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This is a trip consisting of highlights in both North China and South China. We will see the historical Beijing and Xi’an, the Buddhist Yungang Grottoes and the walled city in Pingyao in North China. In South China, we can visit the lovely pandas in Chengdu, climb the popular Emeishan Mountain and enjoy the fabulous minority culture in Yunnan.

We begin our trip in Beijing, and visit Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Sqaure as well as the Great Wall at Simatai. The Buddhist grottoes in Yungang will make better understand the Buddhism in China. The ancient architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties make you living 500 years ago. We will see the Chinese national treasures- pandas in Chengdu, and climb the popular Emeishan Moutain. Yunnan Province is widely regarded as the country’s most diversified ethnic cultures and sensationally spectacular area in China. Yunnan is the home to more than 52 ethnic groups, including the Bai, Naxi, Yi, Tibetan and other groups. Dali is the birthplace of Bai people who are well-known for their craftsmanship and literature. Lijiang, listed as the world cultural heritage, was the communication harbour of the ancient Tea-horse Road.

We start our trip in Kunming and go further to the heart of Yunnan, where you meet many different minority ethnic groups, including Bai people in Dali, Naxi people in Lijiang, and Tibetan people in Zhongdian. We travel by bus in Yunnan, and it’s a good opportunity to enjoy the sweeping panoramic views of areas featuring spectacular scenery. Walking on the old streets of Dali and Lijiang, you will be feasted by the local ethnic cultures. The superb trekking in Tiger Leaping Gorge will be an unforgettable experience in your life.

Days 1-4 Beijing
Your trip starts today with your arrival in Beijing. No activities are planned, so arrive early if you can, as there is plenty to see. There will be a pre-tour briefing with your tour leader late in the afternoon. Beijing is abundant in cultural and historical sites. The vast Forbidden City, built nearly 600 years ago and off limits to citizens for almost all that time, is a truly amazing place. The size might surprise you (it is huge!), but what makes it fascinating is that every square metre is interesting, ranging from intricately carved walkways to colourful, painted ceilings. A visit to China is not complete without walking along the Great Wall. We will travel to Simatai Great Wall, a largely unrestored and, as such, more authentic section of the famous wall, not crowded with hordes of other tourists. Climbing up this incredible man-made engineer and surveying the spectacular surrounding countryside is an unforgettable experience.

There is also ample free time in the itinerary, allowing you to make your own discoveries and explorations. Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace are two other fine examples of extraordinary workmanship and architecture. In the evening, you have the chance to enjoy a performance of the unique Beijing Opera or Kongfu Show (optional). We leave Beijing in the afternoon of Day 4, travelling in the sleeper train to Datong (6 hours). We stay in six-berth air-conditioned cabins that have an open and relaxed feel about them. A blanket, sheets and a pillow are provided, although some people may wish to bring their own inner sheet. The train trip is a great opportunity for our group to get to know each other and is a great way to mix with the locals and practise your Chinese-language skills.

Days 5-6 Datong
Now an industrial city and transportation hub, Datong once served as a military stronghold throughout numerous dynasties and also as a capital of some ancient kingdoms. In those days it flourished in trade, agriculture and was a centre for Buddhism. A tour to the Yungang Grottoes, one of the top three Buddhist grottoes in China, is a highlight. Construction began as early as 460AD. There are over 51,000 Buddha statues carved into the caves by over 10,000 artisans, stonemasons and their assistants. We also drive for an hour south and spend time exploring the unique 1400-year-old Hanging Monastery. The monastery clings precariously to a sheer cliff face under an overhanging precipice, connected by wooden bridges and corridors.

On Day 6 we spend the day travelling by public bus with the locals via Taiyuan, to Pingyao, where we spend a night in a traditional Chinese guesthouse.

Day 7 Pingyao
A former commercial and military centre of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Pingyao is a well-preserved traditional Han Chinese walled city. A delightful day is spent exploring this ancient town designed in the shape of a tortoise - a traditional Chinese symbol for longevity. It is full of temples, traditional architecture, city walls, watchtowers and battlements. China’s earliest banks were set up in Pingyao, which at a stage during the Qing Dynasty, was the financial headquarters of the entire country. Boarding an overnight train in the evening, we slowly head towards Xian (12 hours).

Days 8-9 Xi'an
We arrive in Xi'an early in the morning. Xian topped the other ancient capital cities in China. Many wonderful places are on your exploration list. Food options are excellent here as well, ranging from delicious Muslim fare to great little dumplings in local restaurants. Widely known as the first capital of a united China in 221 BC, the city is the deep root of Chinese history. A half-day tour to the renowned Terracotta Warriors shows us to these unearthed pottery statues, considered one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th Century. Over 6,000 of them were individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costume, height, even facial expression. They are standing in battle formation, facing east in order to protect the tomb of China's first Emperor, the great Qin Shi Huang Di. These soldiers were accidentally discovered by local farmers in 1974. A free day can easily be spent wandering the narrow streets among the Muslim quarter where we find quaint shops, lively markets, groups of white-bearded men in skull caps sipping tea in dingy cafes.

For those who are interested in history, please do not miss Shaanxi History Museum, which introduces you the total history of Chinese civilization. Other places you may visit include Bell Tower, Drum Tower, City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a famous Buddhist temple. On day 9 we leave Xi'an mid-afternoon on an overnight train bound for the capital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu (approximately 16 hours).

Days 10-13 Chengdu-Emei Shan
Chengdu is the capital of south-west Sichuan Province. Sichuan is known for its hot, spicy dishes, considered by the Chinese as the best cuisine within China. After our overnight train journey, this afternoon is an opportunity to relax and an appropriate way of doing this is to simply sit on a bamboo chair at the teahouse in Renmin Park, sipping tea and watching the world go by. There is often an ear-picker with cotton buds wandering around, if you feel the need! A stroll to Wenshu Temple will take you past beggars, children, tourists, fortune-tellers and fireworks sellers. This is an active and noisy place of worship.

We depart Chengdu in the morning of Day 11 and visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base situated near the city. The giant panda is one of the world’s most endangered species and has become Chinese national treasures and an icon for conservation movements everywhere. It is still found in parts of the Sichuan province, but is very difficult to spot in the wild. After visiting this lovely park, we continue onto Emei Shan town where we will leave our main luggage and pack a day pack to last for 2 nights. From Emei Shan town we catch bus Wan Nian car park where we will then proceed to hike for 1.5 hours to stay the night at Wan Nian Temple where we can observe monks in there day to day activities in these tranquil surroundings.

The morning of Day 12 we wake in the Monastery and prepare ourselves for a leisurely hike up to the Golden summit of Mount Emei. In this 8 hour hike we avoid many of the tourists to pass through villages and amazing countryside as we make our way to the summit. After this hike we overnight on the summit to enjoy a spectacular sunset. On Day 13 we make our way down from the Golden summit to the car park where we catch a bus to Emei Shan town. In the afternoon we board our sleeper train for Kunming. This journey can take up to 20 hours, so bring along a good book.

Day 14 Kunming
We will arrive in Kunming at mid-morning. Kunming is a vibrant and bustling city, with a flourishing Muslim area, exciting markets, interesting temples and a strong ethnic minority influence. A walking tour will take in the more interesting sites of Kunming, including watching the locals practising Taichi in the morning in People’s Square, and a meander through the bird and flower market, leaving some time for you to make your own explorations.

Day 15-16 Lijiang
We travel by local bus to start our spectacular journey to the beautiful Old Lijiang (approximately 9 hours). On the way we will see the towering mountains, alpine passes and tobacco field beneath the clear blue sky. Lijiang, former capital of the famed Naxi Kingdom, is listed as the world cultural heritage. The Old Town is a maze of cobblestone streets, narrow canals and decorative wooden houses, a wonderful place to wander around and imagine being in a bygone era. In the evening, you have the opportunity to witness a performance of the local Naxi orchestra, a unique and entertaining musical experience (please check schedules in Lijiang to see if the show is on during your visit).

Days 17-18 Tiger Leaping Gorge
On the morning of day 17 we travel by bus (approximately 2 hours) to Qiaotou, the starting point for our trek through the magnificent Tiger Leaping Gorge - one of the deepest gorges in the world. The entire gorge is 16km long but rises up to 3900m above the waters of the Yangtze. Over the next three days we embark on some exercise, as we hike along scenic trails, overlooking the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (known here as the Jinsha River). The river thunders through Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is in turn framed by 5,000-metre-high snow-capped mountains. The walking in the gorge is serious going – expect to walk 4-8 hours each day. The reward, however, is great – simply stunning views! There is no hurry so we take our time and stop to talk with the local villagers en route. The accommodation is quite basic, as we are visiting a remote area that is only frequented by adventurous travellers. Some people may choose to bring a sleeping sheet, although this is not essential. It is necessary to bring warm clothing, especially for the evenings, and, in general, for the cooler months. The degree of difficulty on the particular trail that we take will vary greatly, depending on the time of year. Depending on the time of the year and weather conditions, our trekking route can vary greatly. Our tour leader may not be able to advise us of the actual itinerary until the last minute.

Days 19-20 Shangri-La (Zhongdian)
In the morning of Day 19 we catch the bus to Shangri-La (Zhongdian), the town of distinct Tibetan people. The two-story local farmhouses, the hot yak butter tea and Tibetan religion are all different from what you’ve been to. If lucky we might see the yaks wandering on the road leisurely. Due to Shangri-La’s high altitude (3,200 metres), it is advisable to bring warm clothing. (Please note that sometimes due to bad road conditions caused by poor weather, it may not be possible to travel to Shangri-La. If that is the case, additional time may be spent in Lijiang). The highlight of Shangri-La is a visit to the Songzanlin Monastery, one of the top 13 monasteries of Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Lamaism and once again a place of homage for Tibetan Lamaism. You have the option of hiring bikes and exploring the local countryside and traditional life that the farmers lead.

Days 21-22 Dali
On Day 21, we travel by bus to Dali, (approximately 6 hours), a wonderful lakeside town. Dali is one of the favourite places for travellers in China. To the east is Erhai Lake, to the west is Cangshan Mountain, the old town is located at the very centre of the valley. The town’s cobblestone streets, ancient stone houses and laid-back charm make it a wonderful place to relax. Dali is home to the proud Bai people, a traditional minority tribe renowned throughout China for their craftsmanship and literature. There is much to explore in our free days in Dali. There is a chance to go boating on Er Hai Lake and travel across to the village of Wase, or spend a day catching a chairlift up and hiking in the mountains behind Dali (stopping at the occasional monastery along the way). We can also cycle to nearby villages to visit the traditional Bai courtyard or just stroll around town.

Days 23-24 Kunming
On Day 23 we leave Dali this morning and catch the bus back to Kunming (6 hours). Our adventure ends this morning on Day 24 in Kunming. Checkout time is usually around 12 noon; however you are free to leave at any time in the morning. Additional accommodation can be arranged on request.