China Explorer

Welcome to Hong Kong! You're about to dive into one of Asia's most electric cities, where towering skyscrapers meet centuries old temples and a skyline unlike anywhere else. After settling into your accommodation, get ready to meet your travel crew and gear up for the adventures ahead!

Today, let's dive into the buzz of Hong Kong! First, we'll hop aboard the iconic Star Ferry, cruising across Victoria Harbour with the skyline rising up around you. After that, we'll head up to Victoria Peak for the best view in the city, skyscrapers stacked against the water far below. Then it's back down into the streets to explore at your own pace before Hong Kong's nightlife gets going after dark.

Board a high-speed train from Hong Kong to Guilin, then continue on to Yangshuo, where hundreds of limestone peaks roll out layer upon layer to the horizon. This afternoon, step into traditional rural Chinese life with a visit to a local village.

Spend the day exploring Yangshuo's countryside the best way possible: by bike. Pedal past limestone peaks and lush green rice paddies before swapping wheels for a bamboo raft down the river, Yangshuo's laid back pace on full display.

We'll take another high-speed train to Zhangjiajie before continuing to Wulingyuan. This afternoon, make your way up to Tianmen Mountain's famous Stairway to Heaven, 999 steps carved into the cliffside to reach Heaven's Gate. The views at the top make every one of them worth it.

This morning, we'll walk from the hotel to the Southeast Gate and spend the day exploring the towering sandstone pillars that inspired the floating mountains of the movie Avatar. Zhangjiajie's scenery is unlike anywhere else in China, and today you'll see exactly why.

Next stop, Chongqing. A high-speed train gets you into one of the world's most populous cities, built into the hills above the Yangtze River. Tonight, dig into a bubbling Chongqing hotpot, the birthplace of the modern spicy hotpot style. If you dare, try that signature numbing heat that comes from Sichuan peppercorns and chilli. Then it's off to Hongya Cave to see the city's skyline lit up after dark.

Today you can explore Chongqing at your own pace. Ride the monorail as it disappears straight through the middle of a building, get lost in the cliffside alleyways stacked with shops and cafes or explore the cyberpunk city by night.

Squeeze in a bit more free time in Chongqing this morning, then it's a quick high-speed train ride on to Chengdu. Tonight, catch a Sichuan Opera face changing show, a centuries old performance art where the masks seem to change in the blink of an eye.

This morning, catch China's national animal in action, timing our visit for when the pandas are at their liveliest. This isn't a zoo, it's a research and conservation facility, home to over 200 giant pandas and over 100 red pandas! The rest of the day is yours to explore Chengdu, where the panda love doesn't stop at the research base, expect to see them on everything from buildings to ice creams.

Small Change: Visit pandas at a genuine conservation and research base, where the focus is protecting the species.

Take the high-speed train to Xi'an, one of China's oldest cities, home to the best preserved city walls in the country. We'll hire bikes and ride the full loop around the top, 14 kilometres of ancient stone with the whole city spread out below. Then head into the Muslim Quarter, Xi'an's legendary night market, thick with smoke, spice and some of the best street food in the area.

This morning, stand face to face with an army that's guarded an emperor's tomb for over 2,000 years, thousands of life sized clay warriors, each with a different face and discovered in 1974. With a local guide, take in the sheer scale of it all. This afternoon, board the high-speed train to Shanghai.

Enjoy a free day exploring Shanghai! Wander the tree lined streets of the old French Concession, the pavilions of Yu Garden, or the shops on Nanjing Road, the choice is yours. Tonight, cruise the Bund after dark, when Shanghai turns into two cities: colonial buildings on one bank, neon skyscrapers lighting up the other.

Make the most of one more free morning in Shanghai before the high-speed train takes you north to Beijing. Tonight, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on dumpling making class, learning the fold that's been passed down for generations, then enjoy a proper Peking duck dinner, one of China's most iconic dishes done right.

With a local guide, spend the morning inside the Forbidden City, the imperial palace that ruled China from behind these walls for over 500 years. Weave through nearly 1,000 buildings and hidden courtyards once off limits to anyone but the emperor and his closest circle. The afternoon is free to keep exploring or take it slow.

Today's the one you've been picturing since you booked this trip: the Great Wall of China. Head out to Mutianyu, one of the best preserved sections, where the wall snakes along the mountain ridges as far as the eye can see.

Ride the cable car up through the trees, then walk the ancient stone for yourself, watchtowers stretching out in both directions, exactly where soldiers once stood guard over an empire. Trust us, you won't be disappointed.

Your incredible 17 day trip through China comes to an end today. Those flying home will make their way to the airport, or keep the trip going and extend your stay in China with our help and the new friends you've made.