Hiking and trekking up to the Everest base camp is one of the most popular activities in Tibet. For less demanding hiking options, you might consider the mountains rising from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau or the Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan. Local tour operators often offer guided hikes at the more interesting destinations.
If you are ready for something more challenging, mountain climbing could be an alternative to hiking. The mighty peaks of the Himalayas rise from the southern border of Tibet, and attract large numbers of serious climbers each year. Mount Everest is the highest at 8,840 meters, followed by Namcha Barwa at more than 7,620 meters. While these peaks may well not be what you have in mind, you’ll find hundreds of choices of challenging climbs not only in the Himalayas, but also in other mountainous regions of the country.
Renting a bicycle and cruising around like an ordinary Chinese is the highlight of many people’s trip to China. Some hostels and hotels rent bikes. Those that do not, usually know where you can rent one. Before you set out make sure the tires have enough air and the brakes work. Get a lock and make sure you know how to use it. If you have a problem there are plenty of curbside bicycle repairmen to help you out.
There are around 200 ski resorts in China, most of them in the mountains north of Beijing. The majority of the resorts have less than 10 runs and a vertical drop of less than 500 meters. The largest resort is Yabuli near the Russian border. It hosted the ski events of the 1996 Asian Winter Games.
By some estimates about 1 million Chinese play golf. Some people feel that China will experience a golf boom in the near future as Chinese become more affluent in the same way the Japanese did in the 1970s. The golf industry is growing at a rate of 20 percent a year. Golf shops and driving ranges are opening up all the time. Today there are around 300 golf courses in China, a number that is expected to double in the next few years.
