China, formally known as the People's Republic of China is a vast country in Eastern Asia with the world's largest population. With coasts on the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, in total it borders 14 nations. It borders Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam to the south; Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to the west; Russia and Mongolia to the north and North Korea to the east. Only Russia has more land borders in Asia.

Beijing

* Forbidden City (故宫 Gù Gōng, also known as the Palace Museum). Get there when the gates open (around 8.30AM) if you want to walk through the vast and spectacular courtyards in relative peace. This is truly the spot to appreciate the might and grandeur of the Imperial Chinese court during the height of its power in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Despite the transformation of the city around it, the Forbidden City remains mercifully relatively untouched. There are a handful of cafes and gift shops, which are surprisingly not very overpriced considering what a tourist area it is. Only two-fifths of the area of the palace is opened but more sections open all the time. Wandering to the right or left can yield some beautiful secluded courtyards and, of course, padlocked dead ends. You can rent an audio guided tour which explains certain temples along the central axis and their uses for ¥40 with a ¥100 deposit (more than a dozen languages available). The signs posted around and on buildings inside are fairly short and are written in both Chinese and English. You can reach the Forbidden City via subway line 1 to Tiananmen West or Tiananmen East,or by buses lines 1,4,52 and 728. Alternatively, the lines 101,109 and 810 stop at the north gate of Forbidden City. ¥60 for entrance.

* Tiananmen Square (天安门广场 Tiānānmén Guǎngchǎng). Largest square in the world. Built by Mao to impress; the square is surrounded by Soviet-style monuments and government buildings. Mao's mausoleum is at the south end, opposite the entrance to the Forbidden City. The monument in the center is the Monument to the People's Heroes which documents key events in modern Chinese history. The Great Hall of the People, seat of China's parliament, borders on the west. The Chinese National Museum (consisting of the Chinese History Museum and the Chinese Revolutionary Museum) occupies the eastern side of the square. Tiananmen Square remains an astounding place and a spot to linger and see visitors from all over China, many visiting their capital for the first time. There is a flag raising and lowering ceremony at dawn and dusk at the north end of the square. There are 4 marble lions in front of the Tiananmen gate, the northwest one has a bullet hole on its stomach from the 1989 Tianamen Square massacre (the lions are enclosed by fences, making the NW one nearly impossible to see close up). Entrance to Mao's Mausoleum is free but expect huge, but moving, queues. No bags, cameras or water bottles are allowed inside and must be dropped off (for a fee) at the 'Bagcheck' building across the road to the east (mobile phones ok). Flowers can be purchased to lay at the feet of Mao's statue inside (although they are collected and resold at the end of the day) as well as leaflets for ¥1. There is disagreement among the locals as to whether the body is real or fake waxwork so make up your own mind. Mao souvenirs can be purchased at the exit.

* Temple of Heaven (天坛 Tiāntán). Far south east of Qianmen and the Tiananmen Square. Not only a beautiful sight, but also surrounded by a vast public park popular with local residents practicing tai chi, dancing, and so on in the mornings and on weekends. Home to many ancient trees, this is also the greenest place in Beijing. Just a short stroll away from the historical sights will bring you to peaceful woods and, amazingly, solitude (especially toward the West Gate). The temple itself was the site where the emperor prayed every year for good harvests and fair weather. Sadly there are few good views of the temple from outside the inner compound wall, which costs extra to enter. The most convenient way for getting there is taking the Subway Line 5 to the Tiantandongmen Station (this is Tiantan's East Gate). It also can be reached by buses 2, 7, 17, 20, 110, 120, 803, 814, 826 to the West Gate (天坛西门 Tiāntán Xīmén); or buses 35 and 106 to the North Gate (天坛北门 Tiāntán Běimén). Bear in mind that walking around this park will take some time. Park and historical sights (like the temple) ¥35, park only ¥15.

* Summer Palace (颐和园 Yíhéyuán). Extensive gardens and the ruins of palaces constructed by the Qing emperors. In 1860, foreign soldiers damaged much of what was then known as the "Garden of Clear Ripples", but the area would be rebuilt and renamed by the Empress Dowager Cixi, using funds intended for modernizing the Qing navy. Most visitors stay in the front hill area, but if you prefer quiet places, the west bank and back hill areas are good choices. There are some quiet and secret ruins, caves, and other fun stuff in the back hill area. You could easily take bus No. 690 or 808 from Tian An Men Square to the terminal station, the Summer Palace. The Bus 826 would bring you from Temple of Heaven to Summer Palace.

* Beijing Zoo and Aquarium (北京动物园 Běijīng Dòngwù Yuán). (They do have pandas, but displays are not great, your best bet is to go to the Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu, Sichuan Province). Some are concerned with the way animals are treated in the zoo, but the aquarium is one of the biggest in the world, and very impressive. The zoo was built on the sites of some ancient gardens, has lakes, pounds, pavilions and other beautiful old buildings. The Soviet revival Beijing Exhibition Hall is located nearby and has a Russian restaurant, "Moscow Restaurant". Please note that the Zoo is also an important traffic center, which means the terminal station for Bus No. 103,105,107 and 111. The new subway line 4 should be ready in 2009.

* Beihai Park (北海 Běihǎi), (Take bus 101 103 109 846 to the south gate, bus 13 118 810 to the north gate, opposite the Shi Sha Hai). Nov-Mar 9AM-4PM Apr-Oct 9AM-5PM. Beihai is a good place to take a glance at Zhongnanhai (中南海 Zhōngnánhǎi), heart of Communist China. There's a big island and white pagoda which was built in the 17th century. The giant buildings westward outside are PRC's Ministry of Defence and General Staff, which, to be honest, ruin the scene of the west bank. On the north bank, you can visit some small but beautiful gardens. ¥20.

* Yonghegong (雍和宮 Yōnghégōng, also known as Lama Temple or Palace of Peace). Closes at 4pm. The temple was built by Chinese emperors who harbored a deep fascination for the Tibetan (Tantric) version of Buddhism. Over the years, many Tibetan and Mongolian monks lived and taught here, and there are still monks in residence today. The temple is famous for its 18m statue of Maitreya Buddha carved from a single piece of sandalwood. Visitors aren't allowed to take pictures of holy statues inside most of the temples. You can view most of buildings in an hour or less. Entrance is ¥25 and seems a bit overpriced.

* Prince Gong's Mansion and Garden (公王府花园 Gōngwáng Fǔ Huāyuán), Liuyin St., Xicheng District. Opens from 8 AM to 5 PM every day until August. After August, it will open from 9 AM to 4 PM. The garden is packed with Chinese tourists, and the mansion displays the life of princes during the Qing dynasty. The standard entrance ticket is ¥20 to visit the mansion and park, but if you want to see some Peking Opera (京剧 Jīng Jù) and magic shows (魔术 móshù) the ticket is ¥60.

* Legation Quarter, (east of Tiananmen Square). Once famous in the Boxer Rebellion, the legation quarter is now occupied by government offices and army offices but can still be seen from outside. There's a wonderful bakery store called "Sapporo" near the legation quarter, famous for its breads and cheesecakes.

* Fragrant Hills (香山 Xiāng Shān), (in the northwestern corner of Beijing). A good place for weekend outings and picnics. Formerly a Qing imperial garden, today Fragrant Hills makes an easy short climb in the suburbs of Beijing. It's also home to the Fragrant Hills Hotel, designed by noted architect I.M. Pei (Louvre Museum Pyramid). Take buses 331, 360 or 634 to the last stop. Admission Fee is ¥10, students ¥5.

* Beijing Botanical Gardens (北京植物园 Běijīng Zhíwù Yuán), (Take buses 331, 726). Steps away from the east gate of Fragrant Hill. Acres of greenery and flowers for those tired of urban smog and traffic noise. Sir Johnston, teacher of the last emperor Puyi, had a villa in Cherry Glen, a silent and beautiful retreat in the Gardens. In the spring, the gardens hosts special exhibits of tulips, peach and plum blossoms, peonies, and the like. ¥10, students ¥5.

* Hutongs (胡同 Hútòng). Beijing's ancient alleyways, where you can find traditional Beijing architecture. They date back to when Beijing was the capitol of the Yuan dynasty (1266-1368). Most buildings in hutongs are made in the traditional courtyard (四合院 sìhéyuàn) style. Many of these courtyard homes were originally occupied by aristocrats, though after the Communist takeover in 1949 the aristocrats were pushed out and replaced with poor families. Hutongs can still be found throughout the area within the 2nd Ring Road, though many are being demolished to make way for new buildings and wider roads. Most popular among tourists are the hutongs near Qianmen and Houhai. The hutongs may at first feel intimidating to travellers used to the new wide streets of Beijing, but the locals are very friendly and will often try to help you if you look lost.

* China Aviation Museum (中国民航博物馆 Zhōngguó Mínháng Bówùguǎn), Datangshan, Chanping District (Take Bus 912 or 643 from Andingmen station). 8AM-5:30PM. A must see for all aviation fans. It is located about 50 km outside Beijing in Changping District and is probably better known by the name Datangshan (大汤山 Dàtāngshān). Best way to get there is to arrange a taxi from your hotel. The other more adventurous way is to take bus 912 (or 643 if you can't find the 912) from Andingmen bus station, just remember that 912 has some branch lines and not all of these go via museum. The museum hosts over 200 exhibits, many of them very rare. Entrance fee is ¥50, and an extra ¥8 if you want to board Chairman Mao's plane.

* National Stadium (北京国家体育场 Běijīng Guójiā Tǐyùchǎng), Olympic Park, Chaoyang District, ☎ +86 10 84986888. 9 AM - 7 PM. Also known as the "Bird's Nest" (鸟巢 Niǎocháo), this stadium, designed by Herzog & Meuron, is the world's largest steel structure. Post-Olympics it will be used to host soccer matches. ¥50.

* National Museum of China (中国国家博物馆 Zhōngguó Guójiā Bówùguǎn), 16, East Chang'an St, Dongcheng district (On the east side of Tiananmen Square), ☎ +86 10 8447-4914. It is undergoing renovation from 2007 until 2010 and will not be accessible until finished.

China (Country Guide)

Fodor's China, 5th Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides)

Etiquette Guide to China: Know the Rules that Make the Difference! (Etiquette Guides)

Shanghai

* For a feel of the China of yesteryear, check out Yuyuan Gardens, which is loaded with classical Chinese architecture. A lot of history resides in this little garden and temple. They were commissioned in 1559, built over the course of 19 years, destroyed in 1842 during the first Opium War, and later rebuilt and reopened to the public in their current incarnation in 1961. Pathways wind through rock gardens and bamboo stands, and stone bridges cross pools filled with bright carp. The word "yu" translates to "peace and health"—and the park was certainly designed with tranquility in mind.

* For a taste of 1920s Shanghai, head for the stately old buildings of the Bund. Or pay a visit to The French Concession, in Xuhui District (徐汇区), generally bound by Shan Xi Road to the East, Jian Guo Road to the South, Hua Shan Road to the West and Chang Le Road (长乐路) to the North. Some of the best sections are along Hu Nan Road (湖南路), Fu Xing Road (复兴路), Shao Xing Road (绍兴路) and Heng Shan Road (衡山路). The area is fast becoming famous for boutique shopping along Xin Le Lu, Chang Le Lu and An Fu Lu (安福路), all of which also have interesting restaurants.

* For 21st-century Shanghai, cross the river to gawk at the skyscrapers of Pudong. The area surrounding the People's Square is also great for skyscrapers, as well as Nanjing West Road (南京西路).

* To get away from the frentic pace of Shagnhai, you should visit the Longhua Temple. It takes a while to get there but it's not as busy as the Jade Buddha Temple and the experience is fulfilling. You can also have a nice vegetarian Buddhist meal in both Temples.

* For Shanghai's modern cultural innovations and a look into the hot contemporary art scene, head to the Tai Kang Road creative enclave. People from all walks of life converge amongst the traditional Shikumen thats home to design stores, fashion boutiques and cafes representing the best of Shanghai creativity. Unique local brands such as Vervia are amongst the most interesting, combining Eastern and Western influences to be at the forefront of modern Shanghai design.