Highlights
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
China is home to a staggering 48 sites that are inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, second only to Italy. Indisputably the most famous, the Great Wall of China stretches a length half of the equator, meandering through breathtaking scenery and kilometres of China’s isolated hillside. Beijing’s Forbidden City is the largest and best-preserved collection of antique buildings in China, and the world’s most extensive palace complex; Xi’an’s Terracotta Army will spellbind you with its artful craftsmanship, whilst the time-locked Lijiang Old Town is a maze of trickling streams, narrow canals and dainty alleyways.
Wildlife Encounters
The glorious Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a must-visit attraction for animal-lovers, artfully designed to resemble a natural panda habitat. Home to nearly 120 Giant Pandas and over 70 Red Pandas, the base focuses on encouraging these shy creatures to breed, aiding their conservation whilst allowing you to encounter them and their adorable cubs. We recommend visiting in the morning – before the placid pandas fall back to sleep – whilst August and September are the best months for spotting loveable new-born cubs.
Temples
A country in which Buddhism and Taoism are the dominant religions, you’ll find a host of wonderfully ornate temples and pagodas across China. The iconic Summer Palace in Beijing houses a number of intricately-designed temples, whilst the UNESCO Temple of Heaven – also in China’s capital – boasts simply stunning architecture and is considered the most holy of all Imperial temples in Imperial China. Moving away from Beijing, China’s temples remain as beautiful and plentiful; Wenshu Temple is the largest in Chengdu, Hangzhou is home to Lingyin Temple, whilst Jing’an Temple reflects the Buddhist world that underpins modern Shanghai.
Cuisine
Thanks to China’s love affair with food, expect your tastebuds to be tantalised, tested and treated, no matter where in the country you visit. Try traditional, aromatic Peking duck in Beijing, or – if you dare – sample Chengdu’s famed steaming hotpot, seasoned with screamingly hot Sichuan peppers. Enjoy regional street food from bustling markets, or indulge at one of China’s exquisite fine dining restaurants; The Four Seasons Hotel Beijing is home to Cai Yi Xuan, named ‘Best Chinese Hotel Restaurant’ in the 2016 Time Out Food Awards, whilst The Peninsula Shanghai is the only hotel in mainland China to house two Michelin-starred restaurants.
Cities
Whilst the cultural delights of China are almost unrivalled around the world, this compelling country is no one-trick pony; combining tradition with innovation, and heritage with technology, China’s cities are simply dazzling. The capital, Beijing, remains the cultural and political centre of China and despite the striking modern architecture and contemporary malls, its aesthetics still manage to remain distinctly Chinese, adorned with Imperial grandeur. Completely addictive, eclectic Shanghai is constantly fizzing with activity, moving to the rhythm and demands of a world-famous city. Perhaps lesser-known cities, but well worth discovering, explore our luxury properties in Chengdu, Lijiang, Hangzhou, Guilin and Xi’an.