A lifetime is too short to explore all of China. Though China is often presented as a homogenous nation, united in spirit and purpose, it's not and has very rarely been such a place. From the whirlwind modernisation of Beijing and Shanghai, to the vast nothingness of the Gobi desert, the spiritual peaks of Tai Shan, the pristine natural beauty of Jiuzhaigou nature reserve, and all that lies between, China defies easy definition.

There are geo-political schisms: China’s east is the traditional seat of power and culture, its west a freer, wilder land of Central Asian influences, a world away from central government. Rapid industrial and economic developments also mean that rural and urban life differ significantly.

Much is being lost in the changes - witness the fallout over the Three Gorges Dam. All the more reason to visit while things still remain. Yet within the rules and regulations of the People’s Republic, an exhilarating and dynamic country can be found. China is h…

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Selected places to go in China

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