OK, the Pandas are a must see and there’s no better place than Chengdu, however Darren found Chengdu to have so much more to offer. I loved Chengdu and like most cities in China it’s busy and bustling with so much going on, however I found the place to have a whole charm of it’s own. The people are fun and friends and of a night the place becomes alive. A must visit is the Chinese Opera. The Shu Feng Ya Yun Sichuan Opera is an amazing mix of the old and the new. Wonderful traditional Sichuan Opera costumes, stories, mask changing which was pretty mesmerising, fire breathing and puppetry are mixed with laser and multimedia effects. It’s easy to prebook, or book locally with your tour guide or at the hotel and with tickets starting from around £20 per person its great value for money. After the show head to the beautiful Anshun Lang Bridge (just by the Shangri La Hotel) which is beautifully lit creating a mystical reflection on the river. Just across the Jin River...

Hong Kong is a great place to include in a Far East itinerary, and you can see much of it in a fairly short time - here's our guide of how to make the most of a short trip to this fascinating destination! DAY 1 - MORNING The best way to get your bearings in Hong Kong is on the Star Ferry, so wherever you're staying get yourself to the ferry pier and catch a ferry across Victoria Harbour - probably the most spectacular ferry Star Ferry arriving at the Central Piercrossing in the world, and at just a few pence it's a bargain too! Before you board, though, get yourself an Octopus card for reduced price travel throughout the city. If you end up on Hong Kong Island take the walkway from the pier towards to the mid levels escalators, a series of escalators that take you up the side of the hill, passing through daily life in the process. Nearby, catch the 120-year old tram to Victoria Peak, Hong Kong's highest point, from where you can look down on the rest of the...