Classic China

Day 1 London Heathrow to Beijing

Fly with British Airways non-stop to Beijing. (N)

Day 2 Arrive Beijing

Arrive Beijing and proceed by car to your accommodation. (N)

Accommodation in Beijing: Grand Hotel (or similar)

Upgrade option: Grand Hyatt Hotel (or similar)

Day 3 Beijing

This morning visit the beautiful Temple of Heaven before continuing onto Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. Walk through the square to enter the Forbidden City, the seat of supreme power for the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, where you can spend the remainder of the day exploring the courtyards and buildings of this extensive complex. (B)

Accommodation in Beijing: Grand Hotel (or similar)

Upgrade option: Grand Hyatt Hotel (or similar)

Day 4 Beijing

Travel through the countryside to Mutianyu from where you can take a cable car up to the Great Wall. As you stand on the Wall and look at it snaking its way across the top of the mountains, it is easy to imagine ancient armies locked in battle on the misty slopes. Continue across the mountains, after lunch to visit the fascinating tombs of the Ming Emperors before returning to Beijing later in the afternoon. (B/L)

Accommodation in Beijing: Grand Hotel (or similar)

Upgrade option: Grand Hyatt Hotel (or similar)

Day 5 Beijing

Today visit the Summer Palace with its landscaped gardens, lakes and pavilions. Explore the ancient alleyways of old Beijing by rickshaw and end the day with a relaxing cruise on the tranquil Hou Hai Lake. In the evening we can arrange an optional visit to the Beijing Opera or an acrobatic show. (B)

Accommodation in Beijing: Grand Hotel (or similar)

Upgrade option: Grand Hyatt Hotel (or similar)

Day 6 Beijing to Xi’an – by air

This morning leave your hotel and transfer to Beijing Airport in good time to catch your flight to Xi’an. On your arrival visit the ancient city walls before proceeding to your accommodation. (B)

Accommodation in Xi’an: Bell Tower Hotel (or similar)

Upgrade option: Sofitel on Renmin Square Hotel (or similar)

Day 7 Xi’an

Today visit the remarkable Qin Shi Hunanngdi Tomb, better known as the site of the world famous Terracotta Warriors, which was unearthed in 1974 and is the burial ground of the first Qin Emperor. Afterwards visit the Huaqing hot springs and the nearby Neolithic village at Ban Po. (B/L)

Accommodation in Xi’an: Bell Tower Hotel (or similar)

Upgrade option: Sofitel on Renmin Square Hotel (or similar)

Day 8 Xi’an to Chongqing – by air

Before you leave Xi’an visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi Provincial Museum and the Great Mosque before flying to Chongqing where you will board the Victoria Cruise Ship. The Victoria Cruiser is amongst the most luxurious vessels operating on the Yangtze. It offers an extensive range of onboard facilities and all cabins have en-suite bathrooms. (B)

Accommodation: onboard cruise

Day 9 Yangtze Cruise

The Yangtze is China’s longest river. Its source is in the snow-covered Tanggulashan Mountains of Tibet and it flows over 6,300kms to the East China Sea just north of Shanghai. Today you will travel between the towns of Fengjie, in Sichuan Province, and Yichang, in Hubei Province, and over the next through days will pass through three spectacular gorges – the Qutang, Wu and Xiling. Overnight is spent onboard. (B/L/D)

Accommodation: onboard cruise

Day 10 Yangtze Cruise

Early this morning enter the gorges of Qutang and Wu before arriving in the late morning at Badong to explore Shennong Stream where boatmen operate ‘pea’ boats in the small gorges. In the afternoon continue downstream through Xiling Gorge to anchor at Sandouping, the site of the new Three Gorges Dam. Overnight is spent onboard. (B/L/D)

Accommodation: onboard cruise

Day 11 Yichang to Shanghai – by air

This morning visit the dam complex before disembarking at Yichang from where you will fly onto Shanghai, China’s commercial and financial centre. (B)

Accommodation in Shanghai: Equatorial Hotel (or similar)

Upgrade option: Hyatt on the Bund Hotel (or similar)

Day 12 Shanghai

Today enjoy a full day sightseeing of this vibrant city which will include the Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, Chinatown and the Yu Yuan Garden. Stroll along the Bund by the Huangpa River where the old European style buildings are still evocative of the ‘Paris of the East’. (B)

Accommodation in Shanghai: Equatorial Hotel (or similar)

Upgrade option: Hyatt on the Bund Hotel (or similar)

Day 13 Shanghai to Guilin – by air/ Guilin to Longsheng – 100kms

After breakfast leave your hotel and catch your flight onto Guilin. On arrival you will be met and driven north to Longsheng. Longsheng is the location of the famous Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces and is home to minority tribes that live in the region. (B/D)

Accommodation in Longsheng: Li-An Lodge (or similar)

Day 14 Longsheng

Today explore this beautiful region. Around 700 years ago the local Zhuang farmers hit on the ingenious idea of creating valuable space for their crops on the mountainous land and they constructed terraces in the hillsides that coil up from the valley floor to the tops of the surrounding mountains. The resulting shimmering green ribbons of rice paddies have become scenic highlights of the region. (B/D)

Accommodation in Longsheng: Li-An Lodge (or similar)

Day 15 Longsheng to Guilin – 100kms

Today return to Guilin. Situated in the heart of south west China, and noted for its scenic beauty, numerous limestone hills surround Guilin creating superb views into the surrounding countryside. Later visit the famous Reed Flute Cave which is full of stalactites and stalagmites in various shapes and sizes. (B)

Accommodation in Guilin: Shangri-La Hotel (or similar)

Day 16 Guilin to Hong Kong – by air

Fly to Hong Kong and transfer by car to your accommodation. Dynamic Hong Kong is where the Orient truly meets the West. Hong Kong Island and Kowloon are compact and ideal for exploring on foot, notwithstanding the fact that the transport system is incredibly efficient and inexpensive. To sense Hong Kong’s vitality ride an antique tram along the north shore of Hong Kong Island and then cross the harbour on the famous Star Ferry to Kowloon. Almost anywhere you are likely to see ancient Chinese temples and graceful colonial buildings, colourful street markets and sophisticated shopping centres. (B)

Accommodation in Hong Kong: Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel (or similar)

Upgrade option: Harbour Grand Hong Kong Hotel (or similar)

Day 17 Hong Kong to London Heathrow

Today you are at leisure to enjoy this vibrant and cosmopolitan city before an evening transfer by car to the airport in good time to catch the British Airways non-stop flight back to London Heathrow. (B)

Day 18 Arrive London Heathrow

Early morning arrival in London. (N)

18 days from £4590 per person

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Itinerary: Classic China

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