China

'Cultural treasure-house of East Asia' China's cultural riches and 5000 years of tumultuous history place it, without doubt, among the world's greatest travel destinations. The Great Wall, X'ian's Terracotta Army, the Forbidden Palace and Tiananmen Square: the very names reverberate with history and legend. China's paradoxes are many: Shanghai's skyscrapers contrast with Beijing's historical treasures, while in rural provinces, mechanisation has not yet reached many traditional farming villages. Celebrated places and sights abound – this is the land of the Yangxi River, the Silk Route and the bamboo forests of the panda. Spectacular Guilin brings the vistas of rivers and misty peaks in traditional ink paintings to life, while far to the west, the fabled Tibetan city of Lhasa beckons pilgrims to 'the roof of the world'.
With thousands of years in development, Chinese cuisine and drink are indispensable to Chinese culture, presently enjoying world-wide fame and a positive reputation. China is a huge country with endless travel opportunities.