China

About China

China is a country on a continental scale, and a first visit usually means choosing a handful of highlights rather than trying to see everything. Most UK travellers arrive on an overnight long-haul flight into Beijing or Shanghai and then link the big sights by high-speed train or domestic flight, often as part of a tour that takes care of guides, transfers and tickets.

Beijing is the natural starting point. The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace reveal centuries of imperial history, while restored sections of the Great Wall wind across the hills within reach of the capital. To the south-west, Xi'an is home to the extraordinary Terracotta Army and a lively old Muslim Quarter famous for its street food. Shanghai offers a striking contrast, with colonial-era buildings along the Bund facing the glittering towers of Pudong across the river.

Beyond the cities, the landscapes are just as memorable. Around Guilin and Yangshuo, limestone peaks rise from rice paddies and the Li River, a scene best enjoyed by boat or bicycle. A Yangtze cruise passes through the steep-sided Three Gorges, and Chengdu, in Sichuan, combines giant panda conservation centres with some of the country's boldest, most fiery cooking. Further south-west, Yunnan rewards slower travellers with old towns, terraced hillsides and the foothills of the Himalaya.

Food is one of the great pleasures of any trip, from Peking duck and hand-pulled noodles to dumplings and dim sum, and every region has its own distinct style. Holidays range from classic escorted tours of the 'golden triangle' of Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai to tailor-made itineraries adding rivers, mountains and rural villages. Spring and autumn are generally the most comfortable times for sightseeing, and a little Mandarin, or a good translation app, goes a long way outside the major cities.