Journey to the “Northern Capital” – a land of emperors, epic monuments and the cultural heart of China. On arrival in Beijing, you’ll be transferred to your hotel where you can relax before meeting your Travel Director for a welcome drink and appetisers at a local restaurant.

Visit the iconic Great Wall of China at Juyongguan this morning – its stone ramparts and walls snaking thousands of miles into the distance to defend the empire against nomadic invaders since 5th century B.C. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure and this evening for dinner indulge in a regional dinner of succulent Peking Duck – a must during any visit to Beijing

Surround yourself with the grandeur of Beijing’s landmark Great Hall of the People, Qianmen Gate and the mausoleum of Mao Zedong as you walk through one of the world’s largest public areas, Tiananmen Square. Delve into China’s imperial heritage, passing the south gate into the frozen-in-time Forbidden City – once home to emperors and their households and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch, indulge in a relaxing foot massage at the Foot Reflexology Centre to ease you into an evening at leisure or consider joining an Optional Experience.

Navigate the ancient alleyways of the courtyard Hutong residences, weaving through lively neighbourhoods on the back of a traditional rickshaw. Stop at the home of a local family where you’ll Connect With Locals, enjoying a Be My Guest experience with lunch of traditional Chinese cuisine, then visit a nearby tea house. Here, you’ll delve into the art of chayi, joining a Local Specialist who’ll share first-hand the age-old ritual of tea-making. Leave Beijing behind, bound for Xi’an, an ancient departure point on the Silk Road.

Start your day at a Gallery, where you’ll explore China’s artistic legacy. Dive into Culture at a traditional calligraphy class, where you’ll try your hand at Chinese writing, an art form dating back to the Han Dynasty. Then, step into history at the Yaodong cave dwellings on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience — ingeniously crafted from Loess earth, these eco-friendly homes have sheltered families for centuries. After lunch, marvel at the UNESCO-listed Terracotta Warriors standing guard over Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb.

This morning, your choice of activities gives you an opportunity to join a Local Specialist in their T’ai Chi practice or embark on a cycle tour around part of the ancient City Wall of Xi’an. Later at a local restaurant, you will be watching a demonstration in the art of making dumplings, with an opportunity to sample these for lunch. Savour the juicy flavours of these boiled, steamed and fried treats, transporting you back to ancient China, then transfer to the railway station for your high-speed bullet train trip to Chengdu. On arrival in the hometown of the giant panda, you’ll check in to your hotel and savour the leisurely pace of local life on your terms.

Witness the ground-breaking work being done by the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding this morning. Join a Local Specialist and learn how this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports the non-profit research breeding facility which rescues and protects the endangered giant panda, of which fewer than 2,000 remain. Afterwards, return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure.

Indulge in the bold and spicy flavours of local cuisine as you Dive into Culture and learn about regional cooking practices at the Museum of Sichuan Cuisine. Experience the art of grinding chili into powder using a Qing Dynasty pestle and mortar, and discover ancient kitchenware, books and manuscripts faithfully recording the history of Sichuan culinary cultures. Immerse yourself in the intoxicating scents wafting through Restaurant Alley, pay tribute to the Kitchen God before attempting to create your own culinary magic under the guidance of a local chef. Stomach and soul sated after a delicious encounter with Chengdu, you’ll have an afternoon to relax, explore further or perhaps take the opportunity to do some shopping.

Rub shoulders with the locals during a visit to People’s Park with its beautiful Chinese gardens, lake and tea houses. Gain insights into the day-to-day lives of the locals who spend their free time in tranquil surrounds indulging in a leisurely game of mah-jong, a quiet nap or neck massage. Venture to lively Jinli Old Street next, crossing beneath the imposing archway into a world of intricate handicraft, paintings and calligraphy. Stroll along the narrow street whose façades were modelled on the architectural style of a traditional old town in western Sichuan Province, then transfer to the railway station for a high- speed bullet train ride to Chongqing. Here, you’ll enjoy a city orientation tour with dinner before boarding your Yangtze River Cruise.

Step off your Yangtze cruise to visit Shuanggui Mountain near Fengdu, a national scenic area known for its forested slopes, osmanthus trees and centuries-old temples, with paths that lead up to courtyards, stone inscriptions and views over the Yangtze River. Back on board you’ll continue your journey along the Yangtze. Later you may choose an Optional Experience to Fengdu’s ‘Ghost City’, with temples and shrines depicting China’s vision of the afterlife and the legend of two officials-turned-immortals. In the evening another Optional Experience is the open-air Romance of the Three Kingdoms show, retelling battles between rival dynasties with stunts, acrobatics and strong visual effects.

Wake up to another day on the Yangtze. This morning, choose one of two Optional Experiences: visit the White Emperor City, where rulers and poets once admired Qutang Gorge, or head to Chijia Mountain’s peak for sweeping views from the top of the Three Gorges. Return to your cruise and journey through Qutang Gorge’s towering cliffs, past Wu Gorge’s misty peaks, and into Xiling Gorge’s dramatic landscapes. Swap the ship for a small motorboat this afternoon and explore the Goddess Stream, gliding past sheer limestone cliffs covered in lush greenery—you’ll gain another perspective on this mighty river.

Make an early start this morning and ascend to the top deck of your cruise ship to enjoy the views of the vast Three Gorges Dam – the largest dam in the world with a production timeline that spanned decades. After disembarking at Maoping Port you’ll have another great photo opportunity to get shots of the dam before transferring to Yichang Airport to catch your flight to the city of Shanghai. This afternoon you’ll check in to your Stays With Stories hotel, The Kunlun Jing An. You might choose to unwind at the hotel, visit Jing An Temple and nearby Jing An Park or take a stroll along West Nanjing Road.

Shanghai’s famous ‘Bund’ waterfront is the first stop on a day of sightseeing with a Local Specialist. Admire the ornate neoclassical colonial buildings and skyscrapers that have sprung up from this former marshland, then Dive Into Culture during a visit to a silk museum. Embrace the tranquillity of the famous Yu Garden next, with its pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters. Then, enjoy some free time for a local lunch of soup dumplings perhaps and shopping in the Old Town, a treasure trove of winding streets and vibrant markets that was once enclosed by the ancient walled city of Shanghai. Our final stop this afternoon is a visit to the Jade Buddha Temple, built in 1928 after the original temple was destroyed during the revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty. Admire the beauty of its precious jade Buddha statues made out of crystal-clear white jade, before you settle into an evening performance by the world-renowned Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe.

Ascend to the 88-storey Jin Mao Tower for panoramic views of the skyscrapers that loom over the most populous city on earth. Then embark on a walking tour with a Local Specialist through the Shanghai French Concession, for an exhilarating encounter with the opulent age of French colonial China. Wander through the narrow alleyways, past elegant villas and apartments dating back to the early 1900s when the territory was proclaimed a French settlement. Later this morning, you’ll see where the First Conference of the Communist Party took place in Xin Tian Di, whose charming antique façades hide a 21st century world of bars, cafes, boutiques and theme restaurants. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure, letting the sights and sounds of Shanghai infuse every sense or consider joining an Optional Experience. Say a fond farewell to newfound friends this evening during dinner.

Our epic encounter with China at its end, take a transfer to the airport for your onward flight.