Visit China

China is a land of contrasts. You can travel back in history at ancient sites, drift along the Li River to natural areas where time seems to stand still, or hop on a bullet train to one of the country’s futuristic megacities. In such a large country, there is something for everyone! Here are some quick facts to get you started thinking about your trip:

• Almost 20% of people on the planet live in China. It is the most populous country in the world and the third-largest by land area, after Russia and Canada.
• Popular sites to visit include the capital city of Beijing, Shanghai, The Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors in Xian, the giant pandas in Chengdu and the Yangtze River Delta.
• There are more than 200 airports in China, but the top 5 are Beijing Capital (PEK), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), Chengdu Shuangliu (CTU) and Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX).

• China only has 1 time zone, despite the fact that it is almost as wide as the continental US, which has 4. China Standard Time (CST) is GMT+8, which is 16 hours ahead of Vancouver, Canada, 13 hours ahead of New York City, 8 hours ahead of London and 3 hours behind Canberra, Australia.
• The local currency is the renminbi, which is measured in yuan. Although the exchange rate is always in flux, 20 yuan is roughly equal to about 3 USD.
• Many websites are blocked in China, so it’s recommended that you get a VPN connection before you travel.

Find out more in the articles below.