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Exploring Beijing by bicycle is a great way to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city. We decided a bike-tour would be a great addition to our Beijing repertoire but we wouldn’t offer it to you unless we’d done ourselves – It was time for a test-drive.

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A few weeks ago our travel designers strapped on their helmets, mounted their bikes and put the pedal to the metal on a whirlwind tour on Beijing’s most popular form of transportation.

Known as one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the world, Beijing’s flat roads and wide, dedicated bike lanes make taking your two-wheeler an ideal way to get around the capital. Follow in our footsteps (or our bike treads), with the details of the route that we took. You can hop on your bike and take a whirlwind tour of the city in typical AsiaTravel fashion: completely local and wildly creative.

 

Christine’s Tire Frames Mao’s Portrait

Our bike tour started out near the Drum Tower in the Gulou neighborhood. This area is known for its exciting side alleys and courtyard homes known as hutongs. Here, AsiaTravel can help you rent a bike for a whole or half day.

Cruising in Style Near Houhai Lake

HouHai

After choosing our bikes, we set out around houhai, a beautiful man-made lake. Cycling around the lake is a fascinating experience in all seasons. In summer, boats shaped like ducks propel themselves under the low-hanging bridges and in winter, intrepid old men dive into the frozen lake in nothing but their Speedo’s. We even organize calligraphy classes on the banks of the picturesque lake. Biking is the perfect way to take in all of these unique, Beijing sights.

the hutongs

After conquering Houhai, we decided to get lost in the hutongs. These narrow side streets hold surprises at every turn. At first you may see a street vendor selling fresh persimmons falling straight from the tree and turn the corner and bump into an old man playing cards with his grandson while smoking a cheap cigarette. On a AsiaTravel hutong adventure, we’ll introduce you to our good friend: a cricket fighter who’ll invite you in to his home to learn the history of cricket fighting in these ancient alleyways.

Rocking the aviator sunglasses in a hutong alley

Take it slow on your bike and take time to sip in your surroundings. Biking helps you maneuver around these crowded hutongs and not miss a single bit of the experience.

Jingshan Park

We followed the narrow pathways down south to Jingshan Park. We had to lock our bikes down at the entrance to the park, and we began our climb to the top of this small mountain. Our breaths were bated with anticipation for the panoramic view awaiting us at the top. And believe us, the view did not disappoint.

Jingshan with Our Helmets in Hand

We were able to see the sprawling metropolis of Beijing from all angles. But the belle of the ball was our view looking down over the Forbidden City. From the ground, it’s hard to see how magnificent and vast the Imperial Palace is but from the higher vantage point, we were able to see the grandeur of this centuries old sprawling royal residence. On a AsiaTravel tour we would walk down mountain and enjoy privileged access to the Emperor’s former childhood home within the red walls of the Forbidden City,

Tiananmen Square

We ended our half day bike tour of the city with one of its most iconic sights: Tiananmen Square. This part of the tour was when taking a bike really shows its benefits.

Special Access to Tiananmen – For Bikers Only!

When you ride through Tiananmen on bicycle you’re given special access to parts of the road that are blocked to both cars and pedestrians. It’s a very privileged experience that is only available to bikers. This special access gives you one-of-a-kind close up views of this historical locale.

Touring Beijing by bike is a great way to set your own pace and really enjoy your interaction with the city. Just don’t forget to wear your helmet!

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Now that this bike tour has the AsiaTravel stamp of approval, why not add it to your customized Beijing’s Past & Future tour.

 

One of the oldest cities in China, Xi’an is best known as the home of Emperor Qin’s terracotta army but the city’s unique and mouthwatering cuisine is a reason to visit in its own right. As the first stop on the Silk Road, Xi’an has been at the crossroads of Muslim and Chinese cultures for centuries and the city’s signature dishes reflect the melange of this historic meeting point. Embark on a culinary journey and get to know the best dishes in Xi’an. 

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Shaanxi cuisine goes back a long way –  as an important stop on the ancient Silk Road, this central province welcomed travelers who had journeyed from the Middle East. Local cuisine became infused with Middle Eastern flavors and wandering the fragrant streets and side alleys of Xian, you can smell the savory aromas of lamb dishes, Uyghur flatbreads and exotic spices. Pathways are lined with barbecues and sizzling woks and raucous groups of locals dine at tables piled high with local beer and chuan’r. Read on for our pick of five dishes not to miss on your next trip to Xian:

Photo distributed under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license

5. YANGROU PAOMO

A local favorite and the irrefutable star of Xi’an cuisine, yangrou paomo（羊肉泡馍）is a stew with unleavened flatbread soaked in tasty mutton soup. Take your two pieces of flatbread – ‘mo’ in Chinese – and shred into small pieces. Locals believe the rather arduous task delivers a better hand-pulled texture to the dish. The shredded mo is then returned with the bowl to the chef, who cooks it in mutton soup with rice vermicelli until the bread is fully soaked in the light and aromatic flavor.

Photo by bionicgrrrl via Flickr

4. ROUJIAMO

Sink your teeth into the juicy, meaty goodness of roujiamo (肉夹馍), Xi’an’s take on a burger. The dish is rather simple, made up of two critical ingredients: baked leavened bread and shredded braised meat. The meat filling – either lamb or beef – is braised for hours in a bubbly vat of beef or mutton stew. A hearty portion is then fished out, shredded by hand and tucked in the bread.

Guilhem Vellut via flickr

3. LIANGPI

Roujiamo is often paired with a bowl of liangpi, a cold dish featuring thinly-sliced noodles. When liangpi is served, it is tossed with cucumber shreds and bean sprouts and drizzled in a sauce of pepper powder, diced garlic, sesame paste, black vinegar, and roasted chili oil.

Photo by ckmck via Flickr

2. CHUAN’R

Chuan’r (烤串儿) are a cheap and convenient snack that pair perfectly with a cold, local beer. A small skewer can cost as little as 1 yuan and there is a great variety of choices – lamb, beef, chicken, and potatoes are all favorites. The skewer is coated in chili pepper and cumin powder and roasted on a grill. Xi’an locals can be spotted at hole-in-the-wall restaurants or makeshift street stalls late at night, the table pilled high with these tasty Chinese Kebabs.

Photo by 飞飞1976 via szhome

1. Dumplings in Sour Soup

Only in the Shaanxi capital can you find the authentic taste of dumplings in sour soup (酸汤水饺). The history of the dish dates back over a thousand years, with a complex recipe for the soup – sweet vinegar, dried shrimps, cooked sesame, chicken oil and butter make up some of the many ingredients. The hot and flavorful dish is a perfect comfort for rainy days in the city.

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Hungry yet? We have two journeys that are perfect for the curious foodie. Check out the Gastronomic Tour of China or Yunnan Gastronomic Tour – both of which are curated and led by Fuchsia Dunlop, a world-renowned chef and Chinese cuisine guru.

From Peking duck in Beijing to the spice markets of Sichuan, Chinese cuisine is as vast and fascinating as the country itself. Here are our tips for eating the best Chinese food in China. Warning: this post will make you hungry.

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One of the first things you’ll learn when you visit China is that there’s no such thing as ‘Chinese food,’ at least not in the way most people think of in the West.

Chinese cuisine is as rich and varied as the dishes of Europe. The spicy aromas of Kung Pao Chicken in Sichuan is as different from the sweet flavors of Shanghai roast pork as a steak tartare in Paris is from a bowl of paella in Barcelona. Practically every province in China is known for a different dish and a new flavor.

Every year, award-winning writer, chef and China culinary expert, Fuchsia Dunlop leads a Gastronomic Tour of China – a journey through these foodie havens and into the country’s local markets, top restaurants and family kitchens.

Beijing

Kyle Obermann

The city’s namesake and most famous dish, Peking Duck, is itself ample reason to include China’s capital into your travel itinerary. This hearty, iconic meal is rightly world famous and you won’t easily forget the succulent crunch of the duck’s crispy skin paired rich hoisin sauce.

But it’s not only Peking duck which puts this city on the culinary map…

Beijing’s proximity to China’s northern provinces mean that the city’s flavors are infused with many exotic influences. Wander down a historical hutong and discover Mongolian Hotpot. Far less spicy than its Sichuanese counterpart, this dish is sure to soothe the soul on a crisp Beijing evening. Goji berries, jujubes, black cardamom pods, ginseng and fresh herbs steam in an aromatic broth at the center of the table and sides of marbled meats and crisp vegetables make for a sensually visual experience along with the wafting smell and – wait for it- mouthwatering flavor.

Xi’an

Xi’an Meat Burger – Roujiamo
Source: P. Xie

While Xi’an is best known for its ancient terracotta army, the present day inhabitants of the city have plenty to offer the hungry visitor. Navigate the beautiful city walls and venture to the vibrant Muslim quarter, where savory lamb skewers are roasted over red-hot coals and sweet glutinous rice is steamed in bamboo.

After washing down your meal with an ice cold pomegranate juice, enjoy some of the city’s famous sites (if only as an excuse to work up an appetite for the second meal of the day). Traditional Xi’an dishes include flavorsome cold noodles, hot and sour dumpling soup, and steamed beef with wheat powder.

Due to its unconventionally rich melange of flavors, Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter is one of our favorite stops on the Gastronomic Tour of China.

Chengdu

Lajiao Chilis

It’s the third stop on Fuchsia’s Gastronomic Tour and if spicy food is something you can handle, then Chengdu will seem like paradise on earth. Just be prepared; the local dishes pack a punch.

Spiced not only with normal chili or ‘lajiao’, Sichuanese food also uses a special, local pepper known as ‘huajiao’ to give the food a tingling, numbing effect. This combination of numbness and spice is called ‘mala’ by the locals, and will ensure that your first meal in Sichuan is burned into your memory as well as your mouth.

Shanghai

After your spicy trip to Sichuan, you might need to heal your scorched taste buds with a sweet Shanghainese meal. Unlike the burning hot flavors of Chengdu, Shanghainese cuisine is ‘tiande,’ sweet, an ideal antidote to the spiciness of distant Sichuan.

Rich, fatty pieces of pork and freshly caught hairy crab are easy on the tongue, but don’t let your guard down completely.  Dishes like ‘xiaolong bao’ or small dragon bags are aptly named, because these things can be vicious. Filled not only with flavor but also with piping hot soup, these dishes have been known to squirt water at unsuspecting visitors. Pierce the bag first with a chopstick to let the steam out before digging in.

Hangzhou

Stuffed Orange with Crab Meat 
Source: 三猎

Hangzhou is famous for it’s beautiful West Lake, a still, serene body of water which attracts tourists, world leaders and, most importantly, some of the country’s most inspired chefs. If you enjoy seafood, the sweet and sour ‘West Lake Fish’ and shelled shrimp will mingle perfectly with the tranquil surroundings. You can even try the savory sweet fusion of stuffed orange with crab meat. 

Hangzhou also produced world-renowned tea, a flavor that is infused into many local specialties. A Hangzhou banquet wouldn’t be the same without a plate of tea-infused prawns soaked in the Longjing (dragon’s well) green tea that grows exclusively in the region’s hills.

Enjoy a local West Lake beer with your meal, and enjoy the calmness of this city. After the bustle and energy of Shanghai – one of the biggest cities in the world – you’ve definitely earned the downtime.

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Wonder what it’s like to wander down side alleys to the kitchen of a local auntie, roll up your sleeves, and learn to cook and eat like a local? Discover all these cities with the help of Fuchsia Dunlop, on our Gastronomic Tour of China.

 

Guizhou is home to one of China’s largest ethnic minority populations, and throughout the year these vibrant communities celebrate their traditions with vivid and inspiring festivals. We’ve brought together a calendar of Guizhou festivals so you can get in on the action.

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Every year visitors from China and around the world make the journey to Guizhou in order to witness the many traditional festivals of the Miao ethnic group. These festivals are a perfect way to experience and celebrate one of the many faces of Chinese culture and we have pulled together a few of next year’s highlights that you should be marking on your calendar now:

Stunning Beadwork on a Traditional Miao Garment
Source: Daderot

Miao Long Table Banquet
As soon as harvest is completed in September or October – you can contact one of our trip designers for more details.

Despite the rapid transformation of China in recent years, the Miao ethnic minority have stayed true to their traditional dress, lifestyle and, of course, cuisine. The Miao Long Table banquet is a welcome antidote to the well earned hunger of a long day of sightseeing, as you sample dishes like Sour Fish Soup and Oil Tea made with ginger and salt, and indulge in enthusiastic toasts with local rice wine. The Long Table banquet is an important tradition and connection to the past celebrating a local goddess who was once able to feed the whole village. Each dish comes from the unique methods brought down from by Miao people for centuries to honor special occasions. 

Miao New Year
November 5

Miao Dancers
Source: Matěj Baťha

The Miao people have their own way of welcoming in the New Year, and their own calendar for deciding when it is. The Miao New Year typically rolls around in the 9th, 10th or 11th month of the Chinese lunar calendar and to mark the occasion, the Miao people assiduously prepare, gathering provisions, arranging ancestor worship, visiting neighboring villages and playing the Lusheng, a traditional music instrument made from bamboo.

Lusheng Festival
February, Several Dates

Lusheng Playing
Source: Impressive Pipes

The lusheng is the cornerstone of all Miao New Year celebrations. This bamboo instrument can measure up to three meters long, and makes a sound you’re unlikely to hear from any other source. During the Lusheng Festival, the biggest event of the Miao New Year, girls dress up in their finest traditional attire while boys lug the instruments to Lusheng Stadium to perform a dazzling display of dance and music.

Sister’s Meal Festival
April 11-13

Source: Fanghong

The oldest ‘Valentine’s Day’ in Asia, the Sister’s Meal Festival began its life as a humble courtship ritual where young Miao men and young Miao women could meet and embark on a life together. With their colorful traditional dresses and enthusiastic displays of local dance and music, the Sister’s Meal Festival soon began to draw a larger crowd. You can expect to be among thousands of other visitors who have gathered to watch this ancient ritual play out once more.

Dragon Boat Festival
May 30

Source: Flickr

The Dragon Boat Festival occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month in the Chinese lunar calendar, placing it near the summer solstice. Across China citizens mark the occasion by drinking wine and eating triangular rice snacks known as Zongzi. They’re delicious, and if you’re in China at the right time you should definitely try them. In Guizhou, the Dragon Canoe Festival lets you witness the Miao ethnic people take to the waters in traditional boats, and race each other while dressed in purple and gold.

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Want to pull up a seat at the Long Table Festival or try your hand at playing Lusheng? Journey with AsiaTravel throughout Guizhou on our Hidden Guizhou Private Tour. If you’d like to travel with a small-group of like-minded adventurers, we also do a yearly small group tour to Guizhou: Hidden Guizhou Small Group Tour.

Jingdezhen was the world’s undisputed capital of porcelain for nearly 2,000 years, yet it lay forgotten until the late twentieth century. Now, thanks to redevelopments and a new generation of artists, new life is being breathed into the very place that gave China its name.

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Jingdezhen rose to prominence during the Han Dynasty (221–206 BC), crafting fine porcelain ware for China’s emperor and imperial court. Despite their efforts to keep the place secret, fine porcelain found its way onto the Silk Road, and became treasured across the world – at one point, fine china was valued over gold.

In the last decade, Jingdezhen has risen from the ashes, with renewed interest and increasing numbers of artisans learning the fine craft of porcelain making. These include American ceramic artist Ryan LaBar, who has set up a workshop in Taoxichuan, a bustling arts community at the heart of Jingdezhen’s rebirth. Ryan LaBar is a Pékin Fine Arts represented artist.

Source: Ryan LaBar

Ryan gave us the lowdown on his work and the city’s contemporary arts scene.

Could you tell us about yourself and your work?

I came here in October 2015, as Taoxichuan was being built and I was invited to work at the International Studio. I then saw the scope of the project, as it was developing for the two months that I was initially here for. I decided to build a studio here because the project was really strong, and the cost of living in Jingdezhen is incredibly cheap compared to Portland, Oregon where I was coming from.

I went to school as an undergraduate to be a doctor, but I realized that wasn’t my passion. So I set out redefine myself by doing something that I truly liked: throwing pots. I slowly developed my work through a series of investigations, experiments and failures.

My work comes from a somewhat reductionist way of thinking, which is a way that many biologists look at the world, as they look at the complex systems they break them down into understandable parts. So my work is somewhat like that, I create seemingly complex pieces of work that I consider compositions, more like structural compositions. They’re based on putting small parts together to create a whole.

Source: Ryan LaBar

What drew you to Jingdezhen?

Part of the reason I’m here is to create a new dialog and open up a fresh perspective in the international ceramics scene. I’m coming to Jingdezhen to show what is possible using traditional materials and techniques, within the mother city of tradition and porcelain; I’m being met with open arms. People are excited to see new work and potential.

Everyone within the field of ceramics knows that China was named after the fine china that was created in Jingdezhen. So I feel like a son returning home to his mother. The history of china and porcelain is very important to me. It attracted me to Jingdezhen, to feel the history, and I’m very much attracted to places that have a creative energy. I consider Taoxichuan a dry riverbed that now water is flowing through again. I feel that energy and flow, and that inspires me everyday at work. So Jingdezhen from a historical perspective and the creative potential that exists, and the fact that it’s economically feasible, all of that drove me here.

As a foreign artist, how do you incorporate Jingdezhen into your work?

I’m working on west meets east, so I’m taking these traditional Chinese vases, that are kind of tchotchke (kitschy souvenirs), so they look like old vases from the Ming Dynasty era, but they’re slip casted and manufactured in quantity, and are very cheap, like 30RMB. I use that as one of the elements in the sculpture, and so my sculpture is wrapping around this old Chinese object that represents the history of ceramics and where it’s come to in the modern time. My work is literally strangling it, embracing it, or just melting and working with it.

Source: Ryan LaBar

How has Jingdezhen’s history as the porcelain capital of China impacted the contemporary art scene?

That’s an investigation that I’ll be pursuing forty years from now. I don’t think there is very much contemporary art here. But there’s always a sense of marketability here that’s getting in the way of progressive, contemporary ideas. People keep asking me “How can you make this work here?” because no one sees this of value. Their value structure is based on centuries of tradition, which is the quality of glaze.

I haven’t really been moved by contemporary art here, and I hope to be part of creating a contemporary dialog in Jingdezhen. I’m also aware that in order to attract people that are interested in porcelain you have to adhere to some of those traditional value structures. I still value that sort of pristine glaze surface, the technicality of throwing and stuff like that. So for me to use that familiar tchotchke vase, that Ming Dynasty rip-off presents something familiar, and traditional. I think that that is to recognize the existing language and then bring your own language into it, somehow reconciling the two.

I wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t potential for revitalization. I think that the market for contemporary ceramic ware embracing the dialog of traditional ware, has an opportunity here.

How can you see the local scene evolving?

Jingdezhen is a very special place. Right now there is so much outside interest, and the government is helping create all these building projects. They’re putting a lot of attention into Jingdezhen because of its history and China’s namesake is in this city.

Jingdezhen’s getting a facelift, and a lot of people are aware of it. It seems like Jingdezhen is attracting a lot of outside money, and I’m witnessing it, being at the heart of this huge project at Taoxichuan, that I think is at the pinnacle of Jingdezhen’s revitalization. The level of quality that’s gone into this factory area is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, it’s done well. If this is the standard for projects in Jingdezhen then I can’t imagine what Jingdezhen will be like in ten years’ time.

What does the future hold for you?

It depends on what I love doing, which is to sit down at the potter’s wheel. My studio practice is my main drive, and so hopefully I can continue doing this. The more that I can use these projects to populate a dialog, the better. I also show my work in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and do talks and workshops around East Asia.

I hope that as I continue my practice, I get more interested parties, and projects that will push me beyond my comfort zone. That will push my work to areas that are beyond what I can think of right now.

Why would you recommend that people visit Jingdezhen?

To me in Jingdezhen there is a place that’s more “China” than the larger cities. It’s like backcountry China. So as far as attracting tourists here, not only because of its ceramic history, there’s a real China here, and the landscape is beautiful. There’s Sanbao Valley here that’s exquisite, and you’re minutes away from beautiful scenery.

You’re steeped in this juxtaposition of old and new China, so I think it’s a really valuable time for people to visit Jingdezhen to see how it’s changing. Here in Taoxichuan they have strict rules about preservation, somehow keeping the integrity of the old, and to me this is a good sign of the value that’s being placed on the history of China and keeping the culture alive and memorable, but at the same time giving it new breath. So when I say it’s a dry riverbed, they’re not creating a new river, they’re just filling it back up with new water. The old riverbed and beaches are still there, the stratifications that the river has created throughout the years are still visible.

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Watch skilled craftsmen sculpt, paint, and fire delicate porcelain wares once fit only for emperors on our Jingdezhen: the Art of Porcelain tour. You’ll also hike into the mountains that once provided the precious clay for the workshops and visit Tao Xi Chuan District yourself.

Europe may have been the birthplace of Surrealism but China boasts more fantastical landscapes than the likes of surreal artist Salvador Dali could shake a paintbrush at.

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A gravity-defying landscape that inspired the creation of an alien world, glistening rice terraces that form a stairway to heaven or a place that appears as if it’s been lifted straight from the canvas. Welcome to China, a country home to scenery that will push the limits of your imagination.

Zhangjiajie

Blue skinned aliens, living in harmony with nature among floating mist-wreathed pillars of rock – this is (reputedly) what the director of blockbuster movie Avatar imagined when he first saw Zhangjiajie in central China’s Hunan Province.

Daybreak offers the most wondrous scenes, as morning mists play about the park’s 3,000 sandstone pillars, giving them a gravity-defying appeal.

Hiking through canyons brings visitors close to the park’s macaques, deer and leopards. Rafting and exploring its many caves gives visitors a sense of just how wonderfully unique this place really is.

No stranger to superlatives, Zhangjiajie hosts the highest outdoor elevator in the world, alongside the world’s highest and longest glass bridge, strung a whopping 360 meters over a gorge.

Easily enjoyed in two days, consider China’s Avatar Mountains for an otherworldly weekend adventure.

Danxia, Gansu

The unique pork-stripe ridges of Danxia in northwest China’s Gansu are guaranteed to mesmerize, cooked to perfection under the cloudless skies of Gansu province.

Made from layers of sandstone that once lay upon an ocean floor, several million years of geological upheaval and exposure to Gansu’s arid climate have carved out what the Guardian calls “China’s rainbow mountains”.

Source: via Wikimedia Commons

Visiting during summertime is recommended, as the geo-park’s rich hues stand out against yellow fields of rapeseed, green mountains and blue skies.

A visit before sunrise or sunset sees the peaks burst into flame, a dazzling kaleidoscope of color, texture and tone.

Contact us about arranging a trip to China’s rainbow mountains.

Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan

We’re not blaming you if you mistake Jiuzhaigou for the European Alps or American Rockies – the likeness is uncanny.

Here you can find rushing falls emptying into crystal-clear turquoise lakes, backed by hillsides coated in tall, proud evergreens and framed by snowcapped peaks. Jiuzhaigou offers untouched, natural China at its very best.

 

Unsurprisingly, these hills and mountains are home to China’s richest spread of flora and fauna, from snub-nosed monkeys to the recently reintroduced giant panda, making this a relative Garden of Eden for David Attenborough types.

During autumn, the park’s evergreen trees burn bright orange in their last dance to the summer sun. Hiking trails, horse treks and camping offer ample opportunities to enjoy the season’s greatest spectacle.

Now that the Ritz Carlton hotel chain has opened up a new location in the park, China’s answer to the Alps can be enjoyed in luxury. Join us on our Sichuan’s Natural Wonders tour.

Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Yunnan

Situated in remote southwest China, Yuanyang may be off the beaten path, but it should be on everybody’s itinerary. Here’s why.

During winter, the region’s thousands of rice paddies fill up with water, creating awe-inspiring reflections; resembling a shimmering stairway to heaven.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

This spellbinding landscape can be explored easily on foot, where wallowing water buffalo and rice farmers still go about business in time-forgotten fashion.

Visitors can stay the night in a local minority village, before getting up to see the sunrise and mists dance over this unmistakably Chinese vista.

What’s more, Yunnan Province is now better-connected to the rest of China, thanks to a new high-speed rail link from Shanghai, which has reduced journeys to just ten hours.

Let’s get planning your trip to Yuanyang!

Li River, Guilin

We challenge you not to fall in love with Guilin’s postcard-perfect scenery; regarded in China as “the finest under heaven”.

Meandering down the Li River aboard a bamboo raft, past dreamy jade green peaks or seeing locals fish at dusk near Xingping offer some of the most idyllic and romantic scenes in all of China.

 

Source: Carlos Adampol Galindo via Flickr

Riding a bike is the perfect way to get into gear with Guilin’s laid-back tempo, while hiking up onto the backs of the region’s green giants provides a unique perspective from above, rather than below – as most visitors see them.

Furthermore, nearby Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces offers sublime trekking through China’s agrarian past.

See for yourself with our Old Country Living tour, ranked by National Geographic Travel as “Tour of a Lifetime”. You won’t be able to keep your hands off your camera.

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Want to see these surreal landscapes come to life? Speak to us to start planning an unforgettable trip into China’s most surreal landscapes.

Labeled as China’s very own Death Valley for its scorching heat and dry landscape, Turpan is actually very much alive with a vibrant ethnic minority culture, China’s equivalent to Mecca, and deserts that bloom.

Located in western China’s Xinjiang Province, Turpan lies around 150 meters below sea level and receives just 4 centimeters of rainfall each year – making it one of the lowest and driest places on the earth’s surface.

Despite this, the city’s ideal position on the ancient Silk Road made it a thriving outpost and melting pot of peoples from all across Asia. Islam has had a strong influence on the region and the ethnic minority Uighur people have inflected the land with their unique blend of Muslim and Chinese influences. This legacy has blessed Turpan with abundant historical relics.

We’ve picked out five attractions that every visitor to the region must see.

What to Do in Turpan

Emin Minaret

The cone-shape of Emin minaret, or Émǐn tǎ in Mandarin, makes a striking addition to Turpan’s skyline. First built in 1777 during the time of the Qing Dynasty, the minaret was created in honor of Emin Khoja, who with the help of Qing forces wrestled back Turpan from the Dzungar Mongols.

Source: Ian Burt

While he never lived to see it complete, it stands today as a (rare) 44-meter monument to cooperation between Han Chinese and the native Uyghur ethnic group. Emin Minaret continues to attract scores of visitors and worshippers each day, with an eye-catching blend of Chinese and Islamic architecture.

Being on the outskirts of the city, it is a short 3km trip by taxi, by bike or on foot. While traveling with AsiaTravel, we can help you to organize a two-wheeler so you can get a real feel for the architecture, culture, and people of Turpan.

Jiaohe Ruins

Also known as Jiāohé gùchéng, these ruins are undoubtedly one of the world’s oldest and best-preserved ancient cities, and now an important UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Source: Colegota

This lost city has witnessed the ebb and flow of different empires and religions, and at one point housed some 7,000 people. Yet when Genghis Khan and his Mongol army reduced the city to rubble sometime after 1209, it was quickly abandoned.

The ruins are home to a “Stupa Grove” of 100 or so Buddhist pagodas, offering a reminder of Buddhism’s earlier influence in Xinjiang. Starkly beautiful, the ruins have a haunting quality, with all life drawn from them by the ravages of time and the scouring winds of central Asia.

Toyuq Village

Set in a lush valley that cuts a green path through the bone-dry peaks of the flaming mountains, Toyuq, or Tǔ yù gōu, is a key site of pilgrimage for Xinjiang’s Uyghurs. Nearby tombs contain the remains of – reputedly – the first Uyghur to convert to Islam. Seven trips here are said to equal one trip to Mecca.

Source: Allen Grey

A sandblasted mosque, simple sandstone houses and cave dwellings possess a timeless quality, and the village’s very hospitable locals ensure ample opportunities to immerse yourself in authentic Uighur culture.

If you travel with AsiaTravel, you’ll even have the opportunity to lodge in a local Uighur household. Be sure to sample the village’s famous grape harvest where a bumper crop of succulent grapes will quench your thirst after a long day in the sun.

Flaming Mountains

The Flaming Mountains are a range of bright red sandstone peaks known by locals as huǒyàn shān. True to form, the peaks can reach temperatures of 70 degrees Celsius during summer time, making it one of the hottest places on earth and living up to the “death valley” title the region is famous for.

Source: Colegota

With heavily scarred slopes, the mountains give off the look of dancing flames. They were thrust into popular imagination by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, in which the monkey king uses a magic fan to extinguish a fire upon the mountains and safely continue his voyage westwards.

China’s largest thermometer presses home how brutal the heat can be here – the soles of your shoes may soften, and you can even try frying an egg in the scorching sands.

Karez System

The Karez system, or Kǎn’erjǐng, is an ingenious underground irrigation system that brought water and prosperity to this parched region. It quite literally made the desert bloom.

By harnessing the flow of groundwater from the nearby Tianshan Mountains into the Turpan depression, water could be gravity-fed through a network of deep canals. Once stored in underground reservoirs it could then be distributed to locals, ensuring a year-round supply for agricultural settlements.

It’s regarded as one of the three great projects of ancient China, alongside the Great Wall and Grand Canal. Testament to their ingenuity, many of the canals are still in use to this day, and the local museum lets you explore this fascinating feat of engineering that made Turpan what it is today.

Regardless of its moniker, Turpan continues to live on, with a multicultural mosaic of people and awe-inspiring landscapes that await your arrival.

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Interested in the many sights of China’s Death Valley, Turpan? Take your curiosity a step further on our Marco Polo’s Silk Road tour where you’ll be able to eat a home-cooked meal with an Uighur family and travel through the desert on camelback.

Want to make like Marco Polo and explore some of the Silk Road? To help you start planning your voyage along this ancient trade route, we’ve compiled a list of our top destinations.

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Despite its name, the Silk Road was in fact a network of countless roads, transporting different goods, ideas and people all across Asia. It’s no exaggeration that it helped lay the foundations for the modern world, by connecting China, Central Asia and Europe.

From its eastern terminus in the ancient Chinese capital of Chang’an – modern-day Xi’an – a mighty ribbon of routes coursed westward, through inhospitable desert, over snowbound mountain passes and vast central Asian steppe land, before reaching the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.

This is the route that Marco Polo took on his epic voyages across Eurasia, and now it’s your turn. Luckily it’s the 21st century and you don’t have to go it alone. On our Silk Road journeys, a local AsiaTravel guide will be with every step of the way, helping you connect with real people and experiences in an authentic and unforgettable way. Here’s how we help you make the most of your journey along this ancient trading route.

Silk Road Tours

Xi’an: Gateway to the Silk Road

This was where it all began, the capital of Chinese civilization for its first millennia. The city’s ancient walls and narrow streets hark back to a time when it was a hub of cultural, religious, and economic interaction between East and West.

The Muslim Quarter is at the heart of the city’s Chinese-Muslim fusion, and Middle Eastern aromas waft throughout its tightly knit alleyways. Must-tries include lamb kebabs, mutton and bread stew as well as rou jiamo – China’s answer to the hamburger. All of our AsiaTravel Xi’an guides grew up locally so they will know where is best to stop and what delectable dishes to try.

Source: Batiste Pannetier via Wikimedia Commons

At nighttime, the Muslim Quarter becomes a melting pot of exciting colors, sounds and sights. Visitors can put their bargaining skills to the test with local Hui Muslim merchants and then grab some sizzling local snacks.

After you’ve filled up on local cuisine, escape to an oasis of calm at the Grand Mosque, which sports a fascinating blend of Arab influences alongside Chinese characteristics. Time permitting, AsiaTravel will arrange for you to join in on the daily prayers of the local people and meet with the imam, the leader of the prayers.

If you want to be led by an experienced local guide on a trip that is customized to fit your needs, consider planning a Xi’an Warriors and Emperors tour.

Dunhuang: Blazing Beacon

Dunhuang is a prosperous oasis town on the edge of the Gobi Desert. Its name literally means ‘blazing beacon’ because it was once situated at a crossroads between Chinese civilization and the perilous, ungoverned lands that lay beyond.

One of the best ways to feel the essence of the Silk Road is by riding its main vehicle – the camel train – into the Gobi desert. On camelback, visitors can scale 300-meter sand dunes named the “rumbling sands”, and listen to them roar in the wind. Then watch the sun set over Crescent Moon Lake, a fresh water oasis thought to have existed for over 2,000 years.

 

Located just 25km from Dunhuang city, the countless frescoes, sculptures and terracotta statues that fill the Mogao Caves make up the world’s biggest collection of Buddhist art. What remains today is outstanding, and history lovers can trace the development of the Silk Road from 400AD as they move between the caves.

As always, when you travel with AsiaTravel you’ll do Dunhuang the VIP way. Enjoy private access to caves normally closed to the public accompanied by AsiaTravel Expert Director Wang, the director of the Dunhuang Academy. This experience is sure to sing to the archaeologist and adventurer in you.

Turpan: China’s Death Valley

Turpan is located in one of the driest places on earth, however, the city’s ideal position along the Silk Road turned it into a thriving desert outpost, and today it is peppered with fascinating historical relics.

The Flaming Mountains are a range of scorched peaks on the edge of the Taklimakan Desert. Here temperatures can climb to a blistering 160 degrees Farhenheit during summer time, giving the region the “death valley” title it is famous for.

Source: Colegota

In Turpan you can discover the Karez System, an ingenious method of irrigation that locals used to bring water and prosperity to this once-barren region. Through deep underground canals, the downward flow of groundwater into the Turpan depression could be harnessed, which was then used to create the city’s famed fruit orchards. It quite literally made the desert bloom and a lot of the system is still in use today.

This region is the heartland of the Uighurs, a 10-million-strong group of ethnically Turkic people, many of whom follow Islam, and continue to follow their unique cultural traditions.

If you travel with AsiaTravel, we’ll invite you into a local Uighur household where you can taste the region’s signature juicy grapes. That’ll be sure to quench your thirst after a long day out in China’s Death Valley. Get to know more about Turpan with our guide, Five Things to do in Turpan.

Kashgar: the Silk Road Lives On

Kashgar is China’s westernmost city, and with a look and feel so similar to central Asia that you may wonder if you’re in China at all. It was even used as a stand-in for Kabul during the filming of “The Kite Runner”.

Here visitors can get lost in the fast-disappearing Old Town, a maze of tight alleyways, chancing upon Uighur workshops and 500-year-old mud brick dwellings. 

Source: AsiaTravel

A riot of sounds and smells can be found at the Sunday Market, which sees hordes of traders descend upon the town, to haggle over seemingly anything with four legs – camels, donkeys, sheep, cows or horses.

Our expert, local guides are the perfect companion as you wander down these ancient alleyways. They’ll be able to introduce you to the local people, strike up spontaneous conversations, and barter for rare Xinjiang carpets.

Trade continues to thrive in Kashgar today, as it has in centuries past, and visiting here feels as if the Silk Road lives on.

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Feel the weight of history as you follow in the footsteps of that legendary European adventurer, exploring the multicultural mosaic of people and awe-inspiring landscapes along Marco Polo’s Silk Road tour.

The Chinese regard Yangshuo’s postcard-perfect scenery as “the finest under heaven” rivalling that of even the Great Wall or Terracotta Army – it’s even been emblazoned on the 20 RMB note.

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While Yangshuo’s spectacular scenery may be famous, and popular with tourists, the local area remains rich with old world charm. Visiting the region feels like stepping into an ancient Chinese ink painting, a canvas rich with dreamy hues, characterized by towering jade green mountains, sleepy villages and fishermen upon winding rivers. Put simply, this is the wild heart of China.

Here’s 7 things you should see and do in Yangshuo.

Biking and Hiking

Visitors can easily leave behind the bussed-in tourist crowds and get closer to Yangshuo’s villages on two wheels. Out in the rural areas cars are few and roads are smooth, so biking about guarantees a one-of-a-kind adventure.

Visitors can pedal between the sleepy villages near Liugong, as the Zhuang people, Yangshuo’s prominent ethnic minority, move to the peaceful rhythms of the countryside.

To hike up onto the back of Yangshuo’s karst peaks offers a unique perspective, as most only gaze in awe from below. At first these forested giants appear impossible to climb, but get closer and you’ll see ancient stone steps that lead to jaw dropping panoramas over mist-shrouded peaks and winding rivers.

When you travel with AsiaTravel, you’ll be led through the most off-the-beaten path trails as you bike or hike through the enchanting scenery on our Essence of China tour.

Chinese Cooking Class

Cuisine in this region of China balances the flavors of its two-world famous neighbors – Sichuan’s volcanic cuisine and the fresh tones of Guangdong. A popular local breakfast staple is rice noodles, which provide just enough kick for a long day of sightseeing.

In Daxu, a 2,000 year-old town famous for its ancient crafts, visitors can stop by a local’s home and learn the art of making soymilk with nothing more than a stone wheel.

Classic dishes taught in Yangshuo cooking classes feature chicken, pork and a variety of seasonal vegetables. One of our favorites is  jiandan jiao, a simple but mouth-watering dish of steaming dumplings fried in egg.

Aspiring foodies can give their taste buds something to remember in a traditional cooking class taught by local chefs, and using only local ingredients. While you may be taking a break from the outdoors, this zesty cuisine is guaranteed to keep things hot. This one-of-a-kind experience is one of the many cherished moments you can get while traveling with AsiaTravel.  

Li River Cruise

In this lush land of blue and emerald greens, one must-do activity is taking the world-famous cruise down the Li River.

Visitors here are spoiled for choice, as they can enjoy the river from deck of a luxurious cruiser, or take a bamboo raft guided by a local raftsman.

While the latter may be slower, it does allow you to slip into the lazy pace of local life. Either way, spellbinding karst mountain scenery awaits visitors on both sides of the river – it’s no surprise that Yangshuo is one of China’s top destinations for newlyweds.

Add a signature AsiaTravel touch and continue your cruise down to the untouched, bucolic countryside around remote Xingping. This is especially beautiful at dusk when locals can be seen fishing with the help of cormorant birds.

Traditional Chinese Medicine House

Another AsiaTravel treat is a visit to a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) house that is normally only open to the local Yangshuo people. The house’s owner is a licensed TCM doctor who has mastered the treatment of illness using traditional Chinese medicine techniques. 

We’ll arrange a consultation that is normally off limits to visitors. The doctor will feel your pulse, observe your face, check the coats of the tongue and use other TCM strategies for diagnoses. After your consultation, the doctor will suggest Chinese medicines to you from his drawers full of herbs and roots. Your AsiaTravel Guide will be with you every step of the way so you can ask questions to the doctor.

Tai Chi and Kung Fu Classes 

Channeling the natural surroundings into elegant movements, taichi and kungfu are the perfect activities to accompany the landscapes of Yangshuo.

On a AsiaTravel journey, you’ll be expertly led through the movements of kungfu or taichi by masters from a local school. These classes take place right next to either the Li or Yuelong Rivers where you can breathe the fresh local air and appreciate the majesty of Yangshuo’s mountains and rivers.

Landscape Painting Classes

With all the inspiring scenery, rediscovering your artistic side is a breeze, thanks to landscape painting classes taught by local professional artists that AsiaTravel will arrange for you. Use traditional Chinese horse or rabbit hair brushes and mo, Chinese ink, to paint the surrounding mountains and rivers onto delicate rice paper.

Yangshuo’s unique geological forms inspired countless poets and artists, embodying an artistic principle of lǜshuǐ qīngshān, meaning “Green hills and blue waters”.

Local calligraphy masters help visitors learn all about China’s intricate and mysterious written language with an introductory class to painting Chinese characters. Even if your work isn’t a masterpiece, you’ll leave with a newfound respect for Chinese students all across the country.

Impressions Liusanjie

Humans and nature come together each evening with the mesmerizing “Impressions Liusanjie”, a choreographed masterpiece taken from Yangshuo folklore.  

Also known as “Liu’s Third Daughter”, the production features a six-hundred strong cast, and is directed by Zhang Yimou, the mastermind behind the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

It focuses on the fairytale of a simple peasant girl who used the power of music to defeat tyranny and discover true love. 

Rather than using an enclosed space, the performance takes place on the Li River. The misty karst peaks and the heavens form the world’s largest natural amphitheater, ensuring a unique experience according to the weather and season. Whatever the weather, its theme of man and nature living in harmony provide the perfect way to wrap up a day of marveling at China’s most dreamlike scenery. Don’t worry about booking your own VIP tickets. AsiaTravel will take care of all the details for you.

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Get to the heart of China of our Essence of China tour, a unique highlights edit for first-time visitors. From the poetic karst peaks of Yangshuo to the glass and steel towers of cosmopolitan Shanghai, you’ll marvel at the many faces of contemporary China on this multi-sensory adventure.

The region around the city of Guilin, in Guangxi Province, is chock full of beautiful scenery, things to do, and rare treats to eat. In fact, the area is becoming increasingly popular with tourists and you might be hard-pressed to find a slice of authentic China.

That’s where we come in. On a Guilin tour with AsiaTravel, you’ll be whisked out of the city and away from the cookie cutter itinerary to take part in special, exclusive, and life-changing experiences.

What wonders await you on a Guilin tour like Guilin: Into the Scroll? Here are some of the highlights:

What to See Around Guilin

Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces

The mesmerizing manmade tiers of the Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces undulate across the landscape a short way’s drive from Guilin. These classically Chinese terraces were built over 700 years ago and took about 400 years to complete.

On a AsiaTravel Guilin tour, you can witness the wisdom and ingenuity of the Zhuang minority people who’ve made these terraces home for centuries. We love to guide you at your own pace on a hike along the landscape and while you take in the luscious natural scenery, you’ll also get to know the ethnic minority people you meet along the way. 

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Family Visit in Xiaozhai Village

In the remote village of Xiaozhai, the Yao ethnic minority people maintain their traditional ways of life. The Yao are widely known for their brightly colored textiles and their musical traditions. You may watch as artisanal crafts are taught to the local children or witness groups of women singing and dancing together. Music is a key component of Yao religious ceremonies and storytelling, and you’ll witness this festive magic in the making.

With all the fun working up your appetite, AsiaTravel will arrange for you to visit a family’s home for an informal cooking demonstration and a lunch of typical Yao dishes.

The women of the village will also demonstrate their complicated “flower hair” hairstyles. Traditionally, Yao women only cut their hair once as teenagers and once after they marry.

Dong Ethnic Minority Village

Another rare encounter you can have on a AsiaTravel Guilin tour is with the Dong ethnic minority people. From traditional architecture to intricate jewelry and textiles, the villages of the Dong people are well worth a stop over.

In the center of each village, the Dong have built a drum tower using pillars and supporting beams made out of fir tree logs. Mythical beasts such as dragons and phoenixes have been carved atop the pillars to symbolize good luck for the local people.

Where to Stay Around Guilin

Li-An Lodge

Li-An lodge is perfectly situated to make the most out of your Guilin tour and is one of our preferred partners for Guangxi Province. Overlooking the magnificent Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces, the lodge sits atop a mountain and borders a local ethnic minority village. Li’an lodge was built entirely of wood without using a single nail. The traditional Chinese technique of tongue and groove building was used to create this effect.

The lodge itself was created by Keren Su, a renowned photographer, painter and adventurous world traveler, who hoped to build a retreat where Chinese traditions meet modern luxury. Su built artistry into every detail of Li’an Lodge and nature returned the favor with the views. Year-round, the lodge witnesses the rice terraces change from verdant green, to snow-covered white, to shining yellow with the seasons.

What to Eat in Guilin

Guilin Rice Noodles

These noodles are beloved by locals and visitors alike. They are mild, fragrant, and inexpensive, coming round like spaghetti, or flat like ribbons. Accompanying the noodles are the delicious gravy, scallions, fried peanuts or soybeans, and finely sliced pieces of meat. Each chef has their own secret recipe, so the gravy will vary from shop to shop. Locals eat these noodles for any meal of the day. Throw a stone, and you’re likely to hit a rice noodle stand! On a AsiaTravel tour we’ll recommend our favorite rice noodle shop and can even arrange for you to hone your cooking skills in a private cooking lesson.

Beer Fish

If you like fish, but not the smell, this dish is for you. This fish is locally caught and then fried in tea seed oil and braised in beer. There are three factors that make this dish really special: first, the carp must be between 1-1.5kg, and have been recently caught in a pristine location; second, it must be cooked in water from the Li River; third, the fish must be cut without scraping any of the scales. Be warned: beer fish is spicy but the flavor is well worth the burn. It is also best enjoyed in the home of a local fisherman. AsiaTravel can arrange this intimate meal for you during your stay.

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When considering the scenic locations of China, a Guilin tour should be high on your list of options. The experiences we’ve mentioned above is just a sample of what you will discover. Customize our Essence of China tour to enjoy Guilin as part of a longer China journey or, if you are looking for a shorter trip, check out our Guilin: Into the Scroll tour.