China the Beautiful

Guaranteed departure dates with minimum of 2 passengers

One of our most popular tours, a classic tour of China's highlights, including historic cities, Yangtze River cruise, the Forbidden City, Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors. Also including a stay in the beautiful countryside around Yangshuo and Guilin, and a visit to Suzhou and the 'water town' of Tongli.

A select group tour, with most meals included, using 5-star hotels and some of the best 5-star boats operating on the river from the American-managed Victoria Cruises.

Day 1 Depart UK.
Day 2 Arrive Beijing. Transfer to 5-star Grand Gongda Jianguo Hotel or similar. Rest of the day free until welcome dinner in the evening. (D)
Day 3 One day excursion to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City - the complex of courtyards, palace buildings and gardens that were the centre of power for China's rulers from the 15th to the early 20th centuries - plus the gardens and pavilions of the Summer Palace in the north of Beijing. Enjoy a traditional Peking duck dinner in the evening. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Excursion to the mountains north of Beijing to visit the famous Great Wall at Badaling. After lunch, visit the tombs of the Ming Dynasty emperors, in particular that of the emperor Yongle. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Tour by cycle rickshaw around the 'hutongs' - the traditional residential areas of old Beijing with their narrow alleyways and courtyard houses. Then visit the mansion of Prince Gong - father of the last emperor Pu Yi, followed by the Tibetan Lama Temple - the centre of Tibetan Buddhism in the capital and its most colourful shrine (B, L)
Day 6Transfer to airport for flight to Yichang to join your 5-star Yangtze River cruise boat Victoria Selina from the American-managed Victoria Cruises for departure later that evening (B, L, D)
Days 7 to 9 Yangtze River cruise, with stops and sightseeing opportunities along the way. Highlights include passing through the Three Gorges (Xiling, Wu and Qutang), an excursion on the Shennong River in small boats, and shore excursions to the Three Gorges Dam, and Shibaozhai or Fengdu. (B, L, D)
Day 10 Arrive at Chongqing. City sightseeing in this busy riverside city, before flying to historic Xi'an and checking in at 5-star Grand Noble Hotel or similar. (B, L, D)
Day 11 One day excursion to see the renowned Terracotta Army, the thousands of lifelike warrior figures that were buried around the tomb of the China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in the 3rd century BC. Then travel back to Xi'an to visit the atmospheric Muslim Quarter and the Grand Mosque, an intriguing mix of Chinese and Arab styles. (B, L, D)
Day 12 In the morning visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda before transfer to airport for flight to Guilin, in the south-east of China, famed for the beauty of its landscape. Stay at Guilin Sheraton Hotel (5 star). (B, L, D)
Day 13 Cruise down the meandering Li River to Yangshuo, a large riverside village popular with independent travellers. Explore the local shops, market and backpackers' cafes. Stay overnight at Green Lotus Hotel (5 star). (B, L)
Day 14 Day to sample the beautiful local countryside around Yangshuo with a bicycle tour to Moon Hill (minibus for the less active) and a former village landlord's house, with lunch in a local farmer's house - a day reckoned by past participants as one of the highlights of the tour. (B, L, D)
Day 15 Free morning in Yangshuo before stopping at the Reed Flute Cave, a huge underground cavern, on the way to Guilin airport for evening flight to the central eastern city of Nanjing, important in China's history. Stay at 5-star Grand Hotel. (B, D)
Day 16 City tour of Nanjing, including the mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen, China's first republican president and the 'father' of modern China, Xuanwu Park and the Zhonghua Gate, part of the city's formidable Ming dynasty city walls. (B, L)
Day 17 Travel by coach to the 'garden' city of Suzhou, noted for its silk industry and its exquisite private gardens. Visit two of Suzhou's classic gardens: the Garden of the Master of the Nets and the Garden for Lingering In. Also visit a silk-spinning factory to view the processes involved in the creation of fine silk. Stay at Holiday Inn Youlian Hotel (4 star). (B, L)
Day 18 In the morning visit the area around the Panmen watergate before travelling by coach to the picturesque small 'water town' of Tongli, situated in the countryside between Suzhou and Shanghai, where old white-washed houses back onto canals criss-crossed by stone bridges. Visit the beautiful Tuisi Garden in Tongli. (B, L, D)
Day 19 Travel by coach to Shanghai. Stay at 5-star Ramada Plaza Gateway Hotel or similar. Visit to the Yu Garden, a small gem of a traditional garden in the heart of the old Chinese town area: the Bund, or waterfront, with its European-style former banks and trading houses, and the vibrant Xintiandi district in the former French concession. (B, L, D)
Day 20 Visit to Pudong new economic development zone on the other bank of the Huangpu River with its dramatic skyscrapers and modern architecture. Afternoon free for last-minute shopping or to explore Shanghai on your own. (B, D)
Day 21 Transfer to airport for flight back to UK, arriving later the same day. (B)

HONG KONG EXTENSION
Flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong on Day 21. Two nights + breakfast at 4- or 5-star hotel in Kowloon or Hong Kong island, and flight back to UK. From £395 per person.