China is as large as it is diverse, and a trip to this East Asian country is sure to be full of surprises. Immerse yourself in the hustling bustle of sprawling modern cities, the leisurely pace of picturesque rural landscapes, and the rich history of this ancient civilisation.
Begin your tour with China’s most iconic sites: the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square in Beijing; the Bund and Shanghai Museum in Shanghai; and the sea of terracotta warriors at Qin Shi Huang’s tomb in Xi’an. If possible, walk a section of one of the world’s great wonders, the Great Wall of China, stretching for 13,000 miles through mountains.
Natural wonders and incredible cultural experiences are also among China’s treasures. Guilin and Yangshuo have beautiful countryside and ethereal karst mountains. Similarly, the tall sandstone pinnacles of Zhangjiajie National Forest, made famous by the film Avatar, are breathtaking to see. Lijiang and Dali in Yunnan province offer heritage sites and cultural insights into some of China’s ethnic minorities. Take a luxury Yangtze River cruise between Chongqing and Yichang, passing through gorges, pagodas, and the magnificent Three Gorges Dam. You can meet cuddly but endangered giant pandas in Chengdu’s natural bamboo forest habitat. Chengdu is also a UNESCO gastronomic city and the birthplace of the ever-popular Szechuan cuisine.
Food is unquestionably at the heart of any trip to China, with at least eight distinct regional cuisines. Everything is very different from Chinese food in your home country, and Yunnan cuisine is dominated by grilled street food, whereas Jiangsu cuisine is dominated by seafood. Lighter flavours can be found in Shandong and Zhejiang cuisine, while bold, spicy flavours can be found in Hunan and Szechuan specialities. Every city has an endless supply of must-try dishes, including Beijing’s famous roasted Peking duck, Shanghai’s hairy crab, various hotpots, steamed buns, century eggs, moon cakes, smoky roasted meats, and a thousand different noodle dishes and dumplings. The ubiquitous Chinese tea was always washed down.
This vast and one-of-a-kind land is brimming with treasures. China’s heritage and culture range from Hangzhou to Pingyao. Visit the ubiquitous street markets, boutiques, or upmarket malls when you need a break. End your China holiday with a white-sand beach escape in Sanya, a charming water town like Tongli, or a hill resort-like Moganshan.
As breathtaking as it is, China is not an easy country to navigate. A private, tailor-made tour is the ideal way to discover its UNESCO World Heritage sites, as well as its artificial and natural wonders. Take heart: with a Vibes Group UK consultant by your side, every logistical detail will be taken care of, and you’ll have a journey as smooth as Chinese silk.
