It's probably impossible to summarize
China, a land so vast and so diverse even in itself that we can only
define it as "exotic". Everything from regular behavior of
people to philosophy behind the great culture is far from what the
rest of the world normally is used to. Even in this age of
globalization, China is still a closed community for the rest of the
world.
The land is really massive. Borders
reach from Russia down to Equatorial line and from India to Japan, so
you can expect every kind of different weather and landscape
patterns. Monsoon influences, oceanic effects, continental climate;
each district has a specific characteristic unlike the rest. For
example, the tropical paradise of Hainan Islands have a nice "summer"
all year round, with great beaches to take advantage of. Further
inlands, there are regions with huge temperature differences between
day and night. So, if you are planning a visit to experience the
exotic atmosphere of China, you have to first decide exactly what you
want to do, and do your research afterwards.
As we mentioned, China is really rich
on diversity, both in itself and compared to the other cultures.
Throughout the history, the culture has developed quite differently
than what us westerners are used to. The language of today is
claimed to go back 6000 years! The written history of civilization
goes back 4000 years! Throughout the history, this land has always
been a "closed box" for other civilizations. As a result,
scientific and cultural achievements of this great civilization
didn't really affect the world we know simultaneously or as much as
it might have had. These people used gunpowder, compass, techniques
of paper making hundreds of years before the techniques traveled to
the world we know. Silk road, which stretched through mountains,
deserts, steppes of central Asia and all the way to Europe, was the
only gate of China to the rest of the world for centuries. Though it
is not really active anymore, the route is still worth seeing. After
all, trade meant wealth and prosperity which lead to building of
monuments...
Not a great number of western explorers
had the chance to explore this land, but the ones that did, were
amazed by the technology of this great civilization. It wouldn't be
wrong to claim that China was many steps ahead of the rest of the
world in some of the fields of science and art. The Great Wall of
China is really a wonder of the world. To this date, it still stands
firm after 2000 years of service. The wall, itself is enough to show
how advanced a civilization lived in this land. We have to name the
Grand Canal and Karez irrigation systems here, as two of the other
marvelous engineering achievements. A very similar method was being
used by Chinese thousands years before Pythagoras served it to
western world. To this date, any research on Chinese heritage, any
small piece of information still amazes the minds.
Even today, with all the globalization
and advancements in communication technologies, the society of China
is not much altered. It still feels a lot different to "outsiders".
Even the most basic behavior of people is so different that one has
to experience it first hand to get the slightest grasp...What we call
crude might be considered normal, and what we feel normal can be
considered "out of place". Travelers need to keep an open
mind. Only then, will you feel the true nature and hospitality of
locals. Even if you can't really communicate...
Taking everything into account, China
offers a mystique environment that you cannot experience anywhere
else. That is the strongest and most valuable point of all China
offers. You will find great pleasure in visiting ancient temples and
monuments, you will feel the heritage of thousands of years. There
are dozens of UNESCO's World Heritage sites, and each one is more
breathtaking than the rest. The monuments, the philosophy that still
shapes the people's daily lives, the cherished values, customs and
traditions will definitely fell like an otherworldly experience.
Throughout the year, there are many
different festival and holiday seasons. They always turn into ever so
colorful and lively experiences. And since the locals will be making
preparations for tourists, you won't feel "out of place"
either. So, if you don't mind the crowds, we would recommend you
choose such an event according to your taste and expectations.
Be sure to check out local traditional
art too. There are still many great craftsman that produce porcelain,
carpets, silk products, jaded items. Traditional Calligraphy works is
pretty popular among tourists too. Another must-try is Chinese
massage. But as usual, you have to be pretty careful and picky to
actually find the best and "legal" experience.