Stretching over 3,000 miles (5,000 km) from the Himalayas in the west to the East China Sea, with arid desert, terraced farmland, karst cathedrals, and lush jungles in between, China is, quite simply, epic. Check out some of the country’s most awe-inspiring landscapes below.
Mountain high
China’s tallest mountains are concentrated around its borders, the most famous of them being the Himalayas. Get really remote on a guided trek through Tibet; or take a lesser-known adventurous hike in the Hengduan range in Yunnan, where snowy peaks soar more than 24,700 ft (7,550 m).
Karst cathedrals
In Hunan province, weathered limestone formations are created by geological upheavals, resulting in what look like stone forests. Climb to the top of these karst cathedrals at Wulingyuan to see the ethereal vistas that could be taken straight from a Chinese scroll painting.
Running rivers
Most of China’s metropolises are built alongside rivers, their waters utilized for transportation, hydration, and irrigation. To fully appreciate the influence of the country’s rivers, take a slow cruise down the mighty Yangtze, passing through the glorious Three Gorges.
Tumbling terraces
The Chinese have mastered terracing – a method of farming the surface area of a sloped piece of land. Some of the best rice terraces are found in Guangxi; in summer the flooded terraces look like cascading steps of stained glass and in winter they blossom into a waterfall of gorgeous gold, ready to harvest rice grains.
Desert adventures
China is home to magnificent stretches of sand, like the Gobi Desert in Gansu and the Tengger in Inner Mongolia. For a truly magical setting, head to Dunhuang to climb the dunes surrounding a palm-fringed oasis pool.
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