Ride high-speed trains from Hong Kong to Beijing, uncover towering peaks in Zhangjiajie, wander Shanghai and Xi’an, and cap it with a sunset at the Great Wall.
  • Savour Chongqing hotpot inside a former air raid shelter.
  • Explore Tianmen Mountain’s cliff walkways and the Heaven’s Gate arch.
  • Hike Zhangjiajie’s sandstone pillars and ride the Bailong Elevator.
  • Learn Nvshu script with a local master in Changsha.
  • Walk Shanghai’s Bund waterfront beside historic facades and a modern skyline.
  • Discover Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors at Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum.
  • Hike the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall.
  • Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City’s grand courtyards.
Stay in hotels throughout, noting that mattresses can be firmer than you may be used to, smoking is common and non-smoking rooms aren’t always available, and Wi-Fi is often in reception and sometimes rooms. Spend one memorable night in a family-run guesthouse near the Great Wall.