| China is such a large country that it is impossible to | | | | and Canada are larger. China has a land area of |
| see even a fraction of it in one visit. It is advisable to | | | | 9,600,000 square kilometers (3,700,000 square miles), |
| specialize in just one area, and get a good guided tour. | | | | and a widely varying climate. Before you leave, find |
| Ten-day guided tours are available starting at | | | | out what seasonal climates to expect in the region you |
| approximately $1100. | | | | are going to visit, and pack accordingly. China has a |
| For instance, the ancient civilization of mystical Tibet | | | | marked continental monsoon climate with great variety |
| has always fascinated travellers. Learn about the | | | | in temperature and rainfall. The greatest part of China |
| history of Tibetan Buddhism, and visit the Potala | | | | is in the northern temperate zone while the southern |
| Palace. Pilgrims come from every corner of Tibet to | | | | areas are in the tropical or subtropical zone and |
| the Heavenly Lake Namtso. | | | | northern areas in the frigid zone. |
| Another popular tour travels along the historic Silk | | | | In most of China there is a clear division between |
| Road, one of the world's most famous trade routes. | | | | seasons. In winter, northerly winds from high latitude |
| This route features ancient Islamic and Buddhist | | | | areas keep the northern region cold and dry, while in |
| civilizations, bustling markets, exotic folk customs and a | | | | summer, monsoons from southern coastal areas bring |
| faded but glorious history. This fascinating overland | | | | warmth and humidity. In north China, such as Xinjiang |
| route was once used for transporting silk to Europe. It | | | | and Inner Mongolia, summer is dry and sweltering while |
| covers areas in central China not visited by many | | | | winter is bitingly cold. Sandstorms often occur in spring |
| tourists and passes through archaeological treasures | | | | in this area, especially in the Inner Mongolia and Beijing |
| such as the cities of Xian and Dunhuang as it heads | | | | area. The red dust from these storms can be picked |
| into Xinjiang. | | | | up by high-altitude winds are travel around the world. In |
| Or hike along the Great Wall of China. Make sure to | | | | Russia, pink snow was reported in the winter of 2006 |
| bring hiking shoes and warm clothing, as the Wall was | | | | as this far-flung red dust mixed with local precipitation. |
| built as a military fortification atop steep, exposed | | | | On the Tibet-Qinghai plateau, which has an elevation of |
| mountain ridges. | | | | approximately 4,000 meters above sea level, winter is |
| China has a population of 1.265 billion, the largest of any | | | | long and extremely cold while summer is short and |
| country on earth, and holds about 22 percent of the | | | | moderately warm. There is little precipitation here and |
| earth's total population. It is an extremely diverse nation | | | | a great temperature fluctuation between day and night. |
| consisting of 55 different ethnic groups. The Chinese | | | | Visitors to Tibet should bring warm clothing even in |
| speak eight major dialects: Putonghua (Mandarin), Yue | | | | summer. |
| (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), | | | | In central china, such as Yangtze River area, summer |
| Minnan (Taiwanese), Gan, Xiang, and Hakka and many | | | | is long, hot and humid while winter is short and cold. In |
| sub-dialects. In addition, ethnic groups such as the | | | | the areas south of the Yangtze River, temperature |
| Mongolian, Naxi, Tibetan, Yi, Uygur, and other ethnic | | | | rarely falls below freezing. In the near-tropical far south, |
| groups have their own native languages. | | | | such as the area around Guangzhou, the summer is |
| The language spoken in Beijing is often referred to as | | | | long, humid and hot while the winter is short and mild. |
| Mandarin or Putonghua. Putonghua, which means | | | | The rainy season runs from May through August and |
| "common language" is the country's main language and | | | | typhoons frequently occur in the southeast coast |
| is spoken by more than 70 percent of the population. | | | | between July and September. |
| Putonghua is also referred to as the "Han language" | | | | Chinese currency is called Renminbi (people's money), |
| (Hanyu) or simply Chinese. Because of the increased | | | | abbreviated as RMB, issued by The Bank of China. |
| economic migration across China during the past two | | | | The unit of Renminbi is a yuan and with smaller |
| decades years, the use of Mandarin has increased. | | | | denominations called jiao and fen. The conversion |
| In recent years, as tourism to China has grown, the | | | | among the three is: 1 yuan equals 10 jiao which equals |
| use of English has increased across the country. In | | | | 100 fen. The safest way to bring currency to China is |
| major cities, staff in stores and hotels can speak fluent | | | | in travellers' checks. Be sure to keep your currency |
| or at least basic English. However, it is best for | | | | exchange receipts because you will need to show |
| English-speaking tourists to have a translator, as | | | | them when you change RMB back to your own |
| knowledge of English is by no means universal, | | | | currency when you leave China. Credit cards are |
| especially in rural areas where approximately 2/3 of | | | | often not accepted in remote areas, so be sure to |
| China's population lives. | | | | carry sufficient RMB and travelers' checks to cover |
| China, officially called the People's Republic of China | | | | your requirements. |
| (PRC), is the third largest country on earth. Only Russia | | | | |