The Grand Tour

Guaranteed departure dates with minimum of 2 passengers

A comprehensive tour of China with a 5-star Yangtze cruise and including the Great Wall, Terracotta Army and giant pandas but also seeking to give a broad picture of different aspects of China today, from busy modern cities to rural ethnic minority areas. Optional extension to Hong Kong.

A select group tour based on 4- and 5-star hotels, and 5-star Yangtze cruise boat, with most meals included and with cultural evening shows. All cabins on the boat have private balconies.

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow or regional airports.
Day 2 Arrive Beijing. Met on arrival and transfer to 5-star Grand Gongda Jianguo Hotel, or similar. Welcome dinner in the evening. (D)
Day 3 Full day excursion to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Temple of Heaven. Enjoy a traditional Peking duck dinner in the evening. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Travel past the landmark stadiums created for the Beijing Olympics - the 'Bird's Nest' and the 'Water Cube - on the way to the mighty Great Wall at Mutianyu. Walk on this less busy section of wall before returning to Beijing. (B, L)
Day 5 In the morning explore the gardens and pavilions of the Summer Palace. After lunch, transfer to airport for flight to Xi'an. Transfer to 5-star Grand Noble Hotel or similar. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Full day excursion to the famous Terracotta Warriors, created by China's first emperor to guard his tomb for eternity. Then return to Xi'an to visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. In the evening after dinner enjoy a 'Tang Dynasty show' in music and dance evoking the sights and sounds of old China when Xi'an was the country's capital. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Morning visit to Xi'an's impressive medieval city walls and powerful South Gate. Then on the way to the airport, stop to view the recently excavated Han Yang tomb, the tomb of the Han emperor Jingdi. Flight to the south-eastern city of Guilin. Transfer to the 5-star Sheraton Hotel. (B, L)
Day 8 Cruise on the Li River, past beautiful scenery of limestone peaks and rice paddy fields, to the small riverside town of Yangshuo. Explore Yangshuo's shops and market before return to Guilin by road (B, L)
Day 9 Excursion into the hills to Longsheng county, home to ethnic minority hilltribe groups such as the Yao and Zhuang who have their own distinctive culture and customs. Visit the dramatic terraced rice fields of Longji, or the Dragon's Backbone, created by Zhuang farmers. Overnight at guesthouse in Ping An village (simple accommodation) (B, L, D)
Day 10 Explore further into this area, experiencing rural China, with visits to villages of the Dong minority, with their wooden 'drum towers' and 'wind and rain bridges'. Return to Guilin airport for evening flight to Chengdu. Transfer to 4-star Tianfu Sunshine Hotel. (B, L)
Day 11 Excursion south of Chengdu to the town of Leshan to see the 'Dafo', or Giant Buddha, one of the largest Buddha statues in the world, carved from a river cliff overlooking the Min River in the 8th century AD. (B, L, D)
Day 12 Visit to the Panda Research Base on the outskirts of Chengdu where many giant pandas are kept in semi-naturalistic surroundings and which runs a breeding programme. Transfer to railway station for train to Chongqing (about 2 hour journey). On arrival, transfer to join your 5-star deluxe Yangtze River cruise boat Victoria Anna from American Victoria Cruises or 5-star President Prime for departure later that evening (B, D)
Day 13 to 14 Yangtze River cruise downstream through the famous Three Gorges, including shore excursion to the 'ghost city' of Fengdu and trip in small boats through the smaller gorges on either the Daning River or Shennong Stream. (B, L, D)
Day 15 Yangtze River cruise, including shore excursion to the mighty Three Gorges Dam. Arrive Yichang around lunchtime and disembark. Transfer to airport for flight to Shanghai. Met on arrival and transfer 5-star Ramada Plaza Gateway Hotel or similar (B, D)
Day 16 Day excursion to the 'water town' of Tongli with its old houses and canals typical of small towns of the Yangtze delta region. Visit the beautiful Tuisi Garden, created by a retired official in the 19th century, and take a boat trip on the town's maze of canals. Return to Shanghai. (B, L, D)
Day 17 Sightseeing city tour to include the Yu Garden in the old town district, the famous Bund or waterfront, and the former French Concession. Enjoy an acrobatic show in evening. (B, L, D)
Day 18 Free day. (B)
Day 19 Transfer to airport for flight back to UK, arriving later the same day. (B)

EXTENSION TO HONG KONG - please ask for prices

Day 19Transfer to airport for flight to Hong Kong and transfer to Eaton Smart Hotel (4 star) in Kowloon. (B, L)
Day 20 Half day tour of Hong Kong, to include Victoria Peak and Aberdeen Harbour. Afternoon free. (B)
Day 21 Transfer to airport for flight back to UK, arriving later the same day or early the following morning depending on airline schedules. (B)