The Silk Road, the ancient trading route connecting China by land to Europe, Eurasia and the Middle East, continues to hold a fascination for many travellers and remains one of the world's great journeys.

The big question is: how do you call its best feature? There isn't one, yet there are many.

If you head as far west as you possibly can in China, you'll bump into the border but back up a little and you'll find yourself in Kashgar, where life is very different from what you're used to.

Traders have been passing through Kashgar for centuries and the city seems to have changed little since the first silks changed hands.

It is one of the great cultural experiences of China and the World.

Turpan is to visitors to China what Alice Springs is to visitors to Australia - very much not what you expect.

With the ingenious karez wells turning this desert community into a complete oasis and featuring a fascinating history - made all the more so for its isolation - Turpan is a real highlight of a Silk Road journey.

The danger with offering advice about China is that in posing as the latest "expert" in things Chinese, you risk being completely foolish.

You see, the only people who really appreciate Chinese culture is the Chinese.

That said, the tips here (presented with tongue gently in cheek) should prove useful to bear in mind when you visit the Middle Kingdom.