Why? The road runs from Kashgar up into the Pamir mountains and over into Pakistan. It has fantastic mountain peaks reflected in pure blue-water lakes. I like it because it is so pure and clean and there are so few people around.

The best thing? The Kashgar carpet market on a Sunday morning has tens of thousands milling around; all the traders on their mobiles to phone Shanghai and check the US dollar exchange rates as they sell you their carpets.

My ideal day: I'd set off about 6am and head off up into the Pamirs. We'd stop along the way for breakfast and then find somewhere with spicy food, for lunch. Afterwards, I'd go for a walk and maybe take a ride on a yak. We'd have dinner up there before making our way back, picking up locals and giving them a ride along the way.

Getting there: Kashgar, is best reached by an internal flight. British Airways (0870 8509850, britishairways.com) flies Heathrow-Beijing from £510pp return.

Where was your best holiday? A five-day trip along the Yangtze river.

What is the best hotel you have ever stayed in? The Amankila at Manggis (amanresort.net/amankila.htm), in Bali.

Where do you want to go next? Australia. I once went for three days, for work, but I would like to return, and stay longer!

What do you never travel without? My laptop, and my wife Reneé.

· A former editor of the South China Morning Post, Jonathan Fenby's new book is Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-shek And The China He Lost (Free Press, £25).