We don’t know about you, but while Chinese New Year festivities are brilliant in the UAE, they also make us dream about wanting to go to China itself. A vast and hugely varied country, it has some incredible sights, whether you're a first-time visitor or a returning explorer. Join us as we reveal our top must-see destinations and unforgettable experiences in China.
Walk the Great Wall
It would take you about 17 months to walk the entire length of the Great Wall of China – at 21,196km, it’s roughly 1.5 times the distance between Singapore and Los Angeles! But you can walk as much or as little of it as you like, over a few hours or several days, experiencing both the evocative old parts and newer portions. One of the most popular sections, ideal for a day hike, is Jiankou to Mutianyu.
Wander Beijing’s Summer Palace
The world’s largest, best-preserved royal garden is actually a vast complex of landscaped gardens, palaces, lakes, and hills. Once known as the 'Versailles of the East’, it’s now a public park where you can wander amidst Jesuit-designed palaces and scores of Chinese, Tibetan, and Mongolian-style buildings. Among the highlights are the Eternal Spring Garden, the Great Fountain, and the remnants of the Haiyantang Reservoir.
See the Terracotta Army (Bingmayong)
Located close to Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi Province in central China, one of the country’s most iconic sights is this collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, first emperor of China. The thousands of life-size, hand-moulded figures were buried with him in 210–209 BCE to protect him in the afterlife.
Tour Jiuzhai Valley National Park
Set in China’s Sichuan province, this network of valleys has several focal points: Nuorilang waterfall in the Shuzheng Valley, the Zharu Monastery, and the Rize Valley with its mountains clad by ancient forests. Best of all, perhaps, is the multicoloured Five Flower Lake in its shades of sapphire, emerald, jade, pale turquoise, and amber yellow, believed by locals to be a holy site.
Climb up to the Tian Tan Buddha
‘Big Buddha’ is indeed one of the world’s largest seated Buddha statues, made up of just over 200 bronze pieces and ensconced on a three-storey platform on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island. Completed in 1993 as an extension of the Po Lin Monastery, it’s accessed via 268 stone steps, or there’s vehicle access via a small road for disabled visitors.
Cruise the Yangtze River
A Yangtze River cruise is one of the most scenic and relaxing ways to experience China. Sailing along Asia’s longest river, you will glide through the famous Three Gorges, where dramatic cliffs, misty mountains, and calm waters create unforgettable views. The journey is enriched with guided shore excursions to riverside towns, temples and engineering marvels such as the Three Gorges Dam, offering insight into life shaped by the river.
Hike along the Dragon’s Backbone rice terraces
Known locally as Longji Rice Terraces, the Dragon’s Backbone terraces ripple across the hills of Guangxi province in a stunning display of beauty. Hiking trails wind through emerald-green paddies, traditional wooden villages and mountain viewpoints, offering an insight into rural life that has changed little over centuries. Visit in spring for mirror-like flooded fields or autumn when the terraces glow golden before harvest.
Meet giant pandas in Chengdu
One of China’s most heart-warming experiences, the world-famous research base outside Chengdu lets you see giant pandas in habitats that mimic their natural environment. Get there in the morning when pandas are most active playing, climbing, and munching bamboo, and don’t miss the Panda Nursery and kitten-like Panda Kindergarten where baby pandas tumble around in the grass.
To book your holiday in China, contact your Travel Counsellor today.
Winter sun doesn't have to mean the same destinations year after year. Whether you're dreaming of tropical islands, unforgettable wildlife encounters, bustling cities, or beaches that stretch for miles, there are plenty of destinations that come into their own during winter. If you're already thinking about your next escape, here are five winter sun destinations worth adding to your travel wish list.
When most people think of Thailand, they picture the dry, busy months - the packed beaches, the long queues at temples, the peak-season prices. But, outside of these peak months, Thailand’s green season reveals a softer, more atmospheric side of the country. The landscapes deepen in colour, the pace eases, and familiar places begin to feel more spacious, from temple courtyards and hillside trails to palm-fringed beaches.
Choosing where to stay can completely change the feel of an Algarve holiday. Beyond the region’s larger resorts, there are whitewashed villas overlooking the Atlantic, converted village houses in the countryside, intimate design hotels, and peaceful coastal retreats. From the fishing village of Salema to the quieter landscapes around Vila do Bispo and Lagos, these four stays each offer their own take on southern Portugal, whether you want the freedom of a villa, easy access to the beach, or somewhere small and characterful to come back to after a day exploring.
