Australians are flocking to ‘the world’s most important country’ in record numbers

Most people’s vision of China is of thrusting megacities and a few extraordinary sights such as the Forbidden City and Terracotta Warriors. And it’s true – that vision turned into travel reality is satisfying enough.

It does, however, produce a limited look at a country that is constantly in the news and is far more varied than you may suppose. Smaller cities and fabulous cultural sights go overlooked, as do sumptuous mountain landscapes and national parks.

Entire provinces ought to be famous destinations on their own, with sights to rival France or Japan, yet most of us couldn’t name any. China has 22 mainland provinces, plus five autonomous regions and four humungous municipalities.

Australians are, however, getting more interested in what seems to be currently – and was nearly always historically – the world’s most important nation. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show Australian visitor numbers have surged in the past few years to reach a record 716,000 in the 12 months to March this year, up 17 per cent on the previous year. In 2019, before the pandemic, more than 600,000 Australians visited China. It is now our fourth-most visited country, overtaking Thailand, the UK and the US. The enthusiasm has been fuelled by a 30-day visa-free policy for tourists and competitive airfares thanks to the eight Chinese airlines connecting Australia.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor looking for nuance or a repeat visitor keen to discover more, it pays to include alternative destinations on your itinerary. Here are some great and less expected places to consider.

They’re far from unknown – and be prepared to share with domestic tourists – but they will give you a more rounded experience of this indisputably great nation.

The lowdown Nanjing, which has nine million inhabitants, had its heyday in the Ming Dynasty, but was also China’s republican capital (1911-1937). While few historical vestiges remain, it’s one of China’s best-presented cities.

See + do Nanjing is about leafy boulevards, riverside promenades and cafe life. Zhan Garden is a fine classical garden replete with rockeries and burping carp. Nanjing Museum has extraordinary ancient artefacts and an amusing recreation of 1930s Nanjing. On the outskirts, visit Qixia Temple and the imperial tomb at Ming Xiaoling, which has an approach avenue lined by stone animals.

One more thing Forested Zijin Shan to the city’s east is a favoured local retreat and location of the gleaming marble mausoleum of modern China’s founder Sun Yat-sen. Go early or late to avoid reverent crowds.

Make it happen Chin