Incredible China

Cooling sight: Lishui Suichang terraced fields at the foothills of Zhenan mountain, in Zhejiang. It has a long cultural history and few visitors to disturb its rustic charm. As it is surrounded by mountains with scarce arable land, villagers open up terraces which are fit for cultivation.

Off the beaten track, China still mesmerises.

AT about 9,706,961sqkm in size, China is an enormous and challenging country to visit. Unless, of course, you just want to stay within the tried-and-tested routes or the usual places like Beijing, Shanghai or the Great Wall.