Fine China

Thirteen days across China, moving from the capital's imperial history through to the karst scenery of the south and the modern skyline of Shanghai. It's a proper cross-section of the country — old dynasties, martial arts tradition, and landscapes that look like ink paintings.

You start in Beijing with the Forbidden City and a wander through the old Hutong lanes, then head to Luoyang for the Longmen Caves and the Shaolin Kung Fu Temple. Xi'an brings the Terracotta Warriors before a flight south to Guilin, where Yangshuo and Longsheng show a much quieter, greener side of China.

The trip ends in Shanghai, closing out a journey that covers a lot of ground — historically and geographically — in under two weeks.

What you'll do

• Explore the Forbidden City and wander Beijing's historic Hutongs
• See the Longmen Grottoes and visit the Shaolin Kung Fu Temple in Luoyang
• Stand before the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an
• Take in the karst landscapes of Yangshuo and Longsheng near Guilin
• Finish the trip in Shanghai