Things to do in China

Besides its undeniable standing as an incredible triumph of engineering, to actually consider the enormity and significance of China’s Great Wall – a series of fortifications constructed from brick, stone, wood and packed earth that snakes its way across 8,850km of northern China’s mountainside – is to contemplate over 2,000 years of cultural isolation and political endurance.

You can visit for a day - there are cable cars and a toboggan run for those traveling with kids or who fancy more of an amble than a hike, or indulge in a lengthy itinerary that combines nights in village homestays and guesthouses with daily hikes of up to seven hours. Either way, to witness firsthand this stunning feat of human achievement against a lush landscape of chestnut trees and blooms is to fulfill the trip of a lifetime.

Try not to overload your itinerary; approached wisely, China is as uplifting as it is intriguing. There is something for everyone in China.

If crumbling dynasties are your thing, start with the historic buildings of Beijing, a city with over 3,000 years of history and a cityscape that changes every day – the Forbidden City, China’s whopping great palace complex is the country’s largest collection of ancient buildings; you’ll need a full day to explore it. More landscape less history? Why not cruise the Yangtze River past the Three Gorges, the world’s largest dam (and, incidentally, the world’s largest hydroelectric power station too, but an awful lot prettier than that sounds…). If you want to channel your Zen while drinking chai, head out to China’s ancient villages where picture-perfect pastoral scenes, feng shui, and tradition abound.

Whether you’re a keen professional photographer or a budding amateur, anyone with an interest in snapping people and culture should take their camera to China. Discovering the country through pictures is an unforgettable way to learn more about its natural wonders as well as the ethnic minorities that live among them.