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During the summer, people come out to fly kites in Tiannamen Square, right next to Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum which sits in the centre of the Square. It's worth reading up on the history of Tiannanem Square, for some interesting insight into China's past. You can even join the lines of Chinese people who queue to lay plastic flowers next to the preserved Chaiman's body.

There’s also the Summer Palace, the Emperors’ Summer Residence, nestled in the mouth of Kunming Lake and surrounded by lush parkland (which is particularly gorgeous on a sunny day). You can take a trip around the city’s old Hutongs (alleyways) on a rickshaw or visit one of the cities many Buddhist and Taoist temples.

It goes without saying that a visit to China should include a trip to the Great Wall. This amazing construction spans the country from Shanhaiguan on the east coast to Jiayuguan in the Gobi Desert and there are sections that can be climbed or trekked a bus ride away from Beijing. You can trek on certain parts of the wall, some of which are crumbling away, giving the experience a real sense of adventure. The scenery is awe inspiring and endless. It’s the easiest thing in the world to completely forget yourself out here on a sunny day. The sections of the wall at Huanghua and Jinshanling are the best to pick for a genuine Great Wall Experience away from the crowds of tourists.

The Lama Temple is one of the most beautiful temples in the city, as it houses a 55ft high sandalwood Buddha carved out of a single tree, and a gallery which chronicles the history of the relationship between Chinese and Tibetan Buddhists.

The great wall of China!

Acrobatics in Beijing!

Tiannamen Gate by night, Beijing

Volunteers relaxing on a mountain on a trip to Deqin, Yunnan

A monk some volunteers befriended at a monastery in South-West China

Tibet was once divided into three regions - Amdo, Kham, and Ü-Tsang. Now, much of Amdo and Kham have been divided into the Chinese provinces of Sìchuān, Gānsù and Yúnnán. This is where you'll find pockets of almost untouched Tibetan culture, particularly if you cant' actually get to the 'Tibetan Autonomous Region'. For the record, the journey to Tibet is pretty easy these days via a tour group from the Chinese gateway cities (the major one being Chengdu) but it can be pricey, as you need to pay for a flight into Tibet, a 'tour group' and a permit from the PSB (the Chinese Police force)

Some of the country’s most stunning scenery and varied cultural heritage can be found in these areas - not only Tibetan but also ethnic Chinese tribal groups such as the Dai, Naxi and the Miao in Yunnan. These areas really are NOT to be missed on any trip to China.

Yunnan Province, in the south of China, is an cultural melee of ethic minorities and varied scenery. Trek along Tiger Leaping Gorge or visit the Mingyong Glacier outside Tibetan Deqin, where you can also join in with Tibetan style dancing in the streets at certain times of year. The air here is clear and every village is surrounded and held by vast, majestic mountains that feel somewhat as though they are protecting the people who live there there. Hang out underneath the giant Tibetan prayer wheel in Zhongdian, a Tibetan Monastery town, and eat traditional Tibetan fare of tsampa and milk tea from the local restaurants.

The old town of Lijiang in Yunnan is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and many of the buildings still remain as they were more than 800 years ago. The town is inhabited by the local Naxi ethnic group, who had a matriarchal society structure until quite recently. Lijiang has now become something of a backpacker hangout and is a wonderful place to chill out after some more hard-core travelling in the North of Yunnan province. You can stay in a traditional courtyard house here, and the locals are pretty friendly and always up for a chat! Bus rides around this area are particularly hair raising and infinitely beautiful!

There are endless other delights to enjoy in teh Tibetan & Ethnic Chinese areas of Sichuan and Gansu, but we'll leave you to discover them yourself...

"We all met at 8:30am and were greeted by loads of horses and Tibetan guides. I was given a guide who was to look after me for the three days, and although he didn't speak a word of English, he was great. He became my adoptive Tibetan dad for the three days of the trek. We started off by trekking high up the mountain on the West of Songpan, and were immediately greeted with some amazing views of the Ice Mountain. Everywhere there were nomadic tents with their yak herds. I got very over excited and took too many yak photos. We did see a yak who was just born though, which was really cute. The trek upwards was quite steep and I was glad it was the horse doing it and not me!"

"After the rather lengthy bus ride and a short stay in Zhongdian basically to do my washing and have a decent shower, I decided to go right to the most NW corner of Yunnan. I was to see one of the world's tallest unclimbed peaks, Kawa Karpo (6740m). So I took the bus to Deqin first of all, as always I asked for a bus and was told that there wasn't one. Hmmm! Luckily at this point I got picked up by the coolest person I've met in China, a Tibetan nun from Lhasa. She spoke excellent English and had opinions on everything! She suggested I share her taxi to Felai Si (a temple) as it was on my way. So in we jumped, we grabbed some lunch together and then we went to the temple together which was really something...[That night] we watched the local archery show because it was a festival that evening. It was really nice, and they were so welcoming and we were treated to hideous local alcohol and some amazing Tibetan singing! Finally on we pushed with out trek and I must say at the end though it was amazing, words nor the picture can hardly describe it as the forest cleared and we were met with amazing mountains and snow!" - The diary of a previous volunteer Helena Mules on her travels in South-West China after her teaching placement

Some Typical Dishes:

Usually, a Chinese meal will consist of a main source of carbohydrates such as rice or noodles, and then accompanying dishes of vegetables, meat, fish, or other items. Soup is usually served at the end or beginning of a meal depending on where in the country you are. Chopsticks are the main eating utensil in Chinese culture for solid foods. You'll probably find yourself lagging behind your Chinese counterparts eating your dinner when you first arrive, but as your chopstick skills improve you're likely to get many compliments - the Chinese love to see people embracing their culture, even if it does result in embarrassment for you the first few times you try!

In most dishes in Chinese cuisine, food is prepared in bite-sized pieces (e.g. vegetable, meat, tofu), ready for direct picking up and eating. Traditionally, Chinese culture considered using knives and forks at the table barbaric due to fact that these implements are regarded as weapons. It was also considered ungracious to have guests work at cutting their own food. Fish are usually cooked and served whole, with diners directly pulling pieces from the fish with chopsticks to eat, unlike in some other cuisines where they are first filleted. This is because it is desired for fish to be served as fresh as possible.

In a Chinese meal, each individual diner is given his or her own bowl of rice while the accompanying dishes are served in communal plates (or bowls) that are shared by everyone sitting at the table. In the Chinese meal, each diner picks food out of the communal plates with their chopsticks. This is in contrast to western meals where it is customary to dole out individual servings of the dishes at the beginning of the meal. This is a tradition most volunteers really enjoy, and it really does illustrate the importance of family and community to Chinese people. Everything is shared at the table. This also means that the food is practically limitless, and you can go on eating until you can't fit anything else in your stomach!

Typical drinks to accompany the meal are green tea or beer. However, you can usually get your hands on a soft drink or a juice without much of a problem.

Many of the philosophies behind traditional Chinese medicine have grown out of Taoist practices and beliefs. The observation of life and nature, how it changes and the synergy between various elements both in nature and inside the human body are very important in TCM. It is a unique and independent medical system which originated in China and developed down through the centuries imbued with the spirit of Chinese civilisation and culture. For thousand of Years, TCM has played a major role in maintaining the health of Chinese people. The two basic components in TCM are acupuncture Therapy and Herbal Medicine Therapy.

Acupuncture works through stimulating the acupoints which lie on lines or channels and therefore the body's the insertion of thin, fine needles at various points on the body. The actions of each point and combinations of points, and their effectiveness in treating different diseases, have been learnt through observation. In recent years these actions have been systematically refined and verified by modern scientific research methods.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Therapy involves the use of natural plants and minerals, each having its own specific characteristics and particular medical use to treat disease, rectify the hyperactivity or hyperactivity of yin and yang, and to help restore the body to its normal physiological functions. Chinese herbal therapy must be given by qualified TCM practitioners. Normally, the practitioner must have a diagnostic consultation, such as asking you the questions that relate to your health problems, taking your pulse and observing your tongue, before making a prescription. A prescription can be defined as a preparation which, on the basis of the differentiation of syndromes and the establishment of therapeutic methods, organically combines various herbs for the treatment in accordance with established principles.

Since the country opened its doors to the outside world, a wealth of literature written by and about the Chinese has become available. There are heaps and heaps of titles that deserve to be read, here are just a few of our favourites. These titles will help you to understand China, its history and the psyche of its people. If you have any additions, send them along!

Lanterns at the Yu Gardens Bazaar, Shanghai