➤ 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.

➤ Depart Xian by plane to Lhasa. Transfer to your hotel - Meet your guide:

➤ Itinerary: Early morning transfer to the airport for a flight to Lhasa. Welcome to Tibet! You arrive at Lhasa’s Gonggar airport after what has, cloud cover permitting, been a spectacular flight. Your guide will be meeting you at the airport for the 1 hour drive to Lhasa. Tibet’s capital is at a quite manageable altitude of 3,650 meters (12,000 feet) is a unique city and a highlight of China and, indeed, Asia. The setting, the history, architecture, people and contrasts all make for a very special travel experience. Free time to relax and adjust to the altitude or explore the fascinating area of the old Tibetan city your hotel is located in.

➤ Overnight at the Dhood Gu Hotel 3*. With a fantastic location close to Barkhor Square in the heart of the Old City this hotel is built and immerses you in the beautiful and colourful Tibetan style.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

➤ Lhasa - visit Drepung Monastery, Nechung residence, the Jokhang temple and Kora and Barkhor Square:

➤ Itinerary: Today we first head 5km out of Lhasa to Drepung Monastery, the largest in Tibet located on the Gambo Utse mountain. It was founded in 1416 and was the principal seat of learning for the Gelugpa school and at its height was thought to contain up to 10,000 monks (nowadays there are 300). About 10 minutes walk from Drepung is Nechung Chok which was the residence of the State Oracle of Tibet. This small monastery was also evocatively known as the ”Demon Fortress of the Oracle King.”

Return to Lhasa with time for lunch before visiting the Jokhang Temple, considered the most sacred and important temple in all Tibet. The temple is located at one end of Barkhor Square, a fascinating meeting point for pilgrims from all over Tibet. The temple itself was first constructed around 642 AD and despite or perhaps because of the hoards of visitors (mostly pilgrims) has an intense atmosphere infused with incense and devotion. You can sometimes get up onto the roof of the temple with good views over the old city. Surrounding the temple is the Barkhor Kora, a 1 km circular walk for pilgrims and locals as well as being a busy market selling all the goods a pilgrim might need on their travels. Free time to continue to explore the Old City for the rest of the day and evening.

➤ Overnight at the Dhood Gu Hotel 3*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

➤ Lhasa - visit the Potala Palace, Tibetan Medical Institute and Sera Monastery:

➤ Itinerary: Today you will visit one of the architectural highlights of China, the vast Potala Palace, former chief residence of the Dalai Lama’s of Tibet. The palace started to be built in 1645 and has been added to over the centuries. It is 13 stories high and contains over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 statues. Visitor numbers are restricted although it always feels busy inside. You will see some of the meeting rooms as well as the extraordinary chapels with their vast gold and jewel encrusted shrines to previous Dalai Lamas (the chapel of the 5th Dalai Lama has a stupa coated in 3,727kg of gold and 18,680 precious stones). The Potala dominates Lhasa not just from it’s size but also it’s location on Mount Potala and the views you get from the palace stretch right across Lhasa to the mountains that surround the city.

After the exertions of visiting the palace itself it is time for a trip to the Tibetan Medical Institute where a local Tibetan doctor will give an introduction about Tibetan traditional medicines - an area deeply rooted in Tibetan culture. This will leave you ready for another of Lhasa’s great teaching Monasteries - Sera. Spread over 28 acres at the base of Pubuchok mountain it was built in 1419. The highlights are the great assembly hall and some of the colleges located within the complex with their wealth of architectural features and shrines. Free time in the evening and overnight hotel.

➤ Overnight at the Dhood Gu Hotel 3*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

➤ Lhasa - day trip to Ganden monastery with time to hike in the surrounding hills:

➤ Itinerary: Today you will have a full day tour out of the city to the huge Ganden Monastery. The journey there is as much part of the trip as the destination with the approach to the monastery up a spectacular high altitude winding road. Ganden is one of the 'great three' Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet, located at the top of Wangbur Mountain 36 kilometers from Lhasa at an altitude of 4,300m. Founded in 1409 it used to be home to up to 6,000 monks but today there are just 170. After touring the monastery you will have time to hike in the surrounding hills with their amazing views across the valleys and mountain ranges. Return to Lhasa with free time in the evening.

➤ Overnight at the Dhood Gu Hotel 3*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

➤ Depart Lhasa for Chengdu by plane:

➤ Itinerary: Free time until a transfer to the airport for your flight onto Chengdu. 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 - Yuyuan Garden - Old Shanghai - The Bund - Acrobats:

➤ Itinerary: Today 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. Your afternoon 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. We round the day off with a visit to the world famous Chinese Acrobats for a show filled colour and excitement. Return to your hotel and with the rest of the evening free.

➤ Overnight at the Astor House Hotel 3*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

➤ Shanghai to Huangshan and a transfer up to the mountain top hotel:

➤ Itinerary: Free time until a transfer to the airport for a flight to Huangshan city. At the airport in Huangshan city a guide and driver will be waiting to take you to the mountain itself. The transfer includes both the entrance fee to Huangshan as well as the cable car up to the top. Note that there is about a 30 minute walk from the top of the cable car to the hotel. You will be able to leave any luggage you feel you won’t need while up on the mountain at a hotel at the bottom of the cable car and your guide will help you to do this. It will be late afternoon by the time you have checked-in to your hotel but this is an excellent time to take a short walk in the area around the hotel itself.

➤ Overnight at the Beihai Hotel 3*. Not surprisingly there are only a few options at the top of Huangshan and this venerable institution is the best of the lot but then you come here for the views!

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

➤ Huangshan - Free day to enjoy the mountain starting with the famous sunrise!

➤ Itinerary: You should be up very early this morning to see the sunrise Huangshan is famous for. One of the best view points is only a few hundred meters from your hotel. A lot of the year it can be very cold at dawn but you should find down jackets in your hotel room’s wardrobe. If the weather Gods are on your side the sunrise is spectacular and the “cloud sea” often plays a part in this with a layer of cloud well below your view point.

Most people return to the hotel for breakfast before heading out again for a full day exploring the multitude of well signed and maintained paths that stretch out across the mountains. There is plenty to see with many of the rock formations given names such as “Flower Grown out of a Writing Brush Rock”, “Lion Peak”, “Flying over Rock” , “Bright Top Peak”, “Continue to Believe Peak”, “Refreshing Terrace”, “Cloud Dispelling Pavilion” and the “Big Valley of Xihai.” There is no set itinerary to follow but the time you have on Huangshan is long enough to see the highlights.

➤ Overnight at the Beihai Hotel 3*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

➤ Huangshan to Hangzhou - Another chance to see the sunrise before returning to Huangshan City for your onward travel to by bus to Hangzhou:

➤ Itinerary: Another chance to see the sunrise (and they can be very different from day to day so don’t resist the temptation to stay in bed!) After breakfast you will have a few more hours to explore further before heading back down the mountain by cable car where a guide will meet you and help you collect your luggage before the drive back to Huangshan City. From Huangshan city you take a bus for the 3 hour journey to Hangzhou  with a transfer to your hotel and free time.

➤ Overnight at the Crystal Orange Hotel 4*. With a fantastic location right by the famous West Lake - the reason to visit Hangzhou - this well regarded hotel offers both Asian style and Western comfort.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

➤ Hangzhou - Full day tour of the West Lake:

➤ Itinerary: At first glance Hangzhou looks like a huge modern urban expanse like so many east coast Chinese cities but it has one trump card, the stunning West Lake, the legendary beauty of which has been praised written and painted by the Chinese for centuries. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel with time to check in a freshen up before starting a half day orientation tour of the West Lake. The lake has been one of China’s most important cultural areas through the dynasties of the last 1,000 years and represents the Chinese idea of man in perfection with nature. The many temples and gardens surrounding the West lake are designed to personify this relationship and over time became an Asian ideal exported to Japan and Korea. Hangzhou is not only a superb place to learn about Chinese culture but is also easy to navigate and explore making it a relaxing destination.

The tour will include a boat ride on the lake as well as visit the architecturally stunning residence of Hu Xueyan, the Lingyin Temple, Six Harmonies Pagoda and a visit to a tea plantation. At the end of the afternoon return to your hotel with a free evening.

➤ Overnight at the Crystal Orange Hotel 4*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

➤ Hangzhou to Guilin - Continue your journey to Guilin by plane:

➤ Itinerary: Free time in Hangzhou before a transfer to the airport to catch a flight onto Guilin with a transfer on arrival to your hotel. Guilin is one of China's more pleasant cities although it has undergone rapid growth in recent years. However, it is still blessed with sights and stunning scenery surrounds the city. A trip down the Li River to Yangshuo is one of the main highlights which you will do tomorrow.

➤ Overnight Bravo Hotel 4*. This hotel has a good location next to Ronghu lake and within easy walking distance to downtown Guilin.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

➤ Guilin to Yangshuo - a cruise along the Li River passing through the stunning scenery this region is famed for:

➤ Itinerary: After an early breakfast a transfer from your hotel to the wharf to start your trip down the Li River to relaxed Yangshuo. You will cruise through the stunning limestone karst scenery that has made this part of China so famous while having lunch on board the boat. Depending on the river itself the trip can take from 5 to 7 hours but the time just flows by as you pass through some of China’s most iconic scenery - one section of which has even been reproduced on the RMB 20 bank note. Aside from the scenery there is plenty of life along the river to observe.

Early afternoon disembark in Yangshuo with a transfer to your hotel. Free time to settle in and explore this wonderfully laid back town and its beautiful surrounding countryside.

➤ Overnight at the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat 3*. One of China’s best kept secrets this friendly hotel is the best place from which to enjoy the scenery of this area of China.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

➤ Yangshuo - A free day to explore the town and surrounding countryside:

➤ Itinerary: A free day in Yangshuo to continue to explore the town and it’s beautiful surrounding countryside. A wide range of local tours and activities can easily be booked locally through the hotel. Such activities include cycle tours, rafting trips, cookery, Tai Chi or calligraphy classes or you can do as so many do here - just relax and take in all the scenery from your hotel or the many cafes and restaurants in town.

➤ Overnight at the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat 3*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

➤ Yangshuo to Hong Kong stopping at Guilin’s Reed Flute Cave on the way to the airport:

➤ Itinerary: Today you will be traveling onto Hong Kong. On the way to Guilin’s airport we will stop at the Reed Flute Cave, an extensive and colourful cave over 180 million years old and which has been a tourist attraction in Guilin for nearly 1,200 years! Not only is the cave full of stalactites, stalagmites and rock formations but there area also more than 70 inscriptions which can be dated back as far as 792 AD in the Tang Dynasty.

Continue onto Guilin Airport for the flight to Hong Kong. This city state which transferred from British to Chinese control in 1997 is still a mecca for travellers and for good reason. Aside from having one of the worlds most impressive skylines Hong Kong also offers fine food, world class shopping and tranquil islands dotted with timeless temples and fishing harbours. All this but a stone's throw from the Central business areas. Transfer to your hotel on arrival with free time for the rest of the day to start to sample the neon and buzz this city offers.

➤ Overnight at the Salisbury YMCA Hotel 3*. An unbeatable location in the heart of Kowloon’s Tsim Sha Tsui shopping and entertainment area and a short walk from the Star Ferry Terminal.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

➤ A full free day in Hong Kong to explore this amazing city:

➤ Itinerary: Your first full day in Hong Kong to explore this fabulous city, its famous harbour, the Peak, outlying islands such as Lamma and Lantau, vibrant markets and fantastic entertainment scene. Shopping and food are world class and if you still have any energy left by the end of the day the nightlife is some of the most varied and vibrant in Asia. In short you will have plenty to keep you occupied!

➤ Overnight at the Salisbury YMCA 3*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

➤ Free time until your departure from Hong Kong:

➤ Itinerary: A free time day until making your own way from your hotel to the airport for your flight out of the city (most flights depart late in the evening making this a full free day in Hong Kong). The easiest way to get to the airport is by taxi which your hotel can arrange. There is also an efficient airport bus service or you can use the Airport Express trains. See our Trip guidebook or ask your hotel for full details.  

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

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

 ✔ Xian to Lhasa economy class
 ✔ Lhasa to Chengdu economy class
 ✔ Yichang to Shanghai economy class
 ✔ Shanghai to Huangshan economy class
 ✔ Hangzhou to Guilin economy class
 ✔ Guilin to Hong Kong economy class

 ✔ Beijing to Xian soft sleeper class (12 hour overnight trip) 1 berth each in a 4 berth cabin
 ✔ Chengdu to Chongqing soft seat class (2 hour trip)

 ✔ Yangtze River Cruise on a 4* ship
 ✔ Huangshan to Hangzhou by bus (3 hours)
 ✔ Li River Cruise Guilin to Yangshuo

 ✔ 2 nights Beijing - Jade Garden Hotel 4* (standard room with breakfast)
 ✔ 1 night overnight sleeper train Beijing to Xian (shared 4 berth soft sleeper cabin)
 ✔ 1 night Xian - Grand Noble Hotel 5* (standard room with breakfast)
 ✔ 4 nights Lhasa - Dhood Gu 3* (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)
 ✔ 2 nights Huangshan - Behai Hotel 3* (standard room with breakfast)
 ✔ 2 nights Hangzhou - Crystal Orange Hotel 4* (deluxe room with breakfast)
 ✔ 1 night Guilin - Bravo Hotel 4* (deluxe room with breakfast)
 ✔ 2 nights Yangshuo - Yangshuo Mountain Retreat 3* (deluxe room with breakfast)
 ✔ 2 nights Hong Kong - Salisbury YMCA hotel 3* (standard room with breakfast)

 ✔ Beijing - Airport to Hotel / Hotel to Train Station
 ✔ Xian - Train Station to Hotel / Hotel to Airport
 ✔ Lhasa - Airport 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 Airport
 ✔ Huangshan - Airport to mountaintop Hotel (including cable car and Huangshan Park entrance fee)
 ✔ Huangshan - Mountaintop Hotel to Bus Station (cable car to be paid locally if required)
 ✔ Hangzhou - Bus Station to Hotel / Hotel to Airport
 ✔ Guilin - Airport to Hotel / Hotel to Li River Cruise Boat
 ✔ Yangshuo - Li River Cruise Boat to Hotel / Hotel to Guilin Airport
 ✔ Hong Kong - Airport to Hotel

 ✔ 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, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace.
 ✔ Xian - Full day private tour to the Terra cotta Warriors, Wild Goose Pagoda, City Walls.
 ✔ Lhasa - Full day private tour to Drepung Monastery, Nechung residence, the Jokhang temple and Kora and Barkhor Square.
 ✔ Lhasa - Full day private tour to the Potala Palace, Tibetan Medical Institute and Sera Monastery.
 ✔ Lhasa - Full day private tour to Ganden Monastery including time to hike in the surrounding hills.
 ✔ 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 - Full day private tour to the Yuyuan gardens, Old City and the Bund
 ✔ Shanghai - Tickets and transfers to the Chinese Acrobats in the evening.
 ✔ Hangzhou - Full day private tour of the West Lake including Lingyin Temple, Six Harmonies Pagoda and a tea plantation.
 ✔ Guilin - Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo.
 ✔ Guilin - Visit to the Reed Flute Cave on the way back from Yangshuo to Guilin.

 ✔ Meals - As indicated in the itinerary.
 ✔ Tibet Travel Permit needed to travel in this province.
 ✔ 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.