The cultural treasure-house of East Asia and the land of the smile...
Chinas social riches and 5,000 years of tumultuous history place it 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 is slow. Its history is one of turmoil in between periods of stability.
History and politics aside, China is a land of superlatives, encompassing the Yangtze River, the Silk Road, the bamboo forests of the giant panda and misty peaks immortalised in traditional ink paintings. China has 33 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Chinese food ranks among the world's great cuisines. From acrobatics to martial arts, calligraphy to Chinese opera, the vibrant, distinctive culture of this great land is everywhere to be seen. Flexibility and patience are still required to travel around China but, in return, China rewards visitors with memories to treasure for a lifetime...
Local time: GMT/UTC +8 Currency: Renminbi
Climate: 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 if you're lucky and yet sit in the low thirties (high eighties) in summer around July. In the far south, the hot and humid summer lasts from April to September and, as in north China, coincides with the wettest weather. The northwest experiences dry, hot summers, with China's nominated hottest place - Turpan - receiving maximums of around 47°C. Winters here are as formidably cold as in the rest of northern China
Language: Chinese but English is commonly spoken
Best time to visit: 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 in these seasons - but bear in mind that nights can still be bitterly cold and it can sometimes be wet and miserable
Things to do: China is wonderful for outdoor leisure activities like Hiking, Trekking, Horseback riding or Tennis. Chinas beautiful surroundings offer amazing Yoga facilities
Things to know: Typhoons can hit the southeast coast between July and September, Major public holidays, in particular Chinese New Year, are best avoided as it's difficult to get around and find accommodation
Visa Requirements: A visa is required for the PRC, but at the time of writing visas were not required for most Western nationals to visit Hong Kong or Macau
