I endorse most of what AltyJohn posted on 17 Jan. I did this fabulous trip (but with the Yangtze add-on, not HK), in Oct 2013 and still describe it as my “Holiday of a Lifetime”, aware that that and the word “fabulous” are both grossly overused. But in this case, absolutely valid.
I was 74 and suffered mildly from arthritis in my spine but I never found the amount of walking too tiring, including the Great Wall where there were no restrictions on how much or how little you walked, unlike as Altyjohn described. We had two hours to wander freely and I and a slightly older lady wandered the distance between four watch-towers with a packed lunch to enjoy halfway through. But the flat (as opposed to stepped) gradients down and up between each tower were challenging on the upward slopes!
The outstanding excursion amongst so many had to be the Terracotta Warriors and I shall not spoil the surprise of seeing it for the first time, so unlike the familiar close-up footage we’ve all seen on television. But it is staggering and, again, I’d disagree that the walking is not an exertion as you can do so at a very leisurely pace and also have a good two hours to explore.
I shall always remember the sudden realisation that hit me as I stood in Tiananmen Square, saying to myself “Wow! I’m in China” – somewhere so unbelievably exotic yet familiar from tv that had never been on my list; and certainly not in my 70s!
My one very minor criticism is the food. I had expected a few “Western” or “International” dishes but few if any ever appeared. It was a relentless succession of Chinese food three times a day. It was so good of course, being truly authentic, that it was very enjoyable for the first 3-4 days but come the sixth.....
It is a relentless tour with many early starts, as AltyJohn wrote, but once you’re up and had a cuppa (take your own tea-bags just in case!) you get used to it.
However, you will have a truly fantastic trip I am quite sure.