Chengde – Take a hike and a boat ride through the parkland of the imperial Mountain Resort.
Xi'an – Stare in awe at Qin Shi Huang's Terracotta Warriors. Cycle along the top of Xian's imposing ancient city walls.
The Three Gorges – Relish a boat trip up the spectacular Lesser Three Gorges or Shennong Stream
Shanghai – Witness the mindboggling contortions and agility of the Shanghai acrobats. Enjoy an evening stroll along the colonial Bund, with the bright lights of China's future shining from across the river in Pudong.
Suzhou – Visit one of the city's exquisitely styled traditional gardens.
Hangzhou – Take a bike trip out to the famous tea-growing village of Longjing. Enjoy a boat ride across the enduringly beautiful West Lake.
Huangshan – Ascend the majestic and mystical Yellow Mountains for scenery fresh from a scroll painting.
Guilin & Around – Enjoy a cruise along the Li River, which winds its way through the fairytale wonderland of Guangxi's mystical tower karst mountain scenery. Take an exhilarating bike ride between the forest of pinnacles to one of the region's bustling, colorful and sometimes disarming produce markets. Hike up to the breathtaking Dragon's Backbone rice terraces above Ping'an village.
Guangzhou – Tuck into the finest Cantonese dim sum in the world, in Canton. Enjoy the quiet life on the sleepy former colonial enclave of Shamian Island.
Hong Kong – Shop 'til you drop. Take the Star ferry across the harbor seemingly adrift amidst a sea of skyscrapers. Enjoy a day-trip to the beaches, hiking trails and fish restaurants of Lamma Island, only 30 minutes by boat from the bustling metropolis.
Macau – Forget you're in China for a while with an amble around the peninsula's stunning colonial Portuguese architecture. Pay your respects to the Goddess of the Sea at the A-Ma Temple.
Anywhere – Practice tai chi at sunrise in the park with hundreds of others. Soak up a traditional Chinese massage to soothe those aching traveler's limbs.
Suggested Itineraries
The following itineraries can all be completed in seven to 10 days; if you have more time you can combine any of them to make a longer trip.
The Imperial North
Arrive in Beijing and spend a few days soaking up the Imperial sights – the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palaces and the Great Wall. Spend your evenings enjoying Beijing duck, opera and maybe a trip to the acrobats. If you have time, take a train up to Chengde and spend a couple of days enjoying the imperial retreat before returning to the capital and flying on to Xi'an. Allow a full day at the Terracotta Warriors and another day to explore the fascinating walled city. Make sure you enjoy a Dumpling Banquet, as well as dinner in the Muslim markets. Reflect on your trip in the overnight train back to Beijing.
Cruise the Three Gorges
Fly into one of the international hub airports (Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong or Shanghai) and then on to Chongqing. Spend a day in this mountainous city before boarding your boat for the spectacular three-day trip to Yichang (or Wuhan). Stop off at the Ghost City of Fengdu and take a stunning side-trip up the Lesser Three Gorges or Shennong Stream along the way. Disembark and fly on to your choice of the international hubs, where you can spend time enjoying the city and surrounding attractions before flying home. Remember that, if you choose the same hub to fly into and out of, this should reduce your ticket price.
Shanghai, Silk & Tea
Fly to Shanghai and spend a few days in the vibrant heart of modern China. Promenade the Bund, shop on Nanjing Lu, visit Shanghai Museum, take a boat trip along the Huangpu and enjoy a drink at the top of the Jinmao Tower overlooking it all. In the evenings, see the famed acrobats, try some Shangainese cuisine and experience some of the best nightlife in China. Take a bus or a train to Suzhou for a day or two of silk shopping, strolling the narrow streets and canals and admiring the splendor of the city's famous traditional gardens, maybe taking a day-trip to one of the smaller water towns nearby. From Suzhou take an overnight boat journey along the Grand Canal (or a train) to Hangzhou for a couple of relaxing days exploring West Lake and the tea-growing hills that surround the city. Take the bus to Huangshan and ascend its stunning peaks, capped by lone pines and temples. If you have any extra time, you could visit the beautiful villages around Shexian and Yixian before returning to Shanghai for your flight home.
Shanghai skyline
Big City Lights & Rural Delights
Fly into Hong Kong and spend a few days discovering its diverse attractions – from shopping in bustling Kowloon to hiking along one of the islands' well-marked lush trails. Eat dim sum downtown and head up Victoria Peak for an after-dinner drink to remember. Take a boat or a train to Guangzhou and sample yet more Cantonese delights, along with some fine colonial architecture, maybe stopping off in modern Shenzhen for a peek at the new China. From Guangzhou, take a bus, train or flight to Guilin and spend a day visiting its mountainous and man-made attractions. The following morning take a boat along the Li River to Yangshuo, where you can spend the next few days hiking and cycling through the famed idyllic limestone scenery. Head back to Guilin for the return flight to Hong Kong. Take the ferry over to Macau and enjoy a day or two soaking up the splendid architecture, fine cuisine, small fishing villages, temples and beaches.
The Star Ferry in Hong Kong Harbor
Xi'an
Xi'an (Western Peace), population three million, has served as China's capital many times and at its peak it was described as the most prosperous city on the planet. These days, although the city is polluted, hot as an oven in summer and cold as a freezer in winter, it manages to remain one of China's most attractive and charismatic destinations, gracefully blending its historic architecture with newer developments. Although there's plenty to see within the city and the surrounding region, the main reason visitors flock to Xi'an is to stare out over the unforgettable Terracotta Warriors which were discovered in 1974 in the district of Lintong, 20 miles outside of the city.