China

China has one of the world’s oldest civilizations, dating back over 6,000 years, but the country is rapidly modernizing and gaining power on the world economic and political stage, and is now only nominally Communist. It is also the world’s most populous country, with over 1.3 billion people – about 1/5 of the earth’s population – and over 100 different ethnic groups, including Manchus, Mongolians, Tibetans, Uighurs, Tartars, Bais, and the Dong and Lisu tribal peoples. The contrast between the sparkling skyscraper-filled cities of Shanghai and Beijing and the far-flung villages of  Yunnan and Tibet is almost unimaginable. Today’s designer label-clad urban professionals bear little resemblance to their forefathers, who in all likelihood grew up in faraway villages as peasant farmers, which the majority of Chinese citizens remain today. It is a country so massive that any one trip there can show you only a slice of the country and its rich and heterogeneous cultures.

China Regions

Explore in-depth information, experiences and highlights by navigating to specific regions using the links below.

China Itineraries

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Ultra Luxe
Intrepid
Classic China

Classic China

Get a real feel for China on this luxury 10-day tour that whisks you through Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, and Shanghai. Stay at some of the country’s most prestigious hotels while taking in key sights, from the Temple of Heaven, to the Great Wall of China, to the Terracotta Warriors, Yu Gardens, and more.

Duration
10 days / 9 nights
Price Per Person
From $9,800
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China's Magnificent Mountaintops by Private Jet

China's Magnificent Mountaintops by Private Jet

Spend 11 days traveling in sheer luxury as your private jet whisks you across China’s mountaintops. Starting in Beijing, you’ll discover the lush Shangri-La valley on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, observe colorful cliffs in Zhangye Danxia, and stay overnight in luxury hotels like Banyan Tree and Songstam.

Duration
11 days / 10 nights
Price Per Person
From $14,200
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An Intimate Himalayan Adventure: Through China, Nepal, Bhutan and India

An Intimate Himalayan Adventure: Through China, Nepal, Bhutan and India

Explore the world’s most majestic peaks on this 22-day Himalayan adventure. You’ll trek through China, Nepal, Bhutan and India, staying at luxury hotels and lodges like the Amankora or Uma by COMO. You’ll walk along the Great Wall of China, visit the ancient Potala Palace, and search for Bengal Tigers in Chitwan.

Duration
22 days / 21 nights
Price Per Person
From $28,000
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China's Natural Wonders: National Parks and Pandas

China's Natural Wonders: National Parks and Pandas

Journey through China’s most picturesque landscapes on this exciting 13-day luxury journey. You’ll hike through the stunning Yellow Mountain and Jiuzhaigou National Park, tour Tibetan villages of the Zharu Valley, and play with Pandas in Chengdu, while staying at luxury hotels like Amanfayun or Banyan Tree.

Duration
13 days / 12 nights
Price Per Person
From $24,500
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China's Silk Road

China's Silk Road

Journey across China’s ancient trade route, meandering from Shanghai, to Xian, Dunhuang, Urumqi, and Kashgar. You’ll stay in hotels fit for aristocrats as you learn about what life was like for traders at sites like the Bund, the Terracotta Warriors, the City of Sands, White Horse Pagoda, the Grand Bazaar, and more. 

Duration
10 days / 9 nights
Price Per Person
From $19,000
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Colors of Northwest China: Zhangye Danxia & Jiayuguan

Colors of Northwest China: Zhangye Danxia & Jiayuguan

Travel through the remote, stunning corners of Northwest China on this colorful journey that will take you from Beijing to undiscovered Zhangye Danxia and Jiayuguan. Your camera will be challenged to capture the real life epic beauty at sites like Jiayuguan Fortress, the Danxia landforms, Bingguo Rock area, and more.

Duration
4 days / 3 nights
Price Per Person
Extension: Optional add-on to your itinerary
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Datong to Pingyao

Datong to Pingyao

Step back into China’s indelible past on this insightful 4-day journey through Datong and Pingyao. This luxury tour will take you to ancient monasteries and UNESCO-listed sites, including the Yungang grottoes, Shanhua Monastery, and the Nine Dragon Screen, while staying at the luxurious boutique Jing’s Residence.

Duration
4 days / 3 nights
Price Per Person
Extension: Optional add-on to your itinerary
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Aman at Summer Palace
Preferred Hotel

Aman at Summer Palace

Beijing, China

Aman at Summer Palace, which opened in fall 2008, is located just outside the east gate of the palace, and meticulously designed to harmonize with the graceful architecture of the former retreat of China's emperors. A series of century-old guesthouses, built for guests awaiting an audience with Empress Dowager Cixi, have been transformed into a hotel with 18 rooms and 25 suites. With their trademark sensitivity to historic properties, Aman has decorated the interiors with period furniture and rich fabrics...
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Amandayan Resort
Preferred Hotel

Amandayan Resort

Lijiang, China

The Aman Group’s 28th resort in their ever-expanding portfolio of luxurious accommodation just happens to be one of their most impressive to date, spread over a hectare of land on a hill perched above the Old City of Lijiang - a World Heritage Site. The quaint winding lanes of the town below are an image of classic China, and the breathtaking luscious green mountains and snow-capped peaks provide the perfect backdrop. The hotel itself is relatively small; with only 35...
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Amanfayun
Preferred Hotel

Amanfayun

Hangzhou, China

Opened in Spring 2010, the Amanfayun is the second Aman property to open in China and is situated in the outskirts of Hangzhou, surrounded by tea fields, natural forest, quaint villages and a pilgrimage circuit of five significant Buddhist temples. All accommodations and common areas have broadband Internet connectivity and are decorated with calligraphy and woven bamboo accents. There are four restaurants, which serve a variety of dishes, from homemade dumplings in the casual Steam House to refined Western cuisine...
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Amanyangyun
Preferred Hotel

Amanyangyun

Shanghai, China

Past and present Chinese traditions alike come together against a backdrop of verdant camphor trees at the Amanyangyun Luxury Resort and Hotel in Shanghai. Transported to Shanghai from rural Fuzhou across more than 700 kilometers, the trees are a notable piece of China’s past that have been preserved alongside the newly refurbished villas of the resort in an ambitious feat of architectural and ecological conservation. Featuring a variety of suites, pavilions, and villas, Amanyangyun guests will note a sense of...
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Anantara Guiyang
Preferred Hotel

Anantara Guiyang

Guiyang, China

A burgeoning center of ecotourism in China, the “Forest City” of Guiyang is a lush backdrop for the Anantara Guiyang resort. The capital of Guizhou Province, Guiyang’s abundance of natural phenomena such as lakes, caves, rivers, and waterfalls beckon those with an affinity for exploration. Resort accommodations include 218 rooms, suites, and pool villas, all of which are inspired by the Chinese “yin and yang” concept of culture and nature. Guests at the Anantara Guiyang may also choose to venture...
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Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & Spa
Preferred Hotel

Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort & Spa

Xishuangbanna, China

Nestled in the spectacular, surreal forests of China’s southwestern Yunnan Province, Anantara Xishuangbanna offers first-class comfort and five-star luxury in one of China’s most remote areas. Anantara offers a series of charming villas and guestrooms, all of which feature immaculate bathrooms, plush beds, floor-to-ceiling windows (some with views of the pool, others with views of the gardens and the nearby Luosuo River), dark, wooden furniture, Internet access, mini bar, air-conditioning, and a flat-screen television with satellite channels. In-house restaurants include...
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Banyan Tree Hangzhou
Preferred Hotel

Banyan Tree Hangzhou

Hangzhou, China

Located within China’s first and only wetland preserve, the Xixi National Wetland Park, Banyan Tree Hangzhou is just 15 minutes from downtown and the famous West Lake. The resort’s 72 suites and villas are decorated in the traditional Jiangnan style, with dark wood, delicate carved furnishings, and hand-painted silk brocades and embroidered tapestries. All of the suites and villas in the hotel are themed according to the four seasons, with color schemes to match, and include heated floors and wi-fi....
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Banyan Tree Lijiang
Preferred Hotel

Banyan Tree Lijiang

Lijiang, China

Banyan Tree Lijiang sits just south of the magnificent Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, with 55 deluxe mountain-view villas. The hotel is constructed in the regional Naxi style of architecture with its distinct rooflines and courtyards. Each villa is decorated in contemporary Naxi style and has a heated pool, jet pool and Internet connection. The Bai Yun Restaurant serves Chinese Cantonese banquet style meals with local musical accompaniment. Asian and Western-style cuisine are offered in a choice of indoor and outdoor...
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Banyan Tree Ringha
Preferred Hotel

Banyan Tree Ringha

Shangri-la, China

Banyan Tree Ringha is in China’s Yunnan province, in a mountainous area that has been officially designated “Shangri-La” by the Chinese government and is part of Greater Tibet, both historically and culturally. The architecture reflects the local Tibetan culture: the 32 spacious lodges and suites are traditional Tibetan farmhouses with intricate woodcarvings, enormous pine pillars, smoky fireplaces and wooden balconies that have valley or river views. There are three restaurants to choose from: Llamo, which serves Chinese and Western dishes,...
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Banyan Tree Yangshou
Preferred Hotel

Banyan Tree Yangshou

Guilin & Yangshuo, China

On the banks of the River Li, nestled in a valley surrounded by lushly verdant mountains, Yangshuo is a must-see destination for nature lovers and those seeking a respite from the fast pace of life. Active visitors will enjoy the range of outward-bound activities available in Yangshuo, including rafting and world class rock climbing. And what better place from which to explore the stunning scenery than the Banyan Tree? In the elegant one- or two-bedroom villas overlooking the tranquil gardens...
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Seasonality & Festivals

Browse a month-by-month breakdown of suggested itineraries, seasonal activities, climate considerations and festivals.

When to Go
When to Go
Festivals
Festivals

Weather in China

Both spring and fall are great times for pan-China visits, specifically between April and May, and mid-September to October.

  • China is the third-largest country in the world with the second-lowest inland depression (Turpan) and some of its highest peaks (Everest and K2 are both partly in China). Its far northeast shares the same weather patterns as Siberia, and its far southwest is in the same subtropical climate as northern Thailand. As a result, you need to plan accordingly for the specific parts of China you plan to visit.
  • In the north, early spring and late autumn offer warm, dry days and cool, dry evenings. During March and April, winds blow away the pollution but sometimes bring sand from the Gobi and topsoil from high ground to the northeast of Beijing. Winters are frigid in the north and summers are very hot.
  • Throughout much of the south, November to February brings a welcome drop both in temperature and in humidity. Summers in these regions are very hot and humid.
  • Central China lacks the sea breezes that moderate the coast’s summers and make its winters more temperate. It has some of the country’s most searing summer temperatures and bitterest winters, but it also escapes the worst of the humidity.
  • The northwest has perhaps the greatest range of temperatures, with severe summers and winters alike, but it is also largely dry.
  • Air pollution is a reality throughout much of China; however, in recent years it has been better reported, and you can stay up-to-date on current air quality via the website www.aqicn.org. On days with bad air quality, be sure to wear a mask when outside. That said, many hotels and establishments throughout China have installed air purifiers, and in such places you can breathe easy regardless of the air quality outside.
Weather chart for Beijing, China
Weather chart for Chengdu, China

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