The Culture, History and Heritage of China

Start your trip in the capital Beijing, where you can step inside the Forbidden City, a massive imperial palace once home to China’s emperors and the geographic center of this endless metropolis. The gates were shut to all but the royal household and their entourage of eunuchs and concubines for 600 years until, in 1924, a powerful warlord gave the last emperor just three hours to leave. Beyond the imposing red walls to the south lies Tiananmen Square, where, Chairman Mao, China’s most powerful ruler lies embalmed in a glass coffin within his own giant mausoleum.

Beyond, Beijing’s hutong alleyways, a crisscrossing mazes of courtyards and alleyways, make up the heart of the city. You’ll see elders whiling away the night with a game of Chinese chess or mahjong, shopkeepers selling traditional snacks like jianbing (pancakes) and baozi (steamed buns). It is in these ancient neighborhoods where the capital’s distinct culture was generated and where it continues to thrive today.

In Xi’an, you’ll not just visit the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, gaining incredible visual insight into the beginnings of the Qin Empire, but explore the fascinating city itself.

Ascending to an imperious height of 12 metres, the city walls mark the only way in or out of downtown. These are the oldest, largest, and best-preserved city walls in China – and the best way to experience the fortifications is by walking on top of them. Next, head on to the Muslim Quarter and the Great Mosque, their origins dating back to when Islam flowed along the Silk Road into China 1,300 years ago. Entering the elegant mosque grounds at sunset, you might mistake the undulating roofs and colonnaded halls for a Chinese temple until the evening call to prayer confirms that this is instead a potent fusion of Chinese and Islamic culture.

Lastly, no trip to Xi’an is complete without some superb dining. Xi’an claims to be the birthplace of Chinese dumplings, and whether or not that’s true, local chefs have elevated the humble staple to the most sophisticated culinary heights.

Enter a world of traditional handicrafts and Bai architecture as you stroll along the cobbled streets of Dali Old Town. Protected from bandits and invaders by 6-meter-deep stone walls, Dali was once an important outpost on trade routes that spanned Tibet and Southeast Asia and has been the center of the Bai universe for more than a thousand years. Today, this charming checkerboard town of crisscrossing streams and lanes has become a popular stop-off, and you’ll no doubt find yourself swept up in Dali’s irresistibly laid-back vibe.

You’ll then travel on to Shaxi, a beautifully preserved market town nestled in the idyllic rural landscape halfway between Lijiang and Dali. The town was once a bustling outpost where horses and tea, among other goods, changed hands. With Buddhist grottoes, lively weekend markets, and delightful rural cuisine sourced straight from the surrounding farmland, Shaxi is packed with cultural intrigue and pastoral charm.

Defined by an intricate network of canals and cobbled lanes, atmospheric Lijiang Old Town constitutes a dreamlike scene, and it is that charm, along with its inscription onto UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1997, that makes this town such a popular and rewarding destination. Explore the Old Town with a guide, heading down some of the quieter lanes before they fill with visitors.

You can dive into the detail of the local Naxi culture with a stop at the small but excellent Dongba Cultural Museum. The undisputed highlight is the Naxi script itself, a system of picture writing so creative that some texts can only be understood by whoever who wrote them.

In Shanghai you’ll get to know both the modern and historic sides of the city. Visit Fuxing Park, a vestige of the French colonial era, that’s now the beating heart of Shanghai’s local life, as you explore Shanghai’s former French concession. On a guided walk you’ll get to know every aspect of the city’s short but tumultuous history, dipping in and out of modern boutiques and chic cafes as you go. Your guide will lead you through old lanes still lined with Russian churches, British townhouses and even French châteaux.

In the restored facades of Xintiandi you’ll find the traces of an older Shanghai, hidden amidst an infusion of upscale, modern developments, while the Yuyuan Garden is a postcard example of a more traditional side to the country. Enjoy the beautifully manicured gardens, punctuated with rocks and trees, and interspersed with green ponds.

You can also uncover the complex stories of Shanghai’s Jewish Quarter, which went from a burgeoning business center and political haven to windswept ghost town in a matter of decades.