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China, (People s Republic of China), is situated in eastern Asia, bounded by the

Pacific in the east. It is the third largest country in the world, next to Canada and

Russia, it has an area of 9.6 million square kilometres, or one-fifteenth of the world s

land mass.

Towering mountains and dramatic landscapes make up China s wealth

background scenery to the fall of dynasties, the rise of emperors and the turning of the

revolutionary wheel. Unless you have a couple of years to tour, it s best to follow a

loose itinerary while visiting. Some suggestions would be; Beijing to Tibet via Xi an s

terracotta warriors, following the Silk Road route, sailing down the Yangzi River, or

exploring the Dr Seuss landscape of Guangxi Province.

China s imperial jewel in the crown is of course Beijing. It has been the capital of

China for around 500 years and is home to sights such as the Forbidden City, the

off-limits palace of Ming and Qing emperors, their eunuch servants, princesses and harems.

The Summer Palace in Beijing was established in the late Qing period, but is also a major

attraction. Beijing is the starting point for China s most famous imperial legacy the

Great Wall. The wall can easily be viewed from many places, but most visitors approach it

from Beijing.

With a population of close to five million, Tibetans make up one of China s largest

minorities. There are large Tibetan communities in parts of China, that once belonged to

Tibet. In the south-western Gansu Province, the Labrang Monastery in Xiahe is one of the

six major monasteries of the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism and is very much a little

Tibet.

China s sacred mountains have been pilgrimage destinations for centuries and all have

well marked trails to the summits. More often than not there are stairways carved into

to gaze on the. sea of clouds . The most popular mountains with foreign visitors are

Huangshan, Taishan and Emeishan.

The Grand Buddha at Leshan (Sichuan Province) is the largest buddha in the world. At

71m high and carved into a cliff face overlooking the meeting of the Dadu and Min rivers.

China s most famous collection of European architecture is lined up facing the sea on