A part of the world that has been civilised for nearly 5,000 years, and in fact has considered itself the centre of the world, China has had a major impact internationally on art, culture and science. It remains a land filled with mystery and a storehouse of archaeological and cultural treasures. China’s geography is vast, as are its climate extremes. The country’s topography is rich in scenic landscapes, ranging from the peaks of the Himalayas to dramatic river gorges and vast desert regions.

China is the world’s third-largest country in land mass, and the world’s largest in terms of population. China’s past has gone from a country with early roots in international trade and exploration to a closed society, which is once again opening up to trade and tourism with the larger world. Each year, more and more visitors see China as a major travel destination, and the county’s hotels and tourism infrastructure grows to meet these demands.

There is so much to see and do in China that it’s highly unlikely a visitor will ever be bored. The country’s range of cuisines is also astonishing – from fiery-hot Sichuan to delicious seafood of the coastal areas and Muslim specialties originating in the Western regions. The range of attractions to be appreciated is equally amazing – from the Great Wall to the Forbidden City along with the bustle of Shanghai and hidden surprises down great meandering rivers.

Chinese history can be traced back 4,000 to 5,000 years, with all but its most recent being characterised by a series of dynasties. Its first dynasty, the Xia Dynasty, occurred from around 2200-1700 BC, and has been described mostly through legend as a time of sovereigns who were god-like, bestowing the gifts of life and knowledge on their subjects.

The Zhou period is next recorded dynasty, dating from 1100-221 BC. It was during this time that Confucianism emerged, along with the ‘mandate of heaven’, justifying the right to rule by the righteous – who were looked down on favourably by the heavens. Heaven’s disapproval was believed to be expressed in the form of natural disasters and a direct result of rule by the unjust. During the Qin dynasty (221-207 BC), the Chinese people were truly united for the first time. At this time, the construction of the Great Wall was completed and the writing system was standardised.

Conflict ensued in the years of the Han dynasty, which had a short life from 206-220 AD. There was a great deal of military conflict that resulted in the division of the country into the Three Kingdoms. Interestingly, however, it was during this time that Buddhism and the arts began to flourish.

Unity was restored once again under the Sui dynasty, in the years from 589-618 AD. The unification was fully achieved during the Tang dynasty, in the years from 618-908 AD: this is still considered one of the most glorious times in the history of China. It took military conquests for the Chinese to regain control of the silk routes, also leading to an international presence that was unprecedented in the country’s history.

Confucianism underwent a revival during the years of the Song dynasty (960-1279); and commerce took on an even greater significance. Marco Polo commented on China’s remarkable prosperity in the 13^th century. The grandson of Genghis Khan, the Kublai Khan, led the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), and established the capital in Beijing, with a strong military administration. This was followed by the Ming dynasty, established by the Buddhist novice, Hongwu. The Ming dynasty began in 1368, and lasted until 1644 – during which time both Beijing and Nanjing were capital cities.

The first Europeans to arrive were the Portuguese in 1516, establishing a trade mission in Macau shortly thereafter. It was more than two centuries later, however, that other European powers gained a foothold in trading with China, and this occurred in Guangzhou. The trade balance was in China’s favour, as the Europeans bought much more in the way of tea and silk than the Chinese did of European products.

The British were the first to act to correct the balance of trade, officially promoting the sale of opium in 1773. China suffered humiliating defeats in the Opium Wars around 70 years later, with the result that Hong Kong was ceded to the British. Other Western powers descended on China, creating their own dominions on Chinese soil. Eventually, China agreed to a proposed ‘open door’ trade policy with the US, leading to the end of Chinese colonial possessions.

Chaos reigned in the first half of the 20^th century. Intellectuals were seeking a replacement for Confucianism, and warlords were seeking imperial power. The Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party, led by Sun Yatsen, established a power base in the south of China; while the Chinese Communist Party was formed in 1921, in Shanghai. Any hope of unification of the two sides was lost when Sun Yatsen died and Chiang Kaishek rose to lead the Nationalist Party – as he was in favour of a capitalist system maintained by a military-style dictatorship.

Under Mao Tse-Tung, the Communists established a guerrilla army of around 40,000 soldiers by 1930, with the numbers greatly increased by taking on armed peasants during Mao’s Long March in 1934. During this time of civil unrest, the Japanese took advantage of the country’s internal chaos, invading Manchuria in 1931. By 1939 they had taken over most of the eastern provinces of China. By the end of WWII, China was in the midst of a full-blown civil war, and eventually, on 1 October 1949 Mao Tse-Tung declared the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC); and Chiang Kaishek fled the country to set up his government in Taiwan.

In recent years, with the hand-over of Hong Kong by the British, and Macau by the Portuguese, the Chinese system of ‘one country, two plans’ is well underway. Free-market forces are allowed to operate in these two Special Administrative Regions (SAR); but tighter control of the economy is still maintained in most other parts of the country.

China experiences most all climate extremes. In the northern area of the country, winter months from December to March are typically very cold. In Beijing, for example, temperatures seldom rise above 0°C. As you move towards the region to the north of the Great Wall and into Inner Mongolia, you’ll find even colder temperatures, which at times drop to -40°C.

In contrast, the summer months in Beijing and other parts of the northern region can be sweltering, with temperatures of 38°C not uncommon. Spring and fall are the best seasons, without doubt, to visit China’s northern attractions, as daytime temperatures are typically in the 20-30°C range. You’ll find that nights during this time can be quite cold, however.

In southern China, the weather is generally hot and humid from April to September – particularly around Guangzhou. Rainfall can be heavy between July and September, and typhoons are possible in all of southeast China. Winters are short here, lasting from January through March, and nowhere near as cold as it gets in the north. The spring and fall months are also the best time to visit this area, with daytime temperatures ranging from 20-25°C. Whether you’re visiting the south or the north during these months, it’s always a good idea to bring along warm clothing, as nights can be quite cool.

The central parts of China are typically hot and humid during the summer, and in fact, Chongqing, Nanjing and Wuhan provinces are the hottest of all – with temperatures rising above 40°C frequently. In this area, summers run from April to October. Winters are short here, but can be quite cold. Again, the best time to visit the central provinces is during the spring and fall.