has a focus on sick, injured, senior and disabled pandas, although it also houses healthy pandas, some of which are in quarantine before or after they leave the country. This is a huge site with 40 enclosures and a panda hospital. This centre is located just over 1 hour from Chengdu city.

The panda base at Wolong Giant Panda Reserve was destroyed in a severe earthquake in 2008 and the pandas who lived there were relocated to one of the other panda centres. Shenshuping Panda Base at Wolong Giant Panda Reserve has now been built and the pandas have been able to go back home. This centre is the closest they can get to their natural habitat and as this is also a breeding centre, there are pandas of all ages here. This is the furthest centre from Chendgu city and it takes about 3 hours to get there.

Li River in Guilin

The 51 mile (83 km) long waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo is one of China’s most scenic areas and was listed as one of the world’s ‘Top 10 Watery Wonders’ by National Geographic. A popular way to see the stunning landscape is by a river cruise or motorised bamboo rafting. There are steep cliffs, karst hills, villages, caves and bamboo groves along this beautiful section of river. The river cruise takes 4–5 hours and departs from Zhujiang Wharf, a 30–40 minute drive from Guilin and ends in Yangshuo. The bamboo rafting departs from Yangdi, an hours drive from Guilin and it takes 2 hours to get to Xingping. The bamboo raft trip includes all of the most renowned sections of the river and it is a further 45–60 minutes drive to Yangshuo.

Beijing

The capital of China has a fascinating mix of modern and ancient buildings and is incredibly rich in history and attractions. Some of the most popular things to do are the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Ming Tombs and heading out of the city to see the Great Wall of China. As you would expect there are also numerous shopping malls and streets around this densely populated city. You can also enjoy a range of varied nightlife options, such as bars, nightclubs, Beijing Opera, martial art and acrobatic shows and performances in tea houses. Getting around Beijing is convenient by the extensive subway system, taxi or bus.

Shanghai

The largest and most developed city in China has an iconic, ever-growing skyline of skyscrapers, ancient wonders and a blend of east and west cultures. The Bund is a famous waterfront area on the west bank of the Huangpu River that showcases a mile stretch of buildings of different varieties of architecture. It has been referred to as a ‘museum of buildings’ and features 52 Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Art Deco, Neo-Classical and Renaissance style buildings. Other attractions include the observatories at The Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai Tower, Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town and Shanghai Disneyland Park. It is easy to navigate the city by metro, bus, taxi or ferry and to get from Pudong Airport to the city you could take the world’s fastest train, the Maglev train.

Xi’an

This ancient city has over 3000 years of history and is most famed for the world-renowned Terracotta Warriors. Although this is an absolute must-see, the city also has other attractions to offer. The ancient city wall is the most complete city wall still around in China. It was originally built by the Tang Dynasty, but then enlarged by the Ming Dynasty in the 14th Century, it is 12 metres tall, 12-14 metres wide at the top and surround by a deep moat. You can cycle or walk around the top of the wall. There are also numerous other historical sites in Xi’an, including the Bell Tower, Drum Tower and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, as well as the Muslim Quarter and Shaanxi History Museum.

Chengdu

This large, but more relaxed city than Beijing or Shanghai, is best known for the being the gateway to seeing the amazing Giant Pandas. Although going to see the pandas at one of the bases around Chengdu is an absolute must, the city itself also has plenty to do, spicy Sichean Cuisine to enjoy and a lively nightlife. Other attractions are the ancient Wuhou Temple, Jinli Street, Wide and Narrow Alleys, Thatched Cottage of Du Fu, Whenshu Monastery and Jinsha Site Museum.

Guilin

A beautiful, scenic area in Southern China, with a striking landscape of karst hills and the winding Li River. There are ancient towns, Elephant Trunk Hill, Reed Flute Cave, Longsheng’s Rice Terraces, Seven Star Park and Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic spot. You can also cruise along the Li River, hike around this beautiful area, cycle rural Yangshuo and watch a river night show.

• The total length of all of the sections of the Great Wall of China is 13,170 miles (21,196 km). This official length was only announced in 2012 after a 5 year survey. The Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty is the most visited and photographed section of the wall and this is 5,500 miles (8,851 km) long.
• The Forbidden Palace in Beijing contains nearly 10,000 rooms.
• Despite its huge size, China only has one official time zone.
• Facebook has been banned in China since 2009.
• Paper money was invented in China.
• Each solider in the Terracotta Army has distinct facial features.
• All the pandas in the world are owned by China so if you see a panda anywhere else in the world it is on loan from China.