China may be poised for a bigger role in the young-traveler market. A 12-month poll of 13,256 INTRO Travel customers found that more than one in five named China among their top choices for a future trip, prompting the group tour operator to develop its first China program for travelers ages 18 to 40. The two proposed itineraries combine major cultural landmarks with destinations that have become increasingly visible on social media, including Zhangjiajie, Chengdu and Chongqing.

The 12-day China Express travels from Shanghai through Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Xi’an, Luoyang and Dengfeng before reaching Beijing, while the 17-day China Adventure begins in Hong Kong and adds Yangshuo, Chongqing and Shanghai. Both include major draws such as the Great Wall, Terracotta Army and Forbidden City, with high-speed rail connecting much of the journey. Groups will be capped at 16, with the format designed to ease some of the practical challenges first-time visitors can face, from transportation and payments to navigating a country where independent travel can require more preparation.

The Curated Take

China has long had the cultural depth to appeal to adventurous travelers, but it has not carried the same easy familiarity among younger Western travelers as Thailand, Bali or Japan. That may be changing. Greater visa accessibility for some travelers, growing social-media visibility and the appeal of seeing somewhere that still feels less predictable could give China a new position in the young-traveler landscape. INTRO’s approach is particularly telling: rather than treating China as a complicated destination to conquer independently, it packages the logistical complexity into a social, fast-moving group journey.