Wonders of China

Wonders of China

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Wonders of China

Visiting: China

Tour operator:

Mercury Holidays

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Tour Overview

This amazing 16 day, 14 night tour journeys across one of the world's largest and most interesting countries, seeped in ancient history and brimming with world-renowned sights. Cruise down the Yangtze River, experience Shanghai and Beijing, visit the Pandas in Chengdu and absorb the wonders of the Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Army all in one fantastic tour.

Highlights

  • City tours of Shanghai, Xi'an & Beijing
  • 4-night Yangtze River Cruise
  • See the Giant Pandas of Chengdu Panda Breeding Centre
  • Marvel at the Terracotta Warriors
  • See the Great Wall of China
  • Visit the Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square

Itinerary

Day 1 - UK to Shanghai
Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to Shanghai International Airport.

Day 2 - Shanghai
On arrival in Shanghai you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel before going out for dinner. Time permitting, after dinner you will experience your first taste of the city with a visit to the magnificent Bund, then a walk along Nanjing Road, the main shopping area in Shanghai.

Day 3 - Shanghai
Following breakfast, you will embark on a full day tour of the city, taking in the delights of the famous classical Yuyuan Garden, the French Concession and Tianzifang, the arts and crafts enclave in the French neighbourhood. After lunch you can saunter around Xintiandi - 'The City's Living Room', a multifunctional entertainment district with unique 1920's style stone gate buildings known as 'shikumen'.

Day 4 - Shanghai to Yangtze River
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Wuhan, where you will continue to Yichang to board your ship for the four-night Yangtze River Cruise which will tour the Three Gorges Dam and breath-taking scenery along the way as you cruise upstream.

Day 5 - Yangtze River
The cruise will set sail to reach your first shore excursion the Three Gorges Dam itself and the Five Stage Ship Lock viewing platform, from where you can see the impressive giant ship elevator capable of lifting a 14,000 ton passenger liner! * In the afternoon, you'll sail past the Xiling Gorge, the largest and most famous of the Three Gorges. *A ride in the elevator can be booked locally at an additional charge.

Day 6 - Yangtze River
Following breakfast you will take a tour of the Shennong Stream, a zigzagging watercourse where local inhabitants line the shore. You will then sail to Wu Gorge, the prettiest of the Three Gorges followed by Qu Tang Gorge, the shortest. In the afternoon there is the option to take a tour of the White Emperor City, an ancient temple perched at the top of an island in the middle of the river.

Day 7 - Yangtze River
On the final day of the cruise the ship will sail to the Fengdu Ghost City, thought to have been the place where souls must go to pass three tests to enter the afterlife.

Day 8 - Yangtze River to Chengdu
Disembarking the ship at Chongqing you will travel to the capital of the Sichuan Province, Chengdu. Your guide will show you around the People's Park, where locals relax, mingle and exercise, then enjoy a stroll through the ancient streets of the Wide and Narrow Alleys which have been renovated to their former architectural glory.

Day 9 - Chengdu
Today takes you to Leshan, famous for its magnificent riverside cliff-carving of a giant Buddha which is the largest stone-carved Buddhist statue in the world, viewed from a boat on the river. Continue in the afternoon to the old town of Huanglongxi, a 1700 year old settlement restored to retain its old-world charm. In the evening enjoy a delicious Sichuan meal.
Optional excursion (payable locally): Sichuan Culture Evening Show - Special dance and culture show highlighting China from the 14th Century onwards.

Day 10 - Chengdu to Xi'an
Perhaps a highlight of the tour, today takes you to experience a once in a lifetime trip to the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Centre, home to one of China's largest habitat of pandas. Strolling around a variety of enclosures, you can even pay an extra fee to be photographed next to one of these beautiful animals. Have your photo taken with the Pandas at the Chengdu Breeding Centre - CNY3000 cash - please note you must advise the guide on arrival into Shanghai if you wish to take this optional excursion. In the afternoon board the bullet train to Xian.

Day 11 - Xi'an
Known to many as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World', a visit to the spectacular Terracotta Warriors is an unforgettable experience. Taking nearly four decades to complete and over 700,000 workers, this incredible tomb was built to protect China's first emperor in his afterlife. Continue to the Muslim Quarter- a labyrinth of market stalls and shops, then in the evening travel back in time whilst you watch the colourful Tang Dynasty dancing show.

Day 12 - Xi'an to Beijing
A morning tour of Xi'an incorporates a visit to the historic City Wall, then the Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652 to hold sacred Buddhist figurines. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Beijing where you will arrive in the early evening and spend the night at your hotel.

Day 13 - Beijing
Begin your day with a visit to the unique Temple of Heaven, China's largest existing masterpiece of ancient sacrificial buildings. The afternoon is left at leisure to relax and explore the city in your own time.

Day 14 - Beijing
Following a stroll around the impressive Summer Palace, China's largest & best-preserved royal park, the tour will continue to the iconic Great Wall. Winding across deserts, grasslands & mountains & stretching over 5,500 miles, it was constructed over 2,000 years ago to guard the Chinese Empire against the Mongol invaders from the North. We've included a cable car trip to a viewing point to avoid the arduous steps. In the evening enjoy a mesmerising Chinese acrobatics performance.

Day 15 - Beijing
Following breakfast on your last full day you will visit one of China's most important political landmarks, Tiananmen Square. It is the world's largest city centre square & gateway to the Forbidden City, which houses the wondrous Imperial Palace. Conclude your trip with a traditional Peking duck dinner, a delicious way to end your tour.

Day 16 - Beijing to the UK
Transfer to Beijing Airport for your flight back to the UK via Shanghai

What's Included

  • Fully Escorted Tour with local English Speaking Guides throughout
  • Scheduled Flights from the UK
  • All internal travel including air-conditioned/heated transportation
  • Accommodation, meals as specified and entry fees to all sights
  • All airport taxes and security charges

Check out our Q&As

  • Can I book airport assistance?

    If you need assistance at the airport and haven't made these arrangements at the time of booking, you'll need to let us know before you travel. Please message to arrange this.

  • I have particular special requirements - can these be arranged?

    We are happy to welcome travellers with disabilities on many of our holidays but regret that in some cases we are unable to do so, due to the travel arrangements and/or the hotels which are featured. The suitability of any holiday will depend on the nature of a disability and in some cases whether the person with the disability is accompanied by an able-bodied companion. In order to ensure the comfort, safety and enjoyment of your holiday if you or any member of your party has any medical problem or disability which may affect your holiday, please tell us before you confirm your booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the chosen arrangements & where necessary, instruct our representatives accordingly.

  • Travel Insurance

    We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number once you have confirmed your trip. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.

Reviews of this operator

B Garrett. (Google Reviewer)  

Mercury Holidays are easy to...

03-Sep-2024

Mercury Holidays are easy to book, they are a great company and arrange everything for you. We have been to Electra Palace Hotel,Rhodes in Greece 3 times now and are booked again for next year. This is an excellent Hotel and the staff are very good and helpful. Each time we have been there has been some alterations. The swimming pool is enormous, and although we did go in August with family this year the pool was not crowded despite it being in the school holidays.This Hotel has everything you could need.It is out of the way but, there is a shuttle bus costing €9 return to OldTown but you do need to book it. There is a €10 per night per room to pay when you arrive at the Hotel. There is a Greek Restaurant that you can access and also an Italian you can go to both once during your stay but you need to book these as they are very popular. The Hotel leads onto a private beach which is rather stoney but has sun loungers on it and there are Cabanas around the beach and pool areas. There is also a well stocked gift shop. We would recommend this Hotel for a great holiday.

Ann Websdale (Google Reviewer)  

Have travelled with Mercury Holidays...

07-May-2024

Have travelled with Mercury Holidays now around 6/7 times. Very easy to book online and staff are very helpful if you need to phone, also when you are away on your vacation they are easy to contact and our Rep has always been more than helpful on our Welcome Meetings. We would definitely recommend Mercury Holidays. We have always travelled to Malta through them. We give 10/10

Lindsey Baker (Google Reviewer)  

Another great holiday booked with...

12-Feb-2025

Another great holiday booked with Mercury in Sri Lanka at Club Palm Bay. A unique hotel comprising of spacious bungalows around a lagoon.Beautiful gardens and wild life to be seen . Staff are exceptional they have such a lovely attitude.

Linda Macro (Google Reviewer)  

Mercury Grand Tour of Japan If...

19-Sep-2024

Mercury Grand Tour of Japan If you are looking for an adventure which is fast moving and challenging then consider this amazing tour of China travelling north to south. You will see iconic temples, shrines exquisite architecture and visit the Peace Dome and museum created from WW2. There are internationally recognised sculptors in the Open Air sculpture Park and endless Picasso art indoors. Visit the snow monies beyond woodlands or wild deer in the national parks. The whole adventure is an artists or photographers dream. I highly recommend it but be prepared for walking in amazing settings. It’s a totally safe but fast moving country but tranquility is easily found.

James Hunsdale (Google Reviewer)  

Great time in Malta. January...

12-Feb-2025

Great time in Malta. January is fine too enjoy yourselves. Avg 16..20 % The dB San Antonio Hotel is perfect, great entertainment, fantastic atmosphere and food of the highest quality with 3 different restaurants to choose from. We are both mid 70s bus depot 2 minutes walk. €2 gets you over the whole island. We would highly recommend Malta to anyone and with the offers Mercury holidays have on though out the whole year you just can't get a better deal. Love it 😀 😍

RACHAEL HAIGH (Google Reviewer)  

A* travel agent and a...

01-Sep-2023

A* travel agent and a credit to the industry. Living in the North of England, we had never heard of Mercury Holidays until conversing with a family on a previous holiday to Dubai. We were recommended that should we want to book any long-haul holidays in the future then we should book them with Mercury Holidays as they are not only efficient at being very quick to hand and overtly helpful should I have any queries but they also offer the cheapest and upmost, amazing deals online. Mercury Holidays definitely lived up to their name!!!! My husband and I have just returned from a lovely and relaxing 2 weeks stay in beautiful Mauritius. Our holiday was nothing but perfect as we were presented with everything that we want when travelling long-haul; perfectly timed Emirates flights, a beautiful and peaceful hotel situated on the most idyllic beach as well as on-the-dot private taxi, transfers following 2 lengthy flights, of which were all greatly appreciated. Since our holiday, from its initial booking to landing back in the UK only yesterday was an absolute blast and the utmost perfect trip of a lifetime with no complaints whatsoever, we will definitely use Mercury Holidays when travelling abroad in the future. Thank you again and kindest regards, Rachael and Mark - Leeds, West Yorkshire 😊

Philip Jones (Google Reviewer)  

An excellent hotel, spotlessly clean,...

14-Jan-2025

An excellent hotel, spotlessly clean, good sized rooms, comfortable lounge area, excellent bar area with very good evening entertainment. All the staff are very pleasant and go that extra bit to look after you, nothing is too much trouble for them. Must say they know how to feed their guests, some of the best food we have had in Cyprus. Can highly recommend this hotel and look forward to returning.

john greene (Google Reviewer)  

Great hotel situated right on...

03-May-2024

Great hotel situated right on the beach. The hotel has recently gone to adults only as well as all inclusive. The staff really go out of their way to ensure you have a brilliant holiday. The meals are buffet style, but you can also book into one of the Al a carte restaurants for two meals for each week of your stay. Another brilliant idea is that you are allocated sun loungers for the duration of your stay ,so nobody else can use them. All in all a great hotel and a fantastic holiday.

Edward Forty (Google Reviewer)  

We had such a great...

22-Apr-2024

We had such a great experience and saw such a lot. It is certainly all well organized and the guides look after you really well. We did the Essence of India tour and had the Highlights of Kerala extension and it was just amazing. The people are so friendly, the hotels are superb and Mercury is just great value for money. Many thanks to everyone and it was a brilliant holiday.

Diane White (Google Reviewer)  

A wonderful experience on the...

28-Mar-2025

A wonderful experience on the Grand Tour of India. Everything on the trip ran smoothly and efficiently. The hotels were all comfortable and food was good. The booking process with Mercury was straight forward and I found them very helpful when I rang them with changes to my booking. We were looked after brilliantly from the moment we arrived In New Delhi. From then on all the excursions were very well arranged and our guide, Giri, was extremely knowledgeable, informative and he certainly made the whole experience one to be remembered. The four day add-on to Goa was a definite bonus, giving time to relax after a hectic 16 day tour! A Mercury rep met us at Goa Airport and our transfer to the hotel was straight forward. He kept in touch with us during our short stay and was there to us escort us back to Goa airport for our return at 2.30 a.m!!! I would certainly book with Mercury again.

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Mercury Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 295 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 84 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of mercury holidays charges.

    Up to 84 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 43 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.

    At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.

    At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 0 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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