China Things to Do

Sanya, located on the southernmost tip of China’s Hainan Island, is often billed as the Hawaii of China. While a development boom is well underway, bringing brand name beach resorts to the area, the beaches of Sanya have retained an undeveloped feel. Also, since most Chinese tourists prefer to swim only in the evenings or on cloudy days to avoid sun exposure, you could very well have a pool or stretch of white sand all to yourself on a sunny afternoon.

Tourists and expats looking to escape the oppressive congestion of Guangzhou (China’s third largest city) should turn their attention to Shamian Island. Once part of a Chinese concession to the French and English during the Opium Wars, the island is now a state-protected, well-preserved example of colonial architecture and urban planning.

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.

Cute as a button yet also a large and sometimes intimidating creature, the panda, a native to the country, has to be one of the more intriguing creatures roaming the Earth, and here in China there are plenty of places to catch a glimpse.

A day trip to Zhouzhuang (located less than 20 miles [32.2 kilometers] from Suzhou) is an advisable activity for anyone who travels to the region in search of canals and other related Chinese architectural marvels. The profusion of beautiful bridges, canals, temples and pavilions that are perched above the water are definitely a sight to be seen.