Summary

From the Great Wall snaking across wind-scoured ridges to the Terracotta Warriors staring through two millennia, China pairs grand history with serene peaks, delicious tea breaks, and smooth satisfying high speed rail.

But you’ll also find shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and “ancient” streets polished into theme parks, where the the experience is curated and even the night market feels algorithmically optimized.

The whole country runs like it’s already the year 3025. Brilliantly frictionless or mildly dystopian, depending on your mood.