Highlight of today: Simply arriving in China!

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

➤ Itinerary: We will be greeting your family at the airport from where you will be transferred by private car or minibus and your English speaking guide to the 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 or you can just relax in the hotels safe and secure grounds. We tend to find that by the end of the day any concerns you may have had about China not being child friendly have been dispelled!

➤ Overnight at the Bamboo Garden Hotel 4*. Built in the Chinese traditional style this long time favourite is located in lovely grounds in a quiet Hutong area near the popular Ho Hai Lake.

➤ Meals included: None.

 Highlight of today: Forbidden City & Lao She Theatre

➤ Beijing - Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park and Lao She Theatre:

➤ Itinerary: After breakfast at your hotel we head to one of our favourite places in Beijing - the Temple of Heaven.  The temple itself is small by Chinese standards but proves that size doesn’t matter as 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. What makes the Temple of Heaven really special is that it is set inside a vast park which is a centre for a wide range of cultural activities. Here you will see - and be able to participate in if you wish - kite flying, Tai Chi, various styles of dancing, all manner of martial arts, water calligraphy and a range of sports peculiar to China. In short, there is something for everyone.

Later in the morning we move on to 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. For the morbid it is sometimes possible to go inside the Mao Mausoleum to see the Chairman himself.

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 (you can keep the kids busy by asking them to check this figure!) 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.

We round off the day in Jingshan park just north of the Forbidden City. This lovely park has a large artificial hill which has fantastic views over Beijing and particularly the Forbidden City on a good day. A fun evening of entertainment awaits you at the Lao She Teahouse where you will enjoy an atmospheric  performance that includes a fast mixture of Peking Opera, Acrobatics, Martial Arts, Cross Talk, Music and Shadow Puppetry - there is something for everyone here and in a classic relaxed and informal tea house environment. After the show you will be transferred back to your hotel.

➤ Overnight at the Bamboo Garden Hotel 4*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

 Highlight of today: The Great Wall of China

➤ Beijing - Great Wall at Mutianyu (optional Tobogganing) 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.

There is the option to walk up to the Wall or take a cable car (you can decide locally). They say you are not a man until you have walked on the wall but perhaps the true test for the brave comes with the option to slide down from the wall on a year round Toboggan (again, something you can decide locally).

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. Budding Indiana Jones’s will enjoy entering one of the tombs although they have long since been raided! After you will be driven back to your hotel with the evening free to recover from the day’s exertions.

➤ Overnight at the Bamboo Garden Hotel 4*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

 Highlight of today: Bullet train to Pingyao

➤ Beijing to Pingyao - Transfer to the station for a day time bullet train to Pingyao:

➤ Itinerary: After breakfast a transfer to the station for the bullet train to Pingyao. You will get a good feel for the more traditional China between the cities whisked along in 21st century comfort. Early afternoon arrival in Taiyuan with a transfer on to Pingyao (80km).

Pingyao is a Ming Dynasty city with the only complete city wall of that era left in China. Centuries ago it was the centre of Chinese banking and this wealth has left an abundance of Ming architecture from houses to temples giving the most complete example of what a Ming city would have looked like.

This afternoon your guide will take you to some of the multitude of sights this ancient city has including banking houses and the City Walls. A free evening to continue to explore the city, the centre of which is beautifully lit by traditional Chinese lanterns.

➤ Overnight at the Hongshanyi Hotel 4*. Built in the Chinese traditional style this used to be one of Pingyao’s many Ming Dynasty banking houses.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

 Highlight of today: Ming Dynasty Pingyao

➤ Pingyao to Xian - Free morning before a transfer to Taiyuan for a flight onto Xian:

➤ Itinerary: Free time this morning to relax in the traditional surroundings of your hotel and the area it is in. Mid-afternoon transfer to Taiyuan airport about 80km from Pingyao for the short flight to Xian, the Tang Dynasty capital at the Eastern end of the Silk Road. Transfer on arrival in Xian to your hotel with free time in the evening.

➤ 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.

 Highlight of today: Amazing Terra Cotta Warriors

➤ Xian - The Terra Cotta Army, Calligraphy lesson & Xian’s City Walls:

➤ Itinerary: 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.

After lunch it is time for a calligraphy lesson. There is more the the Chinese script than just writing as characters often have stories and deeper meaning attached to them. You will have an opportunity to learn the brush technique and keep the results of your efforts. 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 to hire bicycles and ride some sections of the wall (a decision that can be made and paid for locally) and the top of the Wall is perhaps the safest place in China to ride a bicycle!

In the evening a trip to the lavish Tang Dynasty show set in a beautiful theatre. The show itself highlights Chinese culture from this dynasty, considered a golden age in China’s long history. Music,  singing and dance with a traditional orchestra and colourful costumes makes this a visual feast for all ages.

➤ Overnight at the Grand Noble Hotel 5*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

 Highlight of today: Tang Dynasty Capital of Xian

➤ Xian - Free day to explore Xian before departure by overnight train to Chengdu:

➤ Itinerary: Free time today to further explore the wealth of sights this ancient capital of the Tang Dynasty has on offer. The Drum and Bell Towers located in the centre of the city are particularly easy to visit independently. The Shaanxi Historical Museum, Forest of Steles and the Great Mosque are all worth a visit. Your personalised Trip guidebook we give you is full of ideas as to how to make the most out of your time here.

Late afternoon a transfer to the station for an overnight train onto your next destination of Chengdu.

➤ Overnight on board a sleeper train to Chengdu.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

 Highlight of today: Exciting & colourful Sichuan Opera

➤ Arrival Chengdu - transfer to your hotel and free time:

➤ Itinerary: Late morning 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!

In the evening a trip to the colourful, loud and exciting Sichuan Opera. Not sure if opera is for you? Well Sichuan opera is like no other including it’s cousin - Peking opera. Down here the show combines stunts such as face-changing, Tihuiyan, sword-hiding, fire-spitting and beard-changing with the overall spectacle making this a show for all ages. After the performance you will be transferred back to your hotel.

➤ 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.

 Highlight of today: The gentle Giant Pandas

➤ Chengdu - Half day trip to Chengdu’s Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding:

➤ Itinerary: This morning we will be visiting 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. As well as learning about the pandas themselves and watching such activities as feeding there is also an opportunity to hold a panda cub although note that this is not guaranteed and requires a local payment of approximately RMB 1,000.

NOTE: We can also arrange a full day volunteering at the Centre. This involves helping with the daily duties from preparing the pandas food and cleaning out their quarters! Full clothing is provided as well as a certificate on completion for the day. Ask us for more details.

Return to Chengdu in the afternoon with free time.

➤ Overnight at the BuddhaZen hotel 3*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

 Highlight of today: Hangzhou's sublime West Lake

➤ Chengdu to Hangzhou - Half day tour of the West Lake:

➤ Itinerary: After breakfast you will be traveling onto Hangzhou by plane. 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 and 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. At the end of the afternoon return to your hotel with a free evening.

➤ 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.

 Highlight of today: 21st Century China in Shanghai

➤ Hangzhou to Shanghai - Bullet train to Shanghai with a tour of the Yuyuan Garden - Old Shanghai - The Bund - Pudong Skyscraper visit - Acrobats:

➤ Itinerary: After breakfast a transfer to the station to catch the one hour bullet train service to Shanghai. Transfer on arrival to your hotel.

Today you will visit 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 - almost (!) and adventure playground of a garden.

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 area is a warren of small shops, alleys and character. From here we 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. It is over to Pudong we next head to get a bird’s eye view of the city from the top of one of the stunning skyscrapers that now dominate the Shanghai’s skyline. 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*. 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: (Crystal Orange Hotel does not include breakfast in room rates) and Lunch.

 Highlight of today: Soaking up the buzz of Shanghai

➤ Shanghai - free day to further explore this exciting city:

➤ Itinerary: Today will be a final free day to further explore Shanghai. 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! Alternatively we can arrange a trip out to one of the nearby water towns such as Suzhou or Zhouzhuang all offering a more laid back experience from China’s past.

➤ Overnight at the Astor House Hotel 3*.

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.

 Highlight of today: Super fast Maglev to the airport

➤ 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). We sincerely hope and expect that your family have had a wonderful China experience!

➤ Meals included: Breakfast.