Kung Fu & Pandas (Family Adventure)

Day 1: Chengdu

On arrival in Chengdu you are transferred to your hotel, which is located in the southern part of the city. In the evening, you meet your tour leader and the other group members for a pre-tour briefing. This is followed by a group dinner at a local restaurant (cost included) – Sichuan cuisine is world famous so prepare for a taste extravaganza.

Day 2: Chengdu - Leshan

Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province. Sichuan is known for its hot, spicy dishes, considered by the Chinese as the best cuisine within China. In such a food-loving country, that is no mean achievement. A history of trade built on ‘cottage industry’ handicrafts has had a major influence on the development of Chengdu. Recent changes in the regulations in China have seen a revival of this tradition of private industry, and, at almost every turn, you see signs of a thriving market. There is free time to explore the city. There is a large statue of Chairman Mao in the middle of the city and the tranquil Renmin Park is well worth a visit, with its beautiful gardens and interesting teahouses. Today we travel to Leshan, where we see the world’s largest Buddha, carved into the hillside near the confluence of the Dadu and Min Rivers. A seated figure (as opposed to the ‘standing’ or ‘reclining’ Buddha images found elsewhere), it is a staggering 71 metres high. It is over 1000 years old and took almost 100 years to build. It is not only impressive at close quarters, but can be viewed on a boat from a distance in order to gain a different perspective.

Day 3: Giant Pandas

In the morning we visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, located just outside the city. The giant panda is one of the world's most endangered species and has become an icon for conservation movements everywhere. It is still found in parts of Sichuan province, but very difficult to spot in the wild. The afternoon is free for you to explore Chengdu before we board and overnight train to Xian.

Day 4-5: Xian

Widely regarded as the first capital of a united China in 221 BC, the city is rich in history. We arrive around noon from Chengdu and have a free afternoon to explore this amazing city. A great option is to hire bicycles and cycle around the city wall. The following day we tour the renowned Terracotta Warriors. These entombed statues, considered one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th Century. Over 8000 of them were individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costume, height, and 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 Shihuang. Peasants digging a well only discovered the underground vault, which was home to this army for two millennia, in 1974. Xian also has a wonderful Muslim Quarter. A free day can easily be spent wandering the narrow streets where we find quaint shops, lively markets, groups of white-bearded men in skull caps sipping tea in cafes, and the Great Mosque, one of the most important in China.

Day 6: Luoyang - Longmen Grottos

In the morning we catch the bullet train to arrive in the beautiful city of Luoyang, once the centre of the Chinese world. After we check into our hotel and freshen up we travel to the splendid Longmen Grottoes. The Longman Grottoes began in 493 and stretches 1 km in length and houses 100,000 statues with the most impressive Buddha standing 17.2 metres in height. After the afternoon spent at this fascinating site we travel back to Luoyang to spend the night. If you still have enough energy an option at night is to visit Luoyang peoples square where you will see locals practicing kung fu, ballroom dancing, tai chi or just happy to practice their english skills with any foreigner.

Day 7: Shaolin Temple

This morning we wake and travel up to Shaolin. It is here we spend the day. Shaolin is an area of great history were the legend of Kung Fu was born. It is also here that many families send their children to train in the ancient tradition. As you walk around the area and visit the Shaolin Temple you will be surrounded by children of ages ranging from 5 years old to 17 years old who are being trained by the ever present masters in Kung Fu. There is also the opportunity to watch a Kung Fu demonstration by the more gifted students. In the late afternoon we catch the overnight train to Beijing

Day 8-9: Beijing

Let's go fly a kite! Today we go kite flying in Tiananmen Square - children and adults alike will enjoy this fun-filled activity. Beijing offers endless opportunities for exploration. The enormous Forbidden City, built more than 500 years ago (it was off-limits to commoners for most of that time), is a truly amazing place. Its size might surprise you (it is huge!), but what makes it more fascinating is that every square metre has a special point of interest, ranging from intricately carved walkways to colourful, painted ceilings. The following day we travel to Mutianyu, a more remote section of the Great Wall that is not crowded with hordes of other tourists. Standing on top of this incredible engineering feat and surveying the spectacular surrounding countryside is an unforgettable experience. We suggest you bring a solid pair of running or walking shoes - in places there is quite a lot of clambering around to be done, if you are feeling adventurous.

Day 10: Beijing

The tour finishes after breakfast in Beijing.

Tour Grade: Culture

The greatest cities in the world and the richest historic sights; the finest regional food and the must-see spectacles. Museums and markets, medinas and mosques – from Hobart to Hong Kong, Cairo to Caracas, get under the skin of local life and explore what your destination means to its own people. Dive headlong into exotic metropolitan buzz – the souks of Marrakech, La Paz’s markets – or adventure to remote African hills to explore ancient and mysterious rock art. Take in cutting edge art at Bilbao’s dazzling Guggenheim, or soak up timeless rhythms sitting under a balanzan tree in Mali listening to Tuareg musicians. Whatever it is, wherever you are, there’s no greater adventure than learning how another culture ticks.