From the beauty of Beijing to the wonders of the Great Wall

                                       The Great Wall of China stretches an impressive 5.500 miles

           An unforgettable time to savour epic culture and sights

Tourists walking along The Great Wall of China near Beijing

The Bund, or embankment, is a great place to start. On one side of the mighty Huangpu River are western-influenced buildings of the 1850s, on the other side, astonishing skyscraper blocks.

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Alongside the cultural and historical sights, the country’s skyline is bright and modern

The modern skyline is even more impressive when seen from a night river cruise — the buildings’ dazzling, colourful neon lights reflecting in the water.

To appreciate the steel and glass architecture, I was whisked 1,116ft up the Jin Mao Tower for a bird’s eye view of the city.

And for an even faster experience, I rode on the Maglev train for 19 miles from the city to the airport at a speed of up to 268mph.

To slow the pace down, I visited the sleepy water town of Zhujiajiao, taking in 1,000 years of history while strolling across stone bridges and down narrow alleyways with food and clothes stalls.

On to Shanghai Museum which has 11 galleries showcasing prehistoric art, ceramics and currency; People’s Square to watch a Tai Chi class and Yu Gardens in the centre of old Shanghai, home to jade rocks and tranquil pavilions.

Sun woman Trisha with her guide Addison in Beijing

Beijing

THE capital’s Tiananmen Square is big, very big. I worked out it could swallow 36 London Trafalgar Squares, so it was an astonishing experience as I recalled the stark images of the 1989 massacre of pro-democratic protesters.

The square is also the final resting place of Chairman Mao, whose giant image peers down at you, and the entrance point to the Forbidden City, home of Chinese emperors for 500 years.

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Tiananmen Square has a massive portrait of former leader Chairman Mao above the entrance

Camera ready, I walked into a vast complex of 900 buildings over 180 acres — an amazing spread of palatial architecture.

I followed in the footsteps of emperors who visited the imposing Temple of Heaven to pray for prosperity and good harvests.

Now the locals ask for a good hand of cards or game of chess as they relax in the surrounding park.

Chinese emperors knew how to chill in style, the prime example being the Summer Palace, set in the hillside and overlooking a beautiful lake.

As you would expect, Beijing is a bustling city of contrasts, but don’t be frightened of using the underground, which has got more western-friendly since the 2008 Olympics.

If you want a taste of local cultures, go to a stunning acrobatic show and Kung Fu demonstration.

The Great Wall 

I COULD have done with an oxygen mask and a lie down a few times while tackling the Great Wall but it was worth every breathless step of the way.

Our tour took us to one of the closest sections to Beijing, Juyongguan, 31 miles outside the city, and that first sight of the wall snaking every which way around you, is pretty awesome.

You can just sit and marvel at the structure — which stretches 5,500 miles but only five per cent of it is open — or start walking!

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The Great Wall of China stretches an impressive 5.500 miles

Trainers on, I joined the line of people climbing the steps. Every time I felt like giving up, I was spurred on by seeing people in their 80s coming down.

It became a challenge: If they can do it, so can I.

The higher I got, the more the crowds tailed off. An hour and 1,700 steps later, having passed watchtowers and temples, I reached my target level.

After a break admiring the spectacular views of the wall beyond and delight at achieving a once-in-a-lifetime ambition, it was time to go back down.

Chairman Mao once wrote: “Until you reach the Great Wall, you’re no hero.”

I had become one of ten million new heroes a year!

Terracotta Army 

THE Terracotta Army’s wow factor is up there with the Grand Canyon and Taj Mahal.

I walked into a building like a giant aircraft hangar and there they were — line after line of incredibly detailed life-size figures.

There are three “pits”, all active archaeological digs, holding more than 7,000 soldiers, horses and chariots, uniquely modelled and constructed to guard China’s first Emperor in the afterlife 2,200 years ago.

The Terracotta Army is a collection of sculptures depicting the armies of the first Emperor of China

They were rediscovered near Xi’an by accident in 1974 and are now rightly regarded as one of the wonders of the world.

Back in Xi’an, home city of our guide Addison, I joined walkers and cyclists along the restored 14th-century city wall and in the evening enjoyed a musical fountain and light show in one of the beautifully clean tree-lined squares.

(The Sun, UK)