Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel for a 3 night stay.
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 Guilin, in the Guanxi province, situated in southern China.
Shaanxi History Museum
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 fly to Chongqing. Transfer to the quay to board your 5-star ship for the start of your cruise along the majestic Yangtze River.
The longest river in China, flowing through two Autonomous Regions and six provinces starting in Qinghai and ending in Shanghai. The shoreline of the river is home to hundreds and thousands of ancient relics and architecture such as temples, mansions, pavilions, and gardens. Most of our Yangtze River Cruises are run by our trusted partner Victoria Cruises, an American-managed company who operate the largest 5 Star Fleet on the river. Highlights of a Yangtze River Cruise include the dramatic Three Gorges, The Three Gorges Dam, Fengdu – the ‘City of Ghosts’, and the Shennong Stream, a tributary of the Yangtze, where a sampan tour will allow you to explore this scenic area.
On the first day of the cruise, you can relax while the ship meanders throughout the Yangtze, allowing you to enjoy its scenic views. Today’s excursion will be Shibaozhai, with its impressive wooden pagoda, appropriately named “The Pearl of the Yangtze”. The final excursion of the last day will be an enjoyable journey on a small motorboat through the tranquil Goddess Stream while marvelling at the soaring limestone cliffs rising sheer from the water.
Before arriving at Yichang you will visit The Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest power station site. Disembark the ship and our guide will escort you to the airport for a flight to Shanghai.
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.
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to London Heathrow.
