Great Wall & Beyond

This morning you arrive into Beijing.

Upon arrival you will be met by a guide and taken to your hotel. Day at rest before meeting your guide in the evening for a street food tour of Beijing in the famous Donghuamen Night Market.

Donghuamen Night Market

Sample the delights and delicacies of the Donghuamen night market. From Chinese staples such as noodles and hot pot, to more exotic dishes including Seahorse, Scorpion and Snake.

In the morning you will visit the Temple of Heaven - this was the place where the Ming and Qing emperors worshipped the god of heaven and prayed for good harvests for the year, where you can observe the tradition of practicing Tai Chi in the courtyard. This will be followed by a stroll through Tiananmen Square, the biggest square in the world. Finally, there will be a visit to the Forbidden City which served as the grand imperial palace for centuries.

Today visit the Great Wall at Mutianyu, a post along the wall offering breathtaking views in a less crowded atmosphere. Mutianyu was built in the mid-6th century and its rich history can be observed in its unique construction. Continue to the Summer Palace, which includes a grand collection of lakes, gardens, palaces and scenic views. Afterwards, enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the beautiful Kunming Lake and see the Marble Boat, a lakeside pavilion, moored at the edge of the lake.

There will be an opportunity for photographs at the Birds Nest Stadium and Water Cube, which hosted the memorable 2008 Olympics and 2015 World Championships. Your final stop of the day will be at the Hutongs. Here, you can have a personal insight into the everyday life of traditional Beijing citizens. Finally, you will catch a bullet

train to Xian.

Today your guide will take you to visit the Terracotta Warriors, a stunning collection of ten thousand life size statues of the Chinese army made over two thousand years ago, yet preserved almost perfectly. This will be followed by a visit to the Ancient City Wall in Xian in the afternoon, which can be enjoyed through a peaceful stroll or a bike ride.

Today, you will visit to the Shaanxi Museum which houses over a quarter of a million artefacts on display, including treasures from many periods of China’s history. The next stop, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, will explore China’s unique architecture style, with the day ending on a visit to the Muslim Quarter to see local life in the community. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Chengdu, in the Sichuan province, situated in southern China.

Today you head out to the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuary to see the UNESCO protected breeding center, which has become world famous for its efforts in saving the Giant Panda from extinction.

Today you take a bullet train out of Chengdu to the UNESCO Heritage Site of the Great Buddha of Leshan. Originally carved by local fisherman to protect the crews from the frenzied waters in the river delta. The site now houses a monastary and takes its claim as the largest stone buddha in the world today.

Today an early start takes you to Chengdu Airport in time for your flight to Guilin, China's first tourism city. Upon arrival into Guilin you will be met by a driver and taken to your hotel.

Day at leisure.

Following breakfast, you will be transferred to Zhujiang quay for a four hour boat cruise on the breathtaking Li River towards Yangshuo. On the Li River, there are opportunities to enjoy the tranquil rural scenes of buffalo farming the rice terraces, children playing in the river and the towering karst mountain peaks. Arrival will be at around 14:00 in Yangshou. This evening there is an optional spectacular ‘Impressions of Liu Sanjie’ show. Different from other shows that take place in an enclosed space, this one is actually staged in the Li River itself!

Morning free for leisure and relaxation. Take the opportunity to explore this beautiful area independently, or perhaps join an optional cookery class or take a walk or cycle ride along the Yulong River to explore the countryside. Later in the afternoon return to Guilin and visit the Reed Flute Caves. In the evening, you will see the fascinating Cormorant Fishing Show.

Today you will depart onward to Shanghai, China's modern economic capital.

A driver will collect you from Yangshuo and take you to Guilin Airport in time for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival into Shanghai you will be met by a driver and taken to your hotel.

The first attraction of the day will be the Yu Yuan Gardens followed by the Jade Buddha Temple. The centuries old Yu Yuan Gardens is home to beautiful pavilions, corridors, streams, courtyards and flowers, perfect for the horticulturist. At the Jade Buddha Temple, one can expect impressive temples, both historical and modern, sporting large, intricate sculptures of Buddha. After viewing the Shanghai Museum, there will be an opportunity to visit the waterfront attraction of the Bund to admire Shanghai as a modern metropolis. Later, on top of the Shanghai world financial centre, you can enjoy a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the whole city.

Today makrs the ned of your tour. Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before your onward flight back to the UK.