China Discovery

Guaranteed departure dates with minimum of 2 passengers

A classic tour combining the very best of China and giving you a panoramic view of this diverse and exciting country in the time available, but in the comfort of 4- and 5-star hotels and a 5-star Yangtze River cruise boat. The tour not only includes the highlights of any visit to China, such as the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Army and Shanghai, but also lesser-known sights such as the 'water town' of Wuzhen. Add the pandas at Chengdu and the scenery of Guilin and Yangshuo and you have an ideal introduction to China.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow or regional airports.
Day 2 Arrive in Shanghai. Transfer to Ramada Plaza Gateway Hotel (5 star) or similar. Rest of the day free until welcome dinner in the evening, and stroll on the Bund and Huangpu River.
Day 3 Excursions around this vibrant city, including the Yu Garden, a gem of a garden in the old city, the Jade Buddha Temple and exciting Xintiandi district in the former French concession. (B, L)
Day 4 Travel by train to Suzhou. Suzhou is famous for its classic Chinese gardens and silk industry. Visit the Panmen watergate district and the silk embroidery institute. Stay at the Holiday Inn Youlian Hotel (4 star). (B, L)
Day 5 Take a short cruise on the Grand Canal and then explore Suzhou's old quarter. After lunch, visit the Humble Adminstrator's Garden, one of Suzhou's best gardens, followed by a tour of the silk spinning factory. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Travel by coach to the city of Hangzhou, stopping en route at the atmospheric 'water town' of Wuzhen, with its wooden houses, canals and elegant bridges. The town exudes a traditional feel, and efforts have been made to preserve old traditions and crafts. On arrival at Hangzhou transfer to the Red Star Culture Hotel (4 star). (B, L)
Day 7 Take a boat trip on Hangzhou's scenic West Lake, followed by a visit to a tea plantation on the slopes overlooking the lake that produce famous green tea. Then visit the Huqingyutang ancient pharmacy, a fascinating look at Chinese traditional medicine housed in an original 19th-century pharmacy, and the ancient cultural street. (B, L)
Day 8 Transfer to airport for flight to Xi'an. Visit the Han Yang tomb of the Han emperor Jingdi, which has its own miniature terracotta army, on the way from the airport to the Grand Noble Hotel (5 star). In the evening enjoy a song and dance show evoking the sights and sounds of the Tang Dynasty when Xi'an was capital of China. (B, L, D)
Day 9 Excursion to the famous Terracotta Warriors, created by China's first emperor Qin Shi Huang, to guard his tomb for eternity. Then return to Xi'an city to visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and the Muslim Quarter and Grand Mosque. Transfer to railway station to join your overnight train to Beijing (soft sleeper class = equivalent of first class, sharing 4-berth compartment) (B, L)
Day 10 Arrive Beijing in the morning. Transfer to 5-star Grand Gongda Jianguo Hotel or similar for breakfast. Then visit to the Summer Palace in the afternoon. Peking Opera show in the evening. (B, D)
Day 11Visit to Tiananmen Square, followed by the Forbidden City - the palace of China's imperial rulers for 500 years. Then take a tour by cycle rickshaw around the narrow alleyways of the 'hutongs' - the traditional residential areas of old Beijing - to sample daily life. (B, L)
Day 12 Excursion to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. Then return to Beijing to visit the Temple of Heaven, where emperors performed rituals to ensure good harvests. Peking duck dinner in the evening. (B, L, D)
Day 13 Morning free until transfer to airport for flight to the central city of Yichang. Transfer to join your 5-star Yangtze cruise boat Victoria Selina (Star) from American Victoria Cruises for departure later that day. (B, D)
Day 14 to 16 Voyage upstream through the famous Three Gorges. There will opportunities for stops and sightseeing en route including the Three Gorges Dam, one of the Yangtze's tributary streams, and Shibaozhai or Fengdu. (B, L, D)
Day 17 Arrive in Chongqing at the end of your cruise. Travel by 'bullet train' on the two-hour journey to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province. On arrival, transfer to the Tianfu Sunshine Hotel (4 star). (B, L)
Day 18 Excursion to the town of Leshan to see the 'Dafo' or Giant Buddha, one of the largest Buddha statues in the world, carved into a river cliff overlooking the Min River in the 8th century AD. (B, L)
Day 19Visit to the Panda Research Base on the outskirts of Chengdu, where many pandas are kept and which runs a breeding programme, before exploring some of Chengdu's highlights. Transfer to airport for flight to Guilin in the south-east of the country, famous for its unique limestone scenery. Stay at Bravo Hotel (4 star). (B, L)
Day 20 Travel by road into the hills north-west of Guilin to Longsheng county. Visit villages of the local Zhuang and Yao ethnic minority hilltribes, and the spectacular terraced rice fields of Longji. (B, L)
Day 21 Cruise on the Li River, meandering through some of China's most classic and finest scenery. On arrival at Yangshuo transfer to the Green Lotus Hotel (5 star). Browse the town's shops and busy market. In the evening enjoy the Liusanjie son et lumiere show, with the scenery as a backdrop. (B, L)
Day 22 Visit to the Reed Flute Cave, a huge underground limestone cavern, and Elephant Trunk Hill and Diecai Hill. Transfer to airport for early evening flight to Hong Kong. Connect to onward flight to London Heathrow, arriving early morning of Day 23. (B, L)

HONG KONG EXTENSION
For those who want to stay in Hong Kong, we can arrange an extension for as long as you wish at a range of hotels in Kowloon or Hong Kong Island, with or without transfers and half day Hong Kong island tour.