CHINA
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China Forever!

 

 

Being one of the biggest countries in the world, The People’s Republic of China, has an immense variety to offer to travellers. There is a wide range of terrain to be found, with several mountain ranges, high plateaus and the Takla-Makan and Gobi deserts in central and western China, plains, deltas, and hills in the east, vast grasslands in the north, and of course the Himalayas, with Earth’s highest point, Mount Everest, while the south boasts subtropical forest valleys.

 

The Pearl River Delta region around Guangzhou and Hong Kong and the Yangtze delta around Shanghai are major economic powerhouses, as is the North China plain around Beijing and the Yellow River.

 

China’s is one of the 17 most biodiverse countries in the world. The country supports an astounding 146,000 species of flora, while unique species like the famous Giant Panda and the Leopard Cat are only two examples of the extraordinary wildlife to be found here.

 

With nearly more than 5,000 years of recorded history, China is one of the world’s oldest civilizations. For centuries the country stood one of the most advanced societies, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences. Paper, gunpowder, the compass and printing, for example, are Chinese inventions. Chinese developments in astronomy, engineering, medicine, mathematics and other fields were extensive. Chinese philosophers, writers and poets were highly respected and played key roles in preserving and promoting the culture of the empire.

 

Since the Cultural Revolution ended, various forms of traditional Chinese art, literature, music, film, fashion and architecture have seen a vigorous revival, and folk and variety art in particular have gained a new found respectability and sparked interest nationally and worldwide.

 

The cultural landscape is unsurprisingly very diverse given the sheer size of the country. China has 56 officially recognized ethnic groups, each with their own languages and with drastic regional variations in cultural expression and customs. It’s no surprise that ‘Chinese’ cuisine is as diverse as its people. Every region has its own particular dishes and cooking styles. The country is a true feast for the gourmand visitor.

What To See & Do
  • Jiuzhaigou National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Wuzhen, the Venice of the East
  • Wudang Mountains, the birthplace of many Chinese martial art styles
  • Rice terrace fields in Yunnan
  • Mogao Caves
  • Shaolin Temple, birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism
  • Giant Panda Sanctuary
  • Helicopter flight through Wulingyuan’s thousands of giant sandstone pillars
  • Old city of Lijian
  • Forbidden City in Beijing
  • Sample Sichuan cuisine
  • Chinese opera
  • Antique furniture shopping

 

When To Go

Due to its extensive and complex topography, China’s climate is extremely diverse with sharp regional variations in temperature and precipitation. Its climatic regions range from subtropical in the south to subarctic in the north and desert to the west.

 

North China has four distinct seasons with hot summers and cold winters. Southern China tends to be milder and wetter. The farther north and west, the scantier and more uncertain rainfall becomes. Winters tend to be drier than summers. Dust storms have become usual in spring.Temperature differences in winter are great, while in summer the diversity is much less.South of the Qinling mountains, China experiences abundant rainfall, most of it coming with the summer monsoons. To the north and west of the range, rainfall is uncertain. The northwest has the lowest annual rainfall in the country and no precipitation at all in its desert areas.The northern zone, including Beijing, has summer daytime temperatures of more than 30 °C, and winters with Arctic conditions. The central zone, including Shanghai, has a temperate continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. The southern zone, including Guangzhou, has a subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters.As such, the weather and the best time to visit depend highly on one’s destination within China. Please ask for our advice.

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