As Asia's fast-growing gambling mecca Macau has it all: slick casinos, high-rollers, designer labels, jaw-dropping shows, chic restaurants and huge hotel complexes. In this city of superlatives however, something has been missing: the "boutique" factor. Large-scale, Vegas-esq experiences are easy to come by in Macau, but the more individual and unique factor is harder to find.

The Four Seasons Macau, which opened on the Cotai Strip in August of this year, is doing its best to fill this void. It has brought the promise of something different and more personalised, which is a breath of fresh air for the traveller seeking quiet, comfort and personalised service.

Granted, with 360 rooms the Four Seasons Macau hardly conforms with the traditional perception of boutique, but when compared with behemoths such as the neighbouring Venetian (3,000 rooms) and soon the to be completed Sheraton opposite (some 4,000 rooms) the hotel feels it. The design – contemporary mixed with colonial accents and hints of the orient – brings a unique edge and antique pieces of furniture, sourced from local markets and antique shops, add to the hotel's individuality.

Service reigns supreme here; staff are, without exception, friendly, polite and attentive. Your name will be remembered and your quirks indulged. As one Four Seasons restaurant manager underlined, the hotel is geared towards the discerning traveller seeking a haven of calm and top-notch service. Where many hotels in Macau compete on price, the Four Seasons seeks to differentiate itself by offering the best standard of hospitality.

Rooms are spacious and comfortable. They come kitted out with a 42" plasma screen, WiFi (at an additional cost), vast marble bathrooms with walk-in rain showers, L'Occitane products and deep bathtubs. Don't expect fantastic views, the Cotai Strip is still an eyesore of a building site, instead sink into the big bath and watch TV whilst sipping on something brought up to you by room service.

Guests seeking further peace and quiet should beat a retreat to Windows, which feels more like a country club than a bar / restaurant. Its leather wingback chairs, fireplace and big open-air verandah make it a great spot to enjoy a newspaper and afternoon tea far away from the hustle and bustle of the casino floors.

When it comes to eating, the hotel has a Cantonese restaurant, Zi Yat Heen, as well Belcanção, an extravagant international buffet bulging with European favourites and dim sum. The hotel's most hyped destination though has to be Bar Azul, a stylish spot with moody blue lighting and a slick bar serving wine, cocktails, champagne and fantastic complimentary canapés.

Visitors seeking retail therapy can sleep easy knowing that the new Shoppes at Four Seasons, Macau's first luxury mall, is just metres away. Guests after glitz and glamour have the Venetian's gaming floor on their doorstep, plus Cirque du Soleil's impressive US$150 million production, ZAIA, close at hand (the hotel concierge can arrange tickets or you can book online).

The Four Seasons also offers guests a big outdoor pool complex, plus a spa and fitness facilities.

For more information visit www.fourseasons.com/macau. Room rates start at HKD/MOP 2,700 per night.

Four Seasons Hotel, Macao, Cotai Strip: Estrada da Baía de N. Senhora da Esperança, S/N, Taipa, Macau; Tel. +853 2881 8888; Fax. +853 2881 8899.

To explore more hot hotels click here and to read more hotel reviews click here.

Yunnan Province, China, is featured in Lonely Planet's "Best in Travel 2009" book, and the famed Tiger Leaping Gorge epitomises the region's beauty.

This shot, "Heavy Traffic" by Kiwi Mikex, highlights the Tiger Leaping Gorge's stunning views and serenity.

For more travel photography and world landmarks visit http://www.iloho.com/landmarks.

Aman, the luxury hotel group, has opened its first Chinese property in one of the world's most famous landmarks: Beijing's Summer Palace.

The Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing, offers its guests 5* lodging steps away from the East Gate of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and the stunning Kunming Lake. It is also just 15km from the Forbidden City.

The hotel spreads across a series of historical buildings, gardens and courtyards. Some of the original rooms housed guests of the Empress Dowager Cixi, China's de facto ruler from 1861 to 1908.

Rooms and suites reflect traditional Chinese architecture and use authentic layouts, materials and fabrics. The hotel is small; just 18 rooms and 25 suites decorated with Ming-style furniture.

Guests can take advantage of the hotel's bars and restaurants, plus its spa, fitness facilities, library and boutique.

Rates start from USD 480 per night.

Photos courtesy of www.amanresorts.com

By Stephan Larose for ChinaTravel.net

China's hot spring resorts are one of its best kept secrets. We're talking hot springs in tropical caves, exfoliating fish therapy, Himalayan hot springs, and springs next to China's best golf. So, if dipping in warm, mineral-rich waters by temples and beaches sounds good to you, read on for the lowdown on China's top ten spas, with hotel and attraction info to boot. Enjoy!

1. Jiuhua Spa and Resort

(four stars, Tel: 010-6178-2288)

Formerly the private retreat of emperors, the Jiuhua Spa and Resort is one of the most popular hot spring spa destinations in the country, and it's open to all. Limpid pools fed by springs 1,230 meters underground emerge at a tension-melting 40°C. Untainted by the sulfurous odor common to most hot springs, Jiuhua's spring water has a slight yellowish tint, owing to micro-elements such as strontium, lithium, and metasilicic acid, earning it an emperor's epithet as "a basin of Golden Water."

Guests of this elegant four-star resort have a wealth of hot spring pools to choose from. The resort's two sections comprise 40 pools offering 21 distinct therapeutic applications including mud baths, herbal baths, an Egyptian-themed pool, a foot massage pool, a lotus pool, and a medical stone sauna. Those with tired muscles after treks along the Great Wall, exploring the nearby Ming Tombs, or hiking in Python Mountain National Park next door will be rewarded with head-to-toe relaxation as well as therapeutic benefits for a host of ailments including rheumatic arthritis, sciatic nerve pain, lumbar muscle strain, eczema and hypertension.

The resort also features a host of recreational and therapeutic facilities. Hydrotherapy, salt baths, massage services, Thai spas and skin care treatments revitalize and rejuvenate while bowling alleys, bumper cars, swimming pools, satellite TV, archery and nearby attractions entertain and invigorate.

2. Crown Spa Resort Hainan

(five stars, Tel: 86-898-6596 6888, Email: sales@crownsparesorthainan.com)

Hainan is the place in China for sun-worshippers looking to bronze their bodies, and just 15 minutes after exiting Haikou's Meilan International Airport, you could be strolling along endless stretches of gorgeous private beach or taking a dip in what the Guiness Book of World Records describes as the "largest indoor hot spring in the world."

Surrounded by lush Thai, Balinese and Caribbean gardens, the Crown Spa Resort Hainan (Hainan Huangguan Binhai Wenquan Jiudian) is a European-style leisure palace overlooking the South China Sea and boasting myriad exclusive spa and beauty treatments.

It's hard work living it up, but after a day's frolicking in the waves or taking advantage of this Haikou resort's luxury yachts, jet skis, windsurfing, parasailing or nearby golf course, you're bound to need some of the Crown's propriety spa treatments. The luxurious, five-story Tea Tree Spa complex is fed by natural mineral hot springs and houses meditation decks, garden pavilions, massage rooms and treatment suites.

And you won't want to miss the signature fish therapy—it's the most organic exfoliation there is. Just sit back and close your eyes and let the fish stimulate your nerves and nibble the bacteria from your skin. If you can't handle being kissed by fishes, there's always the exercise pool, Jacuzzi hot tubs, steam rooms, Thai massage and aromatherapy to unwind with.

3. Zhongshan Hot Spring Resort

(four stars, Tel: 0760-668-3888, Email: zshsr@zshs.com)

Probably the best-known hot spring resort in China, the Zhongshan Hot Spring Resort has played host to China's most revered heads of state, Jiang Zemin and Deng Xiaoping, and is situated near a town named after the founder of the modern Chinese nation — Sun Zhongshan, known in the West as Sun Yat Sen. This four-star resort features over 30 hot springs and is also handy to the best golf in the country. What better way to justify an extended dip in warm, mineral-rich waters than by spending the day putting for birdies at a par 71, Palmer-designed, 18-hole golf course or a Nicklaus-designed 18-hole course at par 72? Talk about living the good life!

Zhongshan's mountains are dotted by numerous hot springs, one of which feeds the resort's massive 30,000 square meter outdoor spa. Once done mollifying muscles, dissolving stress and achieving Zen-like inner peace, guests can zip over to the seaside resort city of Zhuhai, just a 15-minute drive away, to soak up some rays, or train their newfound Zen focusing skills on the resort's shooting range.

4. Jinshan Hot Spring Holiday Resort

(five stars, Tel: 0750-728-1188)

Situated by Naji, Enping County, Guangdong, this sprawling holiday village taps an incredible 300 hot spring sources to bring you some of the most mineral rich water in China. Endowed with approximately 35 grams of healing micro-elements per liter, the waters here are renowned for therapeutic benefits that combat everything from rheumatism to skin diseases to cardiovascular afflictions.

Luxurious condominiums surrounded by green hills, flowers and elegant gardens guarantee that guests of this leafy oasis get some much-deserved respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The place is well suited for businesspeople conducting tense negotiations; the well-equipped international conference center ensures presentations go smoothly. The rewards are obvious, even if things don't go as planned: Everyone wakes up fresh the next day after spending the evening hours luxuriating in this Jinshan resort's 28 Japanese-style hot spring pools, which are divided into high, mid and cool temperatures.

5. Hailuogou Hot Spring (Conch Gully Hot Spring)

(Tel of Hailuogou Scenic Area Management Committee: 0836-326-6203) Hailuogou Changzheng Hotel (Tel: 0836-326-6608)

Western Sichuan's Gongga mountain is the scene for some of the hardiest, most majestic landscapes in China and include Hailuogou National Park, site of China's biggest glacier park. Rivaling any North American glacier park in size, the area is renowned as a place where you can see all four seasons in the same day.

If you love rustic, outdoor springs, rugged mountain views and chances to catch snowflakes on your tongue while dipping in hot spring water, Hailuogou is the place for you. Mineral-rich, therapeutic spring waters gush out at toasty temperatures ranging from 50° to 92°C and are said to be effective in combating diabetes, neuralgia and arthritis. And that's not to mention the obvious psychological benefits reaped by lounging in extreme comfort in a gorgeous setting.

After a day of hiking the verdant forests on the slopes of Mt. Gonggar, trekking across icy fields, listening to thunderous avalanches, skipping across the Conch Gully's milky rivers, and dipping in the hot springs, the four-star Hailuogou Changzheng Hotel, with its dedications to the Long March and ethnic Tibetan décor, offers a little comfort, luxury and plenty of atmosphere in which to spend the remains of the day.

6. E'mei Lingxiu Hot Spring / Lingxiu Hot Spring

(Tel: 0833-559-2777)

Li Bai is one of China's most celebrated poets, and when he took in Emei Shan's (Mt. Emei) temple-studded peaks and mist-shrouded valleys, he found no shortage of inspiration for his superlative stanzas. Of all the mountains in the Shu kingdom, "Mount Emei stands above them all," he wrote. A setting for scenes from the legendary Monkey King's journey to the West, this magnificent landscape now serves as backdrop for bathers in Lingxiu Hot Spring's pellucid pools.

Claims abound of the water's therapeutic benefits. Sourced 3,000 meters underground, the springs are said to be helpful in combating diseases affecting digestive, neural, respiratory, vasomotor and cardiovascular systems. High concentrations of radon and huge volumes of water ensure that everyone gets in on the therapeutic action.

The five-star Emei Hot Spring Resort is ideally located to take advantage of this and the other hot springs in the area. You'll need the fine dining and creature comforts because every day in this area is guaranteed to be a full one. Whether you decide to make the climb to Golden Peak Temple, or run the monkey-ruled trails to other historical and natural points of interest, there'll be no shortage of opportunities to pump those thighs until they're screaming for a little hot spring love.

7. Tibetan Dezong Hot Spring Resort

(Tel for Lhasa tourism bureau: 0891-634-2884)

Want to lounge around in a warm, waterfall-fed pool at the roof of the world? Then look no further than the Tibetan Dezong Hot Spring Resort. Perched at a lofty 4,300 meters and nestled in the majestic slopes of the Himalayas, the Tibetan Dezong Hot Spring Resort offers visitors an experience that is simply incomparable. Is there anywhere else you can bathe in curative, calcite and tussilago-infused waters while gazing upon the most rugged, photogenic landscapes on the planet?

The Dezong Hot Springs are arranged in simple, rustic fashion, divided into a men's pool, above, and a women's pool, below. 40° C, jade-colored spring waters cascade 20 meters into the resort's pools.

Once you've had enough (if there is such a thing), other worthy attractions are within reach (if you're driving), such as the Zhigongi and Dezong Temples, and Tianzangtai, while Nam-tso Lake (Namu Lake in Tibetan); Potala Palace, Bakuo Street and Dazhao Temple are further off. Accommodations are somewhat limited, but the five-star Yaluzangbu hotel features creature comforts and cars for hire for the drive to the springs 170 kilometers away.

8. Tibetan Paillong Hot Spring

(Tel of Linzhi tourism bureau: 0894-582-2469)

About 40 kilometers down state highway 318 from the four-star Linzhi Fujian Hotel, Paillong Sulfur Hot Spring, near Pailong village, flows from the holy Brahmaputra river at a steamy 45-60 degrees centigrade. Extremely simple, and practically unknown, Paillong consists of just one small stone and brick pool. One of Tibet's best kept secrets, you're not likely to see crowds here.

The water issues directly into the pool from the rock, all you need do is let the water flow over your body and let the spring vapors clear your lungs and skin. Just sit and let your ego dissipate. Then, turn your gaze upon the verdant river valley below. Radiant organic energy illuminates your mind, revealing the universe in measureless fractals.... Dizzy yet? Do remember to breathe slowly as you slip into the infinite...

9. Jinping Mengla Hot Spring

(Tel of Gejiu Tourism Bureau: 0873-212-5699)

Yunnan's jungle-covered karst towers jut out of tropical forests and stand like unearthly sentinels keeping watch over otherworldly landscapes. Awe-inspiring and oft photographed to be sure, Yunnan's got something for hot springs lovers too: the Jinping Mengla Hot Spring.

Gushing forth from caves in southern Yunnan, 50-60 degree centigrade waters flush with curative elements stream over colorful rocks. Lying in the bubbling baths, visitors will find several "masseuse rocks." Muscles are naturally kneaded as water flows provide movement and shallow pebble beds provide texture and traction.

Beauty abounds in these lush forests: You'll find ravines, waterfalls, mirror-like lakes, karst landforms and jutting green mountains. The four-star Century Plaza Gejiu (0873-216-8888) is just seven kilometers from the hot spring.

10. Guangdong Conghua Hot Spring

(Tel: 020-8333-9933-2266)

Guangdong province's Conghua Hot Spring Scenic Area was originally built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. 75 kilometers from Guangzhou, it is now a nationally renowned tourist attraction and health resort. Warm water enriched with ten kinds of minerals bubbles to the surface at 12 different springs, ranging between 30 to 71°C.

A large area replete with historical landmarks such as the Bi Lang Bridge, Di Cui Pavilion and Tao Ran Hall, the springs are surrounded by waterfalls, slow-moving rivers, and tranquil forests. Try the Guangdong Hot Spring Hotel, a sprawling property comprising over 40 buildings set lakeside amidst pine forests with hot spring water piped into rooms. You'll find everything from villas to presidential suites, along with squash courts, bowling alleys and a host of mountain trails to keep you busy when you're not lounging in the springs.

Hainan Beach by fedfil via Flickr (Creative Commons).

Lake Nam-tso by poorfish via Flickr (Creative Commons)

SiChuan - Hailuogou by auws via Flickr (Creative Commons)

Top 10 Tips for a weekend break in Yangshuo, China - from how to avoid a hot air balloon crash to rafting the Yulong River.

Even at 500 metres in a faulty hot air balloon Yangshuo is a breathtaking place. At that nail-biting height the region's famous limestone karsts look even more dramatic; their pointed peaks rising up from flat, green rice fields that spread out from the Li and Yulong rivers.

The town of Yangshuo was until recently a sleepy provincial village. Now it's a bustling tourist hub that has seen phenomenal expansion. Visitors are drawn to the town by the busload, eager to soak up its stunning views and raft down rivers made famous through centuries of Chinese paintings and, more recently, scenes from The Painted Veil.

Parts of Yangshuo can feel a bit like a Chinese Disneyland, especially around West Street. If you're prepared to go off-the-beaten track, and to spend just ¥100 a day on using a local guide, it's easy to experience a Yangshuo that's as far away from package tourism and flag-following lemmings as you can imagine.

TIP 1: The lovely Lilly

We used Lilly Lu for the two days that we were there. She speaks excellent English and can arrange everything from a hot air balloon rescue mission to airport transfers to lightshow tickets to unspoiled stretches of river to simple, but utterly delicious, local dining. Lilly has lived in Yangshuo and its nearby villages all her life. She's an expert on what to do and can guide you to places that package tourists can only dream of. For Lilly's contact details and more info on her tour and services, please leave us a comment with your email address at the bottom of this post.

TIP 2: Cycle far, far away

Get those legs pumping and be prepared to spend at least 2.5 – 3 hours in the saddle. Don't fret: it's flat and easy cycling along river banks and through stunning fields and tiny villages. Bike all the way up to the 400-year old Yulong Bridge and then have lunch. If you're with Lilly she'll show you where to go, but if you're heading up alone make sure you go to the first restaurant downstream from the bridge. The food is fantastic – lots of fresh vegetables stir-fried with garlic, the delicious local specialty "beer fish" and local chicken dishes as well. Note: this is not for the squeamish… if you order fish or chicken you'll see the cooks fetching live catfish from the river or live chickens from a hutch that they polish off in the kitchen and then gut. It's really not that bad, and the end result is well worth any misgivings you might have about ending an innocent life!

TIP 3: When it comes to the rivers, don't follow the crowds

The river trips in Yangshuo are one of the big highlights. At the weekend, especially if it's a public holiday, hundreds of people flock to the water to ride on bamboo rafts and squirt each other with enormous water pistols. If throngs of over excited water rats don't spell tranquility in your book, make sure you make the effort get away from the crowds.

For the Yulong River – bamboo rafts punted by boatmen – spend 3 hours in the saddle biking up to Yulong Bridge and escape the crowds. You'll be rewarded with a 2 hour trip downstream in complete quiet and isolation as it only gets busy for the last 10 minutes (and there it's phenomenonally busy). For the Li River – motorized bamboo rafts – hire a car for the day (only ¥300 - ¥550) and drive to XingPing Town. From there head upstream and you'll be on more or less your own.

TIP 4: Get up early

Set your alarm for 6am and head to Moon Hill. This karst peak has a hole straight through it that makes for some seriously impressive photographs.

You can hike to the top of the peak up a concrete staircase. The steps are pretty steep and it can be hard going unless you're a regular gym bunny. During the summer months the weather gets sticky at about 9am so it's well worth rising early to beat the heat. Getting there before breakfast also means you'll have Moon Hill entirely to yourself; we did and it was amazing.

Once you're at the top you can scramble up a dirt track right to the top of the hole. The guides tell you to allow 1.5 hours for a round-trip. If you're fit it'll take more like 45 minutes.

TIP 5: Breakfast late

The tourist groups tend to leave Yangshuo after breakfast to go sightseeing. If you're prepared to stick around you can wander the town's pretty streets in relative peace. We headed in for breakfast at around 9:30 / 10am and everyone had left. After breakfast at Café Mimosa (16 Gui Hua Road) we spent a relaxed hour exploring old streets that are normally swarming with crowds.

TIP 6: Stay out of town

Daily bicycle rents are cheap (from ¥5 - ¥20 per day), as are taxis (from about ¥30 per trip), so it's easy to travel in from a hotel that's slightly out of town.

We stayed at the Li River Retreat, which was about a 10 minute bike ride from the centre of Yangshuo. The hotel has stunning, un-obscured views from its terraces and balconies. Almost all the rooms have private balconies and they're clean and very reasonably priced (from ¥250 - ¥490 per night). Staff are friendly and can speak English. The Yangshuo Mountain Retreat also gets good reviews from friends who have stayed there (from HK$229 – HK$800 per night).

If you're prepared to stay further outside Yangshuo, the new Hotel of Modern Art gets fantastic write ups (from ¥2080 per night). It's the only hotel in China that's a member of the prestigious Relais and Chateaux alliance.

TIP 7: Don't hot air balloon unless you're very brave

We had a bad experience. At 500m our pilot laughingly announced that we had a small problem. Pointing inside the balloon he told us to look up at the hole that had appeared in the silk. We didn't think it was so funny and spent the 30 minutes it took for us to land in palpations of worry. Added to this terror was my crippling fear of heights: I should never have got into that basket…

Other friends tell of a white-knuckle ride that involved crash landing in the trees on the side of a steep karst.

Although everyone in Yangshuo does their best to convince you that the balloon pilots are highly experienced, that it's not dangerous and that there have never been any accidents don't believe them. Hot air ballooning is by far and away the most expensive activity you can do in Yangshuo (¥700 - ¥900 per person for 70 minutes) and the local operators want your business.

TIP 8: Check out Fuli

This small town is home to families of fan makers. For centuries Fuli's inhabitants have painted fans and scrolls depicting traditional scenes. They used to make fans for the queen of one of the Chinese dynasties.

If you want to buy scrolls or fans whilst you're in Yangshuo it's worth hiring a car and visiting Fuli as they're about a third of the price and of a much higher quality than the ones selling in Yangshuo's markets. Expect to pay about ¥200 for a big silk fan.

TIP 9: If you're going for the weekend forget about Guilin

The boat trip down the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo takes about six hours and you have to pack onto a big cruiser. If you're only visiting for the weekend it makes far more sense to arrange for a car to pick you up from Guilin airport and drive you straight to Yangshuo that night. The stretches of river around Yangshuo are quieter and you can travel them on a traditional bamboo raft away from hordes of snap-happy tourists.

Guilin is also a city with 1.32 million inhabitants – it's not the quaint town some brochures depict. If you're in search of peace and quiet ditch the city and head straight for Yangshuo. Hotels can organise a car from the airport (¥380 one way, travel time 2 hours) as can Lilly.

TIP 10: Don't go in a guided group to the light show

It's not as complicated as people have you believe. If your hotel or guide organizes the tickets for you then arrange a driver and go on your own. You'll save being herded about like cattle and will be able to escape the crowds and mayhem much more quickly. Tickets to the light show cost ¥180 per person.

All photos © Emma Torry / Bryony Greenwell

Typhoon Nuri is heading straight to Hong Kong and is set to hit us at 2pm tomorrow.

We thought it was apt to pick a stormy HK shot today and liked this one, Stormclouds, by Denn on Flickr.

This one, Lighting 03, by moonsheep is also fantastic.

By Stephan Larose for ChinaTravel.net

A self-guided tour of Beijing's new architectural marvels, from the Bird's Nest to the Egg to the Cube to the Wingless Dragon and beyond....

If you've been paying any attention to China at all in the past year, you've no doubt caught the hype on the Discovery Channel's Extreme Engineering or in countless newspaper and magazine articles. Beijing—long famed for ancient classics of Chinese architecture, from the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven to the Great Wall — has been boldly remaking itself with one futuristic architectural statement building after another, inviting the world's most innovative starchitects to make their marks.

If you're in Beijing for the Olympics or just for a visit, you'll want to check out the city's new cast of starchitect-designed buildings, from the Egg to the Bird's Nest and beyond. But there's no need to line up a tour guide—here at ChinaTravel.net, we've got you covered with a quick outline for an independent self-guided tour of Beijing's newest architectural marvels. All you'll need is a pair of walking shoes, a bottle of water, change for the subway and, of course, your camera!

Norman Foster's Wingless Dragon, Beijing's Terminal 3

That's right, you've just gotten off the plane and already you're there! Another building in a long line of made-in-China world's __est structures, this one, a glass and steel dragon of unprecedented size, is touted as the largest and most advanced airport building in the world.

Jaw-droppingly vast in scale, Terminal 3's most impressive fact may be the speed with which this monster was put up. Bigger than all of London's Heathrow terminals combined (and perhaps 1,000 times as efficient and 500 times less obnoxious), Beijing's Terminal 3 went up in less time than it took just to conduct Heathrow Terminal Five's planning inquiry, making it a tribute to central planning and to the steely determination of the 50,000 workers responsible for finishing it in time to welcome hordes of Olympics tourists.

Terminal 3's 3.25 km of feng-shui-friendly red and gold concourses perfectly match the dominant colours of Beijing's prize attractions, the Summer Palace and the Forbidden City—a respectful gesture to China's past and traditions. Looking forward, by 2020 the terminal is expected to process over 50 million passengers a year. Think that's enough to handle China's growing share of air traffic? Think again—there are plans to build a staggering 96 more airports throughout the country, though it's a safe bet that none will rival the jewel of Beijing Capital's crown.

After taking a look around, hop onto the newly opened Airport Express subway and take it to the first stop: Sanyuanqiao Station (this is assuming you don't need to hit the hotel and sleep off a transcontinental flight—if you're into contemporary architecture, we recommend checking out one of the following new hotels: the Kempinski's Commune by the Great Wall or the Hotel Kapok).

Disembark and transfer to Line 10, heading to Bagou Station. Keep your eyes peeled—you'll want to get off at Beitucheng Station, which exits onto the opening of the massive Olympic Green and the site of your next superstar buildings, and perhaps the most recognizable of them all.

The Bird's Nest (Niaochao) and Watercube (Shuilifang)

The Olympic Greens, Beijing's newest urban parkland, are great for walking and sightseeing — they're full of Olympic-themed sculpture, art and fun rest spots. To get to the Bird's Nest, walk north on Beichen Lu, and soon you'll see it on your right with the Watercube on your left.

The Bird's Nest — officially known as Beijing National Stadium — is easily the most iconic of Beijing's Olympic structures. It's hosting all Olympic track and field events and Beijing football matches (Shanghai Stadium will also see some football action), all to be played before crowds of 100,000. If you're among them, you'll be one of the privileged few to appreciate Herzog and deMeuron's architectural masterpiece up close.

Monstrous steel elements weighing up to 350 tons a piece have been intertwined in a way that actually makes this gargantuan structure look delicate. The building has received both praise and criticism for its unconventional and potentially risky design — over 70% of the building's weight hangs over the audience's head.

Critics notwithstanding, there's no doubt the Bird's Nest represents a massive accomplishment for the Chinese. As an architectural marvel, an unmistakable landmark and an iconic Olympic image, it will undoubtedly be a source of pride for years to come.

The Watercube, although less grandiose in scale, almost manages to upstage its neighbour. A childlike simplicity and enchanting bubble motif mask an incredibly sophisticated design. The builders, a consortium of Chinese and Australian firms, employed a quasi-magical material called ETFE, a species of teflon, to give the cube its bubblicious glam quotient.

Designed to react to changing light conditions, it's the material responsible for the Water Cube's stunning visual effects, which are best viewed at night. The walls, which capture up to 90% of ambient and solar heat, slowly shift through a range of colours. It's almost enough to make you forget that the action is inside, not outside the building.

After you're done taking in these two Olympic icons, hop on to the subway and head back down to Beitucheng Station, where you'll transfer back to Line 10, this time heading in the opposite direction, towards Jinsong Station. Exit at Jintaixizhao Station. When you exit, make your way north along the East Third Ring North Road, and you'll see building four of your tour almost immediately.

Rem Koolhass's Twisted Masterpiece: The CCTV National HQ

The new CCTV headquarters is undoubtedly the world's most unconventional high rise, and, like the Bird's Nest and Wingless Dragon, it's already earned itself a few amusing nicknames, including the dakucha or the "big pants" and the less flattering, but more literally accurate, waiqu dalou (歪曲大楼) or "twisted building," with a heavy implication of "twisted news," though we honestly can't imagine why the home of China's state television media would warrant such a sour sobriquet.

Sure, there's lots of controversy surrounding this gravity-defying behemoth, but one thing is certain: this building cements Beijing's reputation as a global centre for experimental architectural design. The alarming angles and bending bridge section may seem chancy for earthquake-prone Beijing, but the design incorporates a massive encapsulating grid of diagonal beams that thicken around stress points to minimize the risk.

For the less sceptical, the building's eyebrow-raising design represents a consciousness shift away from the rigid mindsets of careful control of social order towards something more improvisational and open minded. Check it out: you be the judge (note , however, that any change in mindset hasn't extended to the interior of this fabulous building, which remains closed to any but CCTV employees and special guests).

After snapping a few pics you'll want to hop back on the metro and head south (same direction as before) and transfer to Line 1 at Guomao Station. Head west towards Pinguoyuan and get off at Tian'anmen West. This is the last stop on your tour, right in Beijing's cultural heart, near Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City. So once you're done admiring the new National Centre for the Performing Arts, you'll be able to join the tourist throngs wandering Beijing's most famed ancient landmarks.

Paul Andrew's Egg

Many visitors will probably find this to be Beijing's prettiest new structure, with its smooth graceful lines and curves. Be that as it may, "the Egg" seems to be the building that's gotten the most flack from Beijingers. They've even called it huai dan, the "Rotten Egg," for disrupting Beijing's feng shui.

The architects mindfully incorporated the circle-and-square / heaven-and-earth theme present in so many pinnacles of Chinese culture, like the Summer Palace, but, if many locals are to be believed, they flubbed it. The Egg's square half thoroughly disrupts the concentric circles weaving out from the Forbidden City, and unfortunately, that's the motif around which all of Beijing was originally designed. People say it's an impostor and an alien monstrosity. And there is indeed a drastic contrast between this über-modern structure and that epitome of tradition sitting next door, the Forbidden City.

Still, despite all the local disparagement, many visitors are certain to fall in love with Paul Andrew's Egg. The sky is mirrored its semi-transparent, golden-netted glass walls, allowing onlookers outside to enjoy the play of colours as the lights of dawn and dusk interact with the building's massive titanium and glass shell

Now you're done with your tour of Beijing's 21st century icons, and, if you start early enough, you'll have time left to explore the city's older side, from Tian'anmen Square to the Forbidden City and Beihai Park.

Enjoy!

All images © ChinaTravel.net

Travel + Leisure magazine has made life easy for visitors to China with their tips and tools to help travellers a successful trip to the middle kingdom.

In their words, "China can seem as impenetrable as it is imposing. Consider the numbers: it's the world's most populous nation (1.3 billion), where more than 100 cities have populations over a million. Fifty-six ethnic groups are spread across 22 wildly distinct provinces and five autonomous regions, in a landmass slightly larger than the U.S. Its history seems limitless and its traditions just as deep. But here and now, change is the only real constant—and it is accelerating at a dizzying pace. (One thousand new cars hit the streets of Beijing every day.)"

No wonder so many newcomers to China find the country so intimidating.

Itinerary wise, T+L recommends the following highlights:

Beijing: 2–3 days

China’s political, historical, and cultural capital demands at least three days—for the familiar landmarks of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, and also for Beijing’s 21st-century architecture, such as the “Bird’s Nest” Olympic National Stadium by Herzog & de Meuron and the glass-and-titanium dome that is the National Grand Theater. China’s contemporary art scene finds its nexus in the galleries and cafés of the Dashanzi Art District, home to the new Ullens Center for Contemporary Art. Beijing’s atmospheric hutong, or traditional alleyways, are fast disappearing; explore the bustling ones off Nanluoguxiang, near the 13th-century Drum and Bell towers. Then check out the Legation Quarter, a high-end restaurant, entertainment, and cultural development set within the former American Embassy compound. And save a morning to stroll the manicured, 660-acre grounds of the Temple of Heaven, site of the circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the 15th-century apogee of Chinese ritual architecture.

The Great Wall

Numerous stretches of the Great Wall are easily accessible from Beijing (ask your hotel to arrange a car or bus tour). But avoid the tourist trap of Badaling and head to the slightly less trammeled Mutianyu section, a 90-minute drive northeast of the Forbidden City. Early morning is best; try Asia 1 on 1 (asia1on1.com) for day trips.

Shanghai: 2–3 days

First stop: the riverfront promenade known as the Bund, with its Art Deco, Neoclassical, and Beaux-Arts façades, bars and shops, and views of the space-age towers of Pudong. In People’s Park you’ll find the Shanghai Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Weekdays are the best time to wander among the pine trees and ponds of the 16th-century Yuyuan Gardens. Xintiandi was the birthplace of the Chinese Communist Party; now this restored two-block district is defined by upscale shops and restaurants. The leafy, rustic French Concession is the favored destination for cutting-edge fashion and designs for the home. Shanghai’s latest secret? Lane 248, a gritty, narrow street now inhabited by artsy cafés and intimate boutiques, hidden behind Taikang Road.

Guilin: 2 days

(Two hours by air from Shanghai.) With its sheer limestone peaks jutting up from the Li River, Guilin is straight out of a traditional Chinese landscape painting, and remains one of China’s most breathtaking sights. Take in the view from Solitary Beauty Peak and marvel at the formations of the Reed Flute Cave. Spring and fall are best; avoid the heat of July and the crowds of the holiday seasons.

Xi’an: 2 days

(Two hours by air from Beijing.) China’s ancestral capital is renowned for its “terra-cotta army,” created during the Qin dynasty (221–207 B.C.): thousands of life-size clay warriors stand in formation as part of the funerary complex of China’s first emperor, with much more yet to be excavated. You’ll need at least two days here to take in the warriors, see the Shang dynasty bronze relics at the Shaanxi History Museum, walk along the Old City walls, and visit the Da Mai market.

Datong: 2 days

(One hour by air or six hours by scenic train ride from Beijing.) Majestic Qing dynasty frescoes are the standout in the celebrated temple district. Nearby excursions include the awesome Buddhist sculptures in the Yungang Grottoes and the Hanging Temple of Mount Hengshan, which clings precipitously to the side of a cliff. Not far away are some especially beautiful eroded mud-brick ruins of the Great Wall.

The article also includes must-read taxi tips, hotel recommendations, shopping advice and strategies, must-eat food, and six great new books on China. Happy days.

By David Perry for ChinaTravel.net

What's hot in world travel? Two things top the list: China and anything deemed "green," from hardcore back-country ecotourism adventures to environmentally conscious luxury resort stays.

But mention "China" and "green" in the same breath, and most travelers are likely to look at you like you've been huffing diesel fumes. After all, the media is full of stories about the huge environmental costs of China's breakneck economic growth. Most Westerners are more likely to think of dams, smog and booming megacities than pristine mountain streams, lush jungles and indigenous cultures living in balance with nature. And for many recently affluent Chinese travelers, the emphasis remains on mass tourism with a façade of luxury—if it's not conspicuous, shiny and crowded, it often seems it's not worth doing.

But that's all changing, like everything in the world's most dynamic country. And if China has anything in abundance, it's surprises. For many newcomers to China travel, the biggest surprise might be the growth of green travel in the Middle Kingdom.

For some, "green travel" may mean trekking in remote regions of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet; others may prefer to pay a premium to stay in small eco-lodges or boutique hotels; still others may prefer the familiarity and comfort of conventional hotels but with an environmentally aware twist and easy access to nature reserves and parks. Regardless, the goal is a shared one: to protect and preserve the environment while enjoying the best it has to offer.

This doesn't just mean saving rare species, either. In this age of global warming and rapid resource depletion, it means understanding how one person can affect the environment and everything in it, from the local to the global level—and accepting responsibility for helping to make things better.

With all that in mind, we're debuting a series of green China features with a few tips for earth-friendly travel in China. In the near future, we'll spotlight regions, destinations, resorts and hotels that get high marks for environmental friendliness. We'll continue to do features on the subject, ranging from roughing it to luxury ecotourism, and we invite you to join the ongoing conversation in ChinaTravel.net's new China Travel Environment and Ecology Forum. If you have your own recommendations, stories or photos, let us know!

Green Travel in China

Carbon-conscious conveyance

In this age of global warming, travelers are becoming increasingly aware of their "carbon footprint," which is shorthand for the amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses emitted by burning fossil fuels that can be calculated as being your individual share.

One popular option is carbon offsetting. An easy-to-use carbon calculator can help you calculate the climate impact of your flights and other travel activities; you can then contribute to an organization dedicated to various emissions-reducing actions, from protecting rain forests and wetlands to planting new trees to developing new low-emissions technologies.

You can also calculate carbon offsets for any bus, car or train travel you do. Of course, students and budget travelers may not have the extra money to do so. Regardless, you can choose lower emitting options over higher ones—take a bus or train instead of splurging on a private car; walk or ride a bike instead of hopping in cab; plan your trip carefully in advance to minimize the chance of often costly (and energy-gobbling) last-minute travel changes. As a bonus, you get a much more up-close-and-personal look at China by traveling in slower and more old-fashioned ways, whether in big city Beijing or the laid-back countryside around Guilin or one of Yunnan's top destinations.

In addition to carbon offsets, a number of travel businesses are experiencing something of a green awakening, making it easier for concerned consumers to act. For example, Chinese online travel giant Ctrip.com has recently made it possible to use accumulated travel points to help Shanghai Roots & Shoots plant more trees or to support environmental education in China by purchasing a reusable bag from GECKO.

Green hotels in China

If you're in a big city, the idea of a "green hotel" might seem counterintuitive, but even in the heart of Shanghai or sprawling outskirts of Shenzhen, you'll find accommodations that have gone green to one degree or another. International chains like Novotel, which recently teamed up with environmental certification organization Green Globe, are upgrading their facilities to save energy and reduce waste while maintaining high levels of quality and service, and for many first-time travelers to China, brand familiarity can be important. Novotel Peace Beijing and Novotel Atlantis Shanghai are good bets both for comfort and for you conscience. If an international chain isn't your thing, the green trend meets the boutique hotel in hotels like China's "first carbon-neutral hotel," URBN Hotels (despite the plural, they only have one at present though more are planned across China). In addition to centrally located urban hotels, a number of green alternatives

Sure, purists may raise an eyebrow at the mention of "ecotourism" in connection with developments like the Interlaken Shenzhen, designed to evoke an alpine Swiss village on the outskirts of the booming city in a semi-tropical park-like development, or the gee-whiz futuristic design of a development like the "sustainable" five-star Songjiang Hotel outside of Shanghai (see illustration, slated to open in May 2009). But when it comes to the nurturing of an environmental consciousness in development-happy China, the thought does indeed count for quite a bit: awareness is the first step toward action, and an eco-friendly hotel, even if less crunchy granola (or stinky tofu, for that matter) than status-conscious arugula and latte, raises awareness in both consumers and businesses.

There are also an increasing number of green getaways suitable for a long weekend escape from China's urban centers. If you've had enough of Shanghai, try Naked Retreats, which manages a selection of properties in the popular Moganshan area. Guangzhou boasts the Crosswaters Ecolodge and Spa in the bamboo forests of Nankunshan to the west of the city. The Beijing region offers unique options like the Beijing Crab Island Green Ecological Resort, which grows its own organic produce and seeks a high degree of sustainability, including the "coexistence of crops and crabs" as well as more mundane eco-goals like use of renewable energy and water reclamation.

Then there's Chengdu with its proximity to the forests and mountains that are home to China's poster animal for ecotourism, the giant panda. Because of the recent Sichuan earthquake, the situation in and around Chengdu will likely remain uncertain for several months—look for Sichuan updates on this site as well as more information on other popular ecotourism destinations throughout China, especially in the south and west, where remote and rugged lands have remained relatively untouched by development.