Complete China: Great Cities & Hidden Waterways

Beijing, China's millennia-old capital, weaves imperial grandeur with the energy of a modern metropolis. The city's heart is Tian'anmen Square, one of the largest in the world, which opens onto the Forbidden City (Gùgōng), an immense imperial palace with golden roofs that was the emperors' residence for five centuries. Nearby stand the harmonious Temple of Heaven (Tiāntán), a masterpiece of architectural balance, and the Summer Palace (Yíhéyuán) with its gardens and Kunming Lake. From the traditional alleys, the hutong, you discover the most authentic Beijing of courtyards, workshops and markets. A short distance from the city rises the Great Wall, snaking over the mountains in spectacular sections such as Mutianyu and Badaling. The cuisine offers Peking duck, the capital's signature dish. Between imperial history, temples and modernity, Beijing is a fascinating gateway to Chinese civilisation, to be explored between past and present.

Xian is one of China's most historic cities, the ancient capital of numerous dynasties and the eastern starting point of the Silk Road. Its worldwide fame is tied to the Terracotta Army, thousands of life-sized warrior statues made to guard the tomb of the first emperor, one of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. The city preserves imposing walls, among the best preserved in the country, which can be walked or cycled. In the centre stand the Bell Tower, the Great Wild Goose Pagoda and the lively Muslim Quarter, with its market fragrant with spices and street food. Xian is also renowned for its culinary tradition, from biang biang noodles to skewers. Between archaeology, ancient walls and living culture, Xian offers a journey into the heart of imperial Chinese history.

Guilin is famous for one of China's most iconic landscapes, where the distinctive pinnacle-shaped karst hills rise like green sculptures among rivers and rice paddies. The city is the starting point for the spectacular cruise along the Li River (Lijiang) to Yangshuo, a journey among mist-wrapped mountains that has inspired centuries of Chinese painting and poetry. In the city centre lie picturesque lakes, the Reed Flute Caves with their illuminated formations, and panoramic hills. The surroundings offer terraced rice fields and rural villages. Guilin's scenery, among the most photographed in the country, embodies the very idea of picturesque, poetic China. Guilin is an unmissable stop for those seeking nature, rivers and postcard landscapes.

Yangshuo is a picturesque town set within the famous karst landscape of the Guilin region, surrounded by green pinnacles, rice paddies and crystalline rivers. The arrival point for cruises on the Li River, it is an ideal base for exploring one of China's most iconic settings, riding the mountain trails by bicycle or drifting on a bamboo raft along the Yulong River. The lively West Street, the town's heart, offers restaurants, bars and shops in an international, relaxed atmosphere. The surroundings offer caves, rural villages and evening shows against a natural backdrop. Between fairytale mountains, rivers and outdoor life, Yangshuo wins over lovers of nature and adventure, and is an unmissable stop for those visiting southern China.

Shanghai presents itself as China's most cosmopolitan and futuristic metropolis, where colonial heritage and architectural avant-garde coexist along the banks of the Huangpu River. The famous Bund is lined with elegant early-twentieth-century European-style buildings, while across the water the Pudong district flaunts a futuristic skyline, dominated by the Oriental Pearl Tower and the soaring Shanghai Tower. At the heart of the old town, the Yuyuan Garden offers an oasis of pavilions, ponds and rocks in perfect classical Chinese style. The districts of the former French Concession, with their tree-lined avenues, cafés and boutiques, recall a cosmopolitan past, while Nanjing Road throbs with commercial life. The cuisine ranges from xiaolongbao, delicate broth-filled dumplings, to international fare. Between skyscrapers, history and refinement, Shanghai is the showcase of contemporary China, vibrant and ever-changing.

Hangzhou is considered one of China's most beautiful cities, famous for its West Lake (Xīhú), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a stretch of water framed by hills, pagodas, bridges and gardens that has inspired poets and painters for centuries. Strolling along its shores, crossing the arched bridges or boating among the lotus flowers offers an experience of pure harmony. The city is also the historic capital of Longjing green tea, grown on the surrounding hills, where you can discover the tradition of the harvest. Temples, such as Lingyin, and ancient streets enrich the visit. Modern and prosperous, Hangzhou combines scenic refinement with millennia-old culture. Between poetic lakes, gardens and tea plantations, Hangzhou embodies the ideal of beauty of classical China.

Suzhou is famous as the "Venice of the East" for its network of canals, stone bridges and ancient water houses that characterise its historic centre. The city is above all renowned for its splendid classical gardens, recognised as UNESCO World Heritage, true masterpieces of harmony between water, rocks, pavilions and vegetation, such as the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Master of the Nets Garden. Suzhou has also been a centre of silk production for centuries, whose history and techniques can be discovered. The nearby water towns, such as Tongli and Zhouzhuang, offer picturesque views among canals and bridges. Between refined gardens, canals and silk tradition, Suzhou embodies the elegance of classical Chinese culture, an unmissable stop near Shanghai.