A route for those interested in traditional Chinese buildings and architecture, this itinerary includes the traditional houses of Yixan county, the porcelain centre of Jingdezhen, the Hakka circular communal houses of Fujian province, the colonial-style buildings of Xiamen (Amoy) and Shanghai. Much Chinese vernacular building is now under threat from urban redevelopment. This itinerary allows you to experience much of what has been preserved.

Day 1 Depart UK.
Day 2 Arrive in Shanghai, transfer to Ruijin Guesthouse, in the heart of the former French concession.
Day 3 Visits to the Yu Garden, a good example of a 19th-century formal garden, the former French concession area with its European-style villas, the waterfront buildings of the former banks and trading houses on the Bund,a dn the Xintiandi district with its 'shikumen' former tenements now converted into upmarket bars and boutiques.
Day 4 Travel by train to the city of Suzhou, famous for its gardens and silk industry. Visit some of the best of the city's gardens and a silk spinning mill.
Day 5 One day excursion to the well-preserved 'water towns' of Tongli and Zhouzhuang, constructed around canals and with many examples of Ming and Qing architecture. Transfer to railway station for overnight train (soft sleeper) to Jingdezhen.
Day 6 Arrive in Jingdezhen, the centre of China's 2,000-year-old porcelain industry. City tour, including the ceramics museum whcih contains a working kiln. Stay at Jingdezhen Hotel.
Day 7 Travel by car through the countryside of Anhui province to Xidi village, where there are some 120 perfectly preserved 18th-century houses. Overnight at Tunxi at Old Street Inn.
Day 8 Cable car to the summit of Huangshan. Wander around the various trails on the mountain. Stay at the Xilai Hotel.
Day 9 See the sunrise from your hotel on the summit of the mountain. Cable car down to the mountain and transfer to airport for flight to Shanghai.
Day 10 Morning flight to Xiamen. City tour, including the former foreign concession area of Gulangyu Island, with its old merchant houses and the former consulates of foreign powers.
Day 11 Travel by car to Yongding, on the border between Fujian and Guangdong provinces. Visit some of the unique Hakka earthen communal round houses in this area.
Day 12 Onwards by car to Chaozhou, with its ancient city walls and narrow streets.
Day 13 Travel by train to Guangzhou (Canton).
Day 14 Free day in Guangzhou.
Day 15 Travel by train to Hong Kong for flight back to the UK (or extend your stay in Hong Kong - please ask for a quote).