If China is full of natural and cultural treasures, Xi'an and Hangzhou are two unmissable spots when exploring the Middle Kingdom. Xi'an was the capital of the Empire under the first Qing Emperor and the city contains many remains of this imperial splendour. Above all, people come from all over the world to admire the site of the terracotta army. In Hangzhou, which hosted the world's leading leaders for the G20 last September, there will be plenty of sunshine on the famous Western Lake. An image of Epinal of China, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which will not leave anyone indifferent.

Xi'an and the remains of imperial splendour

Xi'an is located in Shaanxi province, in northern China. This province is often considered - rightly - as the cradle of Chinese civilization and Xi'an, its capital, as the first capital of the Middle Kingdom.

At the beginning of the Qin dynasty (350 BC to 207 BC), China was divided into "Five Warring Kingdoms". Xianyang, north of the current site of Xi'an, is the capital of the Qin kingdom where 37 lines of princes succeed one another. The last of them, Qin Shihuangdi, will unify the five kingdoms. Xianyang then became the empire's empire in 221 BC and Qin Shihuangdi, who proclaimed himself the first emperor of China, had a gigantic terracotta army built so that his reign in the kingdom of the dead would be as prestigious as his reign on Earth. But his death led to a war of succession that ended the Qin dynasty.

Liu Bang seized power and established the Han dynasty (206 BC to 8 AD). Chang'an became the capital and starting point of the Silk Road, where large caravans brought silk and other Chinese luxury goods to Europe. The city competed with Rome at the time of its importance. Under the Sui dynasty (581-618), the capital Daxingcheng moved to the current site of Xi'an. Renamed Chang'an under the Tang (618-907) the city reached its peak. The ramparts of the time are much larger than those later rebuilt under the Ming and that we know today. The Silk Road is also a route for religions and Chang'an is a cosmopolitan city. The pagodas of the Great and Little Wild Goose, the Huaqing Palace and the Great Mosque are among the buildings that remain from this period. Unmissable visits, such as the Shaanxi Historical Museum, one kilometre from the Great Wild Goose Pagoda. The archaeological collection is renowned for the quality of its ancient bronzes and sculptures of the Han and Tang. It is strongly recommended to visit this museum before the Terracotta Army site as it is a good introduction to the history of the region.

Today Xi'an has 167 tombs that are still unexplored. Local authorities and tourism stakeholders are pushing to open them, but the Beijing government refuses because it believes that the Chinese do not have sufficient technology. They do not want to repeat the unfortunate experience of the terracotta army. Indeed, three days after clearing the clay army site, the magnificent colours that covered the soldiers disappeared on contact with the air. The fact remains that the Museum of the "Great Dig" is an absolute must see! In 1974, peasants digging a well made the archaeological discovery of the century: a fabulous army of 8,000 clay warriors standing guard around the first Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. This terracotta army has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. The whole exudes an incredible realism that surprises the visitor, giving the impression of going back in time... It is estimated that it took thirty years of work, and more than 700,000 people, to build the army of clay that was to accompany the emperor on his last journey to the kingdom of the dead. Unmistakable!

Hangzhou and the tranquility of the western lake

Hangzhou is located in Zhejiang, a coastal province in southern China, just below Shanghai. It is famous throughout the country because it is located on Lake Xihu, the western lake, a place of contemplation for painters and poets since the origins of the Empire. Surrounded by hills, the city has a charm that its strong economic expansion has not yet managed to alter. The lake has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011. For the Chinese, it is one of the wonders of the country! As such, it appears on 1 RMB banknotes. About 15 km in circumference, it is surrounded by sumptuous hills and, to the east, by the city centre. The Western Lake is also ubiquitous in Chinese literature and history. Finally, one cannot speak of Xihu and Hangzhou without mentioning Marco Polo, who went there at the end of the 13th century on his trip to China, and described the city and its atmosphere as "the most noble of all cities, the city of paradise". To enjoy it, you can easily rent a boat. All around, there are many points of interest. All are freely accessible and sound like a constant reminder of traditional Chinese culture. They are to be discovered in all weathers, in bright sunshine (be careful in summer, it can get very hot quickly on the shores of the lake) and in rainy weather: the scenery is then almost magical.

Finally, a large canal linking Beijing and Hangzhou, 1,794 km long, was built in 605 by Emperor Yangdi. He opened up the region and was at the origin of Hangzhou's economic development. Indeed, it made it possible to transport local products, such as rice, salt and tea, to the capital. This road is still in use locally and provides an opportunity for a nice walk

Everywhere, we enjoy ourselves!

In Xi'an, in the small streets on the edge of the Muslim quarter towards Lianhu Park, there are many small Muslim restaurants. Often the setting is not very luxurious and, in the street, an oven is improvised from a coal-fired tin barrel. On a cutting table are placed the fresh vegetables and cut meat that will compose the dish made in front of you in a wok. Pass under the Drum Tower, you come across a very lively street lit by bulbs from merchants or the fire of barbecues on which skewers are grilled. It's a treat! And this is where everyone rushes in..

In the heart of the old town, in the Hui district, it is Luomashi Street that people hurry to eat local specialities on the run

In Hangzhou, of course, most restaurants are concentrated around the lake on the eastern shore. But you can find good addresses by going a little deeper into the city where several historic establishments offer cheap and delicious cuisine. Hangzhou's cuisine is mainly made up of products from the Western Lake: fish in sweet and sour sauce, shrimps with Longjing tea, but also roasted meat dishes, simmered in a pan, steamed. Hangzhou broths and soups are extremely pleasant. Finally, there are many tea houses around the lake and on the islands. Shuguang Avenue is a famous street with several addresses. The tea museum, in the heart of the tea fields, is also an interesting visit. You can also taste the infusions of chrysanthemum flowers, a very pleasant drink during the hot summer months.

Smart info

When? When? You can go there all year round, but spring and autumn are generally the best times to travel to China.

Getting there. Hainan Airlines operates a non-stop flight from Paris to Xi'an > Hangzhou

HAINAN AIRLINES - More information on the website

Useful. To prepare your trip as well as possible.

XI' AN TOURISM OFFICE - More information on the website

HANGZHOU TOURISM OFFICE - More information on the website