Beijing – Hong Kong – Tibet

China is an epic adventure. From the wide open and empty panoramas of Tibet to the push and shove of Shanghai, from the volcanic dishes of Sichuan to beer by the bag in seaside Quingdao, a journey through this colossus of a country is a mesmerising encounter with the most populous, perhaps most culturally idiosyncratic nation on earth. The sheer diversity of China’s terrain takes you from noisy cities fizzing with energy to isolated mountain-top Ming-Dynasty villages where you can hear a pin drop. China’s attractions are endless and you will never run out of things to see. Especially near the coastal areas, if you run out of things to see in one city, the next one is usually just a short train ride away.

Brief overview

Country name: People’s republic of China
Population: 1.35 billion (UN, 2012)
Capital: Beijing
Area: 9.6 million sq km (3.7 million sq miles)
Major language: Chinese – Mandarin, Wu, Cantonese, Min
Major religion: Budhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism
Life expectancy: 72 years (men), 76 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 kwai,yuan = 100 fen
Main exports: High-tech products, crude and refined oil, machinery, electrical equipment
GNI per capita: US $4,940 (World Bank, 2011)
Internet domain: .cn
International dialling code: +86