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China


Shanghai STYLISH SECOND CITY


A century ago Shanghai was busy earning


itself notoriety as the world’s pre-eminent hotbed of hedonism. Today, it’s far more conservative, but remains a city brimming with joie de vivre and jarring juxtapositions. Elderly, pyjama-clad women share street corners with designer-clad beauties, while street food vendors peddle their delectable wares beside Michelin star-quality eateries. Marvel at the skyscrapers of Pudong, shop in Xintiandi or along Nanjing Road, people watch in Fuxing Park, stroll down memory lane in the French Concession, or get away from it all on Moganshan, the city’s nearby mountain retreat.


Hainan Island CHILL OUT ON CHINA’S HAWAII


Powdered sand beaches and limpid waters


aren’t usually the first things to spring to mind when you visualize China, but Hainan Dao — the country’s southernmost province — is an island idyll worthy of Tailand or the Maldives. Expansive sweeps of sand and surf skirt the entire island, offering myriad opportunities for swimming, boating and snorkeling. Complemented by some high-end resorts, these make Hainan the ideal Chinese destination for a blissed-out family getaway. Head inland to experience the island’s hot-spring culture and increasingly popular options for rainforest hiking.


From left: Temple of Heaven, Beijing; Beijing Opera performer; Wuzhizhou Dao Island, Hainan Island; Shanghai shopping


Beijing A CAPTIVATING CAPITAL


Beijing, the time-honored


metropolis of Kublai Khan and the Empress Dowager Cixi, is today one of Asia’s most dynamic capitals. Star attractions here are the Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven, plus Tiananmen Square. Several stretches of the Great Wall are available on a day trip to the north. Newer destinations are the Olympic Village, and 798, a contemporary art quarter packed with galleries and hip cafes. Try Peking duck, sample Beijing opera, and explore the hutongs, or narrow alleyways, of Nanluoguxiang and Shichahai for more local color.


Kashgar CHINA’S WILD WEST


You can’t travel much farther west in


China than Kashgar, in the west of Xinjiang Autonomous Region. A trading post on the fabled Silk Road, today this venerable city on the edge of the desert remains a bastion of Uyghur (a Muslim minority) culture. While much of Kashgar’s Old Town has unfortunately been knocked down, it’s still possible to see some fascinating remnants: check out the historic quarter near Donghai Lake. Around JieFang Lu there are also alleys


lined with Uyghur workshops (a great place to pick up silks, knives, jewelry and rugs). Kashgar’s Sunday market, one of Asia’s most incredible open bazaars, is a must-see, as is dramatic Lake Karakul, a (long) day trip away in the Kunlun Mountains. ▶


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