China City Guide

• Beijing
  
  Beijing is the capital city of China and therefore home to serious Government and multinational lobbying plus of course all the international diplomatic community in China. It's a vast, sprawling city still undergoing re-generation so expect roadworks and heavy traffic - being the site of the 2008 Olympics a lot is going on here so be prepared! Summers here are hot and dry and winters cold so dress appropriately.
• Changchun
  
  Changchun lies in the centre of Jilin Province in China's North East, and is a major centre for China's auto industry. With a population of some 7m, one in four of the local population are employed by this sector. Apart from heavy industry however, it is also close to the Changbai Mountains bordering North Korea and is with in easy reach of the ski facilities there
• Changsha
  
  Changsha is the capital of Hunan province, and is an important inland port for the export of agricultural products , Hunan growing 13% of China's national rice production and also being rich in tobacco, fruit and timber harvesting this is a busy city. The population here is 6 million. Originally called Qingyanag, Changsha's history dates back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (770-331 B.C.). After the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty unified China the Changsha prefecture was established. Changsha was opened to foreign traders in 1904.
• Chengde
  
  An 18th century imperial resort; 255km from Beijing; Chengde is an ideal place to escape from the heat of Beijing summers and features the remnants of the largest regal gardens in China Located in the northeast of the Hebei province, this is the hinterland of the Yanshan Mountains, giving Chengde it's cooler climate. Chengde has a population of some 3.5 million, and is a famous cultural city with about 300 years history; it used to be the second political center in the Qing dynasty, with the largest royal garden in China; commonly called as "Rehe", and was the provincial capital of the old Rehe province until 1928.
• Chengdu
  
  Chengdu, a modern international city of more than ten million, has a long history dating back to 4500 BC, when the social and cultural exchange centre of the ancient Shu Kingdom was established. The discovery last century of the lost Sanxingdui site at Guanghan, about forty kilometres south of Chengdu, is recognized as the most important archaeological find of Sichuan relics. The Sanxingdui Museum is regarded as one of the major historical museums in China. Positioned in the river-sided space northeast of the site and including auxiliary facilities, it covers approximately eighty thousand square metres, of which an area of seven thousand square metres serves as an exhibition centre for both scholars and tourists to study.
• Chongqing
  
  Chongqing is a city of some 13 million and was designated a municipality, bringing it under the direct control of Beijing in 1997. Nonetheless, it is still very much a Sichuanese city and should continue to be regarded as such. Located in a rugged valley, and bisected by the Yangtze and Rivers, it has for centuries been a vital and strategically important city for trade and distribution into and out of China's heartland.
• Dali
  
  Dali is in Yunnan Province, some 400 km West of the capital Kunming, and nestles in the foothills of the Diancang Mountains and the shores of Erhao Lake. It's sprung up as being on the backpacker route, and is worth a short trip, although there are signs of greedy commercialism getting in the way of its scenic charms. Approaching Dali one notices the three Pagodas-- one of which is obviously somewhat askew due to an earthquake 100 years ago. It's a neat place to relax for a couple of days and take in the various cheap bars and coffee shops, but we found it getting a bit too much in terms of sales hassles, and although we enjoyed the stay, it's not as charming as Lijiang.
• Dalian
  
  Dalian is in the southernmost point of Liaodong Peninsula; with the Yellow Sea to its east and the Bohai Sea to its west, an attractive coastal city and a major Chinese Port. Previously heavily influenced by Russia, Liaoning Province was part of Manchuria and possesses architecture and restaurants reflecting both it's Russian and Japanese heritage. With a population of some 5.4 million, it was named "Lion Mouth" in the early Tang Dynasty for its inaccessibility, and was settled in 1371, by troops sent by Zhu Yuanzhang - the emperor of Ming dynasty at Port of Lushun from Shandong. Well known for it's excellent sea food, the city possesses many parks and three excellent beaches at Bangchuidao, Laohutan and Fujiazhaung. It is also possible to explore the outlying islands by renting a boat from these areas. Great views too can be had from the Coastal Road heading off from near the Regent Hotel.
• Dongguan
  
  Dongguan is located in the middle part of Guangdong Province in South China occupying a pivotal position in the industrial region of the Pearl River Delta. Its boundaries stretch from Guangzhou in the North to ZhongShan in the West and Shenzhen in the South comprising a total of 32 towns. Dongguan is 50 kilometers away from Guangzhou, 90 kilometers from Hong Kong (47 sea miles away from Hong Kong by ferry) and a mere 25 minutes train journey from Shenzhen's central railway station. It is well served with airports (Guangzhou and Hong Kong plus Shenzhen for internal flights), railways, ports and buses routes. Unless you get a kick out of boundless extensions of factories and choca-block buildings landscapes, Dongguan is no leisure and tourist spot!
• Dunhuang
  
  Dunhuang is in Western Gansu Province, and is home to the Mogao Grottoes, a fascinating and detailed series of caves, some thousands of years old, dug out by ancient travelers and pilgrims and richly decorated inside with hundreds upon hundreds of Buddhist paintings and carvings. It was very much a Silk Road centre of importance, and significant, as faced with either about to start, or having just completed, a grueling journey across the Taklimakan Desert, travelers stopped to give thanks or to pray for protection. The earliest date back to the 4th century, it really is treasure trove of ancient Buddhist art.
• Fuzhou
  
  The capital of Fujian province, Fuzhou has been the political center of Fujian since the Qin Dynasty and was the temporary capital of China at the end of the Song and the Ming dynasties. It has also been an international port with foreign trade since Han Dynasty and was a ship making center during the Song Dynasty, it lies on the Minjian River. The then largest ship in the world, the Baochuan was built here in the 15th century and carried the Navigator Zheng as far as Africa. Fuzhou has a long history of Western trade: it was one of the 5 treaty ports ceded by China after the Opium Wars, in 1842.
• Guangzhou
  
  Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is the capital of Guangdong province and it is China's largest and most prosperous Southern city (excluding Hong Kong!) with a famous historical and cultural heritage spanning over 2,000 years. For several centuries, Canton was the only city accessible to Western travelers and during the 18th century it was the only port in China where the emperor allowed merchants from the west to trade and dwell. Guangzhou is a wonderful mix of colonial buildings reminder of the past trading activities (the stroll around Shamian Island is a must!) and futuristic skyscrapers in the newly developed area of Tian He.
• Guilin
  
  Guilin is a world-famous tourist destination located in China's southern Guangxi Province, about an hours flight north-west from HongKong and is well worth a long weekends vacation. It was founded in the Qin Dynasty over 2,000 years ago, and is characterized by unusual Karst limestone hills, some of them like enormous pillars, created by the erosion of the local limestone exposing harder rock beneath.
• Guiyang
  
  Guiyang (also known as Zhu) dates back to the Han dynasty (206bc to 220 ad) and is the capital of Guizhou province. It encompasses high terrain with the average altitude about 1000 meters; with many Karst limestone features; located in the mountain area of low altitude, the climate therefore tends towards rainy--pack those umbrellas ! The city is home to Heavy Industry and still has to really benefit from the boom times on the eastern seaboard, but it's not an unattractive place and has it's merits. Places to stay include the Holiday Inn (0851) 677 1888, Guiyang Plaza (682 5888) and Guizhou Park (682 2888), with most bars and restaurants being centered around Fushui Lu, and a few dotted around the Nanming River end of Zhonghua Lu, which also houses a night market.
• Haikou
  
  Haikou is the capital of Hainan Province, China's large southern island off the coast of Guangdong and close to Vietnam. Haikou is on the Northern coast facing the mainland just across the Qiongzhou Straits and is connected to the Port of Xuwen on the mainland by regular ferry services. It's population is 500,000. It has been known as a port since the Song period about a thousand years ago and is still today a major port and traffic hub through which much of the islands (mainly fruit and rubber produce) exits through to the mainland. Places to stay include the Hainan Mandarin (0898) 6854 8888, Crowne Plaza (6596 0888) and Haikou Peninsula (6626 3288), which offer combinations of both business and resort facilities, tourism being a major feature of Hainan's economy.
• Hangzhou
  
  Hangzhou is the Provincial capital of Zhejiang Province and has long been an important cultural center in China. The Silk manufacturing process was discovered here, and to this day Hangzhou is still an important textiles center. Hangzhou came to prominence when the Grand Canal wound its way into town in the 12th Century, the city has many other attractions including temples, exquisite gardens and rolling hills covered by many of the finest tea plantations in China. China National Silk Museum and China National Tea Museum are also ideal palaces to see how China's two major inventions - silk and tea - are produced. The renowned West Lake is the water lily covered home to a collection of Qing Dynasty bridges, causeways, temples and palaces. Well-manicured gardens, woods and rock sculptures line its banks.
• Harbin
  
  Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang Province, in China's far North, and has a very strong Russian influence - in fact for many years it was Russian controlled and a transportation hub for Russian products going to markets in Japan and Korea. It's very much a winter city, when it really comes into it's own, summer sees it cool but rather shabby. Temparatures here though can drop to a numbing -30 in the winter months at night, and the Black Dragon River (Amur in Russian) freezes solid 12 feet deep. As a result, from mid-December onwards huge blocks are carved out and then displayed along the main, cobbled shopping avenue in the city and international carving artists from around the world then transform them into exquisite ice sculptures - really worth seeing.
• Hefei
  
  Hefei is the capital of Anhui Province, just to the East of Shanghai, and has long been regarded as a bit of a backwater in the rush towards investing in Shanghai itself and the coastal Provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu. However, as smart industry starts to look at distribution of product into China's domestic markets, Anhui's far cheaper land and wages are beginning to attract manufacturing operations based there but being managed from Shanghai Representative Offices. The Yangtse also runs through Anhui and with good rail and road infrastructure the province as a whole is well worth considering if involved with manufacturing and domestic sales. The population of Hefei itself is about one million, just an hours flight from Shanghai itself. It's an attractive city, laid out with numerous parks.
• Hohhot
  
  Hohhot (pronounced Hu He Hao Te) is the capital of Inner Mongolia, the vast inland Province that runs right across the top of China sharing an enormous border with both Mongolia and part of Russia to the east. It was founded in 1581 by the Mongol Prince Altan Khan, but has been Chinese since 1661 when it was taken by Emperor Xuanye of the Kangxi tribe. Its population is just 1 million, and enjoys one of the sunniest cities in the country. It's partially Muslim, part Mongol and part Chinese (along with other smaller influences) so life here is quite colourful and it is an interesting city to visit. Hotels of any real note are limited to the Xincheng Hotel (0471 629 2288) and the Zhaojun (696 2211).
• Jilin
  
  Jilin is the second city (Changchun being the capital) of Jilin Province, in China's North East and close to the borders with Russia and North Korea. It has a population of about 1 million, and has cool summers and long, frigid winters. Expats this far north are likely to be engaged either in forestry or automotive industries, China's auto industry employing about 25% of the Province's workforce. Places to stay include the Wusong Hotel (0432) 398 6200, the Jiangcheng Hotel (245 7721) or the Xiguan Hotel (484 3141); all are fine but be prepared for an element of local comforts here.
• Jinan
  
  Jinan, known as the "City of Springs", got its name from the underground streams that flow from Taishan to Jinan. These streams, when they reach Jinan, hit upon the limestone strata and bubble outwards. Jinan boasts 72 springs, including the Baotu, Pearl, Black Tiger and Fiver-Dragon Pond springs as the most popular. Daming Lake is also formed from these underground streams & springs. For hikers, the Thousand Buddha Mountain offers a great warm-weather get-away. In his book, 'The Travels of Lao Can', Liu E (1857-1909), a Qing Dynasty writer, described Jinan's scenery saying, "Every family drinks spring water and cultivates poplar trees".
• Kashgar
  
  Kashgar is a famous market town in China's Far West, strategically important as the gateway into China from Pakistan and Central Asia. Long on the backpackers trail it has a fascinating history and is the definitive cultural experience on the Chinese part of Silk Road. It can be reached by air from Urumqi (two hours), by train (two days skirting the Gobi desert) or via road. This really is the heart of Silk Road life. Kashgar is home to the worlds largest outdoor market - some 100,000 traders descend upon Kashgar every Sunday to buy and sell everything from Yaks to walnuts. The produce from Central Asia is superb, choice fruits, nuts and grains, while fine Arab Stallions, Yaks, Goats and Fat Tailed sheep all compete for space looking for a buyer..
• Kunming
  
  Kunming is the capital of Yunnan province in China's South West and is one of the most attractive tourist cities in China, famous for its benign climate and folk customs of ethnic groups. It features an average average altitude of 400 metres above sea level, giving it a cool summer and moderate winter climate, is surrounded by hills and faces the beautiful "Dian Chi" lake to the south. With a population of some 4 million, it has been inhabited by the Chinese for 2000 years; albeit remaining a remote outpost until the 8th century, then becoming a secondary capital of the kingdom of Nanzhao which centered to the northwest of it at Dali, obtaining wide fame in the Ming dynasty for it's variety of folk customs, temperate climate and beautiful scenery.
• Lanzhou
  
  The capital of Gansu Province, Lanzhou has long been a strategically important city, right back to the old Silk Road days, as Gansu provides a natural corridor between the Gobi and Taklimakan deserts and some pretty inhospitable territory, en route to Xi'an, the final silk road destination. Lanzhou itself lies on the banks of the Yellow river, and if often disregarded as a polluted hellhole, however it is far more interesting than it's reputation deserves. Lanzhou's population is just 2 million, with the city characterized by a large white pagoda at Baitashan, a huge cliff on one side of the River from which commanding views of the city can be obtained. This is also a large park, and makes for a pleasant stroll.
• Lhasa
  
  Lhasa has long been well known as a sort of mystical Shangri-La sited "on the top of the world" but only now is beginning to develop into user-friendly business and commerce. It is worth mentioning that it is not like anywhere else in China and certain precautions need to be taken, even for the fit and healthy - altitude is a problem when visiting here - during the summer oxygen content this high is 75% of that at sea level and in the winter just 50%, so beware of Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS) - it will affect you. AMS basically has to be put up with for the first three days - do not drink any alcohol, have plenty of water to hydrate, be aware you will be short of breath and have a few sleepless nights. Take some panadol with you - headaches are common for the first few days. Take it easy, and do not rush about.
• Lijiang
  
  Lijiang is in the centre of Yunnan Province in China's South West and has long been a favourite getaway for Chinese and Foreign tourists looking to escape China's summer heat. The spiritual home of the Naxi people, one of China's many minorities, Lijiang is sited at the foot of the Jade Dragon Mountains and is characterised as a maze like village of small one-two storey traditional wooden houses, packed closely together, cobbled streets inaccessible to most vehicles, all bisected by running streams cascading through the village as run-offs from the Jade Dragon River. It is quite beautiful. Accommodation is best in traditional, courtyard houses, which are either family run homes with a few beds or a small boutique hotel style.
• Macau
  
  Macao is well known for its casinos and for its 400 years of Portuguese rule, which ended in 1999 upon its return to Chinese sovereignty. But apart from gambling, what else does Macao offer? Actually, a great deal. Macao, unlike nearby Hong Kong, has embraced its colonial heritage and has been restoring old buildings, churches, temples and other historic sites with great care. Add to that a definitive "green" policy and a desire to promote itself as a cultural centre and you have a potent and thoroughly enjoyable mix of events in a great setting.
• Nanchang
  
  Nanchang is the capital of Jiangxi Province in southeast China, and is the educational, commercial and transportation center of the southeast China, with a population of 3.5 million. Nanchang, literally means "prosperity in south", and has remained relatively prosperous throughout its 2,190 year history, owing to the Gan River that provides the region with flat landscapes, fertile soil, and plentiful fresh water supporting prolific grain and fish production. The Ganjiang flows through the westside of Nanchang northward into the Yangtse River, forming at the junction one of China's largest fresh water lake - Poyang Lake. Nanchangers can escape the Jiangxi summer heat at natural retreats like nearby Mount Lushan and Poyang Lake.
• Nanjing
  
  Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu Province, about two hours drive north-west of Shanghai. It is blessed with China's most productive land, and is home to Asia's largest inland port, handling much of the Yangtse's shipping. It's close proximity to Shanghai should not be taken as evidence of it being a second tier city - Nanjing is very much a player in it's own right, and, rather like last months featured city (Xi'an), was also once the capital of China - for six dynasties!
• Ningbo
  
  Ningbo is a major deepwater port city just south of Shanghai, in Zhejiang Province on China's East Coast. Reachable via expressway (four hours) or via plane (a 30 minute hop) from Shanghai, it is also easily accessible from the Provincial capital of Hangzhou. A hovercraft service also runs between Ningbo & Shanghai, (one hour) with the upgrading of the expressway meaning a 90 minute intercity cruise when this is finished in 2006 with a 54km bridge - which will be the longest in the world - being part of this route. Ningbo has developed well over the past few years and now has a significant amount of infrastructure to boast - including excellent port facilities, a good free trade zone and speedy import-export processes.
• Qingdao
  
  Qingdao is an important Port city in China's northeast, sited on China's eastern coast about 1,000 km north of Shanghai, thus being a key player to markets in Korea and Japan. Best known for it's beer, (originally a German / British Joint Venture, established in 1903 and now 100 years old) is also developing as a tourist resort, with some excellent beaches (the number six beach is the best) and surrounded by plenty of Germanic style buildings, and many many bars and beer kellers: the huge Annual Beer Festival is held here every August and attracts thousands from Europe and overseas German Charter planes fly in especially at this time.
• Sanya
  
  Sanya is China's premier sun resort, lying on the South coast of Hainan Island not far from Vietnam. It's particularly attractive to Chinese holidaymakers as they do not need passports to get a decent beach and some tropical atmosphere - and for the most has been developed in a sympathetic and well - designed manner. Without doubt the main reason to come here is a sunshine break, although growing opportunities for foreign travel and holiday service providers are rapidly developing also.
• Shanghai
  
  Shanghai lies to the Mid-East coast of China, half way between Hong Kong and Beijing and a two hour flight from either. Massive and fast paced development over the past 20 years has turned it into a dynamic, international city and it very much has a 'can do will do' attitude that marks it out from the rest of China. Closely sited next to the major cities of Nanjing, Suzhou, Ningbo, and strategically next to the manufacturing areas of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui Provinces, Shanghai is often the obvious first choice for many international businessmen to visit to 'get the feel' for what's going on here. Shanghai is developing fast and while still a bit away from the internationalization of Hong Kong, is catching up fast. Nearly all of the worlds major hotel chains are here so take your pick.
• Shaoxing
  
  Located in northern Zhejiang Province and south of Hangzhou Bay, Shaoxing is rich in history and culture, even for China, and boasts beautiful rivers and lakes. It's the birthplace of many famous scholars, writers and artists, including Cai Yuanpei, a famous educator, late Premier Zhou Enlai, and Lu Xun, the novelist. Here you can also find Dayu's Mausoleum, a temple and mausoleum complex honoring China antecedent Emperor Yu, which took over a century to build. The East Lake is 6km east of the city center, and features beautiful natural rock formations. The Lanting Pavilion, built in 1548, is also considered one of Shaoxing's "must see" spots.
• Shekou
  
  Located on southern China's Pearl River , Shekou is approximately 20 km from downtown Shenzhen. Shekou has begun to attract many visitors and expats from the larger city, and is gaining a reputation as a major scenic spot, therefore attracting not only tourists,but also home buyers who appreciate its small-town feel. Shekou's main plaza, for example, is frequently compared to an authentic Italian piazza. Besides, those starting up a business in Shekou may benefit from local resources at low rates.
• Shenyang
  
  Shenyang is the capital of Liaoning Province in China's North East, with a population of some 5 million. Long regarded as a rust belt, the city has been painted rather unfairly and is showing signs of significant regeneration under the Governor, Bo Xilai. It has long been an engineering center so has a significant number of SOE's, but these are being modernized or closed down and this is having an impact on local entrepreneurs who are now springing up. The city dates back some 2,000 years, when even at that time it was one of the most important cities in China. It was the seat of power for the Manchurians (Shenyang then known as Mukden) and China was run from here from the early Qing before the court moved to Beijing.
• Shenzhen
  
  Shenzhen lies just across the border from Hong Kong on the Southern Coast of Guangdong Province. A city of some 4 million, it is a Special Economic Zone (tax rate of 15% against national 30%) with. a border of its own, requiring you to show a passport to enter. The first city to benefit from Deng Xiao Ping's economic reforms it has subsequently developed into a economic powerhouse of its own and is generally regarded as a "Southern Shanghai" - China's second stock exchange is here and it boasts a wealth of business and tourist facilities.
• Shijiazhuang
  
  Shijiazhuang is the Provincial capital of Hebei Province about three hours drive West of Beijing. It's rail connections, developed over the last century have increased it's importance and today it is the major hub for Hebei products getting into the domestic market infrastructure. It's still relatively small, having a population of just 1.3 million, but it's cheaper labour and land are starting to attract foreign investors who need to be in close proximity to the North and it has good infrastructural links to Tianjin the regional port handling much of the regions import / export and just four hours train away.
• Suzhou
  
  Suzhou is in Jiangsu Province, just West of Shanghai, and is one of China's most pleasant cities, famous for it's gardens, silk and canals. The capital of the Wu State in the 6th century BC, it is a quiet and enigmatic destination and well worth a trip from Shanghai for a long weekend or a good wander around if there on business. Usually the trip is a two hour charabanc ride from Shanghai, and there's a similar train connection. Places to stay include the Gloria Plaza (0512) 521 8855, The Ramada Plaza Bamboo Grove (0512) 520 5601, the Sheraton (0512) 510 3388 and the less expensive Suzhou Hotel (0512) 520 4646.
• Tianjin
  
  Tianjin is located at the lower reaches of the Haihe River, its territory lying on both sides of the river. It is also a communication hub linking north China, northeast China and northwest China. The city boasts the largest man-made harbor in the north; its Tianjin Port is an important passage linking a dozen of provinces and cities in the north with the sea. Located near the seacoast, the city has a strong continental climate. The annual average temperature is 12.3°C. The hottest month is July, during which the average temperature can reach 26°C. Tianjin's industrial base now boasts 180 categories, 36 of which comprise enterprises of pillar industries: machinery, electronics, chemical industry and metallurgya. There are 12000 industry enterprises in Tianjin with Gross National Product of RMB Y 283.821 billion, 4 times that of 1990's.
• Turpan
  
  Turpan is located three hours drive East of Urumqi in China's Far Western Xinjiang Province and is an important historic and cultural town. Sited some 250 miles inside the Taklimakan Desert, it is essentially a man made oasis - developed by the ancient traders who channeled melt water from the Tian Shan Mountains some 500km away underground to Turpan in order to provide a rest and watering place for the caravanesi traveling from Europe, The Middle East, Africa and Central Asia across the deserts to reach China proper and conduct trade.
• Urumqi
  
  Urumqi (Wu Lu Mu Chi) is the Provincial capital of Xinjiang Province in China's Far West. A city of some 1.5 million, it is predominantly Han Chinese but with a strong Muslim population, ethnic Uygers, Kazaks, Uzbeks, Tadjiks all living and working in the city as they have done for centuries. This is the heart of the Silk Road.
• Wenzhou
  
  Wenzhou City sits by the O'jiang River and borders the East China Sea. The economic, political and cultural communication center of south Zhejiang Province, it has its own peculiar local dialect, and a modern trading industry based on an early treaty port. Lying on a small seaside plain laced with canals, the Wenzhou enjoys exceptional tourism resources, with listed scenic spots accounting for almost a quarter of the city's total territory. Wenzhou has a coastline of 355 kilometers, thus Wenzhou Port lists 20 hub ports along its coastal area.
• Wuhan
  
  Situated at the juncture of the Yangtze River and its greatest branch, the Hanjiang, Wuhan is the provincial capital of Hubei. Located in the very center of China, and known as one of China's "Three Furnaces" (due to the incredible heat pervading in the summer months), Wuhan is a vast metropolis of over 8 million, divided into three separate districts, each the size of a small city in itself. Wuhan is gaining importance both domestically and abroad, most notably as an education and science research base, thanks in part to the considerable university and student population here, as well as local governmental efforts to promote this as a premier business and commercial destination.
• Wuxi
  
  Wuxi is located in the Yangtze River Delta in Jiangsu Province about half way between Shanghai and Nanjing. The city of Wuxi itself boasts a modest population of 4.359 million including 2.1306 million in the downtown area of the city proper. Wuxi covers on area of 4,650km-- inclusive of 517.7 km as the city center. Ranging from hot and humid to cold and humid, Wuxi has four distinct seasons. The annual temperature averages 15.5 C; temperatures will range from below 0 C-- in the winter to 40 C-- in the summertime. The average annual rainfall is approximately 1,000 millimeters. The major landscape features of the city are all water; the two most prominent bodies of water being Tai Hu Lake and the Grand Canal.
• Xiamen
  
  Xiamen is an attractive coastal city one and a half hours flight south from Shanghai and is the major commercial city (but not the capital - that is Fuzhou) in Fujian Province. Somewhat recently blighted due to the smuggling scandal of a couple of years back, it nonetheless enjoys an excellent living environment and is rightfully regarded as one of China's most pleasant coastal cities. Xiamen has long held close ties with Taiwan - the Taiwanese island of Jinmen is swimming distance just off the coast. With direct links slowly being reestablished between Xiamen and Taiwan the city will boom if this accelerates.
• Xian
  
  Xian is the capital of Shaanxi Province in China's North West and is an ancient city with a fascinating history and culture. It was, depending on your point of view, either the start or the end of the Silk Road, and was China's capital (then known as Chang'An) for two thousand years. Today it is best known for its Terracotta Warriors, however the city itself is historic with massive city walls stretching some 12 miles around the centre (Xian has what Beijing has lost) and several important sites of interest with a variety of Pagodas, towers and temples all well preserved.
• Xigaze
  
  A 500-year-old cultural city located 3,800 meters above sea level, Xigaze is the home of the Panchen Erdeni, equal in rank to the Dalai Lama. There are many ancient temples in Xigaze: Sakya, Baiju, Xalu, and Tashihunpo, where the giant bronze statue of Buddha of Qiangba (Maitreya) is enshrined.Shigatse connects to Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim in the south, Ngari in the west, Nagqu in the north and Lhasa and Shannan in the east. Tibetans form 97 percent of the population, with the other 3 percent composed of Han Chinese and 15 other ethnic groups, including Hui, Monggol, Tu, Manchu, Miao and Zhuang. Xigaze is home to a quarter of Tibet's population yet it's population density is only 3.3 people per square kilometer. Most live in the Yarlung Zangbo River area, and the western plains are truly sparsely inhabited.
• Xining
  
  Xining is the capital of Qinghai province, and a great stopover for a visit to China's largest inland lake, Qinghaihu, a bird watcher's paradise. It is also possible to get up into Tibet from here, although steep, the road (originally dating back over 2,200 years) offers a unique way into Tibet and offers spectacular views as the plains give way to the Tibetan heights. Xining has long been a melting pot of different cultures, Tibetan Buddhism mixing it up with Islam and Chinese Confucianism, and the town is an interesting mix of mosques and monasteries.
• Xinjiang
  
  No mere city, Xinjiang, China's largest territorial unit of administration, ranges along National Highway 312 from Urumqi in the east to Yili in the west, stopping in major cities along the way, such as Changji, Kuiton and Shihezi. Xinjiang lies in northwest China, bordering Gansu and Qinghai provinces to the southeast, and Tibet to the south. While Xinjiang enjoys upwards of 3,000 hours of sunshine each year, annual precipitation averages a scarce 150 milliliters, quite dry but nonetheless fertile. With a total population of over one and a half million, Xinjiang is home to 47 of China's 56 ethnic groups, including the Uygur, Kazak, Mongolian, Khirghiz, Xibe, Tajik, Uzbek, Manchu, Daur, Tartar and even Russian ethnic groups. While Xinjiang is most famous for the ancient Silk Road, it also has 256 ancient cultural sites: tombs, ruins, Buddhist caves, and stone sculptures, most of them under state protection. It has also recently established 22 nature reserves for the protection of flora and fauna. The discovery of petroglyphs in Altay and dinosaur fossils has fascinated experts, scholars and tourists alike.
• Yabuli
  
  Known as the premier ski resort in China, Yabuli is the main attraction at Heilongjiang's International Ski Festival, every December 5th to January 5th. The resort sprawls four kilometers across the southern face of Guokui Mountain (1300m), 200 km southeast of Harbin. There's also a 2.5 kilometer toboggan run, built for the 1996 Asian Winter Games. The lifts serve an average of 10,000 skiers per day during the winter months.
• Yangshuo
  
  The little town of Yangshuo has long been a backpacker's paradise, but long before that it was a mecca for geomancers, thanks to its superb feng shui. It resembles nothing so much as an exquisite garden writ large, karsts, streams, and pools forming its finest features. Nestled in the midst of an amazing group of limestone pinnacles, Yangshuo is prettier, cheaper, and much less crowded than nearby Guilin. Some of Guanxi's most impressive scenery can be taken in after a short bike ride out of town. A profusion of inexpensive hostels and Western-style cafes draw foreigners for short visits that turn to months, often years. With the China boom, modern Yangshuo is rapidly filling up with more upscale hotels, high-end shops and restaurants, and swelling hordes of tourists.
• Yantai
  
  The British took this port city on the eastern coast of Shandong Peninsula from a tottering Qing Dynasty, then passed it on to the Germans. America kept its Asian fleet there after WWI, and in time a Japanese fishing community was established on its shores. Nonetheless, Yantai has little to show architecturally for this international influence, unlike its neighbor Qingdao. Disparaged as Qingdao's "poor relation", Yantai literally means "smoky mound" due to the wolf-dung fires the locals used to light to warn of approaching Japanese pirates. A city of 6.5 million, Yantai's GDP reached 24.5 billion Yuan in 2005. Yantai's biggest advantage lies in its integration of regional and national transportation networks by air, land, and sea. Yantai's airport offer 140 flights per week on 35 domestic and international air routes, including regular flights to South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan.
• Zhengzhou
  
  Zhengzhou is the capital of Henan province, one of the poorest in eastern China. The main strip of the city is fairly unappealing and the layout is fairly convoluted. However, while most foreigners see little use for the city, it does have some hidden charms if you are willing to look past its gritty façade. There are a surprising number of parks around the city offering an escape from the wear and tear of urban life. A canal running near the main stretch is also nice enough to look at. If you’re willing to walk around and explore a little there are also large areas of tree-lined streets to the southwest of Zi Jing Shan Gong Yuan (紫荆山公园） that are fairly charming. The best areas are about a kilometer southwest of the park. You may not want to be stuck here for six months, but it is nice enough for a few days if you make an effort.
• Zhongdian
  
  To most of the world, Zhongdian is still known as Shangrila, a Tibetan word meaning "land of sacred peace". Even today, Zhongdian County remains an untainted natural paradise, drawing travelers in search of pristine natural glory. Three mountains, Meili, Baimang and Haba, stand guard over the landscape, which is crisscrossed by the Mekong, and Yangtze Rivers. The place is home to 100,000 Tibetans, Lisus, Naxis and Yis, all famed for their honesty and hospitality to visitors.
• Zibo
  
  Known from ancient times as a busy commercial center, Zibo lies between Shandong's jewel - Qingdao, and it's capital, Jinan.