Highlights of China

Today you will arrive in the city of Shanghai, one of the most important political, cultural and economic cities of China. You will meet your driver at the airport for a private transfer to your hotel where you can relax until your early evening meeting with your tour guide. After the meeting, you will enjoy a short walk to get your bearings before tucking into a delicious welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

After a good night’s rest at your hotel, you will head out to explore the vibrant city streets of Shanghai with their eye-catching contrast between futuristic developments and well-preserved historical buildings. You will visit the City God’s Temple and it’s world-famous Yuyuan Garden before moving on to the French Concession area where you can discover the local teahouses, restaurants, and shops.

You will move from one major city to another as you leave Shanghai behind you and take the bullet train to the capital. Once in Beijing, you will visit the Summer Palace, a vast collection of palaces, lakes and gardens which make up the best-preserved imperial garden in the world. In the evening you will attend an exhilarating Acrobatics show before enjoying a short orientation walk around the local area.

Having dipped your toes into the magnificent city the day before, you will continue to uncover the sights and sounds of Beijing. You will travel both by foot and on the public subway to visit sites such as Tiananmen Square and the breath-taking 15th century Forbidden City, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Before the day is done you will wander along the traditional narrow Hutong streets to get a taste of historical Beijing.

After breakfast, you will head by private bus to the incredibly well preserved Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall of China. You will spend the day exploring this extraordinary historical site, which covers over 20,000 km and has over 2,500 years of history. Bring along a picnic lunch to enjoy from the top of the wall as you enjoy panoramic views of the Chinese countryside. Afterwards you will transfer back to Beijing to catch the sleeper train to Xi’an.

Today you will visit the ancient Terracotta Warriors. These amazing soldiers were hand sculpted in clay and buried with an emperor to protect him in the afterlife. Each of the 6000 warriors has its own unique battle armour, facial features and height! Afterwards you will visit the Old City Wall around Xi’an and explore the bustling markets, Muslim quarter and Bell and Drum tower.

You will take the bullet train to Chengdu this morning. You will visit Kuanzhai Alley, a vibrant historical street with its many local businesses and eateries. You will have the chance to try authentic Chinese street food, including sticky rice cakes, fried beef pancakes or even the popular local rabbit’s head. After soaking up the energy of Chengdu, you will head to your hotel for a good night’s rest.

The Giant Panda is an iconic animal of China. Unfortunately, it is now an endangered species with only 1,000 individuals remaining. Today you will visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, home to 800 of the remaining Pandas. You can enjoy watching them playing, snoozing and munching away on bamboo before heading to the airport to catch a flight to Guilin.

You will take to the streets of Yangshuo by bike, heading out into the countryside to enjoy the lovely rural landscape. After exploring the peaceful scenery around Yangshou you will attend a local cookery class where you can have a go at preparing delicious Chinese dishes.

Enjoy a relaxing morning as you float along the picturesque Yulong river on a bamboo raft. Later, you will head to Guilin train station to take the bullet train to the metropolis of Hong Kong. Catching the subway to the city centre, you will explore the city at your own pace before meeting up with your guide for a guided tour of the Temple street night market.

Your amazing adventure has come to an end. Having discovered some of the most special places that China has to offer, it will be a sad farewell to your group and guide. There are no planned activities today, leaving you all the time you need to prepare for your onward journey.