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Introducing China
Eagerly assuming its place among the world’s top travel destinations, even more so since Beijing took centre stage at the 2008 Olympics, China is an epic adventure. From the wide open and empty panoramas of Tibet to the push and shove of Shànghǎi, from the volcanic dishes of Sìchuān to beer by the bag in seaside Qīngdǎo, a journey through this colossus of a country is a mesmerising encounter with the most populous and perhaps most culturally idiosyncratic nation on earth.
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The sheer diversity of China’s terrain takes you from noisy cities fizzing with energy to isolated mountain-top Ming-Dynasty villages where you can hear a pin drop. Pǔdōng’s ambitious skyline is a triumphant statement, but it couldn’t be further from the worldly renunciation acted out in Tibet’s distant monasteries.
Curator of the world’s oldest continuous civilisation, China will have you bumping into history at every turn. But it’s not just a museum of imperial relics: the frisson of development that has left China’s coastline glittering with some of the world’s most up-to-the-minute cities propels the land on with a forward-thinking dynamism.
And it’s the people – unavoidable in their immense numbers – who provide the ceaseless drama and entertainment. Loud, garrulous and quick thinking, you’ll see the Chinese squeezing onto dangerous-looking buses, walking in pyjamas around Shànghǎi or inviting each other to sit down to some of the most varied cuisine in the world. Animated by a palpable sense of pride, the Chinese are revelling in their country’s ascendency. Everyone is talking about China, so why not find out what all the fuss is about?
Make it happen
Ready to go? These recommended tours make it easy:
- take a 10 day tour through China
- or an extraordinary journey following the ancient Silk Road from China
- find things to do in Beijing
- trek the Great Wall
Want more? Choose from a wide selection of similar trips in China
Travel Alert: The security situation in Xīnjiāng is now under control but the potential for further violence remains; travellers are advised to exercise caution. Check the Thorn Tree for advice from other travellers. For information on the Lonely Planet guidebook/border crossing issue, see the Getting there & away page.
Last updated: Oct 22, 2009
Tips & articles
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In search of the Dulong
10 November 2009
Kong Dang is at the end of a 96km butt-clenching ride from Gongshan and is the gateway town to the Dulong...
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Taking the stage in Shaxi
9 November 2009
Once an important stop on the old tea-trading route, quiet Shaxi has been carefully preserved, and its...
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Lonely Planet:Roads Less Travelled China itinerary
6 November 2009
From Yunnan’s capital city, Kunming, it’s a 600km bus ride west to Liuku, the main town in...
China
Our Top Picks For China
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1 Around Xī’ān
Ancient capital and eternal home of the Army of Terracotta Warriors
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2 Qīngdǎo
Explore the old German district and quaff Tsingtao beer by the bag
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3 Silk Road
Follow in the footsteps of Central Asian traders along the southern Silk Road
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4 Lhasa
Ride the world's highest train to the Rooftop of the World
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5 Lìjiāng
Yúnnán's must-see traveller mecca
Fast Facts about China
- Population 1.3 billion
- Life expectancy male/female 70.4/73.7 years
- GDP growth 9.6%
- GDP per capita US$6800
- Adult literacy 86%
- Internet users 135 million
- Major exports textiles, clothing, footwear, toys and machinery
- Religions Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity
- Number of chinese characters over 56, 000
Related Groups
Our favourite China Blogs (beta)
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Slideshow: Lushan
Blog: To China... and Beyond! - 13 November 2009
Ever heard of Lushan? Unless you’re Chinese, probably not. Although the mountains are popular destination for Chinese tourists, they are hardly on the radar for foreign travelers. But on a sunny autumn weekend in late October, I found myself on a bus bound for “Mt. Lu.” One of my fellow teachers is attempting to visit [...]
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Tunxi - Old Street
Blog: Travel Jounral - 13 November 2009
Old Street in TunxiOriginally uploaded by S. Zachko This is a very interesting street in Tunxi - Old Street. This street could dates all the way back in Ching dynasty or older.
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Manigango-Dege-Baiyu-Ganzi-Kangding
Blog: Yoyo's travel blog - 12 November 2009
Manigango is two streets, that’s all. spending the night we caught a morning minivan for Dege. generally the drivers ask 50RMB, we said the bus was for 40, so we went for 40, normal leaving time is around 10:00AM. the ride to Dege is beautiful, and very different the the other rides we had. previous [...]
