Start your tour in Beijing then walk through the ages up to the Great Wall of China
From the Ming Dynasty to Tiananmen Square and the 5,500-mile ruin that snakes up and down the mountain ridges, see China through the ages on one tour
STANDING on one of the world’s greatest man-made structures, I almost have to pinch myself.
It feels like I have The Great Wall of China all to myself.
The ancient, 5,500-mile ruin snakes up and down the mountain ridges as far as the eye can see.
It was built more than 2,000 years ago and boasts a vast forest of trees as its breathtaking backdrop.
The sticky-looking smog that followed us on our two-hour journey out of capital Beijing now just adds to the mystical drama.
Our group chose to dodge the tourists by exploring a section called the Simatai.
And although a cable car will take you some of the way up, you aren’t getting off lightly — the rest of the climb up is indeed a steep one and not for the faint-hearted. Sensible shoes are very much the order of the day but the challenging hike rewards you with incredible views of more than 25 watchtowers (if you are lucky enough to have clear skies).
Just below this part of the wall lies Gubei Water Town — a quaint canal-side Ming Dynasty village now redeveloped for tourists. It’s magical when lit up after dark.
However, we were based in Beijing, a far more frenetic and less photogenic spot. But this dizzying metropolis is not just home to millions of cars and bicycles, it has centuries of culture and tradition. Our first stop there was Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world and the setting for the infamous 1989 student protests and massacre.
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It’s a must-see but it is probably best not to discuss the protests during your visit — the locals and tourist guides are reluctant to do so.
Communist former leader Chairman Mao Zedong’s mausoleum is also in the square and hundreds of thousands of Chinese flock to pay their respects.
Arrive early to avoid the worst of the queues and expect to stand in line for at least an hour.
And don’t be surprised if the Chinese people in the queue want a photo with you. Yes, you too can feel like a celebrity for a day.
Next on our agenda was the nearby Forbidden City.
The grand 600-year-old palace boasts 9,999 rooms in all, where the emperor and his 3,000 wives and concubines once lived. It was only opened to the public in 1925.
One incredible gatehouse leads through to another before you reach the throne rooms. The palace walls are decorated with elaborately painted designs in yellows, regal golds, bold reds, blues and greens.
And the yellow-tiled pagoda roofs sport ornate dragon statuettes — a lingering symbol of imperial power.
Impressive sculptures of mythical animals stand in the courtyards along with 308 giant urns that used to hold water in case the wooden palace went up in flames.
For lunch we opted for Peking duck, of course — a Beijing speciality for centuries.
There is a vast selection of restaurants claiming to offer the very best. But we went for Bian Yi Fang which has welcomed many famous diners over the years, including Fidel Castro and Richard Nixon. In general, the food in Beijing is not as sweet as the Cantonese style we are used to in the UK. But it is delicious all the same — and cheap.
A decent meal out will set you back around £15 per person.
For breakfast, try to find a jianbing: a tasty traditional street-food pancake filled with fried bread, onions, chilli and egg.
Foodies can also experience a masterclass in traditional dim sum-making, if so inclined.
To catch a glimpse of what Beijing looked like in the past, head to the Old Town with its tumbledown shacks and narrow alleyways, fit only for rickshaws.
And if history isn’t your bag, perhaps a designer one will be. Well, perhaps a fake one.
You can shop till you drop at the Hongqiao Pearl Market, which is full of handbags, jewellery, silks and gadgets, often at “too good to be true” prices. And of course no visit to this city would be complete without a trip to Beijing Zoo to see the giant pandas.
You can get a clear view of them lazing about in their spacious enclosures eating bamboo shoots.
Beijing is a perfect launch point for a tour of China. And for Brits north of Birmingham, it is all the more accessible with new direct flights from Manchester with Hainan Airlines taking just under 11 hours.
On arrival we checked into the 5H Fairmont Beijing in the bustling central business district.
It’s an impressive hotel with a sky bridge between the towers of suites, which are spacious with marble bathrooms, quality furnishings and hi-tech wizardry.
As a starting point to explore the mysteries of China, or for an unusual city break overflowing with history, culture and wonder, Beijing has it all.
GO: CHINA
GETTING THERE: Hainan Airlines flies direct to Beijing four times a week from Manchester Airport. It makes Manchester the only UK airport outside of London with a direct service to mainland China. Fares from £460. See .
Start your journey off in style and book into one of Manchester airport’s three Escape Lounges from just £21. See .
STAYING THERE: The 5H Fairmont in Beijing has rooms from from £160per night. See.