Southern & Southwestern China

Prepare for a journey into the most diverse and spectacular corner of the nation. Southern and Southwestern China is a vast and enchanting tapestry woven from threads of sublime beauty, ancient cultures, and pulsating modernity. This is a region that defies easy categorization. It is where nature’s most dramatic artistry is on full display—from the ethereal, mist-wreathed karst peaks of Guilin that seem plucked from a scroll painting, to the vibrant, multi-ethnic highlands of Yunnan, the “Land South of the Clouds.” It is a land where life moves to different rhythms: the gentle flow of the Li River, the timeless cycles of harvest in the mountain terraces, and the bustling energy of some of the world’s most dynamic cities.

The journey here can begin in the poetic dreamscape of Guangxi Province. This is the home of the iconic Chinese landscape: thousands of limestone peaks erupting from emerald plains, their reflections shimmering in serene rivers. It’s where you can cruise between these natural marvels, cycle past farmers and water buffalo in Yangshuo, and climb the “Dragon’s Backbone” to witness the breathtaking agricultural masterpiece of the Longji Rice Terraces, carved over centuries by the Zhuang and Yao peoples.

From there, the landscape ascends into the magnificent highlands of Yunnan Province, a world within itself. Known as the “Land of Eternal Spring,” Yunnan is home to more than half of China’s ethnic minorities, creating an incredible cultural mosaic. Here, you can wander the ancient cobblestone streets of Lijiang’s Naxi kingdom, relax by the serene Erhai Lake in Dali, and venture to the edge of the Himalayas in the mythical paradise of Shangri-La. Yunnan is a journey into a gentler, more colourful side of the high-altitude west, a land of ancient tea horse trails, snow-capped mountains, and vibrant traditions.

Contrasting with this natural and cultural splendour is the economic powerhouse of the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong Province. This is the face of modern China’s ambition. Guangzhou (Canton), a historic trading port, stands as the cradle of Cantonese culture and a world-renowned culinary paradise. Nearby, Shenzhen has exploded from a fishing village into a futuristic megalopolis, a symbol of China’s incredible transformation.

To travel through this vast region is to experience China in all its glorious diversity—to be humbled by nature, charmed by ancient ways of life, and dazzled by a forward-looking energy. It is a feast for the senses and a journey for the soul.