Beijing
Imperial capital with the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall within reach and the modernity of renovated hutongs.
Highlights : Forbidden City, Great Wall of China — Mutianyu, Temple of Heaven, Tienanmen Square.
Check the weather city by city, starting with Beijing.
China is a world unto itself: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the karst landscapes of Guilin, the Terracotta Army of Xi'an, and the frenzy of Shanghai. Five thousand years of civilisation to explore in a country of striking contrasts.
Imperial capital with the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall within reach and the modernity of renovated hutongs.
Highlights : Forbidden City, Great Wall of China — Mutianyu, Temple of Heaven, Tienanmen Square.
A cosmopolitan metropolis with the colonial Bund facing futuristic Pudong, the alleys of the old French Concession, and a world-class dining scene.
Highlights : The Bund, Pudong — Shanghai Tower, Old town (Yu Garden), French Concession.
Former capital of imperial China, starting point of the Silk Road. The Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world.
Highlights : Terracotta Army, Xi'an City Wall, Muslim Quarter — Great Mosque, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.
Legendary karst landscapes, with needle-like peaks reflected in the Li River, immortalised on the 20-yuan banknote.
Highlights : Li River cruise, Longsheng rice terraces, Yangshuo — karst village, Elephant Trunk Hill.
Sandstone pillars floating in the clouds, the model for the "Hallelujah Mountains" in Avatar. One of the most spectacular landscapes in China.
Highlights : Avatar sandstone pillars, Zhangjiajie glass bridge, Tianmen Mountain cable car.
On the edge of the Gobi Desert, Dunhuang was a major crossroads of the Silk Road. Its Mogao Caves hold a thousand-year-old treasure of Buddhist art, while singing sand dunes surround the oasis. Ancient fortresses and passes dot this western frontier of China.
Highlights : Mogao Caves, Mingsha singing sand dunes, Yumen Pass, Jiayuguan — western end of the Great Wall, Flaming Mountains.
Chengdu is the laid-back capital of Sichuan, famous for its giant pandas and its spicy cuisine, among the most renowned in China. The city is a gateway to Sichuan's snowy peaks and the wild valleys of the Tibetan plateau. Between Buddhist temples, teahouse terraces and steaming hotpots, Chengdu embodies the relaxed lifestyle of southwestern China.
Highlights : Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Mount Emei — UNESCO Buddhist pilgrimage site, Dujiangyan, Leshan — UNESCO Giant Buddha, Kuanzhai Xiangzi — historic alleys.
A futuristic city built in forty years from a fishing village, Shenzhen is China's technology showcase. Spectacular skyscrapers, creative districts, giant theme parks and beautiful beaches on the Dapeng coast make it both a modern and seaside destination.
Highlights : Shenzhen Bay — night skyline, Dameisha Beach, Dafen Oil Painting Village, Window of the World, Futian CBD & Ping An Finance Centre.
China is very affordable for travellers. Street food and transport are cheap, but major tourist sites and quality hotels can be a significant expense.