China Highlights

Welcome to Shanghai, one of the most futuristic cities on earth, where colonial-era architecture faces off against a skyline of neon towers across the water. Check into your accommodation, meet the rest of your crew, and head out that evening for a cruise along the Bund, the city's past and present both lit up on the water.

Take the high-speed train from Shanghai to Zhangjiajie, then continue on by private vehicle to Wulingyuan. Come afternoon, tackle all 999 steps up Tianmen Mountain's Stairway to Heaven - trust us, that summit view makes every burning calf muscle worth it.

It's an easy stroll from the hotel to the Southeast Gate, where you'll spend the day surrounded by soaring sandstone pillars - the same peaks that inspired the floating mountains in Avatar. Zhangjiajie really is one of a kind.

Catch the high-speed train through to Chengdu. This evening, settle in for a Sichuan Opera face-changing show - a centuries-old art form where the performers' masks appear to switch in the blink of an eye. After the show, dive into a bubbling hotpot dinner and brave the numbing kick of Sichuan peppercorns if you're up for it.

Catch China's national animal when it's most active, with your visit timed for peak panda energy. This is a genuine research and conservation base, not a zoo - home to 200-plus giant pandas and 100-plus red pandas. Spend the rest of your day in Chengdu, where panda motifs turn up everywhere, from building facades to ice cream cones.

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

It's the high-speed train to Xi'an next, one of China's oldest cities and home to its best-kept city walls still standing. We'll grab bikes and complete the full 14km ride along the top, the city sprawling out below with every pedal. Later, get lost in the Muslim Quarter's night market, dense with smoke, spice and some of the best street food you'll find.

This morning, stand before thousands of life-sized clay soldiers that have guarded an emperor's tomb for over two millennia, each one uniquely carved and only discovered in 1974. A local guide brings the scale of the site to life. This afternoon, board the high-speed train to Luoyang, your gateway to some of China's most important Buddhist and martial arts heritage sites.

First up today is the incredible Shaolin Temple, birthplace of Shaolin kung fu and one of the world's most famous Buddhist monasteries. Watch the resident monks train, then get hands-on with your own kung fu session, picking up moves passed down through generations. Later we'll visit the Longmen Grottoes, thousands of Buddhist statues and carvings cut into limestone cliffs along the Yi River, one of China's most remarkable ancient sites.

This morning we'll take the high speed train to Beijing - our final stop of the trip. Bring your appetite tonight for a dumpling-making session, then an authentic Peking duck dinner to follow. Shatteringly crisp skin, thin pancakes and every classic trimming - arguably China's most iconic dish, given the proper treatment.

Start the day with a local guide at the gates of the Forbidden City, the imperial palace that ruled China from behind these walls for more than five centuries. Wander through nearly 1,000 buildings and countless courtyards once reserved only for the emperor, his family and those closest to the throne. Your afternoon is free, keep exploring or take this time to chill.

Today's the big one - the Great Wall of China. We're headed to Mutianyu, a beautifully preserved section where the wall traces the mountain ridgeline into the horizon. Take the cable car up through the trees, then walk the same stones travelers have walked for centuries, watchtowers rising on both sides.

Your whirlwind 12 day trip through China wraps up today. Head to the airport if you're flying home, or extend your stay in China and keep the adventure going. We're here to help with anything you need!