China was first placed on my travel wish list in 1969 when I visited Hong Kong's New Territories during China's Cultural Revolution. Tourists were not allowed passage across the border and the only view offered was through a barbed highway barrier and from the "Little Red Book"of Mao Tse-Tung quotations sold by roadside hawkers. After these many years I finally made my journey into China and traveled with Laurus Travel, a Canadian tour operator that specializes in China and small group adventures. The focus of the trip was Tibet and the Silk Road. Every day of   the journey was filled with wonder and making connections with the people and places visited. I'm anxious to return and experience more of China's diverse culture, landscapes and heritage.

For many, China represents an undiscovered land with an intriguing history, a massive silent population and an exploding economy. It has only been within the past sixteen years that the impact of what is now referred to as the New China has made it the most visited destination in Asia.

The country's transportation infrastructure is new and what used to take months to travel from one end of the country to the other, is now accomplished via a five- hour flight. As we foreigners discover China for the first time, so are many Chinese citizens. The country is aggressive in its tourism promotion; development of a tourism infrastructure and packaged itineraries are reasonably priced.


 

These gateways are also shopping meccas. Each offers a mix of high fashion and bargain "knock-off" shopping options, and there are many traditional craft factories and shops that specialize in items like silk, jade and cloisonné. Visitors quickly learn the knack of bargaining with a smile and that department stores and specialty shops post fixed prices. Each of these cities has several historic and important sites.
 

One of China's premier examples of modernization is quickly regaining its pre-WWII status as the most important business center in East Asia. There remain a few examples of its colonial past, including the buildings along the Bund, the main road fronting the Huangpu River in the old harbor and financial district. In contrast, across the river is the city's new economic zone; the city's iconic structure, the Orient Pearl TV Tour; and the Jin Mao Building, one of the tallest in the world. The city's Shanghai Museum is considered one of the best in the nation.

This city has more than 1,000 years of imperial history and is the nation's spiritual and political center. The must-see attractions include the Forbidden City, Tian'anmen Square, The Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. Groups often enjoy an evening at the Chinese Opera, acrobatic shows or dining at a traditional Peking duck banquet. A short distance from the city is the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs.
 

Returned to China in 1997, this city has many reminders of its British Colonial times and is an Administrative Region of China. It is a prosperous business and trading center and, although now a bit pricey, is one of the world's leading shopping destinations. Sightseeing should include a ride on the Star Ferry across
Hong Kong harbor and aboard the double-decker tram to the top of Hong Kong Island. There are many museums and points of interest including Lantau Island for a visit and lunch at the Po Lin Monastery.
 

This country is a land of spellbinding and majestic scenery, picturesque and impassioned religious monuments, and a native population that is devout,  gentle and welcoming. One of China's Autonomous regions, Tibet covers 463,000 square miles atop Tibetan Plateau and is bordered on all sides by mountain ranges reaching over a 20,000-foot altitude. Tibet was a totally isolated country until 150 years ago.

Lhasa has always been the region's most important city. It was its capitol city in the seventh to ninth centuries and was reestablished in the seventeenth century with the installations of the Fifth Dalai Lama.

For all its placid and peaceful appearance, Tibet has had a tragic past and the future of its cultural traditions are in jeopardy. There have been many impacts since the 1950 China invasion and the Cultural Revolution, which included the destruction of most monasteries and resulting flight of the Dalai Lama. More recently, Tibet has been the recipient of several of China's modernization programs including new roads, direct jet service from several provincial capitals and rail service that is soon to open between Golmund and Lhasa. At present, there are over seven million Han Chinese immigrants residing in Tibet accounting for 66 percent of its population.

The most important visitor sites have a connection to the Buddhist faith. In Lhasa's city center is the Potala Palace, the Dalai Lama's former administrative headquarters and residence. It is here that you find the Chapel of the Dalai Lamas'  Tomb and the Chapel of the Holy Born. The Jokhang is the holiest of temples in Tibet. The Barkhor district and Square lead to the temple where throngs of faithful pilgrims prostrate themselves in devotion and pilgrimage rituals prior to entering the temple. One of the largest monasteries in the world, Drepung, is located just outside Lhasa. It was founded in 1416 and once was the site of instruction for more than ten thousand monks. It received little damage during the Cultural Revolution.

An interesting and scenic trip is to travel a 70-mile route on the Lhasa- Nepal Mountain Highway to the Yamdrok Yumtso holy lake pilgrimage site. From there travel west to Tibet's second largest city, Xigatse. It sits in a farming area and is home to the Tashilunpo Monastery, headquarters of the Panchen Lama, leader of the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
 

Xi'an, China's first Imperial Capitol, dates from 2205 B.C. From here, the western territories encompassed the vast Taklamakan Desert, which had scattered oases and a population of nomads. Urged by myths about civilizations beyond the desert, a 100-man expedition was dispatched in 139 B.C. to seek allies that would help to halt invading forces from the north.Two men returned 13 years later with no alliances but they did have news about Central Asia, Persia and the Mediterranean. It wasn't long before trading expedition routes were set in place. Western caravans brought cucumbers, figs, chives, sesame, walnuts, grapes, wool, linen and ivory to China, and exports included jade, porcelain, lacquer ware, oranges, peaches, pears, roses, chrysanthemums, cast iron, gunpowder, paper and, its most desired commodity, silk.

Xi'an was the staring point of China's three Silk Road routes with the main tributary heading northwest and eventually to Kashgar near the China-Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
 

This city is best known for its Terra Cotta Army Tomb of Quin Shi Huang. Quin, China's first emperor, established the country's imperial state here. The state survived eleven Dynasties. Some tombs have been discovered and archaeologists have studied the ruins, though an untold number lie hidden still, since some were buried with no written record of their existence. In 1974, while working, a farmer discovered one of these unknown tombs. Currently, this archeological sight offers an opportunity to view three thousand of the estimated ten thousand soldiers and horses that have been uncovered in the first of four major dig sites.

Other interesting Xi'an sites include the Provincial Museum, which has an excellent collection of Chinese artworks, and the Neolithic Banpo Museum and Village, dating from 4500-3750 B.C. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, from the Tang Dynasty, has pleasant gardens and visitors climb to the top of its tower. The Ming Dynasty's impressive City Wall is one of the best preserved of the country's ancient town walls. Atop the wall is a walking path, various museums and displays. It offers excellent views of the city and the city's Muslim Quarter.

This was an important Silk Road oasis stop and is site of the Mogao Grottos, which was established in 366 A.D..

Buddhist monks arrived in China with the opening of the Silk Road and various route locations were deemed sacred religious sites, with the Grottos being one of the most significant. There are 1,000 caves, each carved out by a monk and decorated with a Buddha shrine. A monk would remain in their cave in solitary meditation for many years.

Nearby is the popular Singing Sand Dunes recreation area where visitors can dune slide, ride camels and participate in several other activities.

This is a rich agricultural oasis populated primarily by the Uigur nationality. It sits in a valley 268 feet below sea level and its water source is from ancient underground canals which capture the run-off from glacial mountain peaks.

Highlights of a visit here are to see the Bezekilik Caves and its Thousand Buddha Caves, tour the farmlands and enjoy a meal with a local grower family. Groups can also travel to Gaochang for a donkey cart ride through the ruins of a 30-foot adobe building. This was one of the most important of the ancient Silk Road cities. Turpan has an excellent public market and is a popular summer resort destination.
 

Located on China's far western border, the city is at an important geographic crossroads connecting China to Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. Kashgar has been the main trading and goods-transfer hub since the first Silk Road caravan arrival. Because of its remote location, the city's prosperity and ethnicity have alleviated scrutiny from various government and political philosophies. It was first a Buddhist community boasting over 100 monasteries; however, with the Silk Road population influx, Islam entered the region around 1000 A.D. and continues to be the predominant faith. In the late nineteenth century, the city became a meeting point for three empires: Chinese, Soviet and British. The control of the region passed from one authority to another ending with the post WWII break in Sino-Soviet relations, when it firmly fell into China's rovidence.

There are many interesting sites and activities for visitors. The main town square is anchored by a massive contemporary mosque and the surrounding streets are packed with colorful specialty shops and vendors selling wares that are indigenous to the area and other goods.

The peddler's block is packed with craftsmen who are seen hand-crafting copper pots, musical instruments, tools and other goods. The city has many interesting museums, historic mosques, scenic gardens and cultural sites. The global influence found in Kashgar is seen at the Soviet and British Embassies and Abakh Hoja Tomb (Fragrant Concubine). The most noted of Kashgar's attractions is its Sunday Market, which has an animal market, bird market and the main market, with its over 4,000 goods, food and spice stalls.

An interesting side trip is to travel legendary Karakoram Highway which follows Marco Polo's historic path of discovery and is the main trading route to Pakistan.
 

China National Tourist Office: www.cnto.org 
Laurus Travel: 877-507-1177, www.laurustravel.com