China Family Holiday

Nimen hao! Welcome to China. Your adventure begins in Beijing, where ancient history and a bustling metropolis collide. You’ll have a welcome meeting to meet your local leader and fellow travellers at 5 pm. After the meeting, why not head out to enjoy an optional Peking duck group dinner and get to know each other over the first of many superb Chinese meals.

After breakfast, get stuck into the sites with a visit to Tiananmen Square – the symbolic centre of Chinese power. Take some time to soak up the immense size of the square and then continue to the maze of buildings that is the Forbidden City. Built more than 500 years ago, the courtyards, great halls and imagery of dragons and phoenixes will give you an idea of the might and grandeur of the Imperial Chinese court during the height of its power. Later, travel by private minivan into the countryside, where you’ll spend the night in a family-run guesthouse inside a scenic area near the Great Wall of China. Tonight, it’s highly recommended that you go for a short hike to the Wall for an unforgettable sunset at one of the Seven Wonders of the World. For dinner, you'll try your hand at making dumplings – sure to be a fun activity for the kids!

This morning, spend time exploring, taking photos and learning the history of the Great Wall of China. An incredible piece of engineering, the wall was originally constructed to protect Chinese empires from invasions from the north. Today, it’s undoubtedly one of the country's most remarkable architectural achievements and an iconic destination. Stroll along the wall, which snakes through the hills seemingly endlessly into the distance. Surveying the spectacular surrounding countryside from your vantage point as you surmount the path along the Wall is an unforgettable experience. After, you’ll travel back to Beijing by private minivan. This evening, you might like to join your fellow family travellers for a group dinner. Once you’ve had your fill of Chinese culinary delights, maybe end the evening by watching an acrobatic performance at the Chaoyang Theatre.

Hop on a bullet train to Xi’an and experience a form of rail travel like no other. While this journey would take around 11 hours to complete on a regular train, you’ll be in Xi’an in less than half that time, with great views of the countryside along the way! Arrive at around 3 pm, then head to the hotel to drop off your bags and freshen up before exploring this historic city on a walking tour. Once known as the main eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road, Xi’an served as the imperial capital throughout 11 dynasties – a wealth of history lies in this city’s cobbled pavements. The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to explore further. When night falls, embark on another tour and see a different side of the city. Take in the view of the Bell and Drum Tower lit up against a black sky and sit down to a classic dumpling dinner.

Today you’ll visit the Terracotta Army – a sculpted militia built more than 2000 years ago to ‘guard’ the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Discovered by farmers in 1974, several pits at the site are now open to the public. Make the drive to the site and spend some time marvelling at the sheer size and detail of this impressive tomb. Head to the attached museum to see some more artefacts and learn about the ambitious, eccentric ruler who remains sealed in his mausoleum to this day. Qin Shi Huang sought eternal life, and while he may not have achieved that in the literal sense, the fact that his tomb remains a source of wonder to visitors from around the world is a kind of immortality in its own way.

Wave goodbye to Xi’an and board a bullet train bound for Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan – you’ll arrive just after midday. Chengdu is most famous for two things – the pandas living in the mountains and the delicious, spicy food. You'll get to enjoy both while you're here! Head out for a walking tour with your leader that passes an Old Town that looks like a film set and the Tibetan Quarter before finishing at Tianfu Square, where a giant statue of Chairman Mao stands tall. Then, spend a relaxing afternoon in bustling Renmin Park (AKA People's Park), where you can mingle with locals drinking tea, exercising, singing, playing mah jong or relaxing in bamboo chairs. Don't be surprised if somebody comes up to you with an offer to clean your ears! This evening, head out for a dinner of one of Sichuan’s most beloved dishes – hot pot! This is the choose your own adventure of cuisine, and the whole family is sure to enjoy selecting which ingredients to add to the simmering broth.

Rise bright and early to spend the morning watching gorgeous giant and red pandas in the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. As pandas are only active for a few hours of the day, it’s important you get an early start today to catch them at their most interesting. Though they’re no longer classified as endangered, the giant panda remains a vulnerable species, and here you can witness the conservation efforts to protect these creatures and see them in a close approximation of their habitat. Spend three hours with them, watching them play, eat bamboo and climb trees. If you’re lucky (and visiting between July and September), you might even get to see newborns taking their first steps in the nursery. The rest of the day is free for you to spend as you wish. Maybe head to Wide and Narrow Alley – a popular set of alleyways where you can take a stroll and see craftspeople and food stalls aplenty.