China is the cultural treasure-house of East Asia: its social riches and 5000 years of tumultuous history place it, without doubt, among the world's greatest travel destinations. China has one of the world's oldest continuous civilisations. The Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, the Forbidden Palace and Tiananmen Square: the very names reverberate with history and legend. China's paradoxes are many: Shanghai's skyscrapers contrast with Beijing's historical treasures, while in rural provinces, mechanization is slow. Tibet (Xihang) is known as "the Roof of the World" and even the mere mention of the word evokes dreamy images of a mystical and dramatic territory. Tibet has only been open to tourists since 1980. China's rapid economic growth, with predictions that it may become the world's major economic power within decades, has generated controversy surrounding global warming and insufficient oil supplies. However, it has also spurred on China's rapidly improving tourist infrastructure. Beijing is a perfect example. The city is currently undergoing great investment in both tourism infrastructure and historical renovation due to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Flexibility and patience are still required to travel around China but, in return, China rewards visitors with memories to be treasured for a lifetime.