Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Enchanting China…the time to go is now……

 

China might just be the most rewarding destination on Earth. Never fails to conjure up a myriad of feelings, images and a sense of mystery. Whether it’s your first visit or your twentieth, China is so big, so diverse and so fast-changing, it’s always an adventure. More than ever, intrepid travellers are making their way to the People’s Republic of China and there’s little wonder why. Come……experience China with us………

 

The world’s oldest continuous civilisation is bound to pull an artefact or two out of its hat. There isn't history at every turn but travel selectively in China & rich seams of antiquity await exploration.

 

Eagerly assuming its place among the world’s top travel destinations, even more so since Beijing took centre stage at the 2008 Olympics, China is an epic adventure. From the wide open & empty panoramas of Tibet to the push & shove of  Shanghai, from the volcanic dishes of Sichuan to beer by the bag in seaside Qingdao, a journey through this colossus of a country is a mesmerising encounter with the most populous, perhaps most culturally idiosyncratic nation on earth.

 

The third-largest country in the world, China is bounded to the north by the deserts of Mongolia, to the west by the Tibetan plateau and the Himalayas, and to the east by the East and South China Seas. China's 22 provinces & 5 autonomous regions are governed from Beijing, along with some 5000 islands. China isn't just a country - it's a different world.

 

China boasts one of the world’s oldest civilizations, a past that has been chronicled for more than 5,000 years. It is also a land of towering mountains and epic landscapes - background scenery to the fall of dynasties, the rise of emperors and the turning of the revolutionary wheel. The sheer sweep of geography, history, cultures, cuisine, is enough to tempt even the most accomplished traveler to return.

 

Curator of the world’s oldest continuous civilisation, China will have you bumping into history at every turn. But it’s not just a museum of imperial relics: the frisson of development that has left China’s coastline glittering with some of the world’s most up-to-the-minute cities propels the land on with a forward-thinking dynamism.

 

With tumble-down chunks of the Great Wall, mist-wreathed, temple-topped mountains, quaint villages, water towns and sublime Buddhist cave statues, China insists on a few requirements: a well-made pair of travelling shoes and a strong stomach for long-distance wayfaring.

 

Beijing, Shanghai & Hong Kong are portraits of modern Chinese wherewithal & ambition, but it is the big outdoors that should top your list. From the placid mountain lakes of Tibet, the impassive deserts of Inner Mongolia to island-hopping in Hong Kong or cycling between fairy-tale karst pinnacles around Yangshuo, China's landscapes are beguiling. Swoon before the rice terraces of the south, size up some awesome sand dunes in Gansu or trace the Great Wall as it meanders across mountain peaks, get lost in forests of bamboo, sail through dramatic river gorges or, when your energy fails you, flake out for a tan on a distant beach.

 

With its long and dramatic history, China offers endless cultural treasures. It is forever linked to its ancient civilization, friendly people, and many of the world’s most revered treasures, such as The Great Wall, Terra-Cotta Warriors & Horses & the Yangtze River.

 

But venture further afield and you will be rewarded.  Tibet's monasteries, Chengdu pandas, Guilin's Li River cruise through karst peaks, Yunnan's alpine kingdoms, cave Buddhas of Datong, preserved city of Pingyao, Yangtze river, the western desert cities of the Silk Road - all have unique appeal. 

 

Within the almost four million square miles of China's vast territory live more than 1.3 billion people, which makes it the most populated nation on earth. For centuries, outsiders have yearned to visit China and it's only since 1976 that tourism really started. Initially, foreign visitors were only allowed to see a fraction of what the country had to offer, however, today it is possible to visit as many as 60 different areas. An increasing number of historical sites are also being restored and opened up to viewing for foreign tourists.

And it’s the people – unavoidable in their immense numbers – who provide the ceaseless drama and entertainment. Loud, garrulous and quick thinking, you’ll see the Chinese squeezing onto dangerous-looking buses, walking in pyjamas around Shanghai or inviting each other to sit down to some of the most varied cuisine in the world. Animated by a palpable sense of pride, the Chinese are revelling in their country’s ascendency. Everyone is talking about China, so why not find out what all the fuss is about?

 

Treat yourself by trading your meagre local Chinatown menu for the lavish Middle Kingdom cookbook. Wolf down Peking duck, size up a sizzling lamb kebab in Kaifeng or gobble down a bowl of Lanzhou noodles on the Silk Road. Spicy Hunan or Sìchuan dishes really raise the temperature but don’t forget about what’s cooking along China’s frontier lands - always an excellent excuse to get off the beaten path. Culinary exploration is possibly the most enticing aspect of Middle Kingdom travel: you will return with stimulated taste buds and much cherished gastronomic memories.

 

From shop-till-you-drop metropolises to the epic grasslands of Inner Mongolia - with deserts, sacred peaks, astounding caves and imperious ruins - it's a land of cultural and geographical wonders. It is not that China has done away with its Maoist past - it is more that the yin of revolutionary zeal is being balanced with the yang of economic pragmatism. The old guard communists are giving way to the new wave entrepreneurs.

 

As much as China is keen to display its stunning scenery, historical sites and impressive cities, it is also dedicated to conveying something about how its society works. Although its political system has set it apart from the west, China is now moving forward in leaps & bounds, especially in the areas of trade & commerce. The major cities are indicative of the burgeoning economy of modern China.

 

China is vast. Off the scale massive. A riveting jumble of wildly differing dialects and climatic & topographical extremes, it is like several different countries rolled into one. Take your pick from the tossed-salad ethnic mix of the southwest, the yak-butter illuminated temples of Xiahe, a journey along the dusty Silk Road, spending the night at Everest Base Camp or getting into your glad rags for a night on the Shanghai tiles. You are spoiled for choice: whether you’re an urban traveller, hiker, cyclist, explorer, backpacker, irrepressible museum-goer or faddish foodie, China’s diversity is second to none.

 

Whether you are a vacationer, cultural explorer, China can cater for your every desire. Discover the myriad things to see and do in one of the most diverse and exciting destinations in the world. On this journey, we will discover the fascinating heritage and wealth of this enigmatic country, a land steeped in mystery, where the ancient and modern worlds mingle at every step. Come and see why China is drawing millions of visitors from all over the world. And, why each and every one of them returns home smiling

 

As in the days of Marco Polo, travellers are still regarded as honoured guests and the locals delight in watching you watching them. Within the relatively short time that China's doors have been open to the West, few tourists have visited the rural parts of the country, including the remote region of Yunnan. Unless you have a couple of years and unlimited patience, it is best to follow an itinerary such as Beijing to Tibet via Xian's Terra Cotta Warriors or following the Silk Route or sailing down the Yangtze River or simply let us plan your trip.

 

Breathtaking antiquity & stupendous scenery. Curator of the world’s oldest continuous civilisation, China will have you bumping into history at every turn. Plus great food & idyllic scenery are just the beginning……. Take the plunge now and yep…. People’s Republic of China is waiting. A warm welcome, historical secrets & an artistic paradise awaits you and The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery.

 

 

Come……be inspired & discover the World with us

 

We are in the process of updating our Offerings of experiential journeys to People’s Republic of China. Please contact us in the interim if you want to explore more options & we will be happy to customise & offer suggestions based on your personal preferences………