There’s so much more to see and do in China and it’s difficult not to want to travel as far around the country as your budget will take you! We'd highly recommend taking some time out after your placement to taste the rich and diverse cultural experiences China has to offer. If you'd like travel advice, just speak to your Project Co-Ordinator for help planning your trip (the China Lonely Planet is pretty enormous and can be rather daunting!)

China's natural beauty! The tranquility and heartbreaking beauty of sunrise from the top of one of China’s sacred mountains is an absolutely unforgettable experience. There are many mountains dotted around the country on which the local people practice pilgrimage routes. Tai Shan, in Shandong Province is particularly stunning. Nature reserves and national parks can also be found all over the country. Worth particular mention is Hansi Hu - Xinjiang Province's edge-of-the-universe park which boasts amazing treks and is home to all kinds of nomadic people from Kazaks to Xinjiang's native Muslim Uyghurs.

In our opinion, some of the highlights of the country are:

The Army of Terracotta Warriors outside Xi’an - 6000 soldiers and horses that were originally designed to guard the tomb of an ancient Emperor. 2000 years old, these warriors were discovered by accident in the 1970s by peasants digging a well! Every figure differs in facial features and expression, and they make for an amazing sight!

Tropical Xishuangbanna - China's very own South-East Asia complete with sunshine, Thai style temples, Dai minority dancing and water splashing festivals! Here you can explore tribal villages on the border with Burma, or trek through the rainforest.

Northern China, along the path of the ruins of the Great wall, also has many sights, and a slightly rough-around-the-edges charm. Here, you can visit the Gobi desert & climb enormous sand dunes in Gansu Province or explore ancient grottoes and caverns full of religious art & Buddha statues at Dunhuang or Datong. You can even spend a night camping out under the stars in a yurt on the epic grasslands of Inner Mongolia. Here you might find yourself taking part in traditional Mongolian wrestling or drinking the local spirit (hopefully not at the same time!)

China's big cities - The economic and cultural and centres of this blossoming nation can be found in its 3 big cities - Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. These cities are practically alive with energy and each deserve a visit during your time in China. They represent the glitz and glamour of China's future and everything that's hip in China's new youth, with the rich history of Chinese culture running strongly through them.

The far North-West - Xinjiang Province in the far North-West of China next to the borders with Mongolia & Kazakhstan is a multicultural melting pot of Han Chinese, Uyghurs (the local Muslim people) and Kazakhs. Here you can visit Tian Chi, a lake halfway up a mountain inhabited by nomadic Kazakh people or take part in local grape making in the desert around Turpan