Day 1 – London:

Depart Heathrow at around 16:20 on British Airways’ non-stop flight to Beijing.

Day 2 – Beijing:

Arrive Beijing and transfer to the 4-star Jianguo Hotel, described as ‘an Englishman’s club’ by a frequent visitor. Visit the quaint hutong quarter by Lake Houhai. Enjoy a welcome dinner.

Note – Accommodation and Dinner provided.

Day 3 – Beijing:

Visit Tiananmen Square en-route to the magnificent Forbidden City, the vast complex of palaces and pavilions which were home to successive Emperors for more than 500 years. Afternoon visit to the beautiful Summer Palace, the imperial lakes and resort created for Empress Cixi.

Note – Accommodation, Breakfast and Lunch provided.

Day 4 – Beijing:

Admire the less-crowded and more scenic part of the Great Wall at Mutianyu. Afternoon visit to the Ming-era Temple of Heaven. In the evening enjoy a traditional Peking Duck dinner.

Note – Accommodation, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner provided. 

Day 5 – Xian:

Visit the ornate Lama Temple and the serene Confucius Temple with its cypress trees and large stone tablets. Fly to Xian and the 4-star Grand New World Hotel. On arrival visit the Ming City Wall.

Note – Accommodation and Breakfast provided.

Day 6 – Xian:

Visit one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century the Terracotta Warriors interred with the Emperor Qin Shi Huang over 2000 years ago. After lunch visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Grand Mosque and intriguing Muslim quarter. Optional Tang era music and dance dinner performance.

Note – Accommodation, Breakfast and Lunch provided. 

Day 7 – Chengdu:

Fly to Chengdu and visit the People’s Park where the locals congregate for serious tea drinking and practice Tai Chi, ballroom dancing and singing. Optional Sichuan Opera performance after a dinner of typical Sichuan cuisine. Stay at the stylish 5-star M HotelChengdu.

Note – Accommodation, Breakfast and Dinner provided.

Day 8 – Leshan:

Drive to Leshan and take a cruise to marvel at the magnificent Giant Buddha, hewn from the mountainside in the 8th century, and 233ft high. Back in Chengdu visit the quaint old quarter at Jinli.

Note – Accommodation, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner provided.

Day 9 – Chengdu:

This morning see the world’s beloved Giant Pandas at the Panda Research Base. Take the train to Chongqing and board the Century Paragon for your 3-night cruise to Yichang.

Note – Accommodation, Breakfast and Dinner provided.

Day 10 – Yangtze Cruise:

Optional excursion to Fengdu. the ‘City of Ghosts’. Afternoon shore visit to the quaint wooden temple of Shibaozhai. Captain’s welcome dinner.

Note – Accommodation, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner provided.

Day 11 – Yangtze Cruise:

Pass through the shortest and narrowest gorge, Qutang Xia (8km). Cruise through the second gorge, Wu Xia, 44km long with its peaks rising to dizzy heights above the river. Visit the Daning River or Shennong Stream.

Note – Accommodation, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner provided.

Day 12 – Yangtze Cruise:

Enter the western section of Xiling Gorge. Moor at Yanjiawan for a shore visit to the Three Gorges Dam construction site, one of mankind’s greatest engineering feats to date. Resume sailing through Xiling Gorge, which, stretching 75km, is the longest of the gorges and known for its swift current and dangerous shoals. Arrive Yichang and fly to Shanghai to stay at the Central Hotel for 3 nights.

Note – Accommodation and Breakfast provided.

Day 13 – Shanghai:

Visit the elegant Yuyuan Garden. Opposite are the Huxing Teahouse and the old Chinese quarter of Shanghai where cobbled streets are lined with traditional shops selling herbal medicines, handicrafts, Chinese tea and a variety of tantalising snacks. We sample a Shanghai ‘dim sum’ lunch at the quarter’s most famous restaurant and explore the quaint bazaar. Afternoon admire bird’s eye views from the Oriental Pearl Tower. This evening there is a cruise on the Huangpu River to see the illuminated Bund and Pudong District.

Note – Accommodation, Breakfast and Dinner provided.

Day 14 – Suzhou:

Enjoy a day trip to Suzhou to explore the city’s classical gardens. Explore the old town, see a silk mill and enjoy a cruise on the Grand Canal. Return to Shanghai.

Note – Accommodation, Breakfast and Lunch provided.

Day 15 – Guilin:

Fly to Guilin and visit the Tea Research Institute, surrounded by limestone karsts. Overnight at the Bravo Hotel.

Note – Accommodation and Breakfast provided.

Day 16 – Yangshuo: 

Take the world-renowned Li River cruise to Yangshuo and drift gently through magical landscapes. Browse through Yangshuo’s colourful shops and stay at the Yangshuo Resort. Admire impressive scenery at the sunset view point. Evening spectacular son et lumiere show on the river by a cast of 600.

Note – Accommodation, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner provided.

Day 17 – Yangshuo:

Morning visit to the extraordinary Silver Cave. Lunch is taken at a riverside setting. This afternoon admire the magical scenery along the Yulong River with free time to relax and enjoy the resort.

Note – Accommodation, Breakfast and lunch provided.

Day 18 – Yangshuo, Hong Kong:

Return to Guilin and take the train to Shenzhen. Drive onwards to Hong Kong and transfer to the Metropark Causeway Bay Hotel.

Note – Accommodation, Breakfast and Lunch provided.

Day 19 – Hong Kong:

A short walk in the Central district shows how feng shui influences local architecture. Ascend to the middle-levels on the longest outdoor escalator, known as the ‘Heavenly Ladder’, to observe local life in the high-rise neighbourhoods with buildings dating back to Pre-World War II. Ascend the Peak by the one-hundred-year-old tram for a birds-eye view of the Pearl of the Orient and enjoy lunch at the superb Peak restaurant. Afternoon scenic drive to Repulse Bay. Continue to the Aberdeen Fishing Village and
Stanley Market. Round off the day with the famous ferry ride to view the spectacular skyline on both sides of the harbour.

Note – Accommodation, Breakfast and Lunch provided.

Day 20 – Hong Kong, London:

Enjoy the many other attractions of this city at your leisure. Board the late evening non-stop British airways flight home, arriving at heathrow at around 05:25 on Day 21.