Reasons to Visit China
With some of the most recognisable buildings and monuments in the world, from the ancient Forbidden City to the ultra-modern skyscrapers of Shanghai and Pudong, a trip to China is must for anyone interested in city and rural architecture.
China is awash with enormous cities, arguably the three most famous being Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. All three cities are excellent places to watch the world bustle along around you, whilst of course being some of the top cities to shop and dine.
The portrait of Chairman Mao that stands proud on the front of the Forbidden City is just one of the countless examples of the influence that the Communists have had on this country.
Surely one of the top worldwide cuisines, each region of China is famous for different delicacies. Sichuan hot pot, Hong Kong dim sum, and of course Peking duck, all dishes to get the taste buds going.
In some of the more rural parts of the country ethnic minority groups can be found in large numbers. Many of the same tribes that are found in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand have also settled in Yunnan province and also in Guizhou and Guangxi. Many still wear there traditional dress and so a visit to these regions is often a colourful one!
The different regions of China boast a myriad of different fascinating and beautiful landscapes, the limestone karst mountains in the Guilin area and the high plains crossing over into Tibet to name a couple.
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China, Russia & Central Asia
The Songtsam Hotel is a small, beautifully decorated hotel in Tibetan style, set a short drive out of Zhongdian in the foothills of the Himalayas, at the base of the impressive Songzanlin Monastery.
This is a lovely little hotel located ten minutes out of the town of Zhongdian, in front of the Lamaist monastery of Songzanlin.
It is beautifully decorated in traditional Tibetan style and all rooms have wonderful views of the lake and mountains in front of the hotel.
The Songtsam is wonderfully placed for exploring Songzanlin monastery and the surrounding village, as well as taking a peaceful stroll around the lake to appreciate the mountain scenery.
On the very edge of the Tibetan plateau is one of the most important Llamaist monasteries outside Tibet. The 300-year-old Songzanlin Monastery, home to around 600 monks, dominates the outskirts of the frontier town of Zhongdian.
Our rating: Deluxe
Zhongdian
Our rating: First Class
Further reading:Tours in ChinaWhen to GoHighlightsItinerary IdeasPlaces to GoThings to DoAccommodationAbout ChinaCountry Guides
Other countries in North Asia & Russia:JapanKyrgyzstanMongoliaRussiaTaiwanTibetUkraineUzbekistan
