Your first full day is devoted to seeing the city’s iconic sites, starting with heading up the world’s fastest elevator to the top floor of the record-breaking Shanghai Tower. Panoramic views await at the world’s highest observation deck, where you can marvel at the gravity-defying architecture. Head back to ground level and visit Fuxing Park, which once belonged to the Ming Dynasty and is now a popular spot for ballroom dancing, saxophone quartets and locals singing songs en mass.

Traces of older Shanghai await at Xintiandi as do international restaurants, cafes, bars and boutiques. The former French Concession, an enclave governed by France for almost a century until the 1940s, was once the domain of China’s rich and powerful, revolutionaries and movie stars. Creaking hallways of mansions will lead you through the glamour of pre-World War II Shanghai.

Conclude the day around The Bund before embarking on a privately charted Azimut 47 yacht along the river. As the sun dips behind the horizon, your cruise will drop anchor and allow you to take in the scenery at leisure.

Starting early today, you’ll wave goodbye to Shanghai and travel to Huangshan via high speed train. At Huangshan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can expect to find mist-shrouded peaks, craggy rocks, gnarled pine trees and a sea of clouds that wouldn’t look out of place in a fantasy movie. With the peak’s name meaning “Yellow Mountain”, there’s an element of the mystique here which has captured the hearts of photographers, painters and hikers alike. Take the Yuping Cableway up the eastern face and hike 40 minutes to the top for magnificent views.

Your day will close at the idyllic sanctuary of Upcloud Shuguangli Villa, which is only a stone’s throw away from Huangshan’s iconic landmarks: the Grand Canyon of West Sea, Lotus Peak and the Hundred-step Cloud Ladder.

The next leg of your journey begins today as you make your way to Beijing. Along the way, stop at Chengkan, a frozen-in-time village set against a backdrop of cobalt slopes and ancient waterways. The site was first constructed 1,800 years ago and many of the buildings have a leaf carved into the stone to remind villagers that they should return to their roots in the same way as a leaf falls from a tree and lands on the tree’s roots.

From here, make your way to Huizhou Culture Museum where you’ll learn all about how Huizhou culture flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties. A visit to Tunxi Hukai Ink Factory is also possible, where you can try your hand at making your own Chinese traditional ink sticks, before walking 10 minutes to Tunxi Old Street – the most well-preserved historic street in China. When ready, you’ll catch a flight to Beijing where a local guide will escort you to your hotel for the next few nights.

Tonight you’ll be staying at The Peninsula Beijing, the only all-suite hotel in the city and steps away from the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Wangfujing shopping street.

This morning you’ll explore the Forbidden City, a massive imperial palace once home to China’s emperors and the geographic centre of this endless metropolis. Take time to wander the streets, which were closed off to all but the royal family and their entourage of eunuchs and concubines for 600 years until 1924.

Then make your way into the Hutongs, the crisscrossing maze of courtyards and alleyways where elders while away the night playing a game of Chinese chess and shopkeepers sell traditional snacks like jianbing (pancakes) and baozi (steamed buns). Look out for the abode of a man who has won fame and fortune through the legendary prowess of his fighting crickets.

Hop into your private vehicle and drive two hours to Louguantai Giant Panda Breeding Centre, where you can come face-to-face with China’s cutest national animal – the bamboo-munching Giant Panda. With a natural science and panda expert leading the way, you’ll spend around two hours in the research base, learning with every step.

A five minute drive will bring you to Lou Guan Tai Temple, which is where Taoism was created and you’ll explore today with a modern Tao philosopher. Here, renowned Lao Tsu wrote Dao De Jing as well as lecturing its principles to Taoism’s first followers.

Step into a landscape that feels untouched by time as you set out on a scenic walk through these remarkable layered fields, their water-filled curves draped across the hills like flowing ribbons. The terraces form a living artwork that changes with the light and seasons, while also serving as home to diverse local communities.

Your journey begins in Ping An, a picturesque settlement nestled within the Longsheng Rice Terraces. This village is largely inhabited by the Zhuang people, known for a heritage stretching back more than 2,000 years and for their intricate woven textiles featuring striking geometric designs. Take time to stroll through the village, meet residents, and admire the traditional craftsmanship that has become prized even in modern boutiques in Shanghai and Beijing.

Continue onward on a roughly two-hour hike through verdant valleys and terraced slopes, immersing yourself in both the natural beauty and the cultural traditions that define this extraordinary region.

To truly take in the breathtaking scenery of lush green fields, mist-shrouded karst mountains, and gently curving waterways surrounding Yangshuo, embark on a cycling expedition. Hop on a bike and follow the peaceful banks of the Yulong River, a quieter branch of the Li River. Over the course of this relaxed two-hour ride, you’ll cruise along level trails, pass rural hamlets, and enjoy the simple pleasure of sunshine and fresh air as the landscape unfolds around you.

Then you’ll spend time drifting along the Yulong River on a traditional bamboo raft, where crystal-clear waters weave through dramatic karst peaks and verdant foliage, with glimpses of water buffalo and farmers tending fields along the banks. This serene 90-minute journey, guided by your boatman, feels like floating through a classical Chinese painting, offering time to relax and take in the scenery.

Start your day riding the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator from Central to the Mid-Levels, passing historic shophouses, cafés, and modern high-rises. Visit Tai Kwun, a restored former police station and prison featuring art exhibitions, guided tours, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic city views. For lunch, enjoy a 75-minute Aqua Luna Dim Sum Cruise to the fishing village of Lei Yue Mun while savouring dim sum as you sail past junks and yachts. End the day on the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak for breathtaking views of Victoria Harbour, surrounding islands, and Hong Kong’s skyline.