TURPAN
A far-flung place: Spectacular sand dunes are the backdrop for the city of Turpan, a key stopping point along the Silk Road. It’s located in the heart of Xinjiang, where the northern route of the Silk Road steps down into the second deepest continental basin on earth (after the Dead Sea).
It’s a city inhabited by minorities — 21 different groups — with the Uygurs accounting for over 70% of the 250,000 residents. Along the streets and lanes you will find Uygur food such as kebabs and Zhua Fan (rice eaten with your hands) being sold, while traditional drinks include mare’s milk and grape wine. Also on offer are traditional handicrafts such as clothes and rugs, with their distinctive folk characteristics.
It’s only natural: Turpan is the hottest place in China and also the city with the lowest elevation — it’s 80 metres below sea level, while the nearby Moon Lake is 150 metres below sea level. Such is the heat that occasionally mirages are created by the refraction of sunlight in the lake.
Other natural highlights in and around Turpan include the Grape Valley, where there are hundreds of varieties of this fruit, the Flaming Mountain, with its eight valleys, and the Mingsha Dunes.
Sample package: Helen Wong’s Tours offers a 26-day Ancient Silk Route tour, priced from $6740. The trip begins with a flight to Beijing followed by visits to Urumqi, Kashgar (for the Sunday medieval markets), Turpan, Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Lanzhou, Xiahe, Tianshui and Xian. The tour finishes in Shanghai. For more information, visit www.helenwongstours.com
ZHANGJIAJIE
A far-flung place: Home to a much photographed and filmed forest, this city in the north-western region of Hunan Province has a history dating back to 221BC, when it was originally named Dayong. Zhangjiajie has a population of 1.5 million, around two thirds of which are ethnic minorities.
It’s only natural: Zhangjiajie islocated within the Wulingyuan Scenic Area, which has been World Heritage listed since 1992. The main features of this area are Zhangjiajie National Forest, the Tianzishan mountain ranges and the Suoxi Valley. Also in this area are the Huanglongdong and Longwangdong caves. It’s often described by locals as a “goddess dancing on a heavenly stage” with its scenery including pillar-like formations, sub-tropical rainforests, waterfalls and mountain ranges.
Zhangjiajie National Forest is home to countless towering limestone peaks, which are shrouded by mist and drizzling rain. Often gathered together in groups, they are covered by dense, primeval forests and are best viewed from the top of the Tianzishan mountain ranges.
Film director James Cameron spent time here before making Avatar in 2008, as a particular peak was the inspiration for the magical floating peaks in the movie.
Sample package: New for Selective Tours is a 16-day itinerary from Hong Kong to Beijing that includes a visit to Zhangjiajie National Forest Park to see the pillar that inspired Avatar’s floating peaks. Other highlights of the trip include a cruise along the Yangtze River and a visit to the Terracotta Warriors in Xian. Prices start from $3234. For more information, visit www.selectivetours.com
SHANGRI-LA
A far-flung place: The popularity of James Hilton’s 1933 novel Lost Horizon led to the county of Zhongdian being renamed Shangri-La — the fictional land in this popular book — in 2001 in an effort to promote tourism to the area. Located in north-western Yunnan Province, it has a primarily Tibetan population. Many travellers use the county’s town (also called Shangri-La) as a gateway into Tibet, but the town itself is a tourist destination. This is primarily due to attractions such as the magnificent Songzanlin Monastery, which belongs to the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism and is also known as Little Potala Palace.
It’s only natural: There is also the appeal of nature-based attractions such as Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world’s deepest canyons, located on the Yangtze River. Around 15 km in length, the gorge is located at the point where the river passes between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain in a series of rapids under steep 2000 metre cliffs. Legend has it that in order to escape from a hunter, a tiger jumped across the river at the narrowest point.
Sample package: Travel Indochina’s six-day Mountains and Monasteries of Yunnan tour offers clients the chance to experience Tibetan towns, traditional life and beautiful landscapes. It takes in Kunming, Lijiang and Zhongdian. The deluxe version of the tour will stay at the Banyan Tree Ringha, with accommodation in reconstructed Tibetan farmhouses. Prices start from $1932. For more information, visit www.ticconnect.com.au
ZHONGWEI
A far-flung place: Sweeping desert, farmland and some remnants of the Great Wall surround the little-visited city of Zhongwei, which is located in Ningxia Province. Bordered by Inner Mongolia to the north, this destination is home to many Hui people, a Chinese Muslim ethnic group. Among the highlights of a visit is the eclectic Gao Miao Temple, which is home to a blend of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism and dates back to the Ming Dynasty. For those in search of an authentic dinner, then the night market in Zhongwei is a must-visit. The market serves up a variety of freshly cooked specialties ranging from rice and noodle dishes to local style hamburgers .
It’s only natural: An excellent spot worth checking out while visiting is Shapotou Park, a desert-themed amusement park where you can slide down sand dunes. It’s located on the city’s outskirts on the northern bank of the Yellow River, which flows through the north-western part of the city.
Sample package: Intrepid Travel offers a 15-day Beijing to Kunming itinerary, which spends two days visiting Zhongwei where experiences include a camel trek in the desert and sliding down sand dunes. Other highlights of the trip include exploring the sights of Beijing and Xian, plus seeing the giant pandas. Prices start from $1450. For more information, visit www.intrepidtravel.com
JINGHONG
A far-flung place: The town of Jinghong is something of a tropical paradise — it’s the capital city of the Xishuangbanna Prefecture in southern Yunnan, an area known as China’s own mini-Thailand. The destination sits at the headwaters of the Mekong River near the borders with Laos and Myanmar and 13 nationalities dwell here, including the Dai, Hani, Jinuo, Bulang, Hui and Yao people. The population of the ethnic minorities accounts for close to 70% of the region’s total population.
It’s only natural: Lush is the word to describe Jinghong, which boasts a large area of sub-tropical rainforest. Coconut palms and mango trees as well as various other tropical plants are found all over the city — in the parks, on the sides of the streets and surrounding the houses. Scenic spots worth visiting include Peacock Lake, Manjinglan Tourism Village and Dai Garden (the village of the Dai ethnic group).
Sample package: InterAsia offers the 18-day Natural Wonders of Southern China, which also visits Jinghong. The Jinghong component of the tour includes trips through Dai villages, learning about the farmers’ way of life and visiting the morning market. The tour also takes in the World Heritage listed parks of Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou. For more information, visit www.interasia.com.au