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 on the right.
Northern
Southeastern
Central
Western & Silk Road
Southern
Yunnan
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Exclusively Asia
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, in the continent that our north American founders Catherine and Jay have adored and explored for decades, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
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.
Multi-Country Specialists
China Goes Well With
Travelogues
An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.
What to Read in Beijing: 10 Books to Keep you Inspired in the Middle Kingdom’s Capital
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- Jeremiah Jenne
From the Cultural Revolution and Chinese millennials to the Kangxi Emperor and hutongs, this list of books to read on your trip through Beijing will keep you entertained, informed, and enlightened.
Himalayas: Visit the Roof of the World after COVID
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In Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, and beyond, the unique landscapes and cultures of the Himalayas are a paradise for travelers looking for peace — from the wildlife and mountains to the history and spirituality.
Shanxi Journey: History and Temples in the Sky
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An expedition on China’s roads from the Hanging Temple of Datong to the ancient walled city of Pingyao, tracing China’s history all the way.