Main Content
 
(object placeholder)

China

China's landscapes are vast, its history and monuments epic. After sealing itself off from the outside world for so many years, China has re-engaged and is now in the throes of a second, consumerist, revolution. Complex and energetic - this country must be experienced at least once in a lifetime.


The Yangzi River, the world's third longest river at 6,280 kilometres (3,900 miles), is the symbolic lifeline of China. Flowing from Tibet to Shanghai, and cutting through the dramatic mountains of the Yangzi river basin, the Chinese people have long seen the river's power and beauty as representing the nation itself. Historically, the Yangzi served as a divider between northern and southern China, a natural barrier against invaders and a waterway for transport and commerce.The river basin is the country's heartland, home to 500 million people - a tenth of the world's population. 

China

The magnificent Three Gorges region is an area unsurpassed in sheer physical beauty, enriched by over 3,000 years of culture and history. During the Three Kingdoms Period (260-280 AD), the gorges played an important role in the course of China's history. During World War II, the gorges provide protection against the onslaught of the Japanese invasion. And in recent years, the Three Gorges have drawn international attention for both their majestic scenic beauty and for the controversial construction of the Three Gorges Dam - the largest dam project ever attempted. Begun in 1992 and completed in 2009, China's coming of age as a world power is heralded by this colossal feat of engineering, a Great Wall for the future.