Beijing to Kunming: Undiscovered China

This escorted tour starts in Beijing, where streets of traditional Hutongs contrast sharply with visits to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. The Great Wall at Mutianyu offers an opportunity to see a section less crowded and, if you wish, to descend by toboggan, a detail that only the bold might choose.

The trip then heads west to Xi'an. Here, the Terracotta Warriors wait beneath a surprisingly low museum roof, their rows of silent clay soldiers more evocative up close than from any guidebook snapshot. Further south, Chengdu offers a quieter interlude with a stroll through People’s Park, where locals practise tai chi and sip tea in equal measure. The tour winds down with visits to the old towns of Lijiang, Shaxi and Dali, where centuries-old lanes and leafy parks invite slow walking and reflection.

G Adventures’ CEO leads a group no larger than sixteen, using a mix of trains, planes, buses and walking to navigate this route. It’s not a polished parade but a genuine crossing from China’s imperial north to its subtler southern corners. Expect some flexibility, local quirks and the occasional early start, but also moments that linger beyond the itinerary’s outline.