Highlights

This is one of our most comprehensive trips in China, taking in key destinations from north to south with plenty of variety in experiences and sights along the way 

Travel by overnight train to get a sense of the vastness of this country, as well as zip between cities while you sleep easy on this high-speed rail network

Take through the iconic scenery of the Yangzi River as you meander through the dramatic Three Gorges Dam on a three-day cruise

No matter how many guide books you have read, nothing truly prepares you for the grandeur and immensity of historic sights like the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Leshan Big Buddha and the Terracotta Army. The country's modern man-made sights refuse to outdone, however, and you can see the modern equivalent of symbolic shows of power in the skyline of Shanghai and the Yangzi River hydroelectric dam 

Get up close to giant pandas in Chengdu and learn about their struggle for survival

Beyond adorable, endangered giant pandas, Chengdu is one of our favourite cities in China. Find out why our travellers end up falling in love with this emerging travel hotspot here: intrepidtravel.com/adventures/chengdu-china-travel-guide

Escape the cities to discover China's natural beauty. Trek up the misty peaks of Emei Shan for a stay in a monastery, waking to the sound of drums and prayers

Cycle through the Chinese countryside with backdrops that resemble paintings – the picturesque limestone karsts of Yangshuo, for example, grace the walls of conference rooms and Chinese embassy's around the world

You will visit the following places:

Chengdu

Chengdu, known formerly as Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province, of Southwest China, maintaining sub-provincial administrative status. Chengdu is also one of the most important economic centres, transportation and communication hubs in Western China. According to the 2007 Public Appraisal for Best Chinese Cities for Investment, Chengdu was chosen as one of the top ten cities to invest in out of a total of 280 urban centers in China. It is the hometown of Giant Pandas. Although there are giant pandas in zoos in various places around China, such as Beijing Zoo in Beijing, and Shanghai Zoo in Shanghai, the best place to see pandas is in Chengdu.

Xi'an

Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty. It is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, having held that position under several of the most important dynasties in Chinese history, including Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang. It is the eastern terminus of the Silk Road and home to the Terracotta Army. Xi'an is, for certain, one of the most popular tourist destinations among foreign travelers. A tour to Xi'an is something that any tourist to China would not want to miss, as it serves as a window on China's ancient civilization.

Beijing

Beijing is a metropolis in Northern China, and the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the most populous cities in the world. Governed as a municipality under direct administration of the central government, Beijing borders Hebei Province to the north, west, south, and for a small section in the east, and Tianjing Municipality to the southeast. As the last of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, Beijing has been the political center of the country for much of the past eight centuries. Beijing has a glorious past, but is by no means stuck in the past. Standing side-by-side with old Beijing's crimson palace complexes are the city's modern buildings, the super-modern Olympic Village, with the Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube; the dazzling shopping malls in Wangfujing Street and the colorful entertainment center of Houhai. The city is renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, parks, gardens, tombs, walls and gates, and its art treasures and universities have made it a center of culture and art in China! 

Hong Kong