An incredible panoramic journey through China

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the world's great historic cities — a place where imperial grandeur and a fast-moving modern capital share the same skyline. For over 800 years it has been the political and cultural heart of the country, and its monuments — the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace — need no introduction.

Xi'an, known as Chang'an in ancient times, is one of China's Four Great Ancient Capitals and the starting point of the Silk Road. With over 3,100 years of history and 1,100 years as a capital for 13 dynasties, it served as the political, economic, and cultural heart of ancient China. The city is home to the world-renowned Terracotta Army, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the remarkably preserved ancient city wall, offering a tangible link to China's imperial past.

Chengdu is Sichuan's capital and the slow-living heart of southwest China — a city where tea, pandas and mouth-numbing hotpot set the pace. It has been a cultural and trade hub on the Chengdu Plain for over 3,000 years, and today it is best known to travellers for three things: the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, its teahouse lifestyle, and one of the most celebrated food scenes in the country.

Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Yunnan Province, China, is a captivating city where ancient Naxi culture meets breathtaking natural scenery. Established over 800 years ago, its Old Town is a labyrinth of cobblestone streets, wooden bridges, and flowing canals that have earned it the nickname 'Venice of the East'. The city's rich history as a key stop on the Tea Horse Road is palpable in its well-preserved architecture and vibrant local traditions.

Dali, located in Yunnan Province, southwestern China, is a historic city that served as the capital of the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms over a thousand years ago. Nestled between the Cangshan Mountains and Erhai Lake, it has long been a crossroads of cultures, where the Bai ethnic minority's traditions blend with Buddhist heritage and a laid-back atmosphere that attracts travelers seeking both natural beauty and cultural depth.

Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in southwestern China, is known as the 'Spring City' for its year-round mild climate and flowers that bloom in every season. With a history spanning over 2,400 years, it was a key stop on the ancient Southern Silk Road and later a wartime gateway during World War II. Today it is a vibrant, multi-ethnic metropolis where Han, Yi, Bai, Dai and other minority cultures blend, and where modern high-rises stand beside ancient temples and traditional courtyard houses.

Guilin, in the northeast of Guangxi in southern China, is one of the country's most celebrated landscapes, a place whose limestone karst peaks, winding rivers and misty caves have inspired painters and poets for more than a thousand years. Founded as a commandery town in the Qin dynasty, it grew into a prosperous administrative and cultural centre on the route between the Central Plains and the far south. Its name, meaning 'forest of osmanthus', comes from the fragrant trees that still line its streets each autumn.

Yangshuo, a county in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, is famed for its otherworldly karst landscapes that have inspired painters, poets, and filmmakers for centuries. Located about 65 kilometers south of Guilin, the town sits amidst a surreal panorama of limestone peaks, winding rivers, and lush rice paddies. Its history dates back over 1,400 years, with ancient villages and traditions that reflect a blend of Han and Zhuang cultures. In recent decades, Yangshuo has transformed from a quiet rural town into a global backpacker haven and a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts, while still preserving its timeless charm.

Zhangjiajie, in northwestern Hunan Province, is a city born of stone. Its name means 'Zhang family boundary', recalling a Ming-dynasty garrison, but the world knows it for the quartz-sandstone pillars that rise like a forest of giants from the Wulingyuan Scenic Area. These formations, some over 200 meters tall, were shaped by water and wind over 300 million years and became China's first national forest park in 1982. In 1992 UNESCO inscribed Wulingyuan on the World Heritage List, and in 2004 it joined the Global Geoparks Network. The city itself is young, established in 1988 as Dayong and renamed Zhangjiajie in 1994, but its landscapes are ancient beyond measure.

Shanghai is China's most cosmopolitan city — a glittering financial capital where the colonial Bund faces the futuristic skyline of Lujiazui across the Huangpu River. It has been a gateway between China and the world for over a century, and that openness still defines its character today.