Things To Do
Shenzhen
Nancy's birth city! The gleaming manifestation of China's economic miracle, Shēnzhèn has risen from the marshy Pearl River Delta into one of the world's most mega megacities in less time than it took London's St Paul's Cathedral to be built. Millions of migrants have been drawn to its golden gates from the Chinese countryside since the 1980s; now, Shēnzhèn attracts high-flying tech graduates and global corporations.
Guangzhou
Guǎngzhōu (广州), once better known internationally as Canton, has been China's busiest trading centre for centuries. Much of the metropolis still hums along at a pleasantly sedate pace, where narrow, leafy streets lead to conceal temples and mosques, traditional dim-sum eateries and distinctive qílóu shophouses. Equally, you can embrace modernity via the 21st-century architectural landmarks of the showpiece Zhūjiāng New Town, such as the late Zaha Hadid's Opera House and the slim-waisted Canton Tower.
Hong Kong
This vibrant, densely populated urban centre is a major port and global financial hub with a skyscraper-studded skyline. Think New York, but on steroids. Hong Kong welcomes with an iconic skyline, a legendary kitchen, and lush, protected nature where rare birds and colorful traditions thrive.
Shanghai
One of the few cities in the world evoke so much history, excess, glamour, mystique and exotic promise in name alone. The two Chinese characters in the city's name are 上 (shàng/zan, "upon") and 海 (hǎi/hae,"sea"), together meaning "Upon-the-Sea". Don't forget to try some authentic soup dumplings while you are there!
Chengdu
Land of hot pots and pandas! Shangri-La Hotel Chengdu offers a room package where you can visit the panda center and watch the cute pandas up-close, as well as split bamboo and clean the panda’s house as an honorary feeder. Chengdu is only a 2.5-hour flight away from Guangzhou.
Beijing
The capital! At Běijīng's heart is the magnificent Forbidden City, a royal palace on a scale like no other. Běijīng is also home to sublime temples that aspire to cosmological perfection, while the city centre is criss-crossed by enchanting hútòng: ancient alleyways that teem with life today, as they did hundreds of years ago. And, to cap it all, the awe-inspiring Great Wall snakes its way across the hills north of town.