Wonders of China - 13 Day Trip

We're kicking things off in the BEST way! This morning, we are up and out, ready to visit the Great Wall of China! We're obviously not walking all 21,196km of it, instead we'll be exploring the Mutianyu section. This section is really well preserved and also less crowded than other parts of the wall. We'll walk along at our own pace, stop for photos and just take it all in. What a way to spend our first full day in China! In the evening, we'll head back to the centre of Beijing and enjoy a chilled evening with some more great food.

Morning! We're off to explore the Forbidden City today. The Forbidden City is the largest preserved royal palace complex in the world. We'll spend the day exploring all the ancient buildings and temples with our Tru Leader, who will tell us all about their significance in Chinese culture.

Welcome to Xi'an. This morning, we are off to explore the 8km City Wall that gives us an epic view over the city. We can go inside to learn more about the local traditions and maybe even try some clothing on if that takes your fancy! For lunch, there's an amazing local noodle spot that we can visit. Don't eat too much, though, because this evening we're off to try some of Beijing's best street food. Whatever your taste, your tour guide will be able to guide you to something to suit you!

Morning! We're up and out to visit something tru-ly mindblowing. Photos don't do this place justice; it has to be seen to be believed. In 1974, local farmers discovered over 8000 figures which were buried with the emperor Qin Shi Huangin 210–209 BCE with the purpose of protecting him in his afterlife, and now these "Terracotta Warriors" are a must-visit when in Xi'an. In the evening, we'll head out in Xi'an. It's been a busy day, so we'll take it easy and rest up, ready for our next location, Chengdu!

It's time to jump on the train to Chengdu! We'll arrive in the early afternoon, and after we have checked into the hotel, we'll explore Kuanzhai Alley. Here we'll visit the local shops, stop for some tea and get some souvenirs. In the evening, we'll head out for a traditional "Hot Pot Experience", a must-do when in Chengdu. Then, we'll hunt for a sweet treat (Chinese style of course) in the night markets, Tanghulu anyone?!

Are you ready to meet China's National Animal? Today we'll visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. This isn't a zoo, it's a research facility that is home to over 100 pandas over 165 acres (that's 430 football pitches btw!) We'll get here early in the morning to see the pandas when they are at their most active. If we are lucky, we might even get to spot Red Pandas too! After an incredible day walking around and Panda spotting, we'll head back to the hotel and out into the city for dinner and drinks!

Today we're travelling from Chengdu to Furong Ancient Town, we'll arrive mid-afternoon and head straight out to explore the town. This amazing village is essentially built on a waterfall, and the water that runs through the town is stunning. The lights in the evening look like something out of a movie. We'll have dinner here and wait to see one of the amazing light shows. This is a true "pinch me moment"!

Just when you think things couldn't get any better or more aesthetic, we take you to Zhangjiajie. Also known as the Avatar Mountains, this National Park is one of the most epic things you will ever see. We'll take time to explore the park and soak it all in before stepping into the World's Tallest Elevator. The glass (yes, you read that right) will take you 326m up in the air in just 1 minute and 32 seconds. The views from the top are just out of this world, and it will take your breath away for sure. In the evening, after an afternoon of more exploring, we'll head out for some dinner, where we'll, of course, compare our photos from today!

Because one day is nowhere near enough to do this place justice, we'll be back again today to see some more. If the Glass Bridge or Tianmen Mountain are on your radar, you can take time to go and visit them today, but we'll just spend the day getting happily lost in this magical National Park. It's our last day in nature before we swap it for the hustle and bustle of the city, so take it all in and enjoy!

Today is a travel day, so get your snacks ready and podcasts downloaded! After a day zooming through China towards Shanghai, we'll arrive in the late afternoon and check into our final hotel. We'll drop our bags off and freshen up before heading out for dinner in the big city. Your amazing tour guide will suit the vibe. If you want a big night out, they'll take you to the best rooftop bars. If you want a chilled one, they can do that too - your wish is their command!

It's our final full day on tour, and we have one last chance to explore Shanghai! At the top of our list is Yu Garden, a 5-acre classical Chinese Garden, built in 1559, which is in the old city and is known as the "Garden of Peace and Comfort". As it's our last day in Shanghai, we'll also explore the shops in search of some final souvenirs to take home with us! It's been an amazing journey through China, and we'll head out tonight for a goodbye dinner, one final hotpot for old times' sake!

What a time it has been! After 13 incredible days, we've come to our final day in China. Your guide will be on hand to give you advice on what to see and where to go next if you have some more time here before you go home. See you soon!