A travel destination with rich cultural heritage and transformed modern cities
Modern China is a land of paradox, and it’s becoming increasingly so in this era of unprecedented socioeconomic change.
Travel to China these days and it’s quite jarring to walk around parts of old Beijing. Although old grannies can still be seen pushing cabbages in rickety wooden carts amidst huddles of men playing chess, it’s not uncommon to see them all suddenly scurry to the side to make way for a brand-new BMW luxury sedan squeezing through the narrow hutong (a traditional Beijing alleyway).
Relentless change, seen so clearly in projects like the Yangtze River dam, has been an elemental part of China’s modern character. Violent revolutions in the 20th century, burgeoning population growth (China is now the world’s most populous country by far) and economic prosperity (brought about by a recent openness to the outside world) have almost made that change inevitable. China’s cities are being transformed—Travel to Beijing and Shanghai and one finds they are probably the most dynamic cities in the world right now.
China has always been one of the most attractive travel destinations in the world, partly because so much history exists alongside the new, partly because it is still so unknown to outsiders. The country and its people remain a mystery. The rice paddies may have sprouted cities and manufacturing centres, and the streets may be clogged with cars and pollution, but the people remain rooted in a rich cultural heritage.
Concierge Traveller has a range of China Travel itineraries, from a few days stopover in Beijing or Shanghai to a trip up the Yangtze River.
UNSECO World Heritage sites in China
Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing and Shenyang
Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor
Mogao Caves
Mount Taishan
Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian
The Great Wall
Mount Huangshan
Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area
Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area
Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area
Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains
Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa7
Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde
Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu
Lushan National Park
Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area
Ancient City of Ping Yao
Classical Gardens of Suzhou
Old Town of Lijiang
Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing
Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing
Dazu Rock Carvings
Mount Wuyi
Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun
Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
Longmen Grottoes
Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Yungang Grottoes
Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas
Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom
Historic Centre of Macao
Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains
Yin Xu
Kaiping Diaolou and Villages
South China Karst
Fujian Tulou
Mount Sanqingshan National Park
Mount Wutai
China Danxia
Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth”
West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou