The Great China Trail - 17 Days

Once you have arrived in Hong Kong, you check into your accommodation and have time to settle in. The city is one of Asia's most dynamic, with soaring skyscrapers standing right alongside centuries-old temples.This evening, you meet the rest of the group ahead of the trip getting underway.

This morning, we cross Victoria Harbour on the historic Star Ferry, the skyline rising around us as we go. From here, we ride up to Victoria Peak for one of the best views in the city.The evening is yours to spend as you like, ahead of Hong Kong's nightlife kicking in. You might wander a night market or find a spot for dim sum before heading out to see the city after dark.

From Hong Kong, we take a high-speed train to Guilin, then continue on to Yangshuo, where rolling limestone peaks stack endlessly into the horizon. In the afternoon, we visit a local village to experience traditional rural Chinese life firsthand

Today is all about Yangshuo's countryside. We start on two wheels, cycling through limestone scenery and rice paddies, before taking to a bamboo raft to drift down the river at Yangshuo's own unhurried pace.

We begin the day with another high-speed train, this time to Zhangjiajie, before continuing on to Wulingyuan. In the afternoon, we climb the 999 steps of Tianmen Mountain's Stairway to Heaven. It's a demanding climb, but the view from the top makes every step worth it.

After breakfast, we walk from our accommodation to the Southeast Gate and spend the day among the towering sandstone spires that inspired the floating mountains in the film Avatar. There is nowhere else in China quite like Zhangjiajie

The day starts with a high-speed rail journey to Chongqing, one of the world's most densely populated cities, built straight up the hillsides above the Yangtze River. This evening, we dive into a bubbling Chongqing hotpot, the birthplace of the modern spicy style, and brave the numbing kick of Sichuan peppercorns if we're up for it.Afterwards, we head to Hongya Cave to watch the skyline light up.

Today is free to explore Chongqing however you like. You could catch the monorail as it cuts straight through a building, get lost in the cliffside laneways packed with shops and cafes, or take in the city's cyberpunk glow after dark

In the morning, you have a little more downtime in Chongqing before a short high-speed train to Chengdu.Tonight, we take in a Sichuan Opera face-changing performance, a centuries-old art form where the masks seem to transform in an instant.

This morning, we visit China's national animal at its liveliest, timed for peak panda activity. This is a genuine research and conservation centre rather than a zoo, home to more than 200 giant pandas and over 100 red pandas, with the focus firmly on protecting the species.The rest of the day is yours to explore Chengdu, where panda imagery shows up everywhere, from the architecture to the ice cream.

We begin with a high-speed train to Xi'an, one of China's oldest cities and home to its best-preserved city walls. We then jump on bikes and ride the full 14-kilometre loop along the top, with the entire city unfolding below us.Later, you can dive into the Muslim Quarter's night market, thick with smoke, spice and some seriously good street food

This morning, we 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. Our guide brings the scale of the site to life.In the afternoon, we board the high-speed train to Shanghai.

Today is free to wander Shanghai, whether that means the leafy streets of the old French Concession, the pavilions of Yu Garden, or the shops along Nanjing Road.Tonight, we cruise the Bund after dark, when the city splits into two worlds: colonial architecture on one bank, neon towers on the other.

You have one last free morning in Shanghai. From here, we take the high-speed train to Beijing, our final stop of the trip.Tonight, you'll want to come hungry: we've a dumpling-making class, followed by an authentic Peking duck dinner, all crispy skin, thin pancakes and the trimmings that make it one of China's most iconic dishes.

This morning, we visit the Forbidden City, the imperial palace that governed China for more than 500 years. We wander through the maze of courtyards and halls once reserved only for the emperor, his family and the closest members of the royal court.The afternoon is yours, whether you want to explore the city further or simply take it easy.

Today is the day we've been waiting for: it's time to see the Great Wall of China. We head to Mutianyu, one of its best-preserved sections, where the wall winds along mountain ridges into the distance. We take the cable car up through the trees, then walk the ancient stone ourselves, with watchtowers standing guard in both directions just as they did centuries ago.

After your final breakfast, your 17-day adventure through China comes to an end. You can head to the airport if you're flying home, or extend your stay in China to keep exploring.