China’s 5,000 years of civilization collide with a 21st-century powerhouse vibe, making the huge country an immensely captivating place to visit. Its innate sense of culture is evident in much loved proverbs; ‘a book is like a garden carried in the pocket’ reads one that neatly evokes China’s widespread characteristics of natural beauty, creativity and no-nonsense practicality. In Beijing, enjoy the splendours of the Forbidden City and take in cutting-edge art at Dashanzi Art District, then head out to the Great Wall; visit Shanghai for urban pizzazz and eye-popping sky-rise architecture; marvel at the misty beauty of the Guilin limestone landscape; cruise the Yangtze to see ancient wonders and (controversial) engineering innovation; sample spicy Sichuan cuisine in Chengdu, also renowned for its giant pandas.
And that’s just for starters. Wherever you go, daily life also delights – from kite flyers to vibrant markets and time-honoured tai chi sessions in public parks.
Between January and February 2018, Harbin will be holding its annual International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. Harbin delights visitors every year with the largest ice and snow festival in the world, full of beautiful and enchanting ice carvings.
Explore the Mogao Caves with its thousand-year-old Buddhist murals in the manmade grottoes. Travel through the endless sand dunes of the Mingsha Mountains, explore the night market in Dunhuang and be dazzled by stunning Crescent Moon Lake.