China Travel Guide
China Essentials
Language: Chinese
Currency: Chinese yuan (CNY)
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Time Zone: GMT +8
Capital City: Beijing
Population: 1.3 billion
Layout: See Map
Travel to China
China, officially known as the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), offers an exciting blend of rich history with modern cities. It is the largest country in Asia and has a variety of cities and landscapes to please all visitors, making it an increasingly popular tourist destination.
As the capital of China, Beijing is the nations political, economic, cultural and educational centre. Many visitors come to China to see The Great Wall, which is approximately 6,700kms long and spans five provinces from Shanhaiguan Pass in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west. Just outside Beijing, it is possible to climb a section of the Great Wall and enjoy an unforgettable panoramic view. Additionally, Beijing is home to some of Chinas most famous attractions, including: the Forbidden City (the world's larges and best-preserved imperial palace complex), the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven Park and the Lama Temple.
The wealthiest city in China is Shanghai, which offers some spectacular architecture ranging from 19th and early-20th century buildings along the Bund to the maze of art deco masterpieces in the French concession behind the Bund. Nearby Hangzhou and Suzhou offer some of Chinas most famous scenery. Huaihai Lu, with its impossibly massive department stores, is the place for shoppers. The Shanghai Museum boasts over 120,000 works of art and can take an entire day to explore.
Hong Kong is world renowned for its shopping centres, magnificent temples and serene parks. There are plenty of luxury hotels, high-end shopping centres loaded with designer shops, office buildings, and restaurants and bars, all catering to Hong Kongs prosperous white-collar workers. Macau retains a distinctly Portuguese feel, and is an unusual city to explore, with the contrast of traditional Chinese temples against a spectacular ruined cathedral, pastel villas and old forts.
Xian is a tourist drawcard for its Army of Terracotta Warriors on the citys eastern outskirts. Uncovered in 1974, over 10,000 figures have been sorted to date. Soldiers, archers (armed with real weapons) and chariots of pottery stand in battle formation in underground vaults. Xians other attractions include the old city walls, the Muslim quarter and the Banpo Neolithic Village.
