Our intrepid adventure gets underway in the vibrant capital of Beijing. We will receive a warm welcome from our guide at the airport and be transferred directly to the hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure to settle into our new surroundings.

Discover Beijing’s rich heritage as we step back in time to an era when incredible power reigned. We start at Tiananmen Square and get an overview of China’s communist history at the symbolic heart of the nation. Next, we visit the Imperial Ancestral Temple, within the Imperial City. We then embark on an in-depth exploration of the Forbidden City, the power base of Chinese emperors for centuries. This contains a 9,000-room maze of courtyards and ceremonial halls where a succession of 24 emperors lived. This site contains the Imperial Palace Museum which details the history of each dynasty, represented in four palatial halls with antiques and treasures from the Ming to the Qing dynasties. In the afternoon we take a 40 minute transfer to the Summer Palace, a former retreat for emperors that dates back to 1888, with the possibility to enjoy an optional 30 minute boat ride on the Empress Cixi Waterway. Breakfast is at the hotel. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

Soak up the stunning natural beauty that surrounds the historic Great Wall of China. From the hotel, we embark on a 90 minute scenic drive to the Mutianyu section of the wall, which is less visited than the famous Badaling stretch. Mutianyu is more rugged and covered in expansive greenery. Built as a form of defence by millions of soldiers and peasants, the wall is a remarkable feat of engineering and archaeologists estimate that it once spanned nearly 10,000 km. Construction continued over the centuries, with the most impressive portions built during the Ming Dynasty. The Mutianyu section holds a prominent place in Chinese military history and this area is now equipped with cable cars to offer a different perspective (surcharge applies) of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

We soak up more of Beijing’s iconic attractions, ahead of catching a high-speed train to Xi’an. Our last morning in the capital city takes us to the Temple of Heaven which was founded in the 15th century. This features a complex of fine buildings set in gardens, surrounded by pine woods. The layout and the individual buildings symbolize the relationship between heaven and earth – the god’s world and the human world – and the special role played by emperors within this association. The temple provides a unique opportunity to see the capital’s past and present exist in cohesion side-by-side. We then explore the finer points of tea under guided instruction at a dedicated facility. In the afternoon, we head to the train station and embark on a five-hour-plus train journey from Beijing to Xi'an, travelling in second class. Upon arrival, we transfer to the hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

We explore Xi’an’s ancient historic past that dates back over 3,000 years as we visit the cultural village of Banpo; marvel at the army of Terracotta Warriors; and discover Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum. The Banpo Neolithic Village houses the remains of an ancient village that a matriarchal clan community once resided in. A highlight of the tour is the acclaimed site of the Terracotta Warriors which consists of 8,000 figures built under the order of the emperor to accompany him to the afterlife. We also explore Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum, the world’s largest underground tomb. In the afternoon, we visit a terracotta replication factory to observe how craftsmen replicate the iconic statues at the UNESCO listed site. Breakfast is at the hotel. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

Bid a fond farewell to Xi’an as we set off on the next leg of our adventure to Chengdu, the capital of south-west Sichuan province. After breakfast, we check-out and drive to the train station and set off on a three-hour highspeed train journey to Chengdu, travelling second class. Upon arrival, we check-in at the hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure to explore our new surroundings. Chengdu is famed as the home of giant pandas. These creatures can be seen in a simulation of their natural habitat at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Aside from wildlife, this modern city is renowned for its teahouse culture. It is also a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and this was awarded in recognition of the city’s outstanding cuisine which has a diverse taste based on the five elements of sweet, sour, bitter, spicy and salty and you can experience this globally recognised food at high-end hotels and hawker stalls on virtually every street.

Get up close and personal with Chengdu’s famed residents at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. In total, there are fewer than 2,000 giant pandas out in the wild – of which 70 per cent are distributed across Sichuan. We head north out of the city to this facility founded in 1987 to see giant pandas rescued from the wild. Researchers and those who care for the wellbeing and preservation of these creatures will give an insight into what they have achieved over the years and we will witness their uncompromising commitment to conserving the population out in the wild and the healthy growth of the captive population. After lunch at a local restaurant, we take a stroll through the historic People’s Park which dates back to 1911 and spans an expansive area of 112,639 sq-m. Next, we visit a traditional tea house for tea and then explore the ancient Wide and Narrow Alley, two parallel ancient alleys dotted with 45 courtyards where we get a glimpse into authentic Chengdu life.

Today sees us head to our final destination on this intriguing trip – vibrant Shanghai. After breakfast, we drive to the airport to catch our economy class flight to China’s largest city and financial hub. Upon arrival, we check-in at the hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure to explore our new surroundings. Shanghai has a rich treasure chest of architectural styles. At its heart lies the Bund, a waterfront promenade lined with European-style buildings. Across the Huangpu River is Pudong’s ultramodern skyline, including the 632-metre tall Shanghai Tower. For culture, Yu Garden has traditional pavilions and ponds. This is a destination that radiates affluence with glitzy shopping malls, high-end hotels and prestigious art centres, all serviced by the world’s longest subway system. Further exploration will reveal celebrity restaurants, designer flagship stores and a wealth of leisure opportunities.

Discover Shanghai’s treasure chest of architectural styles on this full-day sightseeing tour that explores the city’s Chinese and European roots. Starting early, we head to Shanghai Old Street which houses the city’s first tea house, wine shop and bank. Next, we visit Yu Garden which is a good example of a classical Chinese garden that dates back to 1559. This tranquil world of bamboo groves, koi-filled ponds and Ming Dynasty pavilions remains a serene sanctuary in contemporary times. We enjoy tea in a tea house at nearby facility. We then proceed to the famous Bund, a waterfront promenade lined with European-style buildings. In the afternoon, we visit the Shanghai Museum which is home to fascinating ancient Chinese art. After this cultural exploration we enjoy some shopping in Pearl City and then head to Tianzifang, a network of alleyways filled with cafes, bars and boutiques. We round the day off with a stroll past the European style villas and buildings of the Former French Concession. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

All good things must come to an end and today sees our ten-day adventure draw to a close. Before transferring to the airport for our onward flight, we may have time to embark on some, independent, solo sight-seeing.