Fly overnight to Changsha, the capital city of Hunan province. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

Begin the day by stepping into history at the Yuelu Academy, a hub of learning for centuries, nestled by scenic Mt. Yuelu. Later, travel by road to Zhangjiajie, and this evening enjoy a 72 Qilou night tour, exploring the 72 strange and spectacular buildings – the tallest Tujia stilted building in the world.

Begin the day with a ride in the remarkable Bailong glass elevator. Embedded into the mountain, the elevator soars up the mountain side to a towering height of 326 metres in as little as two minutes! Soak up the amazing views of the 'First Bridge under the Sun' and Hallelujah Mountain. Continue to Emperor Mountain and Helong Park before taking a cable car down. Later, explore Jinbian Stream and Ten-Mile Natural Gallery with a ride on the scenic train. End the day with a scenic sampan cruise on Lake Baofeng, a turquoise expanse of water amongst picturesque karst scenery.

Brace yourself for an exhilarating walk across Zhangjiajie's Glass Bridge, the world's longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge spanning 430-metres over the Grand Canyon. Later, soar up the heights of Tianmen Mountain in the world's longest cable car, a 7-kilometre journey taking approximately 40-minutes. Atop the Mountain, marvel at Tianmen Cave, nicknamed 'Heaven's Door', standing proudly at the top of 999 steep steps and take a thrilling walk along a glass skywalk, aptly named the 'Walk of Faith'.

Travel by road to Fenghuang (Phoenix) Ancient Town, a scenic and quaint town rich in culture and natural beauty. Visit the Former Residence of Shen Congwen and enjoy an evening at your leisure to wander the ancient streets illuminated at night.

Relax with a scenic cruise along the Tuojiang River, before boarding your 5 hour bullet train to Chengdu.

Spend the morning getting to know China's most famous resident, the giant panda, at Chengdu's Panda Conservation Centre. Later, soak up the culture at People's Park. People-watching here is an endless pleasure, from the lively locals playing mahjong to the parents searching for suitable partners for their children in Matchmaker's Corner. Head to the local food markets for a dinner at your leisure.

Board the bullet train to be whisked off to Jiuzhaigou, or Nine Villages Valley. In the afternoon, explore Huanglong pools where you will find hundreds of vivid pools in striking colours, formed by thousands of years of mineral deposit, tumbling gently down through the bright green forests of the Huanglong Valley.

The Nine Villages Valley area, named after nine Tibetan settlements dotting the valley, stands as a World Biosphere Reserve and China's most awe-inspiring national park. Renowned for its stunning turquoise lakes, verdant forests, and majestic waterfalls, spend the day taking in the natural wonders of Long Lake, Five-Colored Lake, and Nuorilang Falls.

Visit Shuzheng Village, where you will spend some time with a local Tibetan family who will give you an insight into daily life in Nine Villages Valley. This afternoon, stroll by Rhinoceros Lake, passing Tiger Lake ending at Reed Lake – an excellent way to really appreciate the local scenery. Tonight, enjoy a traditional Tibetan dinner.

Board your bullet trains to Chongqing. Visit the Hongya Cave to see the impressive architecture of the 11 storey stilt building, beautifully constructed in traditional Bayu architecture style. In the evening, wander the night food markets with your local guide on hand to recommend the most delicious Sichuanese snacks!

Take a day trip out to Heishan Valley, also known as Black Mountain Valley. This is a serene and picturesque area covering over 100 square kilometres, brimming with dramatic mountains, deep valley floors, waterfalls and sheer cliffs, along with an impressive 13 kilometre long gorge. Enjoy time to explore the area, then return to Chongqing.

Travel by road to Dazu, home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Dazu Rock Carvings. Here, you'll find thousands of Buddhist, Taoist and Confucianist idols and symbols carved into rock faces over 70 sites. Made between the 9th and 13th centuries, they are some of the best preserved in China. Enjoy the day in Dazu before returning to Chongqing and tuck into a delicious, farewell hot pot dinner.

Depart Chongqing, arriving home the following day.