|
|
|
 |
 |
Overview | China isn't a country - it's a different world. Unless you have a couple of years and unlimited patience, it's best to follow a loose itinerary here, such as following the Silk Road, sailing down the Yangzi River, or exploring the Dr Seuss landscape of Guangxi Province. | When To Go | Spring March-April and autumn September-October are the best times to visit China, though the higher altitude areas of Tibet, Qinghai and Western Sichuan are best visited in high summer June-September. Daytime temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C 68°F-86°F in these seasons - but bear in mind that nights can still be bitterly cold and it can sometimes be wet and miserable. Major public holidays, in particular Chinese New Year, are best avoided as it's difficult to get around andor find accommodation. | Visas | Visas are required by most foreigners entering mainland China although, at this stage, visas are not required by Western nationals visiting Hong Kong and Macau. Visas are available from Chinese embassies and consulates in most countries. | Weather | The climate for this Asian behemoth is understandably varied and ranges from bitterly cold to unbearably hot, and a whole lot in between. Your average winter day in the north might reach -8°C 17°F if you're lucky and yet sit in the low thirties high eighties in summer around July. The central Yangzi River valley area also experiences extreme seasonal temperatures. In the far south, the hot and humid summer lasts from April to September and, as in north China, coincides with the wettest weather. Typhoons can hit the southeast coast between July and September. The northwest experiences dry, hot summers, with China's nominated hottest place - Turpan - receiving maximums of around 47°C 117°F. Winters here are as formidably cold as in the rest of northern China. | Getting There | Despite over 115 ports of entry and exit, most visitors to China travel via Hong Kong, Shanghai or Beijing. The national carrier is Air China, which also operates a company called Dragonair as a joint venture with the Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific bookable through Cathay Pacific worldwide. If you are leaving China by air, there's a departure tax of 90.00, payable only in local currency, so be sure you have enough yuan to avoid a last-minute scramble at the airport moneychanging booth. However, there are plans to include this in the price of the air ticket so check before you fly. |
|
 |
|
 |  | Essential China | Your odyssey begins amidst the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong. Travelling into mainland China, you discover Guilin’s peaceful countryside – a landscape of dramatic limestone sugarloaf peaks. Further north in Sichuan you’ll encounter giant pandas at a conservation centre before walking the pilgrim trail on Mt. Emei, one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism 3099m. |
| | Please Click Here for more information on Essential China | |
|  | | | | Land of the Dragon Family Holiday | In Beijing, capital of China, you can explore the crowded streets and marvel at the Forbidden City, before driving north to wander along the snake-like Great Wall of China and hear stories of horsemen invading from the north. In Song Shan you will be amazed at the strength and agility of the Shaolin monks, before continuing your trip to the thousands of statues of the Longmen Caves. |
| | Please Click Here for more information on Land of the Dragon Family Holiday | |
| | | | | Monks and Warriors | Beijing has been the heart of imperial China for centuries, and on your visit to the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven you’ll see the city in all its glory. Heading north, you’ll walk a little visited section of the Great Wall – a superb piece of engineering, almost 2000 years old and offering stunning views across the countryside. |
| | Please Click Here for more information on Monks and Warriors | |
| | | | | The Silk Road | Traders have followed the Silk Road for centuries and now you can do the same! Starting in Beijing in the east, you’ll walk a section of the famous Great Wall before coming face-to-face with the mighty Terracotta Warriors. An overnight train takes you deeper into China. From the mighty Jiayuguang Fortress, you head into the desert to Dunhuang to explore dunes at sunrise and caves. Then take a tranquil boat ride on Heaven’s Lake and spend a day wandering the amazing local markets at Kashgar. |
| | Please Click Here for more information on The Silk Road | |
| | | | | Walk The Great Wall | From Beijing you head straight out west into the untamed Chinese countryside and up on to the famous Great Wall, which snakes like a dragon through the hills of northern China from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert. We’ve carefully selected remote areas of the wall to walk on, in different provinces. Exploring on foot and even enjoying a night in a farmer’s house - this is a brilliant way to discover China’s history and culture. |
| | Please Click Here for more information on Walk The Great Wall | |
| | |
|
|
|
