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 Beijing, also known as Peking, is on the northern edge of the North China Plain and has been the capital of China for 700 years. Temperatures can be as high as 38ºC in July and as low as -15ºC in January. Among the many attractions of this ancient city are the Forbidden City, bordering on the huge Tian’an Men Square, the Great Hall of the People, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. A visit to the zoo is a chance to see the famous giant pandas, and a performance of the traditional Peking Opera is an experience not to be missed. Trips can be taken to the Ming Tombs and the Great Wall of China. The city is making a rapid transition into a modern centre of commerce but it is still possible to take a rickshaw ride, if only with a tourist group!
Xi’an, in northern China, is the capital of the Shaanxi Province. Close by is the tom of China’s first emperor, Shihuangdi. This is where the 2000 year old Terracotta Army can be seen. Excavations have been continuing in this area since 1977. The Shaanxi Provincial Museum and the city wall are also worth visiting.
 Shanghai is one of China’s largest cities and the most westernised. It is still a busy port and there are many attractive art deco buildings in the European-built Bund. Many different European cultures are reflected in the 19th and 20th century buildings in this old city. The oldest section still holds traces of the old walled town which predated the industrial development of Shanghai. Temperatures are less extreme here, although the summers tend to be hot and rainy. There are numerous parks and gardens including the Yu Yuan Garden and the Garden of the Purple Clouds of Autumn, both sites of architecture from the Ming dynasty.
There are numerous excursions available along the Yellow River Valley, taking in the cave temples at Datong and Luoyang with their massive Buddhist sculptures. Other trips can be taken along the mighty Yangste River, once the main artery of China and still an important transport route for thousands of people. Chongqing is a major inland port on the Yangste River and is an important cntre for transport to all parts of China. The city is over 4000 years old and is bordered on all sides by Sicuan Province.
 Shenyang, on the Hun River, is the capital of Liaoning Province and is home to the 17th century Manchu Imperial Palace and the tomb of Emperor Tai-tsung. Opposite the island of Taiwan, is the Fujian provice, a mountainous terrain with an irregular coastline with numerous bays and harbours. Guilin, in southern China, is the centre of a scenic region made famous by Chinese poets and painters and was a provincial capital from the time of the Ming dynasty. Bordering Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam is the Yunnan province. Its capital, Kunming, is situated on a low plateau in the east of the province. The area was once the centre of the powerful Thai kingdom of Nan Chao.
Other tourist sites and sights include the Ice Lantern Festival in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province in north-eastern China, and the 1000 year old man-made caves at Moqao on the old Silk Road. It is impossible to list all the attractions of one of the world’s oldest civilisations, but there is something here for everyone, from beautiful beaches to endless plains and to the desert itself.
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