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We all know a little about China. They have the second largest economy in the world, the largest population in the world and are a communist country. However there’s so much more to China and it really is an up and coming tourist destination for a huge number of reasons. In this article we’re going to give you some of the best reasons to visit this magical place. Once you’ve finished reading grab yourself a plane ticket, get yourself some travel insurance and pack your bags because you’re going to want to go as soon as humanly possible. So without further ado here are the best things to see and do in China.

Beijing
Beijing is a huge bustling metropolis and has everything you would expect plus a whole heap more. Top on the agenda has to be Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square is of course well known as the centre of student riots and protests with the infamously horrifying tanks. The towering pictures of Ma Tse Tsung are awe inspiring and give you a real insight into the culture and communist political system that dominates China to this day. From the square you can stroll into the jaw dropping Forbidden City with its beautiful carved Pagodas and stunning gardens. The Forbidden City is truly impressive with its museums and bright red roofs making you feel like you are literally stepping back in time. After this excursion you should head to the Summer Palace with its spectacular oriental grandeur. The main pagoda overlooks a beautiful park and Lake Complex with stunning arched bridges and beautiful flora and fauna.

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Once you’ve done these three main sites there are a variety of museums and tombs to visit that are well worth the effort. However our next real recommendation has to be the city parks. Whilst parks in the UK can be drab, the Chinese take park life very seriously with ballroom dancing, tai chi, kite flying and games of Go being amongst the many activities taking place. There are literally hundreds of people in the parks and they form an integral part of Chinese culture.

The Great Wall of China starts on the outskirts of Beijing and is well worth a trek up. Its curved path along the mountains and through the valleys is truly inspiring and an incredible feature of engineering. If you’re feeling adventurous it is possible to trek portions of the great wall and this is a good way to experience it outside of the hum drum tourist areas.

Further afield…
Beijing represents only a tiny fraction of what China has to offer. The Terracotta army is an absolute must see with thousands of statues having been excavated filling giant domes that look like air hangers. The scale of this is astonishing and you will be blown away by the sheer numbers and craftsmanship that went into these.

For those looking for something more modern China’s rapid development over the last 30 years has meant some truly impressive cities and feats of engineering. None is possibly more impressive than the three gorges dam which has flooded an area the size of France – and no, that’s not an exaggeration. The dam stretches right across the Yangtze River and a boat trip is well worth it for the impressive gorges themselves, even though they now have up to 200m more water covering them. There are also some stunning temples on the river which are well worth visiting.

Finally then we have to recommend two more cities; Shanghai and Hong Kong. These ultra-modern cities boast stunning sky scrapers and a neon cacophony of signs on every corner. Shanghai sits on a river and mixes old and new cultures spectacularly whilst Hong Kong has its curious mix for British and Chinese culture in a modern city.

So what do you think? If all these thoughts on China haven’t excited your sense of adventure then nothing will, so get booking and go enjoy one of the most impressive countries in the world. Also, if you take more than a single trip abroad each year you may want to consider annual travel insurance as it can often work out cheaper and more convenient for your lifestyle.