The Great Wall of China (Chinese: 萬里長城; pinyin: Wànlǐ Chángchéng) is the collective name of a series of fortification systems generally built across the historical northern borders of China to protect and consolidate territories of Chinese states and empires against various nomadic groups of the steppe and their polities. Several walls were being built from…

An insider's guide to China, including when to go, where to stay, the best tour operators, what to pack and recommended reading. With its high-octane energy, can-do drive, teeming population and challenging language barrier, China can be an exhausting destination…