➤ Arrival Beijing - Transfer to your hotel and meet your guide:

➤ Itinerary: We will be greeting you at the airport from where you will be transferred by private car and English speaking guide to your hotel. The approximately 1 hour journey to your hotel is a perfect opportunity to ask the guide any initial questions you might have. The guide will provide assisstance with checking in to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax from the long flight or start to explore the city with the help of your personalised Trip Guidebook we send you before the trip. The area around your hotel is perfect for an introductory walk to soak up the local atmosphere.

➤ Overnight at the Jade Garden Hotel 4*. A good standard modern hotel with some character and an unbeatable location close to the East gate of the Forbidden City.

➤ Meals included: None.

➤ Beijing - Great Wall at Mutianyu and the Ming Tombs:

➤ Itinerary: Today we will be showing you one of China’s most famous sights - the Great Wall. At over 4,000 miles long there is a lot of Wall to see but we will be taking you to one of the better and less touristed sections at Mutianyu 70km from Beijing. The drive to the wall averages 2 hours and will take you from your hotel in the centre of Beijing through the rapidly expanding suburbs and on into the beautiful mountainous countryside to the north east of the city. The Mutianyu section dates back to the 6th century but was largely rebuilt in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty. It is one of the best preserved sections of the wall largely due to the high standard of construction. The views from on top of the wall are spectacular and helped by Mutianyu having a high density of watchtowers which give a good idea of the scale of this section as it passes over the mountain ridges. Lunch will be in a restaurant close to Mutianyu village.

On the way back to Beijing we will stop at the Ming Tombs, the burial place of 13 Ming Dynasty Emperors between 1368 to 1644AD some of whom oversaw the construction the Great Wall section you saw earlier today. The tombs are approached along the Sacred Way lined with giant marble figures and animals who guard the tomb area. After you will be driven back to your hotel with the evening free.

➤ Overnight at the Jade Garden Hotel 4*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

➤ Beijing - Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace before an overnight train onto Xian:

➤ Itinerary: Today you will see the main highlights of Beijing delving deeply into the city’s imperial past. We start with the vast Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world. The square is home to the Mao Mausoleum and monument to the People’s Heroes and is flanked by the Great Hall of the People (China’s parliament building) and the National Museum of China both built in the early 1960’s with help from the Soviet Union which shows in the architecture.

To the north of the square is the equally vast palace complex of the Forbidden City reached by passing under the Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tiananmen in Chinese). Built from 1406 to 1420 by up to 1 million workers it contains 980 buildings with 8,707 rooms and was the former home of the Emperors and their court. We’ll walk up the middle axis from South to North taking in the splendour of the most important central buildings before finishing in the relatively small garden by the north gate.
 
The much smaller Temple of Heaven is next but size doesn’t matter and this building is considered by many (including us) to be the most beautiful building in China. Perfectly symmetrical it was constructed at the same time as the Forbidden City and its primary purpose was as a prayer hall the Emperors visited to ask for good harvests. The temple is set inside a vast park giving a wonderful feeling of space in such a packed city.

The last stop today is at the Summer Palace to the west of Beijing built in 1750 by Emperor Qianlong. It is dominated by the Kunming lake which was hand dug. The lake is dotted with peaceful pavilions and gardens and is as popular escape from the city for todays Beijingers as it was for the Imperial court.

After the tour a transfer to the station for an overnight train onto your next destination of Xian.

➤ Overnight on board a sleeper train to Xian.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

➤ Arrival Xian - The Terra Cotta Army, Big Wild Goose Pagoda & City Walls:

➤ Itinerary: You arrive early in the morning on the overnight train from Beijing. Your guide will take you to your hotel where you will have time to have breakfast, freshen up and, if a room is available, you can also check-in.

Today you will see one of the highlights of China - the extraordinary ranks of the Terra Cotta Army. Created by China’s first Emperor Qin Shi Huang - the fabled “Yellow Emperor” - to provide an imperial court and, of course, an army for the afterlife. Work began in 246 BC and at its height it is said that 700,000 people worked on the project. At some point however this vast undertaking became lost to time and was only rediscovered in 1974 by a farmer digging a well. Excavations have continued since and the three pits unearthed are thought to contain 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses. Several thousand of the soldiers have been pieced back together and make for a uniquely impressive sight today even without their original paint. The Emperor specifically stated that no two soldiers should look alike and all are life sized.

In the afternoon we will visit a relic of the Tang Dynasty, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652 AD and containing a large volume of Buddhist scriptures which were obtained from India by the eminent monk Xuanzang. After this we finish on Xian’s largest construction, the 13.7 km City Walls which are up to 18 meters thick at the base and 12 meters in height. The walls were constructed during the Ming Dynasty from 1370 AD and replaced an even larger wall. It is possible, if time, to hire bicycles and ride some sections of the wall.

Free time in the evening to explore the city perhaps eating in Xian’s vibrant Muslim quarter, a left over of the Silk Road which began or ended in Xian depending on which way you were heading!

➤ Overnight at the Grand Noble Hotel 5*. A comfortable hotel located close to Xian’s famous City Walls and considered one of the best places to stay in this city.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

➤ Xian - The Hanyangling Mausoleum and departure by plane to Chengdu:

➤ Itinerary: On the way to the airport for your flight to Chengdu we will stop at the Hanyangling Mausoleum, the burial place of the Emperor Jing of Han who ruled from 188 BC to 141 BC. The Emperor was responsible for many reforms during his rule and credited with the prosperity that followed. The Mausoleum opened to the public in 2005 and is China’s first underground museum where you can actually walk over the burial pits along glass walkways. Excavations continue and you can often see archaeologists working in the pits. Much less crowded than the Terra Cotta Army, the experience allows you to get up closer to the ancient artifacts. Continue onto the airport for your flight.

Late afternoon arrival in Chengdu with a transfer to your hotel. With a population topping 13 million and growing (the fifth most populous city in China) Chengdu is the capital of mountainous Sichuan province and the place to come and see Giant Pandas. The city does have charm beyond Pandas though. The people are friendly and the food excellent making Chengdu an easy place to spend a few days. Free time this afternoon to explore the area around your hotel, a fascinating district of temples and small shops. We recommend visiting the Wenshu temple which is also a good place to get a nice cup of Chinese tea!

➤ Overnight at the BuddhaZen hotel 3*. One of our favourite in China this beautiful hotel is built in the Chinese traditional style and has a great location and comfortable rooms.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

➤ Chengdu the Giant Pandas and a bullet train to Chongqing and the start of your Yangtze River Cruise:

➤ Itinerary: You start today with an early breakfast so that we can get to the Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding while the pandas are active (which is usually only in the morning). Opened in 1987 the base now has over 60 pandas and is considered the best place in the world to see these endangered icons of China.  After the tour a transfer back into Chengdu to the station for a bullet train to Chongqing - a vast city on the banks of the Yangtze River and start point for Cruises downriver. Transfer on arrival in Chongqing to your Yangtze cruise ship. The ship will depart early evening with dinner once underway (note that some cruise ships do not offer dinner the first night in which case we will take you to a local restaurant before boarding).

➤ Overnight on board your Yangtze Cruise Ship.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner.

➤ Yangtze River Cruise - Qutang Gorge and Fengdu Ghost City:

➤ Itinerary: Your first full day on board. Navigate the 8km long Qutang Gorge, the Third Gorge of the Yangtze. There will also be a shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City, a temple complex perched on cliffs above the river with commanding views. Perhaps one of the best experiences of a Yangtze Cruise is watching life on the river go by. The Yangtze is very much a working river with a huge amount of boats plying trade between the many towns that run along the banks - many of which have had to be relocated further up the steep river banks due to the rising waters of the Three Gorges Dam. In the evening the crew usually put on a show or other entertainment in the ship’s lounge.

➤ Overnight on board your Yangtze Cruise Ship.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

➤ Yangtze River Cruise - Shennong Lesser Gorges, Wu Gorge, Xiling Gorge and Three Gorges Dam:

➤ Itinerary: The second full day on board your cruise ship with a shore excursion up the tranquil waters of the Shennong Lesser Gorges (occasionally this trip is replaced with a trip up another tributary). You will also sail through impressive Wu Gorge and the West section of Xiling Gorge both of which offer some of the best scenery along the river. During the evening a complete change of scene as the Giant Three Gorges Dam is approached with your ship slowly navigating through the enormous locks.

➤ Overnight on board your Yangtze Cruise Ship.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

➤ Yangtze River Cruise - Three Gorges Dam to Yichang and a flight onto Shanghai:

➤ Itinerary: Your final morning on the ship with a shore excursion to the gigantic and controversial Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest in terms of its ability to generate electricity through its 32 turbines. Aside from electricity generation the dam is designed to aid shipping along the Yangtze as well as reduce the flood potential which has plagued the Yangtze throughout Chinese history. The main structure was completed in 2006 with the height being 181 meters and the width 2,335 meters. The result of the dam has been to create a 600km long reservoir which you have just sailed through!

Return to the ship for the last few hours of cruising along the East section of the 76km long Xiling Gorge, the first gorge of the Yangtze. Arrive at Yichang early afternoon with a transfer direct to the airport for a flight to Shanghai, a city which aims to be a vision of China's future and is hurtling towards it's goal of being China's financial capital. There are few cities in China that are such a testament to China's phenomenal growth of the last few decades and what it to an extent lacks in historical sites it more than makes up with its sheer energy and dynamism providing you with a taste of the New China that is making it's mark on the world stage. Transfer on arrival to your hotel with free time to relax and prepare for your first night on land after several days on the river!

➤ Overnight at the Astor House Hotel 3*. Don’t be put off by the 3* rating - this gem of a hotel has a fantastic location at the end of the Bund and offers rare charm and character.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

➤ Shanghai - Half day tour of the Yuyuan Garden, Old Shanghai, The Bund - free afternoon:

➤ Itinerary: This morning you will be visiting some of Shanghai’s most famous sights. We will start with the Yuyuan Garden located in the heart of the Old City. The garden was established in 1559 by the son of a Ming Dynasty official who spent 20 years building it up in an effort to please his father. Today the garden showcases the architecture of this period with its pavilions, ponds and rock formations.

Surrounding the garden is Old Shanghai, an area that has been a vibrant commercial centre for over a century and which historically very much represented the “Chinese” part of Shanghai in comparison with the more European areas such as the Bund and the French Concession. The morning finishes with a walk down the Bund along which the Huangpu River runs and where stands some of Asia’s finest colonial European architecture. Across the river rises Shanghai’s ultra modern Pudong Financial district whose skyscrapers dwarf the once dominant buildings of the Bund. All in all a superb introduction to Shanghai.

Free time in the afternoon and evening. The city is China’s shopping capital and a good place to stock up on souvenirs. Another option is to wander the French Concession stopping at cafes and restaurants - another favourite activity!

➤ Overnight at the Astor House Hotel 3*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

➤ Shanghai - Maglev train to Pudong Airport - Departure from China:

➤ Itinerary: Your day is free until a transfer to the Maglev station for a ride on the world’s fastest train to Pudong airport to catch your flight out of China. Your transfer guide will buy a standard class Maglev ticket for you and make sure you get on the train which takes just 8 minutes to cover the 30km to the airport reaching a top speed of 430 km/hour (300km/hour before 9am). End of services on arrival at the airport.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

 ✘ International flight tickets are not included in this itinerary. We can arrange these for you if you wish.

 ✔ Xian to Chengdu economy class
 ✔ Yichang to Shanghai economy class

 ✔ Beijing to Xian soft sleeper class (12 hour overnight trip) 1 berth each in a 4 berth cabin
 ✔ Chengdu to Chongqing first class (2 hour day time bullet train trip)
 ✔ Maglev ticket to Pudong airport standard class (8 minutes reaching 430km/hour)

 ✔ Yangtze River Cruise Chongqing to Yichang

 ✔ 2 nights Beijing - Jade Garden Hotel 4* (standard room with breakfast)
 ✔ 1 night overnight sleeper train Beijing to Xian - shared 4 berth cabin (upgrades possible)
 ✔ 1 night Xian - Grand Noble Hotel 5* (standard room with breakfast)
 ✔ 1 night Chengdu - BuddhaZen Hotel 3* (deluxe room with breakfast)
 ✔ 3 nights Yangtze River - 4* Cruise ship standard twin room with private bathroom and river view.
 ✔ 2 nights Shanghai - Astor House Hotel 3* (deluxe room with breakfast)

 ✔ Beijing - Airport to Hotel / Hotel to Train Station
 ✔ Xian - Train Station to Hotel / Hotel to Airport
 ✔ Chengdu - Airport to Hotel / Hotel to Train Station
 ✔ Chongqing - Train Station to Yangtze cruise ship
 ✔ Yichang - Yangtze Cruise Ship to Airport
 ✔ Shanghai - Airport to Hotel / Hotel to Train Station for the Maglev train to Pudong Airport

 ✔ Beijing - Full day private tour to the Great Wall at Mutianyu and the Ming Tombs.
 ✔ Beijing - Full day private tour to Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, The Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace.
 ✔ Xian - Full day private tour to the Terra cotta Warriors, Wild Goose Pagoda, City Walls.
 ✔ Xian - Half day private tour to the Hanyangling Mausoleum.
 ✔ Chengdu - Half day private tour to the Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding.
 ✔ Yangtze River - group excursions to Fengdu Ghost City, Shennong Stream and the Three Gorges Dam.
 ✔ Shanghai - Half day private tour to the Yuyuan gardens, Old Shanghai and The Bund.

 ✔ Meals - As indicated in the itinerary.
 ✔ Support - Emergency numbers and contacts for each destination.
 ✔ Guidebook - Our exclusive Trip Guidebook personalised to your trip.
 ✔ Financial Peace of Mind - All monies paid to us are legally protected under UK law.

✘ International Airfare to and from China (we can book these flights on request).
✘ The Chinese visa (we can advise as to how best obtain this visa).
✘ Travel insurance to cover medical treatment in China.
✘ Discretionary gratuities to drivers and guides.