Weather
With such a vast country, generalisations are difficult. However, the country is generally warm, verging on hot during the summer, while the northern and western winters can be very harsh.
Passport / Visa Requirements
All nationalities require a visa.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are recommended for cholera, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tuberculosis and tetanus. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if coming from an infected area.
Political / Economic Situation
The country is very stable, with a thriving economy. However, China is still mainly agrarian and outside of the major cities farming is the main occupation.
Restrictions
Most parts of China are now open to tourists; however, be careful to avoid taking photographs near any government buildings.
Airports / Air Access
The cities of Beijing, Xian and Urumqi all have international airports. From Xian there are flights on foreign or domestic carriers to Nagoya, Hiroshima, Hong Kong and Macao, while Urumqi is linked with Moscow, Novosibirsk, Sharjah (UAE), Almaty, Tashkent and Istanbul.
Within the region, there are airports handling regional flights at Xian, Urumqi, Kashgar, Dunhuang and many of the other larger cities.
Road Conditions / Infrastructure
Extensive train and bus networks serve all cities, towns and hamlets.
