Totally China - 15 days

Welcome to Beijing! Arrival transfer from the airport to our hotel.

Enjoy a tour of the nation’s capital today. Visit Beijing's famous Tiananmen Square which is home to the mausoleum of Chairman Mao Tse-tung, the father of the Communist People’s Republic and the striking Monument to the People’s Heroes. Then explore the remarkable Forbidden City which is a vision in grandeur with its imperial yellow roofs and vermilion walls. The Forbidden City, was the seat of the great emperors and the innermost sanctum of the Beijing. Built between 1406 and 1420, it served as the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing dynasties. Take a guided walk through the city’s many temples, grand halls and courtyards. This evening, enjoy a dinner at a city restaurant.

Today, travel beyond Beijing to Badaling, where you can walk (almost climb on some sections) on the Great Wall. Following a ridge of barren hills through northern China, it stretches as far as the eye can see - at least 6,700 kms! You'll have time to enjoy and explore the wall before visiting a Jade Carving Centre to learn about this ornamental rock and its importance in Chinese culture. After lunch visit the Ming Tombs, where 13 emperors were interred. You'll approach the tombs via the Sacred Road which is lined with stone statues of people and animals which guard the royal graveyard.

Beijing - Xi’an. This morning visit the beautiful Summer Palace which has the largest imperial garden in China. Walk along the elegant Promenade, see stone boat, visit Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. Then there's time to test your bartering skills at the bustling Pearl Market which sells everything from clothes, cosmetics and electronics to bags, jewellery and as the name suggests, an incredible selection of pearls. Tonight catch an overnight sleeper train to Xi'an.

Xi’an is perhaps most famous for the discovery of Emperor Qin’s Terracotta Warriors. Discovered in 1974 by local farmers digging a well, the 2,200 year old Terracotta Warriors comprise more than 7,000 life-sized soldiers standing battle-ready in excavated pits under the cover of a modern protective hanger. No two faces are alike – each is said to be an individual portrait. Today, we visit the archaeological site of the Terracotta Warriors, Huanqing Hot Springs, a scenic spot in the shadow of Li Mountain and a workshop where crafts people make clay warrior replicas.

Xi’an - Guilin. Visit the iconic Big Wild Goose Pagoda this morning before enjoying a leisurely bike ride on Xi’an’s medieval City Wall, which dates from the Ming dynasty. Then there's free time to explore the fascinating Muslim Quarter and Great Mosque before flying from Xi’an to Guilin.

Guilin - Yangshou - Guilin. Guilin is renowned for its striking scenery, with vast areas of karst limestone outcrops that rise up from flat rice paddy fields. Today we take a relaxing cruise down the Yulonghe River to Yangshuo passing an endless procession of peaks and simple villages. The local fishermen use trained cormorants to catch fish and local village boys paddle out to the river boats with all manner of souvenirs. We spend some time in charming Yangshuo, with its little shops and cafes, before returning to Guilin and visiting the Reed Flute Caves which have beautiful stalactites and stalagmites in different shapes and sizes.

Guilin - Longsheng - Hangzhou. Drive to Longsheng this morning to walk along the rice terraces of the striking Longji Terrace, known as the Dragon’s Backbone. Beginning at the base of Mt Longji the verdant green rice fields coil up the steep mountain, layer upon layer, climbing to its summit. Taking a walk along the stone paths no more than a metre wide, you’ll pass many of the Yao and Red Yao minority women, baskets on their backs, who are also climbing skyward. Reaching the ‘Seven Stars accompanying Moon’ lookout, soak up the spectacular views. The full panorama offers thousands of ribbon like terraces cascading to the meandering streams and valley floor beneath. Later today fly from Guilin to Hangzhou.

Scenic Hangzhou is unusual for a Chinese city in that it encompasses large tracts of greenery which might normally be classified as countryside. This is thanks to Xi Hu, the large lake that Hangzhou straddles. The lake is dotted with various islands and causeways, whilst the shoreline offers wonderful vistas of green trees, hills, flowers, pavilions, pagodas and boats. Hangzhou is also the southern terminus of the Grand Canal and an important centre for silk, tea and paper-making.
First stop today is the renowned the Longjing Tea Plantation which produced some of China's best green tea. Afterwards visit the beautiful West Lake (Xi Hu) and Lingyin Temple. Lingyin means Soul's Retreat and it is one of the main attractions of Hangzhou city. The Temple contains a collection of Buddhist literature together with many other treasures.

Hangzhou - Huangshan. This morning take a high speed train to Huangshan and take a scenic cable car ride to the top of Mount Huangshan. Considered to be the most beautiful mountain in China, Yellow Mountain or Huangshan is one of a range of 72 peaks in the south of Anhui Province. Set amidst rural landscapes and with its slopes clad in pine, the ethereal scenery is nothing short of breathtaking. Some 9,000 steps have been carved into the mountain, for those that want to walk up the most stunning stairwell on earth, though our excursion does include a return cable-car journey to the scenic area, where you’ll stay for two nights in a hotel at the top. On day 11 enjoy a full day tour to Huangshan Mountain, visiting Beginning-to-believe Peak, Brush Pen Peak, Bright Summit, Flying-over and the Cloud-dispelling Pavilion.

Huangshan - Suzhou. On day 12 take a cable car downhill to the foot of Huangshan Mountain and drive to Suzhou. Suzhou is one of China’s most charming cities and its renowned for its picturesque waterways and canals which are dotted with traditional bridges, houses and UNESCO-listed gardens. Spend the rest of day 12 at leisure.
The following day enjoy a scenic cruise on the Grand Canal which, at 1800km in length, is the longest canal on earth and ranks alongside the Great Wall as China’s greatest engineering achievement. Later visit the Humble Administrator's Garden, which is the best representative of Chinese classical gardens in the Ming dynasty. You'll also visit a silk workshop where you can see how the silk is processed from the silk worm to the final woven cloth.
exposes Suzhou’s beauty. Also visit a silk workshop and the Humble Administrator’s Garden.

Suzhou - Shanghai. This morning take a train or bus to Shanghai. Perhaps China’s most modern city, Shanghai's amazing Pudong skyline is breathtaking. After breakfast at your hotel, take a tour of the many city sights including the highest in Shanghai - the Shanghai Centre, Yuyuan Garden and The Bund. This evening enjoy a cruise on the Huangpu River with spectacular night view of the city.

Hotel check out and included onward departure transfer to the airport, or consider extending your stay to explore more of Shanghai.