Adventure World

China

China is the third largest country in the world after Russia and Canada and is known as the cradle of civilisation. Some of the highlights in China include Beijing which is full of Imperial wonders, predominantly from the Ming & Qing periods. Xian with the 2000 year old marvels of the Terracotta Warriors and its old quarter completely surrounded by the original city walls.

Guilin is one of the most scenic regions of the world where you can relax on a leisurely cruise down the Li River with its limestone hills and cormorant fishermen. The resplendent architecture in Shanghai highlights the grand colonial days of China in the 19th Century and not to mention the Yangtze River famed for its Three Gorges and medieval riverside villages.

Top Highlights

Beijing: Chinese history is everywhere in Beijing with many sites of cultural and historical interest, like the Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace. Large enough to hold 1 million people, the 440,000 sq metre Tiananmen Square in the centre of Beijing is the world's largest city square. Chairman Mao lies in state in the Mao Zedong Mausoleum located behind the Monument to the peoples’ heroes in Tiananmen Square.

The Forbidden City was the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing. Built during the 1406-1420 period, it is the largest royal palatial complex in existence in China. Building started in the 2nd Century BC on the Great Wall which snakes its way across mountains and valleys in the northern part of the country. Although never properly surveyed, the Great Wall is believed to be around 6350km in length. The majority of tourists climb the wall at Badaling, 70km northwest of Beijing.

A rickshaw ride through the ‘hutongs’ is also an excellent way of seeing ordinary Chinese people at home. A hutong is a small lane approx 9m wide. Parks are also excellent places to see local people exercising - boxing, sword fighting, disco dancing, ballroom dancing, martial arts, Tai Chi.

Xian: Once a major crossroads on the trading routes from eastern China to central Asia and Europe, today it is not only the starting point for Silk Road journeys but also has one of China's major draw cards - the Army of Terracotta Warriors. The Terracotta Warriors were uncovered in 1974 by a farmer and over 10,000 figures have been sorted to date. Soldiers, archers (armed with real weapons) and chariots stand in battle formation in underground vaults looking as fierce and war-like as pottery can. Despite its size and population of over 6 million people, Xian is easy to navigate with the city laid out in a neat grid pattern with an enormous Bell Tower located in the centre.

Other attractions: the old city walls, Muslim quarter, and the Banpo Neolithic Village.

Guilin: The biggest attraction is a day cruise on the Li River past ancient villages, bamboo groves and cormorant fishermen to the medieval town of Yangshou. An excellent way to see rural daily life on the river, as well as taking in the majestic scenery. Guilin’s stunning scenery and the shark-toothed karst hill formations are unique with Solitary Beauty Peak (a 152m pinnacle in the centre of the town) just one of the many peaks in the area.

Yangtze Cruises: Most cruises depart from Chongqing for a 4 day/3 night cruise downstream to Yichang, cruising through the spectacular Three Gorges and making stops along the way at towns and historical sights. Longer and upstream cruises are also available. The third and final phase of China’s new hydro-electric dam will be completed in 2009 and with it the relocation of over one million people from the riverbank towns. The Three Gorges will no longer look as magnificent as they do now.

Shanghai: With nicknames such as the ‘Paris of China’, and the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, Shanghai is definitely a colourful city offering a variety of sightseeing, plus great eating and shopping. The city is divided in half by the Huangpu River, with most of the city's highlights located in Puxi. The popular Bund which runs along the River is great for promenading and people watching. The city’s main attractions are the Yuyuan Gardens and Bazaar, Jade Buddha Temple and Children’s Palace.

Hong Kong: Despite being returned by the British to the Chinese in 1997, the political and economic system of Hong Kong is still very different from that of mainland China. The skyline is dominated by high-rises built on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The Kowloon peninsula is packed with shops, hotels, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. At the southern tip of Kowloon is the Star Ferry Terminal with services to the island and other parts of Hong Kong and Macau. Hong Kong Island is an urban jungle but also offers stunning parks, great markets and the popular tram ride to the top of Victoria Peak.

More highlights: Suzhou, known for its famed silk production centre, beautiful gardens and canals. A highlight is a cruise on the Grand Canal; China’s own ‘Venice of the East’; the Garden for Lingering In and Humble Administrator’s Garden.

Chengdu, once called the ‘Lotus City’ because of its thriving silk brocade industry, Chengdu is home to artisans, small-time basket-weavers, cobblers and tailors. The Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, situated a few kilometres from the centre of town, is the highlight of Chengdu.

Tiger Leaping Gorge, Kunming, is one of the deepest gorges in the world - it measures 16km and is 3900m from the waters to the snow-capped mountains. The best time to visit is May and early June to view the flowers.

Fact Sheet

• Country Dialling Code: + 86
• When to Go: Spring (Mar-Apr) and Autumn (Sep-Oct) are the best months with pleasant weather (20-30°C) and fewer crowds. Summer can be unbearably hot and stuffy, and winters are harsh with below freezing temperatures.
• Capital: Beijing
• Official Language: Mandarin but English is widely spoken.
• Electricity: 220V, 50 cycles. Either two flat pins (like USA) or three pronged angled pins (like AU/NZ)
• Currency: Renminbi (unit of currency is Yuan).
• Cash: US dollars can be readily exchanged for Renminbi.
• Travellers Cheques: Changed at hotels, major banks and Friendship stores. Keep receipt of any money exchanged by CC, ATM or TC if you want to change any Yuan back at end of trip.
• Credit Cards & ATMs: Accepted in major hotels and stores. A few ATMs in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai are slowly being introduced to accept foreign cards. Cash advances available from major Bank of China branches.
• Tipping & Bargaining: Tipping is not expected; however bargaining is (except in department stores).
• Email & Internet Access: Internet Cafes can be found in the larger cities, but many hotels do have a problem with foreign based ISP.
• Air: Many airlines operate under the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) umbrella.
• Boat: Chongqing to Yichang and Shanghai river cruises on the Yangtze River.
• Train: 52,000 km network to all provinces (except Tibet). Cheap, relatively safe and fairly fast.
• Geography: China is the third largest country in land size in the world (9.6 million sq km). There are 23 provinces and some 5000 islands (some of which are disputed such as Taiwan). The topography is very diverse from the mountainous ‘roof of the world’ Tibet to the Mongolian Plateau, Taklamakan Desert and Turpan Depression (hottest region), to the green river gorges of the Yunnan-Guizhbou Plateau. The major river trading routes are: Yangtze, Yellow, Mekong, Salween.
• Gateway Airports: Beijing (BJS); Shanghai (SHA)
• Food: Meals in China often differ from what Westerners have experienced in Chinese restaurants and takeaways in their own country. In each region of China the cuisine differs - some hot and spicy, some salty, some sweet and other regions the dishes are sour tasting. The four main cuisines of China are: Beijing & Shandong (stir fry and steaming), Cantonese & Chaozhou (lightly cooked meals & vegetables, usually what Westerners have been exposed to), Sichuan (spicy, a lot of chilli is used), Eastern (many diverse dishes, soups, stews).