What to do? Backpacking Guangzhou – China Travel

I have met plenty of backpackers whilst traveling around China who have attempted to tackle the chaotic city of Guangzhou. Most have told me about their experience of stepping out of the city train station only to be met by huge crowds, pollution and traffic jams then retreating to the closest hotel and catching the morning train out of there. But this isn’t the real Guangzhou.

Jutting out from a sheer cliff 1,430 meters high, the glass skywalk in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park offers sightseers terrifying thrills and clear view of the mountains below as they tread nervously across the 60 meter long bridge encircling the vertical cliffs of Tianmen Mountain in Hunan province.

John Pasden compares and contrasts travelling through China under the "real China" or "China Lite" banners and explains the importance of doing a bit of visitor profiling before friends and family visit.

In this exclusive Radio86 interview, American photojournalist Tom Carter tells us about his experiences as an independent traveler in China and gives some tips for budget travel in the Middle Kingdom.