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The Many Worlds of the Middle Kingdom
Despite, or perhaps because of, its sheer scale, China rewards those willing to move beyond the obvious. This is a country of extremes: space-age skylines and ancient trade routes, high-altitude monasteries and river valleys where life unfolds much as it has for centuries.
THE MANY WORLDS OF THE MIDDLE KINGDOM
Despite, or perhaps because of, its sheer scale, China rewards those willing to move beyond the obvious. This is a country of extremes: space-age skylines and ancient trade routes, high-altitude monasteries and river valleys where life unfolds much as it has for centuries.
SICHUAN
Chongqing night view
Sichuan offers a range of visceral thrills as impactful as its famously spicy cuisine. In Chengdu, private access to panda conservation centers offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at one of the country’s most recognizable symbols, balanced by time in traditional teahouses, temples, and the still-functioning Dujiangyan irrigation system. Chongqing, by contrast, is all vertigo and neon, a sprawling megacity layered over hills and rivers, best experienced on a night cruise through its glowing river junctions or around a table of fiery hotpot.
Beyond the cities, the landscapes are guaranteed to amaze. Day trips to the Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei bring both scale and spirituality, while multi-day Yangtze River cruises thread through the dramatic Three Gorges. Further afield, Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong national parks present a palette of mineral pools and forested valleys, and the Dazu Rock Carvings offer a more intricate, contemplative encounter with Buddhist art.
Stay at Upper House Chengdu for contemporary calm in the city, Six Senses Qingcheng for a foothold near Mount Qingcheng, or venture further with Yangzi Explorer along the river. For something more secluded, Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, places you deep within Sichuan’s alpine landscapes.
HUNAN
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
If Sichuan is expansive, Hunan feels almost otherworldly. The centerpiece is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, part of the wider Wulingyuan Scenic Area, where thousands of towering sandstone pillars rise through mist. James Cameron’s Avatar movie was inspired by this breathtaking scenery, which is unlike any other place on earth. Glass bridges and cliffside glass skywalks and cable cars open the terrain, while hiking routes can be tailored to suit both casual walkers and more serious trekkers. Driving on the 99 hairpin road and zipping up the world’s tallest outdoor elevator are unforgettable experiences. Elevated viewpoints provide constant shifts in perspective, making this a dream for photography-led journeys, where light and scale do most of the storytelling.
YUNNAN
The Impression of Lijiang
One of China's most scenically and ethnologically diverse provinces, parts of Yunnan feel closer in spirit to Southeast Asia than to Beijing or Shanghai. In the south, forested mountains roll into deep river valleys where wild elephants still roam, while communities from the Bai, Dai, Yi, Miao, and other ethnic groups shape a rich cultural tapestry.
Lijiang's UNESCO-listed old town offers a gateway into Naxi tribal culture, with its charming architecture, cobblestone streets and narrow pathways over flower lined canals setting the tone. From there, Tiger Leaping Gorge delivers one of the world's great hikes, while further north, Shangri-La introduces Tibetan influences through monasteries, prayer flags, and high-altitude landscapes. The Songzanlin Monastery, often dubbed the "Little Potala Palace," is a highlight.
This region also features on the Remote Lands’ Aman Jet Expedition Grandest Tour 2027, underscoring its growing prominence. Stays in Yunnan Province range from the refined Amandayan to the immersive Songtsam circuit, a multi-lodge journey through Tibetan areas, as well as Banyan Tree Ringha for a deeper sense of place.
SHANGHAI
The Bund at dusk, Shanghai
Dynamic, crowded, and vast, Shanghai is China at its most international. More Hong Kong than Beijing in spirit, this is where the country's encounters with the West are most visible, and the legacy remains visible along the Bund, where colonial-era facades face a skyline of unapologetic modernity.
Yet the city is not all glass and velocity. Temples hide down narrow lanes, and the French Concession retains a more intimate rhythm beneath its plane trees. Private architecture tours trace these contrasts, while specialist-led explorations of Jewish history reveal another layer of the city’s past. Add in a thriving contemporary art scene and a sophisticated dining landscape that runs from street-side xiaolongbao to Michelin-starred experimentation, and Shanghai becomes a study in fascinating contrasts.
Stay at Amanyangyun for a rarefied retreat on the city’s edge, The Peninsula Shanghai for classic riverfront glamour, or Capella Shanghai for villa-style seclusion in the French Concession.
CHINA’S UNESCO TREASURES
Amanfayun, Hangzhou
For those looking to connect these regions into a single journey, China's UNESCO Treasures Aman Jet Expedition weaves together many of China's most acclaimed attractions into one sweeping itinerary, linking culture, landscape, and history by private jet.
Learn more: China's UNESCO Treasures 2027
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