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Country
Geography: China is the third largest state in area in the world after the former USSR and Canada. It extends from Siberia in the north to tropical seas to the south, has the world's largest desert, the Gobi, and the highest mountain with the peak of Everest in the heart what the Himalayas. The topography of China may resemble a staircase from west to east.
- In the west, we have the plateaus of Tibet and Qinghai. Melting snow and glaciers supplies the sources of several major rivers: Blue River (Yangtze), Mekong, the Yellow River (Huang He). In the north, the Tarim Basin is the largest inland basin in the world; there are the great Taklamakan Desert and the Lop Nor, largest salt lake in moving of the country, which held nuclear tests.
- Turfan Basin, the hottest place in China, called "the oasis of Fire" is the second landing of the staircase.
- The third, which falls below 1000 m, are the plains (the "middle kingdom" Han), heavily populated in agricultural areas. The agricultural area accounts for only 15 to 20% of the territory, and it feeds more than one billion souls!
Climate
Depending on regions. Summer temperatures are a little contrast while winter has more variation. Winter is generally dry enough. The wet season takes place in the south, from June to September while the north remains little rain. You will find below a summary table of average temperatures for cities in our proposed circuit.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Beijing |
-4
|
-2
|
8
|
16
|
20
|
24
|
26
|
24
|
19
|
15
|
8
|
-2
|
| Canton |
15
|
16
|
18
|
22
|
25
|
27
|
28
|
28
|
27
|
23
|
19
|
17
|
| Guilin |
9
|
11
|
15
|
19
|
23
|
23
|
28
|
28
|
26
|
22
|
15
|
12
|
| Kunming |
12
|
14
|
16
|
18
|
19
|
23
|
23
|
22
|
22
|
20
|
17
|
15
|
| Shanghai |
5
|
6
|
10
|
15
|
19
|
23
|
28
|
28
|
24
|
18
|
12
|
6
|
| Xi'an |
-1
|
2
|
8
|
14
|
19
|
25
|
27
|
26
|
19
|
14
|
7
|
0
|
Money
The Swiss franc, the dollar (in cash or travelers checks) can be easily changed in hotels and department stores. Keep the receipt used by the exchange, they will be required when you change back your Yuan in Swiss francs.
1 Swiss franc = 8.4 approximately Yuan (August 2011). The Yuan is divided into 10 Mao, Mao (Jao) represents 10 Fen. Be careful not to confuse the tickets.
The major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, ...) are accepted in most hotels, department stores, large restaurants in major cities. It is strictly forbidden to exchange in black market and get out of the Chinese currency in the country.