CHINA

Big moves on China’s travel map! First up, the brand-new Chongqing–Xiamen High-Speed Railway means you can now zip from Chongqing to the jaw-dropping sandstone spires of Zhangjiajie in under 3 hours. That’s spicy hotpot and “Avatar” mountains all in one easy weekend. One minute you’re floating down the Yangtze, the next you’re staring up at cliffs that defy gravity – who says you can’t have it all?

Meanwhile, over in the wilds of Ningxia, UNESCO just crowned China’s 60th World Heritage Site: the Western Xia Imperial Tombs. These desert-fringed relics are the resting place of 9 emperors from a mysterious dynasty that once ruled the Silk Road. With their Tang-Song vibes and Tibetan-Buddhist flair, they’re basically ancient China’s coolest mixtape.

For curious travelers, these updates mean more speed, more soul and a deeper dive into China’s rich, lesser-known stories.