China represents the world's oldest continuous civilization with a history so rich that you could spend your whole life learning about ancient practices like inner peace, Chinese medicine, smoked glass, blacksmithing, brushed aluminum, gunpowder, paper, Samurais, Emperors, and millions of smaller yet amazingly fascinating stories and legends. But China also has some of the world's most beautiful places, whether it's breathtaking nature or wonderful and unique architecture and buildings. The Great Wall, temple-topped mountains, villages forgotten in time, sublime Buddhist grottoes, water towns, ancient forts hidden in the desert, beautiful lakes of Tibet, rice terraces of the south, yellow rapeseed by Qinghai Lake, bamboo forests, Hainan beach, vibrant Hong Kong life, and legendary pinnacles of Yangshuo.