China's Wonders: Chongqing, Pandas & Avatar Mountains

Ready for China's cutest morning? Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding while the pandas are at their most lively. Watch them munch on bamboo, climb trees, and tumble around. Winter is one of the best seasons to observe giant pandas, as the cooler temperatures keep them especially active throughout the day. Head to People's Park and warm up with a traditional covered-bowl tea on a cool winter day, as locals chat over tea and play mahjong.

Your visit continues at Chengdu Museum. Ancient artefacts, interactive displays, and local stories bring the history of Chengdu to life.

After around a one-hour drive from Chengdu, step into one of China's greatest archaeological discoveries. Explore the remarkable Sanxingdui Museum, home to mysterious bronze masks, towering statues and exquisite jade treasures dating back over 3,000 years. Every gallery tells another part of an ancient civilization that continues to puzzle historians today.

Later, transfer to the railway station and board a high-speed train to Chongqing, a journey of about two hours. As evening falls, the dramatic skyline and riverside lights welcome you to the Mountain City.

Reveals the many layers of Chongqing, where centuries-old streets meet one of China's most futuristic skylines. Wander through the lively lanes of Ciqikou Ancient Town, lined with traditional shops, teahouses, and tempting local snacks. Stretch your legs along the Shancheng Walkway. Hidden staircases, hillside lanes, and unexpected viewpoints reveal a different side of this remarkable city.

This afternoon, explore the beautifully preserved Huguang Guild Hall and enjoy a traditional performance featuring Sichuan opera face-changing, folk music and storytelling.

Dinner features Chongqing's famous hotpot, a beloved local dining tradition that feels especially comforting on a cool winter evening. As darkness falls, head to Hongya Cave, where layers of glowing buildings rise above the river. Cool winter evenings make the illuminated skyline even more dramatic as thousands of lights reflect across the water.

Today showcases some of Chongqing's signature experiences. Watch the famous Liziba Light Rail pass straight through a residential building, then ride the Line 2 monorail as it travels through the building and alongside the Yangtze River.

Head up to Eling Park for sweeping views across the city before visiting Eling No. 2 Factory Creative Park, a former industrial site transformed into a lively destination filled with cafes, boutiques, and local design studios.

Later, glide across the Yangtze River aboard the iconic cable car for panoramic views of the rivers and city below. Your final stop is the Raffles City Exploration Deck, overlooking the meeting point of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers. This evening, board a Two Rivers Night Cruise. With longer winter evenings, you'll have even more time to admire Chongqing's glittering skyline reflected across the water.

This morning, board a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie. After a comfortable journey of around three hours, arrive in one of China's most extraordinary natural landscapes.

This afternoon, take to the skies aboard the cable car into Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park. Cliffside walkways, dramatic rock formations, and breathtaking viewpoints appear one after another. Weather permitting, stand before the magnificent Tianmen Cave, an enormous natural arch carved high into the mountainside.

Explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, home to some of China's most spectacular sandstone landscapes. Ride the famous Bailong Elevator, soaring alongside towering sandstone cliffs and peaks that rise dramatically from the valley below.

Up next is Yuanjiajie, whose iconic rock formations inspired the floating mountains in Avatar. Each viewpoint opens onto another spectacular panorama across this extraordinary landscape.

Continue to Tianzi Mountain for sweeping views over layer upon layer of forested peaks before slowing the pace with a ride on the Ten-Mile Gallery sightseeing train. Winter transforms Zhangjiajie into a peaceful mountain wonderland, with fewer visitors, crystal-clear views, and occasional snow creating a dreamlike landscape unlike any other season.