China

We step through the gates of the Forbidden City, the largest palace complex in the world and home to 24 Chinese emperors over nearly 500 years. We walk its courtyards, throne halls, and imperial gardens with a guide who shares the stories behind every corner. In the afternoon, time is free to explore Beijing at our own pace.

A full day dedicated to one of the seven wonders of the modern world: the Great Wall of China. We walk one of its best-preserved sections, past watchtowers and views that disappear into the mountains. It's one of those experiences that feels different from how you imagined it — bigger, more impressive, more real.

We fly to Zhangjiajie, the region that inspired the floating landscapes of the movie Avatar. On arrival we head up Tianmen Mountain, famous for its Heaven's Gate — a massive natural cave — and its glass skywalk clinging to the cliffside. Not for anyone afraid of heights.

We explore Zhangjiajie National Park, with its thousands of sandstone pillars covered in vegetation that seem to float in the fog. We walk trails, cross suspension bridges, and take a cable car up for a view from above — the very mountains that were the real-life inspiration for Pandora, the world of Avatar.

We take the train to Chongqing, one of China's biggest and least-known cities: a megacity built literally between mountains, rivers, and fog, with buildings that rise straight out of the cliffs. On arrival we check in and rest up for the day ahead.

The morning is free — it's worth getting up early to see the famous train that runs straight through a residential building in the middle of the city, one of Chongqing's most curious postcards. Afterward we head out on a city tour: its viewpoints, the Yangtze River, and the energy of a metropolis literally built in layers, one on top of the other.

We travel by train to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province and one of the most culturally alive cities in the country. On arrival we check in at the hotel and the afternoon is free to explore its streets, its spicy food, and its pace — much more relaxed than Beijing or Chongqing.

The day is dedicated to meeting Chengdu's true stars: the giant pandas. We visit their conservation sanctuary, where we can watch them eat, play, and rest in an environment designed to feel as close as possible to their natural habitat.

We wrap up this trip at exactly ten days — not one more — since the transit visa we enter China on has a 240-hour limit. We head home with a full camera, tired legs, and the certainty of having seen a country that feels completely different from everywhere else.