It's not much help, as I loved visiting both, but I have returned to Peru twice more, so that might be a vote of confidence...or just the fact that it's so much closer.

It is, of course, such an individual and subjective question, in a very broad sense Peru appealed more to the nature/indigenous culture aspect and China to the history/cities part. Machu Picchu or the Great Wall--I wouldn't want to be without the experience of either one. Food is great in both places.

Your other travel experiences might be a factor to consider here, by the way.

Here are my trip reports for both places, just to give you a glimpse of my thinking; they're in chronological order; my first Peru trip was a small group tour, China and the next two Peru trips were independent:
http://www.fodors.com/community/south-america/peru-from-the-andes-to-the-amazon-trip-report.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia/solo-but-not-alone-three-weeks-in-china.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/south-america/a-bit-of-peru-the-amazon-and-panama-the-city.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/south-america/amy-l-peru-and-chile-a-possibly-over-enthusiastic-trip-report.cfm

I just went to China last October and visited the Great Wall as well as Forbidden City. For me, the wall was a bit disappointing. Unless you are able to go to a place where you can see it for miles, you can only see the part that is in front of you. We went to Badaling. The crowds are condensed into a narrow space so you can't really get away from them unless you walk some distance along the wall.

I much prefer Machu Picchu and without hesitation, I would recommend MP first. Even if it's foggy, you can still wander around. It's spread out.

The language was a huge barrier for me in China. Although I was accompanied by native speakers of Chinese, I was not able to interpret anything except as filtered through them. In Peru, I was also with native speakers of Spanish, but could interpret and experience things without them.

I hope you get to visit both places. But if you have to choose only one, I recommend Machu Picchu.

Not to play devil's advocate, but just out of Beijing, JinShanLing to SimaTai on the Great Wall looks like this: http://travel.webshots.com/photo/1448617917053546425cbWLGK (Not a person in sight, and it goes on for miles.)

Funny about the language: I was completely on my own in China, don't speak a bit of Mandarin, but loved the way so many people tried to communicate anyway. I'm in more pictures with families from rural China visiting the big city...

To me, you really can't go wrong with either choice, but there are loads of differences, for sure.

Thanks for some great, thoughtful replies. Wow. Making this decision is tough. I have been arguing w/myself for days, one min. deciding this and the next that. Think I'm about ready to flip a coin!

My students actually chose Peru for me (well, out of a choice of two) after researching and finding out that there was a possibility of a volcano or earthquake! Let's just say you can't lose either way, in my opinion.

Got you in asia been to both simply put unless you are a big

fan of Asian culture cost beauty nature clutural wise

visitperu.com far better...

take money you will save do galapagosXpeditions.com

cruise simply amazing.

ancientsummit.com Nina can be a big help for Peru planning

a truly wonderful lady great reviews and cares about Peru.

Peru need not be a "big" trip

4-5 hours flight from the US paid $239 RT spirit.com

sale when I went down... so lots easier cheaper to get to

comapred to Asia/China no expensive visa required

Amy, GREAT trip reports! Thanks so much for the links. I think I'm more into the natural beauty (the "touristy" issue is worth seeing the karsts at Guillin for me, though I would also like to visit Confucious' home and the lower price is a big plus), but I know we won't like the long lines w/people jockeying for positions to take pictures, constant noise, etc. There can be noise anywhere (I remember the sounds of car alarms all night long in San Juan once, & bakery pans continually clanging around at 5 a.m. outside our Venice, Italy guesthouse, lol!) Continual, loud noise from tour guide loudspeakers or people shouting in a language we can't understand would feel like an assault after a while, though, I would think. Or maybe if one is lucky, it becomes "white noise"???

quovadis, your post kind of answers my question on the other thread about whether you have ever flown Spirit. Still, how was it?

Still thinking about all of this. THANK you so much to everyone!

Not sure if my post will meet the rigorous criteria as outlined in your title as I have only visited China very briefly, on a foray across the border from Laos, but we did spend a fair amount of time Peru (2 months)so here goes.

My vote would for Peru. We absolutely loved our time and would return without hesitation. We found it extremely easy to travel around independently even with limited Spanish skills (Chinese would be alot more problematic!). The people were hospitable, friendly and easy to get to know, something I feel is lot more difficult in China. If you just want to go and see the sights then this really does not matter that much, but it does make adifference if you want to dig a little deeper into the culture etc.

Highlights of our trip were many and various.
Macchu Picchu was amazing as was the rest of the Sacred Valley, Pisac, Chinchero and particularly Ollytaytambo.

Arequipa is a great town with so many festivals going on it would be unlucky if you did not see one. Santa Catalina convent is worth at least 1/2 day on its own and Colca canyon, one of the deepest in the world and famed for its condors is also close by.

Lake Titicaca is truly amazing with the clearest blue skys and water I have ever seen.

Trekking in the Andes is also very much worth considering. Strenuous because of the altitude (most get used to that within a couple of days) but so worth it for the beautiful mountain scenery. We decided not to do the Macchu Picchu trek and opted instead for the trek form Lares to Ollantaytambo instead - highly recomended.

Sadly we did not get time to visit the Amazon region although this is easily arranged.

You could spend a week in Cusco and its environs and still not do it all - a great place to hangout for a few days. Lima was the only place we didn't really take to. Not bad but there is so much else to see.
Have fun wherever you choose.

A few photos of our time in Peru are on our blog (entries 55-65)

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/candcthai/1/tpod.html

I've been to both and vote for Peru. I find Peru easier to navigate as a solo, idependent traveller and the landscape is gorgeous. China has beautiful landscape too but it's more out of the way, I think, and for me, not speaking Chinese was more of a hindrance in China than it was for me not speaking Spanish in Peru.

Both countries are great. I just prefer Peru

As you know they are two totally different places. China is changing rapidly and is not the same place we visited in 2005 & 2006, so if you have never been there now might be better than later. The Asian culture is pretty amazing and the age of the civilization - 5000 years - offers a lot of opportunities to experience artifacts that are ancient compared to other parts of the world. I have not been to Shanghai, but would recommend Beijing, Xian and the Yangtze for an introductory trip. In Beijing see the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, Tianamen Square, Ming Tombs, Chinese Opera, Chines Acrobats etc. Of course Xian has the Terra Cotta Warriors, but it also has one of the most incredible history/artifacts museum in China. If you have more time the south, including Shanghai would be a great extension.

We just returned from Peru and found it to be a marvelous place with fewer people than China and a bit more relaxing. The Amazon is an amazing place - we spent 4 days at a lodge about 50 miles from Iquitos - with lots of flora and fauna that you will not find elsewhere. Lima is easy to visit and as parts are quite modern. We based in Miraflores and took taxis to areas of interest -old city, gold museum etc. The high Andes and the Sacred Valley were beautiful and relaxing and Machu Picchu is certainly a trip of a lifetime in and of itself - if you go and have time I would recommend a couple of nights in Ollantaytambo, check out Apu Lodge. We loved Cusco - good food, wonderful people and interesting cultural differences. We also went on to Lake Titicaca and Puno for a couple of days where we visited the Uros Indians on their floating islands, which was quite interesting.

So in summary, they are both special places and either would be a wonderful adventure. Having had the opportunity to do both again I would do China first.

Hi guys, me and my boyfriend want to have a unique journey, before we get serious and... pregnant. We , too, are puzzled over going to Peru or China.In peru we will travel with friends , if we go, and we both speak spanish, so it will be a good chance to practise them. In china we have friends living in Beijing and Shangai, so we will be shown a bit around. I am an architect and I love chinese and asian food, and I know Shangai is the place to be. Also flights to China is much cheaper for us (we live in Athens, Greece). But being in the Andes, is an experience I might not be able to have later. Mind that we only have 12 days to travel, and with the economical crisis here we might not have a chance for the next few year to go anywhere... Thank you guys in advance

I guess everyone will answer this question in their own way. We probably had more fun in Peru as we were travelling with friends and family. And we love mountains and hiking.

You are much younger than we are so you probably didn't grow up thinking you would never see China. But we didn't think we would see it. I am still amazed that we have been there and travelled around as freely as we did. I will never forget the bus pulling up in front of the Forbidden City. It really seemed like a dream.

thank you!
China is sth I will definetely not miss in my lifetime
but for the momment I just decided Peru might be more appropriate. Plus the fact that in december china will be cold!

Responding to natkoko, Peru can be a little rainy in Dec. In the mountains it gets cold in the eve and early morning. Check this weather chart.

http://www.holidaycheck.com/climate-wetter_Aguas+Calientes+Machu+Picchu+Pueblo-ebene_oid-id_29788.html


If thinking of the Inca Trail, maybe do that now because you'll be older for your next trip and perhaps not as fit. If you are nature enthusiasts, Peru has an edge if you factor in convenience and ease of visitng natural regions: pink river dolphins, monkeys, coloful macaws. Unless it is volunteering at a panda sanctuary that interests you, then it would be China all the way.

If thinking of China, look into an overnight on the Great Wall, truly a unique experience in all the world. I booked it through Mongol Global.

In sum, to help you decide and for others to give advice:

What time of year?
What are your interests when traveling?
Or, if you have trips with set itineraries picked out, what do those itineraries include?
What are the costs of each itineray, if it is set?
What is the airfare to Lima and to probably Beijing, if not included in the above costs?

Either is a winner. (I have "honestly" been to both. China several times. Peru just recently but hopefully not for one trip only.)