The city of Harbin, in northeast China, is well-known for its frosty weather come winter. Temperatures drop as low as  -40 °C (-40 °F) and thick snow covers the ground for months on end. But all that snow and ice doesn’t go to waste, the city is home to the world’s largest ice and snow festival.

If you’re looking to keep your spirits warm this winter, bundle up and get to know the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival with our insider’s guide.

History and Artistry

The festival first began back in 1963 and has grown to be the largest of its kind. At the events, you’ll not only find artists from around China, but also from around the world. Witness these artisans working by hand to craft delicate figurines of snow. In the same vicinity, you can enjoy walking through a small town made entirely of ice. The ice is hauled up by over ten thousand workers from the nearby frozen river, and used to build sculptures that can be up to 35 meters tall! 

 

Ice Skating

Speaking of the river, have you ever wanted to skate in a giant, outdoor snowtopia? This is the perfect chance, as the river freezes solid enough to allow visitors and locals to skate together on the surface. Yes, it’s the same river that they take the ice from, but there’s nothing to fear: the river runs nearly 2000 km long, and has an average ice thickness of up to one meter.

 

Russian Architecture

Harbin was the eastern terminus of the Trans-Siberian Railroad (the China Eastern Railway) and many Russians settled in the area after working on the railway’s construction. One site that marks a collective history between the two countries is St. Sophia’s Cathedral, a former Russian Orthodox church, and a staple of local culture.

 

Icy Light Show

Given that the nights will be longer than the day at this time of the year, Harbin accommodates by having wonderful light scenes playing upon massive ice sculptures. Bundle up, grab some hot tea, and enjoy the light show with a loved one.

Russian-Sino Market

After enjoying all the ice and snow, take some time to wander through the Russian-Sino market. At this multicultural market, you can find signature Russian wares such as vodka, Russian dolls, and fur hats mixed with Chinese goods. As you walk between the stalls, your AsiaTravel guide can help you barter for treasures like a true Harbiner, and afterwards you can cozy up with some steaming hot Russian-style food!

Harbin is just a 2-hour flight from Beijing and the Ice and Snow Festival lasts most of winter, usually from late December until mid-February. On a AsiaTravel Harbin tour, we’ll arrange a private vehicle and chauffeur to be at your disposal and organize a local English-speaking guide to accompany you. They’ll help you discover the main sights and then encourage you to dive deeper into the history and culture of this fascinating Chinese city.

On your first trip to China visiting Beijing and Shanghai is a must. Ideally, we’d then recommend adding Xi’an and Chengdu to the mix. But if you’re pushed for time, how should you choose between these two cities that are both chock-full of history and culture?

We’ve compared Xi’an and Chengdu side-by-side to help you make the right choice for your China trip.

Xi’an and Chengdu – Cuisine

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province and is known for its authentic, mouth-numbingly spicy food. Sichuan is the home of hot pot – always a Chinese favorite – but also has such delectable dishes mapo doufu (a spicy tofu dish), lazi ji (deep fried chicken with chillies), or dan dan mian (pork, chilies, garlic, and vinegar noodles). In other words: almost all of their famous dishes are spicy, oily, and delicious.

Xi’an, on the other hand, is a city with a long history influenced by Islam. That being the case, you certainly won’t find many pork dishes, but instead will discover cuisine featuring plenty of delectable lamb, chicken, and seafood.

In Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter, you’ll find several walking streets that are dedicated just to food. Deep fried crab (yes, you eat the shell), skewers with squid, lamb, or vegetables, or even “fried yogurt”, as they call it. Shaanxi Province, where Xi’an is located, is also home to rou jia mo, which is often referred to as a Chinese hamburger – a flat-ish bun cut down the side and stuffed with spiced meat. Delicious!

Xi’an and Chengdu – Living Culture

Sichuan is home to the Face-Changing Opera – a traditional performance style where actors wear different forms of disguise and quickly change them throughout the show. Face-Changing Opera involves singing, dancing, and an impressive combination of dexterity, acting ability, and musical talent. For something a little more low-key, we can arrange a game of mahjong with the locals in People’s Park.

As the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, Xi’an has a colorful history and culture. The city then became a major travel destination thanks to the Terracotta Warriors. On a AsiaTravel Xi’an tour, we’ll arrange for you to cycle the city wall – one of the oldest in China – and meet a Terracotta Warriors museum director. We’d also highly recommend visiting the Great Mosque at sunset. Here, we’ll arrange for you to meet with a local Imam after daily prayers.

Xi’an and Chengdu – Fun for the Whole Family

After watching a Face-Changing Opera in Chengdu, kids can get their face painted behind the scenes. Or, if that’s not your thing, how about having your ears cleaned the Sichuan way? If that doesn’t take your fancy, then perhaps you’ll be more interested in the country’s iconic giant panda. Located just an hour outside of Chengdu, the Dujiangyan Panda Reserve offers visitors the chance to volunteer for the day as a panda keeper.

Xi’an is also fun for the whole family – children can even partake in some hands-on history and make their own tiny terracotta warrior for you to take home. Afterwards, why not practice taiji or kung fu with a master on the city wall.

And of course, everyone’s got to eat. In Xi’an, you can learn how to make one of China’s most favored dishes: dumplings. We’ll arrange a private class and they’ll show you the art of rolling, stuffing, and sealing the dough. They’re a treat for everyone!

Both Xi’an and Chengdu have a lot to offer and can be reached easily from Beijing and Shanghai. If you have to make a choice and still can’t decide which city to visit, get in touch with one of our experienced trip designers. They’ll customize the perfect journey to fit your needs.

Qinghai Province is bordered by Xinjiang in the north, Sichuan in the south, Gansu in the east and the Tibetan Autonomous Region in the west. It’s the largest province in China but you’ve perhaps never heard of it. Unless you’re a seasoned China traveler, you’ve almost certainly never visited.

We recently took a trip to Qinghai and there were so many things we loved about it that we lost count. After coming back down to earth and getting over the excitement of the journey, we wanted to share five reasons why we think every curious traveler should consider Qinghai on their next China trip.

Qinghai – Ethnic Minority Culture and Cuisine

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Ethnic minority groups (including Tibetans, Hui, Tu, Mongols, and Salars) make up 46% of Qinghai’s population. On a trip to Qinghai you’ll be constantly coming across different cultures, languages, traditions and cuisines.

21% of that number are Tibetan. If you want to experience Tibetan culture without the hassle of a permit, visiting Qinghai is a great option. On a AsiaTravel tour of the province, we’ll arrange a local Tibetan guide to accompany you along the journey. They’ll help you become immersed in local history and culture and even organize for you to stop by a Tibetan home for a cup of salty Qinghai tea.

Qinghai – Diverse Wildlife

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Qinghai province is sparsely populated and much of the region is protected by the government as ‘areas of no people’. Here, high up on the Tibetan Plateau, wildlife thrives.

The Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, named as the largest and highest plateau in the world by UNESCO in early 2017, is one of our favorite places in Qinghai. The reserve is the official home of the Tibetan Antelope but also serves to protect 230 other rare species of animal. As you pass through Hoh Xil, you’ll cross paths with herds of antelope grazing alongside wild yaks, donkeys and horses. If you’re lucky, you’ll even spot the odd wolf or even a bear!

Qinghai – Unique Landscapes

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As well as having the world’s largest and highest plateau, Qinghai province is the proud location of China’s biggest lake. Located just a 2hr drive from the provincial capital of Xining, we’d highly recommend spending a summer’s day cycling by the lake’s shore.

Qinghai – Fascinating History

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Qinghai has it’s fair share of classical Chinese history. According to legend, Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty (618–907) was betrothed to marry the great Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo as means of keeping peace between the two empires. The princess traveled for 3 years on horse-back from Chang’an (modern day Xi’an) to Qinghai, where she was met by the king. The princess was devoutly Buddhist and she ordered for Buddhist scriptures to be carved into every mountain they passed to ensure their safe passage. Today, in Yushu prefecture, you can still see many of these scriptures and locals often find Tang Dynasty coins in the river.

Extend Your Trip

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If crossing paths with Tibetan antelope on the world’s largest and highest plateau just leaves you thirsty for more adventure, there are so many incredible destinations that can be easily reached from Qinghai. Let AsiaTravel arrange a trip extension into the Tibetan Autonomous Region and take the world’s highest train journey from Xining all the way to Lhasa. Or why not jump on a bullet train to Zhangye in Gansu and discover the Danxia land formations? Your AsiaTravel guide will make sure you avoid the crowds and can even prepare a champagne picnic for you at sunset.

 

Our brand new journey to Qinghai is the ultimate China road trip. Over the course of six days, you’ll gradually ascend onto the Tibetan Plateau to reach Hoh Xil, a region known to the locals as ‘Lord of Ten Thousand Mountains’. Along the way, you’ll meet diverse cultures, protected wildlife and stunning vistas at every turn. Let’s Plan Your Trip to Qinghai!

Suzhou, a small city located just 30 minutes outside Shanghai, is world-renowned for its classical Chinese gardens. Commissioned by wealthy merchants, officials and scholars between the 11th and 19th centuries, these gardens depict China’s most stunning natural landscapes on a miniature scale. Around seventy classical gardens are preserved and open to visitors in Suzhou today. Nine have even been named UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here are our favorites:

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Best Suzhou Gardens – Humble Administrator’s Garden

Though the name says humble, this is actually the largest and most famous classical garden in the city. It was created in 1509 and is nearly 14 acres in size. In Humble Administrator’s Garden, you’ll find many interconnecting ponds that flow beneath eloquent stone bridges. Remember though that with fame come crowds, and you’ll likely run into more than a few people at Humble Administrator’s Garden if you visit at the weekend or over a national holiday. Be sure to talk to your AsiaTravel trip designer about the best time to visit.

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Best Suzhou Gardens –  Master of the Nets Garden

First we saw the largest, now let’s talk about the smallest.

Built in the 12th century, Master of the Nets Garden is one of the most impressive demonstrations of a classical garden – a pocket-sized design executed with delicate precision. One sight not to miss is the Rosy Cloud Pool, which is located in the center. The buildings are all assembled around the pool which makes it appear larger than it actually is. The area to the south had been dedicated to social gatherings, while the north was used for intellectual activities. Which one fits your garden-visiting style?

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Best Suzhou Gardens – Great Wave Pavilion

Another of Suzhou’s smaller gardens, Great Wave Pavilion is among the least crowded of the UNESCO awarded gardens. It connects with a free museum and has a more relaxed, secluded vibe. There are 108 “windows” to find around the garden, each with their own ̧unique design. If you’re a fan of serene forests and lotus ponds, you’ll like Great Wave Pavilion.

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Best Suzhou Gardens  – Lingering Garden

Lingering Garden is about 5.8 acres in size and has the archetypical Qing style, complete with beautiful halls and buildings of various size, shapes, and colors. Some of the garden’s halls are used as residences and temples and each section is joined together by long, decorated halls.

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Best Suzhou Gardens – Lion Grove Garden

This garden is famous for its collection of maze-like taihu rocks, a number of which resemble the shape of a lion. There are not many surviving rock gardens from the pages of history so Lion Grove is particularly special. The garden is broken up into two parts: rockery around a central pond, and a housing complex. It also has a maze of paths tunnelling through 21 caves. There is a lot to look out for in Lion Grove which makes it a great option for families. It is one of the more popular classical gardens in Suzhou so visit early in the day to avoid crowds.

The classical gardens of Suzhou are world famous and for good reason. Decades of thought and effort have been poured into them to preserve their history and make them explorable works of art. Plan your visit to Suzhou with one of our experienced travel designers and they’ll not only help you avoid the crowds, they’ll arrange an expert local guide to accompany you along the way.

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Feature Image photo credit: webmasternic7918 on Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-ND

China is home to some of the most diverse landscapes on the planet. From dry deserts to pillar-like mountains, massive rivers to cascading rice terraces – our list of ‘must-sees’ is enough to fill a large notebook.

But with the diversity of natural landscapes and the vast size of the country, you might find it difficult to decide where to start. That’s why we’ve made this helpful guide to the provinces that offer some of the best natural landscapes in China. And what’s even better is that you can visit these destinations in true AsiaTravel fashion – away from the crowds and with truly unique experiences.

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Best Natural Landscapes in China – Northern Xinjiang

Located in the northeast of China, much of Xinjiang is closer to Kazakhstan than Beijing. Northern Xinjiang is home to the other-worldly red sandstone formations commonly known as the ‘Flaming Mountains’. The erosion of the rocks has formed numerous gullies and trenches that make these mountains look like they are ablaze with fire. Add this to the fact that the mountains are the hottest spot in China (they can reach temperatures of 122 degrees Fahrenheit in summer) and it’s not surprising how they got their name.

The region’s prominent ethnic minority population, the Uighurs, believed that a dragon once inhabited this region and left his mark on the land. On our AsiaTravel Northern Xinjiang journey, you’ll be taken far off the beaten path and into these landscapes with a trusted local guide. They’ll tell you all the fantastical stories that this spellbinding terrain has sparked.

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Best Natural Landscapes in China – Qinghai

Southeast of Xinjiang is Qinghai province – one of the largest and most environmentally diverse regions of China. The province’s name comes from Qinghai Lake, the largest of its kind in China. Here you can witness grazing yak, rolling hills, or even bird island – a large rock jutting like a single, rounded tooth from the water, welcoming dozens of birds to rest atop it.

Qinghai is also home to the recently named UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, Hoh Xil Natural Park. Hoh Xil is the largest and highest plateau in the world and the official home of the Tibetan Antelope. Hoh Xil has been making the rounds as one of the hottest new destinations in China, and you can be among the first foreign travelers to see it. On a AsiaTravel journey, you can picnic inside the park and sit down for tea with a local nomadic family.

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Best Natural Landscapes in China – Tibet

The Tibet Autonomous Region is home to many breathtaking natural wonders. You can stand in awe at the magnitude of Mount Everest or stroll along the banks of holy Lake Yamdrok. After a Dalai Lama passes away, Tibetan monks journey to Yamdrok Lake to find the boy in whom the reincarnated soul of the Dalai Lama has gone to reside. Monks congregate on the lake’s shore to chant and pray. They throw khata, a ceremonial scarf that symbolizes purity, into the lake, and study its reflection to reveal the Dalai Lama’s reincarnated soul.

The beauty of Tibet might even inspire you to capture it in art, and we can arrange for you to do just that at a thangka painting workshop in Lhasa.

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Best Natural Landscapes in China – Gansu

Nestled between the high-altitude Tibetan and Loess plateaus, China’s Gansu Province has been making international headlines as one of Lonely Planet’s 

Finding the perfect place to stay while traveling can be one of the biggest headaches of the entire planning process. If you’re visiting Guilin, let us take the guesswork out of the equation for you. Three lodging options stand out when it comes to complementing your AsiaTravel tour, all of which offer something unique to travelers of refined taste.

Best Hotels in Guilin – Alila Yangshuo

First on the list is Alila Yangshuo, formerly a working sugar mill. It is just as beautiful during the daylight hours as at night, when the property comes alive with a warm glow set against the stark backdrop of the mountain ranges Yangshuo is best known for.

Alila Yangshuo

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Renovated to suit the modern traveler, Alila Yangshuo welcomes its guests with top-of-the-line customer service and its own set of customized activities in five themes: Cultural Learning, Conscious Living, Active Spirits, Culinary Arts and Couple Celebration. From a family getaway to a romantic holiday, Alila Yangshuo has something to offer each of its guests.

The peaceful pool at Alila Yangshuo

Visitors to Guilin will be astounded by the postcard-worthy views, accented by its breathtaking karst mountains and winding rivers. Those from cityscapes will be delighted to witness the lush green atmosphere. Alila Yangshuo is the perfect place to relax after a day filled with some of our favorite AsiaTravel experiences. These could include exploring the village of Xingping, famous for its harmonious setting in the midst of the placid waters of the Li River, or cycling into the karst mountain landscapes for a private painting lesson.

Best Hotels in Guilin – Li’an Lodge

Now onto Li’an Lodge, located in the Longji Rice Terraces area of Guangxi Province. With only 16 rooms, the hotel has a quiet and comfortable atmosphere. Each room is decorated with local Chinese arts and crafts and individually designed so that no room is like another.

The view of the rice terraces from Li’an

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Art lovers will delight in the natural beauty of this area, not to mention the wealth of local art available for viewing in and out of the hotel. During the day in Longji, you can hike through the rice terraces and explore local minority villages with your AsiaTravel guide. Then, in the evening you can reflect on your experiences over dinner with a view.

One of the 16 unique rooms at Li’an Lodge

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This welcoming, one of a kind hotel took eight years to design and complete, resulting in a modern property that blends the real feel of China past and present to suit both first-time visitors and seasoned travelers alike.

Best Hotels in Guilin – Banyantree Yangshuo

Last but not least, Banyantree Yangshuo. Perhaps the most luxurious option of the three, this hotel is accented by limestone mountains with unforgettable views.

One of the spa treatment rooms at Banyantree Yangshuo

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Guests will never meet a dull moment as your private AsiaTravel guide will lead you on the adventure of a lifetime through the karst landscape and meandering Li River located close to the Banyan Tree. One of the more unusual but unmissable offerings is a cormorant fishing tour, where guests will have a chance to ride a traditional Chinese raft and witness this traditional skill, unique to the Guangxi area.

Guilin welcomes travelers from far and wide and offers a variety of deluxe and elegant accommodations amidst endless options for recreation. If you’re still not sure which hotel will best meet your travel needs, get in touch with one of our experienced trip designers and they’ll help you make the right choice for your trip.

Adventurous travelers, curious to see China but chasing the clock, now have an enticing new option – 144 hours of visa-free travel in Beijing and neighboring Hebei Province. The visa-free system has many guidelines, but in general the rule is as follows: If you have a layover in Beijing, Tianjin, or Hebei, you’re allowed to travel within this area for 6 days without a visa. To qualify for visa exemption, you must be in transit from the point of origin to another country besides China. In other words, it must be a layover and you have to have the documents to prove your onward travel.

 

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So, now the Chinese Government has taken the stress out of getting a visa, why not let AsiaTravel take the stress out of your trip. Arrange your Beijing tour with one of our experienced trip designers and all you’ll have to do is look for your AsiaTravel guide in the airport arrival hall – we’ll have taken care of the rest. We’ll provide a VIP pick-up service from the airport and will have booked you into one of Beijing’s most luxurious hotels. Your local AsiaTravel guide will then take you on a voyage of a lifetime in a cushy 144 hours. All AsiaTravel guides are local experts who know the city, its people, and its sights like the back of their hand. 

Here’s are just a few of the experiences we could arrange for your visa free trip in Beijing:

Visa Free Travel in Beijing – Peking Duck

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After your flight, why not begin your Beijing journey in style and sample the city’s famous duck dish. There are dozens of options for indulging in Peking duck and one of our favorites is Jing Yaa Tang at the chic boutique hotel The Opposite House. Once you’ve eaten your fill, ask your guide to take you on a stroll around the neighboring Sanlitun district where the finest foreign designers have their premier boutiques.

Visa Free Travel in Beijing – Local Hutong Neighborhoods

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After enjoying lunch in one of the city’s upscale neighborhoods, it’s time to come back down to earth and visit the local hutong neighborhoods – where Old Beijing culture still thrives.

In these courtyard homes, AsiaTravel can arrange for you to meet people whose families have been living there for centuries. You’ll join a calligraphy master for a private lesson and have an energetic encounter with a 70-year-old cricket fighter.

Visa Free Travel in Beijing – 798 Art District

 

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After your hutong tour, your personal driver can take you to 798, a locale displaying all manner of art, from art-deco films and murals to sculptures and friendly street artists. AsiaTravel works with a contemporary art expert who is an insider among gallery owners. She can show you the best of what 798 has to offer.

We encourage you to wander among the small side streets, all packed with artistic odds and ends for any type of art enthusiast. Bring some small gifts home for friends and family, supporting local artists and keeping your carry-on luggage below the weight limit at the same time.

Visa Free Travel in Beijing – Great Wall

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On day two, take a tour to the Great Wall. Visiting a rural section of the Great Wall offers views typically uncompromised by massive crowds, though if you travel with AsiaTravel, you’ll be in luck on any section of the famous architectural marvel.

Take your time walking up its famed, and at places crumbling, steps, and take solace in the fact that you have the option of sliding your way down. That’s right, the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall offers a toboggan for the weary masses who prefer a fast and fun way to return to normal elevation. To make your visit to the Great Wall truly special, we can arrange activities such as a private champagne picnic, helicopter ride, or a tour with William Lindesay – the leading expert on Great Wall conservation.

Visa Free Travel in Beijing – Imperial History

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Beyond the Great Wall, Beijing is home to a vast array of buildings that evoke the imperial history of the city. The chief among these sights is the Forbidden City, the official abode of the emperor. The Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace are also impressive in their own right. We will arrange for you to take a tai chi class at the Temple of Heaven and relax at an afternoon tea at the Aman Summer Palace.

As with most new places, it’s best to see them with and through the eyes of a local, like a AsiaTravel guide. Take the stress out of your visa-free stay and make the most of your time by customizing your perfect tour with AsiaTravel.

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Visit Pandas in China – Chengdu Panda Research Center

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Visit Pandas in China – Dujiangyan Panda Reserve

We’ve teamed up with Patricia Schultz, travel journalist and author of the NYT #1 best-selling 1000 Places To See Before You Die, to bring you her ultimate China adventure.

In late October 2018, Patricia will host a AsiaTravel trip with a focus on Yunnan Province that she helped curate along with our award-winning trip design team. Patricia has dedicated her life to helping her readers discover the best destinations around the world. We recently caught up with her to find out why she keeps China at the top of her ‘must-visit’ list.

Hi Patricia, thank you for taking the time to chat with us today. Your AsiaTravel hosted tour in 2018 won’t be your first visit to China. What do you think the country offers travelers and why are you making a return visit this year?

That’s a big question about a big country. China is an ancient civilization with a rich culture and history that date back thousands of years and deserves to be experienced by non-Chinese, western travelers, and sooner rather than later. It promises so much more beyond a Chinatown, a movie, a mention in the headlines. Together those experiences represent the tip of the iceberg – but they are a superficial notion of what the country is.

Our understanding of China is, at best, very limited. You can start with a focus on the contemporary face of China, but it is just one facet. You can’t pretend to know much after a whirlwind stopover in Beijing or a brief trip that touches upon a handful of highlights. In a country of this size and potential, the experience changes greatly from city to city. And although I have visited a number of times, I always leave feeling like there is so much more to see. It keeps me humble. That’s why it remains on my shortlist. 

Along with Beijing and Shanghai, you’ve added Yunnan Province to this journey you are hosting. What is it about this region, in China’s Southwest, that made it one of your 1000 Places?

Amazingly, few Westerners have heard of Yunnan Province. There are no large crowds of American tourists and it rarely gets the press or attention it deserves. It is easier to get there today, but for the most part it remains off most people’s radar – and that to me makes it all the more fascinating.

 

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I visited Myanmar, Vietnam and other areas in the northern reaches of Southeast Asia years ago where I learned about the many ethnic minorities who lived there – many of them had migrated from southern China over time, descendants of those still living and flourishing in China’s Yunnan Province. As an American, my sense of world culture and geography was pretty limited – a map helped illustrate the situation better.

I started researching more about Yunnan, known for its surprising number of minority groups and trade routes such as the Ancient Tea Horse Road (thanks in part to Jeff Fuchs), and I found it all fascinating. And the dramatic topography and scenery against which all of this culture and history is still happening today is the stuff of legends.

 

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Is there one experience on this trip that you are particularly excited about?

I’m very excited about the cuisine – and I don’t have a very adventurous palate! I’ve always found Chinese cuisine so complex, nuanced and delicious. Even if you experience the finest Chinese cuisine in the US or abroad, it is commonly a limited sampling and invariably altered. Experiencing and experimenting with the local cuisine when visiting a destination lends insight and is an integral part of the journey.

Traditional specialties are sometimes not found 10 miles beyond a particular town, let alone on the other side of the world. And it doesn’t need to be a fancy or expensive meal to impress me. Tasting the street food or a dish prepared in someone’s home – that is what I find exhilarating.

 

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The colors, dress, customs, and music of Yunnan’s ethnic minority communities are carefully passed down from generation to generation. We are steadily losing such respected ethnic traditions in America. Young people in Yunnan may have iPhones and computers but they still embrace their roots and heritage with a unique respect and admiration for past generations in a way not commonly found elsewhere.

This trip to me is a perfect mix of arriving – and immersing yourself – in 21st century China, followed by a giant step back in time in an attempt to understand something of the country’s early chapters of history in a corner of the country not well known to Western tourism. We’ll visit mountaintop villages and meet people whose ways and traditions have remained unchanged over time – something impossible to find in the big and busy cities of China.

It’s a fascinating mix and I’m counting the days! 

Nestled between the high-altitude Tibetan and Loess plateaus, China’s Gansu Province has been making international headlines as one of Lonely Planet’s Best Destinations in Asia for 2017.

This region of China, West of Beijing, was an important desert outpost along the Silk Road. During imperial times, Gansu’s rough and wild hinterlands were filled with nomadic tribes and traveling merchants praying for safe passage through the desert. Today, however, this once distant province is now well within reach. Gansu is a mere two and a half hour plane ride from Beijing, and there is a high-speed train between Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province, and Xi’an that takes about the same amount of time. 

We love to visit Gansu on our tours and here are some of our favorite things to do there:

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Visit the Danxia Landforms

The Danxia Landforms are well-regarded for their other-worldly colors – they were even added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2010. 

On a AsiaTravel journey into the ‘Rainbow Mountains’ you’ll be able to hike through five different “platforms” of height. The higher you climb, the more beautiful the landscape becomes. On any platform the view is different, and the best time to go there is at sunset – we’ll even arrange a picnic for you to enjoy whilst you watch the sun go down.

 

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Mogao Grottoes

Dug out of the western cliffs of the Mingsha Mountains, this complex of 492 grottoes represents the pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist art. Used by travelers for meditation, worship and to store texts, these temple caves contained tens of thousands of frescoes, paintings, sculptures and terracotta statues. They also housed innumerable manuscripts, including the earliest dated and printed book yet found. 

The caves were created over the course of 1,000 years and were a central religious and cultural crossroads along the ancient Silk Road. The Mogao Grottoes were rediscovered in the early 20th century and named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. On a AsiaTravel journey, we’ll arrange a private tour of caves normally off limit to the public with the director of the Dunhuang museum.

 

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Lanzhou Beef Noodles Cooking Class

We love a bowl of beef noodles on a cold day and there’s no place better than Gansu to learn the history and procedure of cooking the dish.

Your guide will help you join the locals in an authentic beef noodle restaurant and on a AsiaTravel journey you’ll even learn the art of hand-pulling the noodle for yourself. The noodles in this dish should be as thin as thread and the beef should be soaked in water for several hours before being served. The noodles are usually quite spicy, but if you would like less heat, you can ask for less red pepper spice.

RELATED READING: 5 Reasons Why China’s Great for a Luxury Family Vacation

Yellow River Cruise

The Yellow River is the second longest river in China and is widely considered to be the cradle of Chinese civilization. Cruises along the Gansu section can be taken by motorboat but goat skin rafts were the traditional transportation for people who lived along the banks. It’s by far the most authentic way to float down the river.

To make the rafts, the goat skins are made into balloons which are then fastened on wood frames to build up a simple and powerful form of aquatic transport. It’ll feel like floating back in time to the historic era when the Yellow River was a key byway for trade between China and Central Asia. Of course, you’ll be provided with life jackets. Safety first!

Filled with surreal landscapes and Indiana Jones-worthy archaeological sites, Gansu is not to be missed. Why not see this hot new destination the AsiaTravel way? Let’s plan your trip to Gansu.