CHINA

ITINERARIESChina Kaye Holland explores the many ways to discover this vast and varied country

hina has always loomed large in The tropical island of Hainan has also seen the imagination, but for half a a surge in visitors, not only from tourists who century after Mao Zedong led want to return home with a tan, but also from the communists to power, the golf enthusiasts — the ‘Hawaii of the East’ has Middle Kingdom was closed off developed a reputation as a golfing paradise. Cto the world. The Eastern superpower relaxed It’s 18 years since Britain handed Hong Kong its restrictions on tourist visas in the late 1990s, back to China and the former British colony is leading to a travel boom that continues to grow. firmly back on the map. Companies are now The most heavily populated nation on earth giving clients the opportunity to “add on Hong offers a mix of history and heritage, mountain Kong to their classic China tour”, says David lakes, Buddhist cave statues, dreamy karst peaks, Higgins, general manager at China Travel Links. paddy fields and out-of-this-world flavours, all The quest for authenticity is another growing of which combine to make it a mesmerising trend. “Clients increasingly want cultural travel destination. experiences,” says Higgins — be it learning to Most first-time visitors to China tend to make cook Chinese dumplings, spending a night in a beeline for , which, in the aftermath the mountains with Buddhist monks, attending of the 2008 Olympic Games, is known as much a tea ceremony or practising tai chi with locals. for the Bird’s Nest stadium and the Water Cube Little wonder, then, that Ben Briggs, marketing as Tiananmen Square. After a few days in the manager at Wendy Wu Tours, reports “a huge Imperial City, first-timers push on to , an rise in requests for tailor-made holidays and old walled town that matches the China bespoke touring”. of your imagination. From here they’ll typically Yet while it’s easier than ever to experience head to Xi’an to view the Army before China, travelling around this colossal country finishing up in Shanghai. isn’t without its challenges. Car hire has yet Certainly the ‘Paris of the East’ serves as a to catch on and trains, although an affordable fitting epilogue to any China experience: with its and adventurous way to navigate China, can be funky deco architecture and fashionable shops crowded. Buses reach the places trains cannot and restaurants, Shanghai is where the country’s get to, but rural roads remain in poor condition future lies. Other popular tours include Yangtze and breakdowns are common. Added to this river cruises and the tour, an epic are the frustrations of travelling in a foreign journey following in the footsteps of Marco Polo. country where few speak English, making flying Yet while these classic itineraries are “as the most convenient form of internal travel. popular as ever”, according to Michelle Wong, Booking a hotel in off-the-beaten-track Asia sales specialist at Insider Journeys, the rest destinations can also be a hassle: again English of the country is opening up. This is particularly skills are often lacking and the Chinese-run true of the south-west region, says Chris Stanley, ‘five-star’ hotels to which foreigners are invariably founder of The China Travel Company, “because directed don’t match Western standards. But Gateway to Shikumen homes in the it offers a wide variety of cultures and cuisines despite the frustrations, potential visitors should

French Concession, Shanghai IMAGE: AWL IMAGES unmatched elsewhere in China”. not be put off this fascinating country.

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THE BEST OF BEIJING & THE GREAT WALL

China’s capital is rich in history — from the magnificent to the Tiananmen Square and the , traditionally a place of worship for emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. This is also the gateway to the , one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a definite must-see. Once you’ve got the longest wall in the world out of the way, rewarding day trips on offer include Beijing’s port city OPERATOR VIEW neighbour, Tianjin; Chengde, for its “Beijing and the surrounding area unrivalled collection of is a perennial favourite and rightly Buddhist temples; and so as it ticks off the lion’s share the ancient village of of China’s cultural icons in one Chuandixia. easy hit,” says Ian Tuton, executive Highlight: Beijing’s star manager at CTS Horizons. “It’s also attractions garner the a great itinerary for anyone who headlines, but visitors wants to take advantage of the should make time to go 72-hour visa arrangement.” beyond the guide- book: get lost in the labyrinthian hutongs (alleyways), spend an From top: Tourists at the afternoon haggling for antiques at Panjiayuan entrance to the Temple of Market, and feast on Beijing’s signature dish, the Heaven; monks practising famous Peking duck. kung fu at Shaolin Temple

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Starting in Xi’an, former capital of the Tang dynasty, spend a couple of days exploring the city’s atmospheric Muslim quarter, beautiful pagodas and temples before visiting its top tourist draw, the Terracotta Warriors. Take a look at the Buddhist cave site of Longman in Luoyang, then seek out the Shaolin Temple, famed for its monks’ expertise at kung fu. Time-warped Pingyao is up next, before the mountains of Wutai Shan beckon. Unwind in Qingdao, known for its beaches and its Tsingtao beer. Highlight: The premier sight — and one of the world’s most OPERATOR VIEW famous archaeological finds — is the Terracotta Warriors. The “This is a very popular tour,” says lifelike army (no two warriors Wendy Wu’s Ben Briggs. “It takes have the same features) was built in some of ancient China’s most more than 2,000 years ago to iconic sights, but is a bit different serve Emperor in in that it builds in a break from the afterlife, but it wasn’t until cities and sightseeing.” 1974 the army was discovered by unsuspecting villagers digging

IMAGES: IMAGES; AWL GETTY a well.

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THE SIGHTS OF SICHUAN

The Sichuan city of Chengdu is home to China’s most famous face, the panda bear, and these cuddly looking animals are undoubtedly the big draw. But pandas aside, check out Chairman Mao statue in Tianfu Square and indulge in Sichuan’s OPERATOR VIEW hot and spicy cuisine. Close by in Leshan is the Giant Buddha statue. “Chengdu is one of China’s rising destinations,” The world’s tallest Buddha began to be carved into says Ian Tuton, executive manager at CTS the mountain in AD713, but wasn’t completed Horizons. “Home to the giant pandas, it’s a great until 90 years later. And don’t miss the famous place to sample authentic spicy Sichuan cuisine, Buddhist mountain of Emei Shan. Still in Sichuan journey to the stunning Valley and province, journey south to Jiuzhaigou Nature see some important religious landmarks.” Reserve, famed for its bright blue lakes. Highlight: Meeting the black and white celebrities at Chengdu’s Giant Panda Breeding Research Base.

Hong Kong is more than just a gateway to China, OPERATOR VIEW HONG KONG it’s a fascinating fusion of east and west. Explore & THE SOUTH the Central district, take the tram up to Victoria “Hong Kong provides a gentle Peak, cross Victoria Harbour on the iconic Star introduction to China,” comments Ferry and dine out on delicious dim sum before China Travel Link’s David Higgins. moving on to Macau. The former Portuguese “The vibe is Chinese, but signs are colony is Asia’s answer to Las Vegas and the only in both Chinese and English. Kid- legal place to gamble in China, but the real appeal friendly attractions such as Hong lies in the historic centre, a cathedral to both Kong Disneyland help make it a Chinese and Portuguese architecture. Meanwhile, fantastic family destination, too.” for a holiday rather than a history lesson, head to Hainan to soak up the sun on one of Sanya’s beautiful beaches. Highlight: Crossing Victoria Harbour on the Star Ferry for spectacular skyline views.

Shanghai is China’s most modern city, so don’t OPERATOR VIEW SHANGHAI KICKS expect to see any Buddhist monks lining the streets. What you will find, however, are the “Travellers get to experience country’s best bars, clubs, hotels and shopping cosmopolitan Shanghai, with its malls. Shanghai is not all about modernity, superb shopping opportunities, though — The Bund (a symbol of Shanghai’s and see some of China’s most colonial past) and the graceful French Concession beautiful countryside,” says Insider serve as the perfect antidote to all those gleaming Journey’s Michelle Wong. “China skyscrapers. Within easy day-trip distance are can be an exhausting destination, Suzhou, celebrated for its classical Chinese which is why any tour that gardens, and postcard perfect Hangzhou. includes a river cruise will do well. Stop off in Nanjing en route to Wuyan, the It feels more like a holiday.” gateway to the Yangtze River and the magnificent Three Gorges. Highlight: Shanghai, China’s largest city, is evolving at breakneck pace. Imposing skyscrapers sit alongside historical sites, showing what happens when the Western world collides with the Orient.

From top: Giant panda at Chengdu Panda Base; morning

IMAGES: IMAGES; AWL GETTY calm on , Hangzhou

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THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH

For fans of the great outdoors, south-west China of the region’s most colourful ethnic minorities. OPERATOR VIEW is the place to visit. Guilin is the starting point Continue to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan for the popular Li River trip to Yangshuo, with province, which is geographically and culturally “The south-west region is a its stunning limestone peaks. Spend some time close to Tibet. The towns of Dali and dream destination for travellers, exploring the Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces, reward a visit en route to , encompassing everything from one of China’s most photographed landscapes, China’s greatest trek. alpine mountains to tropical before travelling to Sanjiang. The capital of the Highlight: Yangshuo’s dramatic karst landscape. rainforests and lush rice fields. The Dong community offers the chance to meet one See it from a bamboo raft or hop on a bike. people are equally varied: more than half of the country’s ethnic minority groups reside here, making it China’s most diverse province,” says Chris Stanley, of The China Travel Company.

Longsheng rice terraces, Guangxi

SAMPLES

China Essential China Panorama Hainan and Hong Kong Yunnan Explorer Visit Beijing’s UNESCO World Witness unfathomable human This package combines the The main highlights of this Heritage Sites before flying creations such as the Terracotta beautiful unspoilt tropical fascinating province, a favourite to the ancient capital Xi’an Warriors and the Great Wall beaches of Sanya on Hainan among China travellers, are to marvel at the Terracotta and breathtaking rural scenery Island with the must-see sights covered in a time-efficient Warriors. Next discover in Guilin and Yangshuo. Spend of cosmopolitan Hong Kong 10 days, starting and finishing Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers, a morning at the captivating — including Victoria Peak, in Kunming. Visit the relaxed colonial style architecture, Giant Panda Breeding Research Stanley Market and Aberdeen lakeside town of Dali, the trendy bars and gourmet cuisine, Base and visit an intriguing hill fishing village — and really does ancient town of Lijiang, and and the garden city of Suzhou. tribe area. Package includes provide the best of both worlds. Zhongdian, perched high on the Package includes domestic accommodation and meals, Package includes domestic edge of the Tibetan plateau. transport, hotels, meals and internal flights, entrance fees and transport and accommodation, Package does not include English-speaking guides. From English-speaking guides. From and some meals. From £1,249. international flights. From £1,345. £1,198. chinalinkstravel.co.uk £2,460. insiderjourneys.co.uk wendywutours.co.uk thechinatravelcompany.co.uk IMAGE: AWL IMAGES

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