The tradition and elegance of the Southern Great Wall

The Great Wall, the defining architectural wonder of ancient China, was built as a defense against the nomads of the north. But a little known fact is that the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) also built sections of the Great Wall in the south.

A Chinese New Year tradition: the temple fair

The celebration of Spring Festival, like so many things in Beijing, has changed over the years, but one constant remains: the temple fair.

Ice hiking and frozen falls in Double Dragons Gorge

Winter freezes over rivers, ponds, lakes and waterfalls. It’s this last item, which remains suspended majestically from cliffs and mountaintops…

A hike to the grand Ming Tombs

Joseph Needham, one of the most important foreigners in Chinese history in the 20th century, once said: “The royal mausoleum is an important breakthrough in the field of Chinese architecture.

A bit of snowy Italy in Harbin

If you’re missing the snow this winter, travel north to Harbin, where the city is preparing to receive visitors from around the world for its ice and snow festivals.

Tropical fruit tours and winter diversions in Changping

The Special Vegetable Base in Xiaotangshan, Changping District offers a unique experience for visitors who can’t make it down south to pick tropical fruits. Exotic fruits are grown at the base, the likes of which are only seen in tropical climates or at the supermarket.

Snowy outdoor fun at the Bird’s Nest

Who needs real snow? Christmas can still be as romantic as ever at any of the various winter festivals around town, such as at the second Bird’s Nest Snow Amusement Festival.

Historical remains hidden in mountains

Many of the buildings are in ruins after centuries of erosion. Some are in such bad conditions that they change noticeably every two or three years. But in Fangshan District, southwestern Beijing, a trek from Guji Mountain to Lingjiu Temple offers many clues to the past.

Catch the last autumnal beauty in morthern Beijing

Autumn is always considered the best season in Beijing, not only for the comfortable weather but also for its transience – before you know it, the bitterness of winter has arrived. This year, autumn has lingered a little longer, so people can enjoy the outdoors even now.

Tracing the history of the Republic in Nanjing

As an ancient capital, Nanjing precedes Beijing. It first became Wu’s capital in 229 during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), and was a national capital as recently as 62 years ago, when it was capital of the Republic of China (1912-49).