These photos made during our 2 trips, gives you a fantastic overview of what we saw in this huge country.
Photographу by Manus & Sylvia Bagmeijer
China: a land of stunning contrasts
From breathtaking landscapes, rich history, incredible food, and rapid modernization alongside intense crowds, a significant language barrier, and bustling, sometimes chaotic traffic, with impressions ranging from awe at the Great Wall and the funny pandas to surprise at the efficiency of apps like WeChat/Alipay and the kindness of locals.
Key takeaways include vibrant culture, delicious food (street food safe in many areas), efficient tech, overwhelming scale, challenging communication, and very different costs (often cheaper than expected for some things, pricey for others).
The Terracotta Warriors, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall – China is home to some of the world’s most intriguing historical sites. It’s also packed with remarkable landscapes, impressive modern architecture and cuisine.
Photos made in 2010
The future of children in China is promising, with a range of new policies and initiatives aimed at improving their lives.
China's history spans thousands of years, from ancient dynasties and imperial rule to modern reform, shaping one of the world's oldest living civilizations.
Photos made in 2025
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During our second trip we noticed again that China felt like an incredibly modern country, one that is rapidly accelerating into the future (seemingly far faster than Europe is), and it was eye-opening to experience it, and we can definitely recommend a visit for slightly-more-adventurous-than-normal travelers, those on a budget (everything is crazy inexpensive), and those who like to eat...