Southeastern China China

Southeastern China is a hot pot of economic growth, cultural history, natural scenery, and terrific weather. This recipe of ingredients contains the perfect mix for a great trip to China. Large metropolitan areas, although huge and modern, contain their own glimpses into history and Chinese culture. At the same time, smaller traditional villages are only a short trip away, offering a lens into an ancient way of daily life. Here you can also find warm beaches and stunning mountains to explore.

(Hong Kong and Macao are covered in separate articles, as they are often perceived as separate countries to China due to their different visa and travel protocols. However, they are governed by China as Special Administrative Regions.)

Sights

A trip through Southestern China tends to pivot around Shanghai, and for obvious reasons. This world-class city has a charming mix of Chinese and colonial European culture, all set on a global scale. Using this city as a base, a traveler could then venture out to the cultural metropolises of Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Nanjing before exploring the old historic villages of the Anhui and Jiangxi provinces.

The area around Wuyuan contains beautiful natural scenery mixed with charming villages to explore. Here, old village culture meets picturesque rice fields and fog-shrouded mountains and rivers.

And don't miss Huangshan, the world-famous mountain which has inspired poets and painters throughout the ages. Climb to the top on foot (or take the cable-car) to find yourself immersed in the clouds and rocky peaks of this heavenly natural wonder.

Guangzhou, formerly Canton, is another of southern China's massive metropolises, offering an old colonial history mixed in with new economic growth. The Cantonese culture and cuisine is in full force here, so don't miss it.

Transportation

As in the rest of China, high speed trains are becoming the new norm. They get you there fast and efficiently, and zip along the routes between major cities. Slower trains do the same, and connect the smaller cities as well.

Bus lines can get you into the small cities where trains might not reach or be as efficient. Bus stations (and train stations) often have a foreigner's window where you can converse and purchase tickets in English and sometimes other languages such as Japanese or German.

Flights are a great way to get around China, as the ticket prices tend to be cheap due to the government's subsidies of the airline industry. Shanghai's airport connects to pretty much the entire planet. High speed trains can be taken from the airport to surrounding cities, as the airport is essentially a massive transportation hub not only for planes, but also trains and buses.

Guangzhou and Chongqing are also large transportation hubs with major airports and train terminals.


Related:

Looking for a hostel in China?
Traveling alone to Beijing or Hong Kong or want to party in Shanghai?