In a few years' time, China will be the country that attracts the world's most foreign visitors. However, many of his destinations are still hardly known in the West. Due to the size of the country, it makes sense to limit your trip to one region.
The North Loop
Most flights to China take you to the capital Beijing, where you can easily spend several days. A visit to the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall of China should be on every program. A trip to the picturesque Lama Temple is not "compulsory", but those who don't travel to Tibet will find the next best thing here. With a time window of two weeks, it is recommended that you continue your journey to Datong. The former coal-mill capital has dressed up and is well worth a visit with its Buddha caves and the temple hanging in the rocks. Incidentally, the outward journey takes place without any problems in a night train. The next station should be Pingyao. Those who visit the small town will find themselves in a historical film: practically the entire city centre is still preserved in the style of the Ming era. This is simply rare in China! From Pingyao we recommend a further journey to Xian, the former capital and the highlight of every study trip. The Terracotta Army was found near this city of millions in northern China. Anyone who has seen the movie "The Mummy 3" knows what we're talking about. From Xian there are good flight connections back to Beijing.
The minority loop
If you want to explore the south with your minorities, it is best to fly to Hong Kong and from there to Kunming. The so-called "City of Spring" enchants with its cosiness. Above all, however, it is a base for excursions to the surrounding area. The route proposed here takes about two to three weeks. From Kunming there are many interesting excursion destinations. First of all, there are the two pretty minority villages Dali and Lijiang, which attract numerous visitors from all over the world to the foot of the Himalayas. Those who have time and desire can also visit the nearby Meili-Schneeberg. On its peaks, which have never been climbed before, gods shall live. Another highlight are Guilin and Yangzhou with their bizarre rock formations - or the river trip between them. Guangzhou (Canton) is ideal for shopping.
Practical information
China trips may not be as cheap as they were a few years ago, but they are still within the bounds of what is affordable, especially if you go on an individual trip. Entrance fees to places of interest are often more expensive than one would expect. While domestic flights are often cheap, journeys on the new high-speed trains can make huge holes in the travel budget. Even if you don't speak Chinese, you can easily find your way around. It should be noted that among the younger people (under 30 years of age) almost all have learnt English at school.