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It's larger than western Europe, it boasts a rich history and an enticing cuisine, but most visitors see only the thinnest slice of China: Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'An and maybe a trip through the Yangtze Gorges. Yet the country has a great deal more to offer — to history buffs, adventure seekers and beach bums alike. For an alternative take on the Middle Kingdom, try these three little-known but easily accessible destinations:

XIAMEN Once known as Amoy, this coastal city in Fujian province is one of the few places in China to preserve the legacy of colonialism. It was one of China's first treaty ports — the centers for international trade set up by Europeans in the aftermath of the Opium War in 1842. Xiamen's sleepy Gulangyu Island is an enclave of vine-covered colonial buildings and winding alleyways. The newer parts of the city attest to the commercial boom that resulted from China's more recent forays into international trade. Seafood is plentiful at the cafés strung along the sun-drenched beach.

DUNHUANG Set amid dramatic white sand dunes in the northwestern province of Gansu, Dunhuang was once one of the main stops along the Silk Road. Nearby are some of the finest frescoes in all of China. Created between the 5th and 13th centuries A.D., these works of art, some of which show signs of Greek influence, depict everything from musical instruments to a dazzling pantheon of deities. If the caves get too stuffy, local guides can arrange for dune surfing and paragliding trips to a nearby oasis called Crescent Lake.

LIJIANG This attractive little town of traditional stone buildings in the heart of southwestern Yunnan province has been popular with backpackers since the early 1990s, and was designated a unesco World Heritage Site in 1997. Tourism has developed at breakneck speed, but what the town has lost in backwater charm it has gained in comfort and convenience. There's something for everyone: scenic hikes, colorful local dances and music by the town's minority Naxi people, bird watching, botanical excursions (Lijiang is on the southern tip of the planet's most biologically diverse temperate zone), and even white-water rafting on a nearby stretch of the Yangtze River.

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