Ancient China

This brisk six-night escorted tour with G Adventures takes in a trio of China’s recognisable sites. The week begins in Beijing, where the scale of Tiananmen Square and the sweep of the Forbidden City give some idea of the country’s imperial history. A walk through the Muslim Quarters in Xi'an follows, before a guided tour of the Terracotta Warriors, their weathered expressions preserved beneath Xi'an’s city walls.

After a night aboard an overnight train, the route turns south to Chengdu. Here the Giant Panda Breeding Center charms visitors with its laid-back bears, who tend to regard their human admirers with a notable lack of fuss. Lunch with a local family in Xi'an offers a pause from sightseeing, and the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu provides a chance to tread some of the stone steps often crowded in eastern pictures but more spacious here.

The group size is capped at 16, keeping the pace lively but manageable. The tour includes internal flights, walking and local transport, making it a varied itinerary that’s short on time but takes in major landmarks without rushing past them.