(Travel + Leisure) -- 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.



The Tiananmen Gate at the entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing



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.)



How do you begin to fathom a country of such extremes? The futuristic cities glittering above timeworn villages; the great rivers and vast empty deserts; the radical new architecture juxtaposed with millennia-old monuments; the ceaseless push-and-pull between Confucianism, Communism, and commerce. Where do you even begin? Have no fear. Start here with Travel + Leisure's suggestions for where to go and what to see.



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. Travel+Leisure.com: Tips for flying to China



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. Travel+Leisure.com: Chinese taxi trips



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 for day trips. Travel+Leisure.com: Where to stay in China



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. Travel+Leisure.com: China shopping tips and strategies



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
What area is slightly less trammeled? What can you take in from Solitary Beauty Peak? Where in Beijing are the alleyways located? What kind of alleywayys can you explore off Nanluoguxiang in Beijing? Where is the Solitary Beauty Peak located? Where in Guilin should one take in the view? Where should you take in the view from? What can you explore off Nanluoguxiang? Which section of the Great Wall are people being encouraged to visit?
Mutianyu section, the view off Nanluoguxiang, near the 13th-century Drum and Bell towers. atmospheric hutong, or traditional alleyways, Guilin from Solitary Beauty Peak Solitary Beauty Peak The Great Wall Mutianyu
question: What area is slightly less trammeled?, answer: Mutianyu section, | question: What can you take in from Solitary Beauty Peak?, answer: the view | question: Where in Beijing are the alleyways located?, answer: off Nanluoguxiang, near the 13th-century Drum and Bell towers. | question: What kind of alleywayys can you explore off Nanluoguxiang in Beijing?, answer: atmospheric hutong, or traditional alleyways, | question: Where is the Solitary Beauty Peak located?, answer: Guilin | question: Where in Guilin should one take in the view?, answer: from Solitary Beauty Peak | question: Where should you take in the view from?, answer: Solitary Beauty Peak | question: What can you explore off Nanluoguxiang?, answer: The Great Wall | question: Which section of the Great Wall are people being encouraged to visit?, answer: Mutianyu