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What to do in China:

1. DISCOVER HISTORY ALONG THE SILK ROUTE IN CHINA

Stunning architecture, religious shrines and traditional cuisine showcase the extensive cultural exchange between merchants who, long ago, made voyages via the ancient trading route — the Silk Road. The Silk Road has multiple routes that a traveler can choose to visit (the most famous route includes Xian, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan, Urumqi and Kashgar); each route of the Silk Road is dotted with magnificent scenery including snow-capped mountaintops, surreal lakes and mysterious stretches of desert. The incredible effort that went into sharing valuable commodities and groundbreaking inventions symbolizes humanity’s connection throughout history.

2. SOAK IN THE SPIRITUALITY OF LHASA

Lhasa is the epicenter of Tibetan culture and home to numerous Tibetan Buddhism cultural attractions. This breathtaking capital in the Tibet Autonomous Region is set at an altitude of over 3,600 meters and houses the sacred Potala Palace — the most revered site in Tibetan culture. The nearby Jokhang Temple is another holy site in Lhasa providing tranquility, with dedicated pilgrims praying along its walls while hiking to sanctuaries like the Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery provides a unique glimpse into the life of Tibetan monks. You can even take part in the religious traditions yourself by joining the Barkhor kora, the most cherished pilgrimage route in Lhasa.

3. TREK MOUNT KAILASH

This life-changing and often sacred journey is the ultimate test of endurance. Joining the devout pilgrims to experience the Mount Kailash kora opens your eyes to their resilient faith and commitment. Three days are required to complete the hike around the holy mountain and you will be trekking at altitudes of roughly 5,000 meters. The most strenuous challenge during the trek is crossing the 5,613-meter Drolma La Pass. In total, the circular route spans 52 kilometers and is bound to be the most fulfilling adventure on any tour to China.

4. ADMIRE ICE SCULPTURES AT THE HARBIN ICE AND SNOW FESTIVAL

Although there are brutal winter temperatures in the province of Heilongjiang, the region also hosts the world’s biggest ice and snow sculpture festival. More than 10 million visitors each year visit Harbin to witness enormous ice sculptures towering nearly 50-meters-high. The winter festival has a magical atmosphere when these life-size sculptures are illuminated, brightening the night sky. Three distinct locations, Zhaolin Park, Ice and Snow World and Sun Island Scenic Area, each offer something unique to the festival. Daytime festival-goers can gaze at the magnificent ice sculptures at Sun Island. Once nightfall arrives, Zhaolin Park and Ice and Snow World put on a dazzling show of illuminated sculptures and lanterns.

5. HIKE THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

With an average height of 6 – 8 meters and stretching for over 6,000 kilometers, the Great Wall of China is without a doubt one of the most famous tourist attractions in China. Built in the 7th century BC, this magnificent and ancient fortification system is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are various sections of the Great Wall you can visit, each differing from the other. The most famous ones being Balding, Mutianyu, Jinshanling, Simatai, Juyongguan, Huangyaguan and Shanghai Pass.

About China

China (Chinese: 中国; pinyin: Zhōngguó), officially the People's Republic of China (PRC),[k] is a country in East Asia. It is the world's second most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and borders fourteen countries by country,[l]tied with Russia as having the most of any country in the world. With an area of ​​nearly 9.6 million square kilometers (3,700,000 sq mi), it is the world's third largest country by total land area.[m] The country consists of 22 provinces,[n] five autonomous regions, four municipalities, and two special administrative regions (Hong Kong and Macau). The national capital is Beijing, and the most populous city and largest financial center is Shanghai. Modern China traces its origins to a cradle of civilization in the fertile basin of the Yellow River in the North China Plain. The mythical Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors marks the beginning of a shared identity. The semi-legendary Xia dynasty in the 21st century BCE and the Shang and Zhou dynasties developed a political system to serve hereditary monarchies. Written script was developed and inscription of Bronze and engraving of Oracle bone became common. Classic literature, and the Hundred Schools of Thought emerged during this period and influenced the region and beyond for centuries to come. In the third century BCE, the Qin dynasty ended the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period when Qin Shi Huangdi assumed the self-invented title of Huangdi (Emperor of China). Fractured by the uprising peasants, the Qin was replaced by Liu Bang's Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). Together they laid the foundation for a political tradition of nearly two millennia in which the Chinese empire was one of the world's foremost economic powers. The empire expanded, fractured, and reunified; absorbed foreign religions and ideas; and made world-leading scientific advances, such as the Four Great Inventions: gunpowder, paper, the compass, and printing. After centuries of disunity following the fall of the Han, the Sui (581–618) and Tang (618–907) dynasties reunified the empire. The Tang welcomed foreign trade and culture over the Silk Road and adapted Buddhism to their needs. The early modern Song dynasty (960–1279) became urban and commercial while the civilian scholar-officials or literati adopted the examination system and the doctrines of Neo-Confucianism to replace the military aristocrats of earlier dynasties.