Mystical China

Begin your Far East Asian adventure by taking a direct overnight flight from London to Beijing.
(Flight Included | Airport Transfer | N)

Upon arrival, check-in at the Novotel Peace Hotel (or similar) for a 3-night stay. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Heaven, a complex of imperial religious buildings that symbolizes the relationship between earth and heaven and the special role of the emperors within this relationship. The temple visit is followed by a welcome dinner at a Peking duck restaurant, specializing in a dish that has been prepared since the imperial era.
(D)

In the morning, visit one of the largest public squares in the world, Tiananmen Square. It holds great significance as the place where the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, making it a spot that symbolizes China’s modern development and power. The square hosts important ceremonies and grand gatherings and it is used for welcoming foreign dignitaries.

Next, visit the famous Forbidden City, the former Chinese imperial palace acting as China’s political and ritual centre for over 500 years. At the time, access to the area was very limited to certain personnel, hence its name, Forbidden City. After that, enjoy a stroll down the cultural Liulichang district, a street that is lined with traditional Chinese stone dwellings selling a range of craftwork, arts and antiquities.

In the evening, you have the option to enjoy a mind-blowing performance at the Chinese Acrobatic Show.

(B, L)

In the morning, drive to the mountainous region of Luanping County to reach Jinshanling, the least crowded and most picturesque part of the Great Wall of China. With 67 watchtowers, steep stairs, and an 11 km stretch, this section offers both stunning scenery and historical significance, making it an excellent spot for hiking enthusiasts.
(B, L)

In the morning, visit a hutong, a narrow street or alley lined with single-story buildings in the historical Siheyuan style, commonly found in China’s northern cities, especially Beijing.

Then, take a drive to the train station to board a high-speed train heading to Xian city, one of the Four Great Ancient Chinese Capitals, the eastern departure point of the Silk Road and a hub of diverse ethnicities and religions. On arrival, check-in at the Grand Noble Xian for a 2-night stay.

(B)

In the morning, marvel at the high level of craftsmanship and artistry of the Terracotta Warriors. The terra-cotta (Italian for ‘baked earth’) is a sculpture collection representing the armies of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. The Terracotta Warriors are a wondrous finding for many reasons including their sheer scale rounding up to 8,000 figures and the fact that no two figures are exactly similar. Next a visit to the Tang Bo Art Museum, which houses a collection of Shannxi folk arts including paper cutting, shadow puppets, ancient paintings as well as local contemporary artists’ creations. Attend a Chinese calligraphy class offered by the museum, where after you learn briefly about the basics of Chinese calligraphy, you will be given some paper, ink and a brush to try some calligraphy on your own.

In the afternoon, explore the Muslim Quarter, the hub of the Muslim community, and understand how Xian became the first Chinese city to be introduced to Islam by Arabian merchants. Explore the narrow lanes of the area packed with shops and stalls offering mouthwatering local food and snacks. Visit the Great Mosque of Xian, one of the oldest, largest and most preserved mosques in China.

In the evening, there is an option to attend a Tang dynasty music and dance performance accompanied by a Cantonese dinner to complement your Chinese cultural experience.

(B, L)

Start the day with a high-speed train ride to Chengdu, the largest city in Sichuan which is known as the “Panda Capital”. On arrival, check-in at the Sheraton Lido for an overnight stay.

In the afternoon, visit the Giant Panda Research Base, a non-profit research and breeding centre for giant pandas, red pandas along with other rare animals. This base is the largest panda base in the world, ranging from cubs to adults.

In the evening, you have the option to attend a Sichuan opera performance through which you will enjoy a medley of performances including face changing, fire-spitting, shadow play, tea house skits and acts from the previous 1000 years.

(B, L)

Take a flight to Guilin, and stay overnight at the Sheraton Guilin.
(B)

Enjoy a relaxing morning cruise down the Li River, one of China’s most spectacular waterways. Along the way, you can see a natural masterpiece of karst peaks, startling hills, and mysterious caves along with farmers working in their fields in traditional villages. The cruise takes you in the southern direction through Guilin towards Yangshuo. Upon arrival, take a stroll in the bustling West Street, a street with a history of more than 1400 years lined with charming buildings constructed in the style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties architecture. Check-in at the Yangshuo Resort for a 2-night stay. The following day is yours to spend at leisure to enjoy the chill riverside atmosphere of Yangshuo.
(B)

Enjoy a train ride to Chongqing. Then, head to the port to board the Victoria Jenna (or similar) for a 3-night cruise to Yichang.
(B, D)

Embark on a relaxing cruise through the magnificent Yangtze River. Take in the spectacular scenery of the Three Gorges area from a deck chair or the comfort of your cabin. For magnificence and peculiarity, look out for the Qutang gorge, for serenity and seclusion look for the Wuxia gorge, and finally, for rugged danger look for the Xiling Gorge. Enrich your onboard life with a range of activities including performances, night shows, captain parties, and cultural activities, along with shore excursions to discover the local Yangtze culture.
(B, L, D)

Upon your arrival to Yichang, the “world’s hydropower capital”, visit the Three Gorges Dam. This enormous scale structure supplies water for the world’s largest hydroelectric plant and helps control the floods that cover the lowlands. Afterwards, go to the station and take a train ride to Shanghai. On arrival, check-in at the Central Hotel for a 2-night stay.
(B)

Take a morning tour of Jade Buddha Temple, famous for its Buddha statues which were bought from Myanmar by sea. Apart from being cultural relics, the statues are carved from whole white jade and encrusted with emerald and agate making them exquisite artworks. Next, visit the serene Yu Garden, a blend of elaborative pavilions, decorative archways, glistening ponds and zigzag bridges. Continue the relaxing vibes and revive your spirit at the Huxinting Teahouse for some tea tasting.

In the afternoon, explore the Shanghai Museum in an expert guide-led tour. This museum is the largest in China with a collection of about 120,000 ancient Chinese artworks including ceramics, bronze, calligraphy and paintings. Wrap the day with a walk down the historic Bund and see the impressive colonial-era buildings. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner.

(B, D)

Head to the airport and catch a flight back to London. Alternatively, you can extend your Asian adventure to explore the vibrant and energetic Hong Kong.
(Flight Included | Airport Transfer | B)