Discover China

We fly overnight from London Heathrow to Beijing, arriving in
the dynamic Chinese capital on Day 2. We transfer
to our hotel, after which you have some free time to settle in
before dinner. One of the world's truly great cities, Beijing
offers an amazing blend of historic and modern, with towering,
futuristic skyscrapers that sit beside ancient wonders.

We discover the sights and sounds of China's vibrant capital
today. We begin by visiting the impressive Tiananmen Square. An
enormous, vast emptiness, bordered at its extremes by some of the
most iconic images and buildings in China, the square is the
largest in the world at over 4 million square feet. Built by Mao
Tse Tung to flaunt the power of Communism, the area houses his
mausoleum where his embalmed body is kept. 

'Tiananmen' means 'Gate of the Heavenly Peace', and the
incredible public space also acts as the gateway to the Forbidden
City, which we visit next. The palace complex was built in the 15th
century as the Imperial household; now a UNESCO World Heritage
site, it's fascinating to discover.

We continue to a local tea house where we have the chance to
experience one of China's oldest traditions in authentic
surroundings before we explore the sprawling Summer Palace, set in
a beautiful spot surrounded by lakes and gardens.

We visit the world-famous Great Wall of China today. One of the
new Seven Wonders of the World, this masterpiece of Chinese
workmanship stretches thousands of miles from the Gobi Desert to
the Korean border, through deserts and mountain passes, and across
plains and plateaus. We visit the Mutianyu section, a beautifully
preserved stretch which offers incredible views over the seemingly
endless mountain scenery. After ascending by cable car, we have the
opportunity to walk along the wall and admire the sheer scale of
one of the greatest human-made wonders of all time.

We continue to a cloisonne factory for a guided tour, learning
about the intricate art of Chinese enamel cloisonne, which is made
by embedding gold or powdered minerals on ceramics. We also see the
'Water Cube' and the 'Bird's Nest', the main arenas used in the
2008 Olympic Games. We end the day with a delicious Peking duck
dinner, a traditional local dish that's been popular in the city
since the Imperial era.

We begin our day with a visit to the Temple of Heaven, a
beautiful edifice in central Beijing. In the afternoon we leave
Beijing behind, and join the rail service to Xi'an, experiencing
the fast, sleek and modern trains that China is known for. Our
journey on the high-speed service takes us through the beautiful
landscapes of rural China. In Xi'an, we transfer to our hotel for
two nights.

This evening you are free to begin exploring. Perhaps walk a
section of the city's walls, a great vantage point from which to
get a real insight into life in the city. Or visit the Muslim
Quarter, where you can mix with locals while sampling some
delicious traditional snacks. The street is famous for its cuisine,
and it bursts with life on an evening, with its bustling street
food stalls surrounded by traditional red lanterns and bright neon
lights.

On Day 6 we discover the famous Terracotta
Warriors - one of the world's most fantastic archaeological finds.
The 6,000 figures - some with horses or chariots, but all with
unique features - were buried in 210BC, yet only discovered in 1974
by local farmers. The life-sized statues were built as part of an
elaborate tomb of the Qin Emperor, believed to protect him in death
just as his real army had in life. Built on an incredible scale,
the soldiers - all grouped in rank order - are a truly breathtaking
sight. 

Later we discover more of the walled city of Xi'an, taking in
the Great Mosque, the largest mosque in China. We also see the
city's lively bazaar and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which dates
back to the 8th century and is a leading example of Tang Dynasty
architecture. We enjoy a dumpling-making lesson this afternoon,
learning all about how to make delicious local dumplings. We sample
this tasty local speciality this evening as we sit down to a
traditional dumpling banquet for dinner.

After lunch at a local restaurant today, we travel on the new
high-speed rail service from Xi'an to Chengdu, where we spend two
nights.

On Day 8, we visit the Giant Panda Breeding
Research Institute, which is spread out over 200 acres and is now
home to more than 100 of these magnificent creatures. The project
allows us to see the giant panda, an enchanting and rare creature,
at close quarters in a near-natural habitat setting. We then return
to Chengdu for some sightseeing. We see the Wenshu Monastery, one
of China's finest Buddhist structures, as well as the historic teak
buildings on Jinli Street.

We head to Renmin Park, or the People's Park, this morning.
Boasting artful landscaping, bonsais, and two tea houses, this park
is the venue for various local cultural activities. Afterwards, we
discover a traditional aspect of China as we enjoy a tasting in one
of the local tea houses. Later, we transfer to the station for the
high-speed bullet train service to Chongqing, situated in the upper
reaches of the Yangtze River. Here, we board our luxurious 5-Star
Century Glory river ship for our three-night cruise along the
Yangtze River. 

On the morning of Day 10 after tea, coffee and
pastries, we rejuvenate ourselves with a Tai Chi session on board.
After the ship moors, there's an option to visit the Fengdu ghost
town (payable locally), a temple complex dedicated to the
afterlife. This afternoon we visit the stunning Shibaozhai Pagoda,
rising twelve stories up a sheer cliff face. This evening, we
attend the Captain's Banquet on board and enjoy a cabaret
performance by the crew.

On the morning of Day 11, there's an option of
visiting the temples of the White Emperor City (payable locally).
Our cruise then continues through the scenic locales of Qutang
Gorge and Wu Gorge, before we make a shore excursion to Shennong
Stream. Here, the cliff sides soar steeply away from the
near-emerald waters of this beautiful waterway, a truly
breathtaking sight.

We disembark at Yichang today, where there's an optional tour of
the Three Gorges Dam (payable locally). After lunch, we take a
flight to Shanghai, where we spend three nights. One of China's
most exciting and contemporary cities, Shanghai is a city in which
old collides with new; the Bund region harks back to the emergence
of the city in the 1920s, while the east of the city boasts an
ultra-modern vibe with a booming financial district.

On Day 13, a guided tour of Shanghai takes us
to the city's historic Yu Gardens, where we enjoy a traditional tea
ceremony. We also visit the bazaar, where we stroll amongst
traditional shops selling a host of enticing goods, and through
streets where vibrant street performers play. After lunch in a
local restaurant, this afternoon we visit the Jade Buddha Temple, a
beautiful, tranquil temple and active Buddhist monastery.

Today takes us to the Shanghai Museum to admire the fascinating
Chinese artefacts found in the collections here, including ancient
coins from the Silk Road. Next, we head out to explore the Bund,
seeing the waterfront that's bordered by some of the iconic
buildings that define futuristic Shanghai.

We have a little free time on Nanjing Road, one of the world's
most famous shopping streets, to look around and grab lunch.
Afterwards, we visit the beautiful French Concession, a former
foreign settlement full of leafy boulevards and European-style
buildings. This evening we round off our stay in lively Shanghai
with a cruise along the Huangpu River, taking in the brightly-lit
cityscape while we enjoy dinner onboard.

On Day 15, we transfer to Shanghai airport for
our return flight to London Heathrow.

Please note that throughout your tour you will need to be able
to transfer your own luggage on and off each train we travel on as
porterage is not included.