China Travel

If the tourist hordes laying siege to Guangxi Province's Guilin have you scaling its limestone peaks to escape, head 80 km downriver by boat, bus, bicycle or taxi to Yangshuo. Shouldered by the Li River, Yangshuo is home to jutting karst pinnacles, rich rice-paddy farmland and mellow villages, all linked by crisscrossing waterways, small roads and backcountry paths. All this makes it ideal for cycle tours, hiking, rock climbing, rafting, caving, kayaking and more, including Impression of Liu Sanjie, a choreographed outdoor multimedia extravaganza directed by famed filmmaker Zhang Yimou, creator of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony. Every evening during spring, summer and fall, hundreds of dancers and singers enact the ancient tale of local heroine Liu Sanjie against a natural karst backdrop that soars above the river, colorfully lit up by... more »

As the capital of the Guangxi Autonomous Region, Nanning enjoys distinction as a cultural, historical and economic hub of southern China. Also known as the "Green City," Nanning is renowned for its natural beauty and scenery. Home to over 90-percent of the Zhuang ethnic minority's population, Nanning is also home to 30 other ethnic minorities, all of whom have inhabited the area for over 1,600 years. Residing near the Vietnam border, Nanning's proximity to Yunnan province, as well as Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, make it an essential trade and communications hub, and a key strategic point for military operations. more »

As far as endorsements go, "number one under heaven" isn't bad. And no, it's not Dashan or Yao Ming selling Chinese microwaves, it's the considered judgment of centuries of Chinese culture regarding the "rivers and mountains" of Guilin. If you're at all familiar with classical Chinese landscape painting, you've seen the landscape around this Li River town and its downriver neighbor, Yangshuo: fantastic limestone formations towering above placid waters and green rice paddies.  Guilin is also number one on a lot of tour itineraries, and the town and surrounding countryside are often quite crowded. So, if you're hoping to experience the area's magnificent scenery as something other than a backdrop for giddy shutterbug tour groups, you might need to get out of town and into more remote countryside. On the other hand, if you don't mind a traditionally Chi... more »

Once a stopover on the ancient Marine Silk Route, the port of Beihai has become a great place to take it easy and hit the beach, and it's an excellent jumping-off point for further tropical adventures on Hainan Island and in Vietnam, both of which are accessible via boat. As for Beihai itself, its combination of white sand beaches, great seafood, tree-lined streets and European colonial-style architecture make for a low-key getaway to rival Hainain's Sanya, but with fewer crowds and less hype.  Situated at the base of a peninula jutting into the Gulf of Tonkin (Beibu Wan in Mandarin), Beihai's harbor—once the haunt of South China Sea pirates—comes alive early, as a fleet of fishing boats brings the day's catch to market. If you've partaken in Beihai's relaxed but vibrant nightlife, you might prefer to wait to see what the boats brought in on your plate ... more »