China Things to Do

The charming city of Hangzhou has captured the hearts and imaginations of visitors, both domestic and international, throughout its existence. Marco Polo called it “the most splendid city in the world” and a popular Chinese saying goes, “Heaven above, Hangzhou below.”

If you hop off the plane in Beijing or Shanghai expecting to munch on egg rolls and General Tso’s chicken, you’re in for a big surprise. Authentic Chinese cuisine is a far cry from the stuff labeled as Chinese in the West, but with a little preparation, you’ll find the food here to be both diverse and enjoyable.

China‘s mountains may not live up to the European Alps or the North American Rockies when it comes to snow sports, but that doesn’t mean skiers and boarders have to miss out on prime snow season due to travel in China. The northern portion of the country, particularly near Beijing and Harbin, ski opportunities abound. You’ll find that skiing in China allows you to experience new mountains with lower prices than ski resorts back home.

China‘s biggest and most important holiday falls on the lunar new year, typically in late January or early February, but if your plans bring you to China for Gregorian New Year’s Eve, you should still have a range of festive events to attend. Cities with larger populations of expats, particularly Shanghai, Beijing, Xiamen and Guangzhou, all ring in the new year in style.

Xiamen, the most popular destination among Chinese domestic tourists, often gets overlooked by international travelers who are more familiar with the big cities like Beijing, Shanghai or Xian. The island formerly known as Amoy is one of the cleanest and most attractive cities in Fujian, a province considered to be one of the most beautiful in China.

China’s Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the Moon Festival, is the second most important holiday of the year after the Lunar New Year. The event occurs on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month (September 30, 2012) and coincides with the National Day holiday, so festivities last for a full week. If you’ll be visiting China during the Mid-Autumn Festival, here’s what you need to know to make the most of this special time of year.

A typical spectacle throughout Asia, dragon boat racing is as enthralling as it sounds, as dozens of racers board these long boats and vie to see who is number one. Perhaps no dragon boating experience is more important than that of the traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, which occurs on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the year.

It’s no secret that the Great Wall of China is the longest manmade structure in the world, but according to a recent archeological study by the Chinese State Administration of Cultural Heritage, it’s significantly longer than we once thought.

Yangshuo County, near Guilin City in Guangxi Province, is one of the most famous scenic spots in southern China. More than 65,000 karst limestone towers are scattered along the Li River, attracting adventurous tourists, spelunkers, climbers, trekkers, abseiling enthusiasts and cyclists in increasing numbers with each passing year.

China’s great cities are so massive and imposing that it can be somewhat daunting to tackle them on your own as a newcomer. Private tours offer a great opportunity to get to know these destinations on a more intimate level. The following are a few examples of some of the better itineraries that are currently available.