From its areas of grand wilderness to the ancient wonders of the Orient or its bustling modern cities, China is a land like no other. Ancient and modern collide here, captivating visitors to this little understood but fascinating country.

The signs of this ancient civilisation are around for all to see: the Forbidden City, Terracotta Army and Great Wall each testament to a magnificent past.

Criss-crossing this vast landscape are China’s great rivers – the Yangtse, Yellow River and Mekong. However these days the waterways are less important than they were: the best way to see this extraordinary country is by rail, and in particular on board our private train the Shangri-La Express.

In the shadow of the Himalayas, Tibet is still one of the world's least-known places. Known as the 'roof of the world' due to its breathtaking average height of 13,200ft (4,060m) above sea level, Tibet is home to more Himalayan peaks than anywhere else: Mount Everest lies on its border with Nepal. As befits such a remarkable land, Tibet's capital Lhasa is home to an amazing UNESCO collection of spectacular palaces and temples. These include the Potala Palace, once the residence of the Dalai Lama, a unique building that includes, among other things, chapels, a library of scripture - and 10,000 shrines. Lhasa's temples and monasteries are key centres of Buddhist teaching.

Yet Tibet has been virtually inaccessible - until now. That changed with the building of the awesome Golmud to Lhasa railway. More than 600 miles (965 km) is at an altitude of more than 13,000ft (4,000 m) and much of this magnificent line runs over permafrost, and with the summit, the Tangula Pass, at 16,640ft, (5,072m) it is also the world's highest railway.

To travel on the line is a true pioneering adventure, an experience as unique as the places it transports us to.