Yangtze and pandas

For those wishing to see China's famous giant pandas, this tour combines a visit to Chengdu with the highlights of any tour of China, including Beijing for the Forbidden City and Great Wall, Xi'an for the Terracotta Army, and the exciting city of Shanghai. Also included is a cruise on the Yangtze River through the Three Gorges, the historic city of Suzhou, and the Giant Buddha of Leshan.

An escorted tour with your own English-speaking guides and car and driver, using 5-star hotels and 5-star Yangtze River cruise boat. Most meals and cultural show included.

Day 1 Depart UK.
Day 2 Arrive Beijing. Met on arrival and transfer to 5-star hotel. Rest of the day free.
Day 3 One day excursion to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, returning to Beijing to visit the Temple of Heaven where emperors performed rituals to ensure good harvests. (B, L)
Day 4 Visit Tiananmen Square, followed by the Forbidden City, the centre of power for China's rulers for five centuries. Then take a cycle rickshaw ride around the 'hutongs', the traditional residential areas of old Beijing with their narrow alleyways and courtyard houses. (B, L)
Day 5 In the morning visit the pavilions and gardens of the Summer Palace. After lunch, transfer to airport for flight to Xi'an. Transfer to 5-star hotel. (B, L)
Day 6 Excursion to the famous Terracotta Army, created by China's first emperor to guard his tomb, plus the Shaanxi Historical Museum and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. 'Tang Dynasty' song and dance show in the evening after dinner evoking the sights and sounds of oold China. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Visit the Muslim Quarter around the historic Drum Tower, and the Grand Mosque, created in a blend of Arab and Chinese styles. After lunch, transfer to airport for flight to Chengdu. Transfer to 5-star hotel. (B, L)
Day 8 After breakfast, visit the Panda Research Base on the outskirts of Chengdu which houses many of these endangered animals in naturalistic surroundings and which runs a breeding programme. Then travel onward to Leshan to see the 'Dafo', or Giant Buddha - one of the largest Buddha statues in the world - carved from a river cliff in the 8th century AD. (B, L)
Day 9 Transfer to railway station for the two-hour journey to Chongqing by express train. Brief city tour before transfer to pier to join your 5-star Yangtze River cruise boat from American Victoria Cruises for departure later that evening. (B, D)
Day 10 to 11 Yangtze River cruise downstream through the Three Gorges, including shore excursions and trip in small boats on either the Shennong Stream or Daning River, tributaries of the Yangtze. (B, L, D)
Day 12 Visit the Three Gorges Dam. Arrive Yichang around lunchtime. Disembark and transfer to airport for flight to Shanghai. Transfer to 5-star hotel. (B)
Day 13 Travel by train for the short 45-minute journey to Suzhou. Visit some of Suzhou's classic Chinese gardens such as the Garden for Lingering In and the Garden of the Master of the Nets, plus the silk embroidery institute. Return by train to Shanghai. (B, L)
Day 14 One day Shanghai city tour to include the Yu Garden in the old town district; the Bund, or waterfront, with its European-style former banks and trading houses; the Jade Buddha Temple; and wonderful collections of the Shanghai Museum. (B, L)
Day 15 Transfer to airport for flight back to UK, arriving later the same day (B)