China is a huge country, home to the largest population in the world, hundreds of historic and beautiful sights, and of course, the Beijing Olympics in 2008. It can be quite an overwhelming task to try to explore the country by yourself - and that is why a wealth of travel packages to China have sprung up in the last decades. The relatively low cost of living in the country makes these packages quite affordable to Westerners, allowing them to travel in luxury for the same budget as average accommodation in the West. Here we explore the best of the luxury travel packages in China.

Xian is the home to the famous Terracotta Warriors, and was also the first capital city of China. If you are taking a luxury rest in China, Xian is a city not to miss. There are literally hundreds of travel packages to Xian, and luxury packages in China to this city might include the Terracotta Warriors and the Horses Museum, the Provincial Museum, and the Great Mosque. While most of the country is Buddhist, there is also some beautiful Islamic architecture to be appreciated by people of all faiths. Luxury travel packages in China will ensure that you eat at the finest restaurants in the city, often ferrying you back and forth from attractions to restaurants with gorgeous native cuisine.

If you want to know what China used to look like before the advent of Western building technology and the population explosion in the latter few centuries, then Guilin will be the luxury tour in China for you. Bicycle trips around Guilin often feature in tours, and the scenery is breathtaking. In many luxury packages in China to Guilin, you can visit the homes of local people and see how Chinese live in the countryside - a wonderful traditional education. The Sheraton Hotel in Guilin is one of the best five star accommodation facilities around, and a great base from which to explore the countryside. Many regional facilities are three stars and under, so if you are looking for a luxury rest in China, make sure you book in advance and check the luxury option with your tour operator.

If Shanghai is your city of choice, ensure that you stay at Shangri-La Pudong. In a city known as the Paris of the Orient, Shangri-La is one of the best among the best accommodation facilities in China; contemporary designs feature traditional motifs, and there is an extensive health and leisure complex. Using Shangri-La as a base, your luxury travel package in China should include sights like the Bund and Nanjing Road, two of Shanghai's busiest streets and China's cultural hubs. Zhujiajiao is close by to Shanghai, and your luxury travel package to China might include this famous water city, where Qing and Ming dynasty architecture, some of the most studied and beautiful on the planet, abounds. The gorgeous Qing and Ming buildings sit alongside ancient stone bridges and streets, as well as some locals who preserve the older ways of life.

Lhasa, Tibet's capital, is a city not to be missed when arranging any luxury tour in China. See one of the world's most dedicated Buddhist cities, through such sights as Potala Palace, Sera Monastery and Norbulingka Park. The Tibet Traditional Medicine Hospital is a sight not to be missed, opening your eyes to what traditional medicinal knowledge really can do.

There is a wealth of Chinese luxury resorts and hotels, and a good travel package will make use of the world-class facilities in China. We have surely whetted your appetite, at least!