In recent years, China has risen to become one of the world’s economic powerhouses. This has been reflected in the number of tourists now taking cheap fights to China to discover this exotic country that was once shrouded in mystery.

China’s burgeoning tourist industry has been the catalyst for the construction of thousands of luxury hotels, and along with the many cheap flights to Beijing now available has opened up much of the country to travellers. Beijing is usually the first port of call for any tourist; the capital of China is ancient – it gave birth to the infamous Ming Dynasty of rulers, and is one of the four ancient Great Capitals of China. At the heart of it is the Forbidden City, which was the home of the emperors of the Ming dynasty, which is an essential place to visit for any traveller.

No visit to the city would be complete without seeing the Beijing Opera. Commonly thought of as being amongst the highest achievements of Chinese culture, it is performed through the spoken word, song, dance and acrobatics. Beijing is notable for honouring its traditions whilst embracing the modern, and as such has a vibrant nightlife with the city’s younger generations fuelling the club scene.

A location that now rivals Beijing as a must-see destination for travellers is Guangzhou. Sometimes known as Canton, it is southern China’s largest city and has a sub-tropical climate. Many travellers prefer to visit the city in the autumn, when it is cooler. It’s a popular destination for families, as it has an amazing range of things to do. It is home of the Chimelong Paradise Park, one of the top theme parks in Asia, and also the Xiangjiang Safari Park, where you can see rare animals such as the pandas and tigers that are part of their conservation program.

There are many historic attractions for the curious, such as the Temple of Bright Filial Piety dating back to 1644 and the Western Han Nanyue King Museum, which bears witness to over 2,000 years of Guangzhou’s history.

With many cheap flights to Guangzhou available, it’s an ideal place to start your exploration of this amazing country.