China is colossal in many ways. It spans almost 3.7 million square miles and is the most populous country on Earth with more than a billion residents. Its picturesque landscape has both towering mountain ranges and vast plateau and plains – with more than 137 miles of rivers, some 2,000 lakes and more than 5,000 islands in its territorial seas.

And it boasts both ultra-modern cities with non-stop nightlife and small rural towns more reminiscent of a time in the very distant past. So it's no wonder that China offers a wealth of travel opportunities for exploring its beautiful scenery, ancient culture and rich history as one of the world's oldest civilizations.

The best way to travel through China – and take in as much as possible of what this country has to offer – is to use multiple modes of transportation. Bike or take a pedicab through Beijing – one of China's most visited cities and home to the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square and the famed the Great Wall of China. Stroll around Shanghai and visit the Shanghai Museum and the great shopping on Nanjing Road.

Take a bus or train to Xi'an to see the life-sized Terracotta Warriors and Horses, as well as the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. And no trip to China would be incomplete without a cruise down the Yangtze River, the longest river in China and the third longest in the world.

Along the way, take in the Chinese culture by visiting a Chinese festival – not a month passes without a festival being observed by one of the many ethnic groups that call China home. Plan to see the Peking Opera or skilled Chinese acrobats, and be sure to watch Chinese artisans – both painters and calligraphers – practice the centuries-old art forms.

With the explosive economic growth and modernization that China is currently experiencing, now is the perfect time to visit and get a glimpse of the ancient traditions of this legendary land.