China Guide
Things not to miss
1 Mount Everest • The sight of the mountain towering above ensures you won't regret the long journey up to Base Camp.
2 798 Art District • Rub shoulders with China's bohemians at this chic warren of art galleries housed in that most postmodern of venues – an old state-run factory.
3 Meili Xue Shan • A wilderness area that offers great hiking, superlative views and a glimpse of the Tibetan world.
4 The Forbidden City • Once centre of the Chinese imperial universe and off limits to the hoi polloi, the emperor's impressive palace complex in Beijing is now open to all.
5 Tiger Leaping Gorge • One of China's great hikes, along a ridge above a dramatic gorge, with attractive homestays along the way.
6 The Jokhang, Lhasa • Stuffed with gorgeous statuary and perpetually wreathed in juniper smoke and incense, this temple is one of the holiest in Tibet.
7 Mogao Caves • These thousand-year-old man-made caves on the old Silk Road contain China's most impressive Buddhist heritage.
8 Kashgar's Sunday Market • Crowds from all over Central Asia descend to trade livestock, carpets, knives and clothes at this weekly event.
9 Hong Kong's skyline • The drive of generations of the former colony's inhabitants is writ large in this electrifying cityscape.
10 The Bund, Shanghai • An elegant parade of colonial architecture, nestling incongruously at the heart of Shanghai's gaudy modernity.
11 Sisters' Meal festival • Join tens of thousands of locals in Taijiang, Guizhou, as they participate in this annual three-day showcase of ethnic Miao culture.
12 Tai Shan • The taxing ascent of this holy peak in Shandong is rewarded with some immaculate temples and pavilions.
13 Minority villages, Yunnan • The Xishuangbanna region, bordering Laos and Burma, is home to a range of ethnic groups with very different cultures and lifestyles.
14 Jiayuguan fort • A famously lonely outpost overlooking the desert at the western tail of the Great Wall.
15 The Great Wall • Once the division between civilizations, this monumental barrier is still awe-inspiring.
16 Confucius Temple • This lavish complex in Confucius's home town of Qufu shows the esteem in which China's great sage was held.
17 The Yungang Caves, Datong • Giant but detailed Buddhist sculptures were carved into caves and grottoes around 500AD in an amazing demonstration of faith.
18 Changbai Shan Nature Reserve • Well worth a visit – though you'd have to be exceptionally lucky to spot its rare Siberian tigers.
19 The Great Buddha (Dafo), Leshan • You'll feel a mere speck as you gaze up at the world's largest carved Buddha.
20 Yonghe Gong, Beijing • This charismatic Tibetan temple is an explosion of ornament and colour.
21 Acrobats • "Ooh" and "aah" at the thrills and spills of China's talented acrobats – Beijing or Shanghai are the best places to check out a performance.
22 The Terracotta Army • Near the old capital of Xi'an, these 2200-year-old, life-size soldiers guard the tomb of China's first emperor.
23 Chengde • The emperors' former retreat from the heat of summer holds a string of pretty temples.
24 Li River scenery • Take a boat trip here to admire the weird, contorted peaks of the sort you'll see on Chinese scroll paintings.
25 Labrang Monastery, Xiahe • One of the most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, a riot of lavishly decorated halls, butter sculptures and ragged pilgrims.
26 A cruise down the Yangzi River • Enjoy awesome scenery and a wealth of historic sights, despite rising water levels caused by the controversial Three Gorges Dam.
27 Harbin Ice Festival • "Lurid" and "outrageous" don't begin to describe the bizarre sculptures here – everything from life-size ice castles to fantastical snowy tableaux.
28 Dali • The capital of the Bai ethnic group is now a charming backpackers' oasis and host to the colourful Spring Fair festival.