Explore China and the Yangtze River

Fly from London to Beijing. Enjoy a welcome dinner and stay for 3 nights at the Dong Fang Hotel or similar.

(N)

Go on a sightseeing tour of Beiking. Along the way, visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, a palace complex in the Dongcheng District. Enjoy free leisure in the afternoon.

(B)

Leave Beijing and head to The Great Wall, which is about 2-hours north of the city. You will head to the Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the better-preserved sections of The Great Wall. It features 23 original watchtowers, cable car facilities (ideal for those who wish to avoid steps and steep climbing) and hiking in the surrounding area.

Return to Beijing for lunch at a local restaurant. In evening, take up one of several optional activities. These include an acrobatics or kung fu session, or an attendance to the opera.

(B, L)

Visit the Temple of Heaven in the morning. It is one of the largest imperial buildings in China, and is renowned for its distinct decorations, complex layout, and ritual architecture. Then head to the Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden conceived by Emperor Quianlong between 1750 and 1764.

In the evening, board an overnight train to Xi’an. The trip takes approximately 12 hours. Visitors are encouraged to purchase food beforehand, as menu options are a bit limited. Sleeping and bedding provided.

(B)

Upon arrival, after breakfast, head out on a walking tour of Xi’an, a famous ancient city with many religious sites, including the Muslim quarter. Enjoy free leisure in the afternoon. Then, watch the food stalls and bazaars burst to life in the evening.

Stay for 2 nights at the Skytel Hotel/Bell Tower Hotel Xi’an or similar.

(B)

Visit the famous Terracotta Warriors exhibition. It contains thousands of life-sized terra cotta soldiers, and the third pit is open to the public to explore. A must-see attraction for anyone visiting Xi’an.

Enjoy free leisure in the evening.

(B, L)

Take a bullet train to Chengdu. Arrive in the early afternoon for lunch. Then go on a walking tour of the city, and learn about the area’s distinctively spicy cuisine, as evident by the strong use of the Sichuanese peppercorn.

Stay for 2 nights at the Garden City Hotel or similar.

(B, L)

Go on a sightseeing tour of the Leshan Giant Buddha. The site features an enormous depiction of Buddha, carved as a rock formation on a cliff face, which took over 100 years to complete. You can see it by river boat or a walking tour.

Return to Chengdu in the later afternoon. Enjoy traditional Sichuanese cuisine at a Chengdu hotpot dinner.

(B, D)

Visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Center. The organization is devoted to the preservation of the panda. There are up to 50 different pandas to see, most of which are active in the morning to early afternoon.

Then take a train to the city of Chongqing.  Here you will embark on a 2-day boat cruise on the Yangtze River. Stay overnight on the cruise boat.

(B)

Enjoy a memorable 2-day boat cruise on the Yangtze River, the longest of its kind in China. The river is about 3,200 km long from west to east, and about 1,000 km from north to south. You will also pass the towering gorges and cliffs and enjoy the occasional excursion on the shore to smaller towns and villages.

Activities may vary depending on the weather and river conditions.

(B, L, D)

Depart from the boat cruise. Drive to Yichang and take an afternoon train to Liuzhou. The train ride takes about 16 hours.

Stay overnight on the train.

(B, L)

Arrive at Liuzhou in the early morning. Then transfer to Yangshuo by road, passing the beautiful limestone scenery on the way. Upon arrival, participate in a cookery class in the afternoon, and learn how to make some of the most iconic Chinese dishes.

Stay for 3 nights at the New West Street Hotel or similar.

(B, L)

Go on a pleasant bike ride to enjoy the countryside. Head towards Moon Hill, a stunning rock formation that, as the name implies, features moon-like hole at the top of the structure.

Enjoy lunch with a local family. If you’d prefer a guided tour of Moon Hill and the surrounding area by vehicle, this can be arranged. Free leisure in the afternoon.

(B, L)

Enjoy a free day of leisure in the city of Yangshuo. Take part in many optional activities, including a cruise on the Li River, a visit to the Black Buddha Caves, a Kung Fu Class or Chinese message. You are also free to browse the local markets and marvel at the local produce.

(B,)

In the morning, go to the airport at Guilin and fly to Shanghai. In the evening, go on a walking tour of The Bund, a spectacular waterfront promenade that stretches a mile long.

Stay for 3 nights at the Greenland Jiulong Hotel or similar.

(B)

Make an early start for the ancient water town of Xitang. The site features several notable buildings, which originate from the Qing (1644 – 1911) and Ming (1368 – 1644) dynasty. Enjoy lunch and return to Shanghai for a free evening.

(B, L)

Enjoy a full day trip of Shanghai. Visit the Shangai Museum and the Yu Yuan Garden, a private garden run by the Pan family from the Ming Dynasty. You then have the rest of the day to explore. In the evening, enjoy an optional event by watching the Shanghai Acrobatic show.

(B)

Have last breakfast and then head to the airport for a return flight to London.

(B)