China In Style (17 days)

This is a perfect trip for first-time visitors to China who like to travel in a bit of luxury. You will be taken to see some of China’s most impressive cultural, historical & scenic sights all while staying in some top-class luxury boutique hotels. We make sure to use the best guides and vehicles for transfers for an extra level of comfort. Travel from the futuristic cityscape of Shanghai all the way to the imperial grandeur of Beijing, stopping to explore the beautiful karst scenery of Yangshuo, relax at the luxurious Six Senses Resort at Qingcheng Mountain just outside Chengdu, and uncover some of China’s ancient history at the former capital Xi’an.

Guide Price

From £7,245 per person.

Day by Day Itinerary

Click on each day to expand the itinerary detail. Or click on the print itinerary button above to preview the tour in full.

Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Shanghai

Flight: BA169 London Heathrow - Shanghai 13.35 - 07.55 (overnight)

Day 2: Arrive in Shanghai and take an evening Huang Pu River Cruise

Private transfer: Upon arrival at Shanghai airport, you will be welcomed to China by your guide, and transferred to your hotel in a private chauffeur driven car. Please note early check-in is subject to availability.

Evening Huang Pu River cruise: This evening, you will enjoy a cruise along the Huang Pu River taking in a variety of sights, and seeing some of the city's amazing lights, from the comfort of your cruise boat. On arrival back at the Bund, you will then be transferred back to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Fairmont Peace Hotel (Deluxe Room)

The Bund, Shanghai

Day 3: Guided tour of Shanghai

Guided tour of Shanghai: Your day begins with a visit to the Shanghai Museum. Set in a newly designed building in the 'People's Park', this museum is China's foremost collection of exhibits dating from Neolithic times. The bronze collection is considered the best in the world, with other first-rate exhibits of sculpture, jade, calligraphy, painting and Ming and Qing dynasty furniture and minority art. Continue to the old city and the Yuyuan Gardens which date from the 16th century and are a wonderful mixture of pavilions and corridors, small hills, lotus ponds teeming with goldfish, bridges, winding paths, trees and shrubs. After looking around the gardens you will have time to visit the adjoining market or sip tea in the tea pavilion. This afternoon you will visit the Jade Buddha Temple, one of Shanghai's most popular temples. The tour ends at the Bund, lined with fine colonial buildings from its 1930's heyday when the city was occupied by European, American, and Japanese banks, trading houses, clubs, consulates and hotels.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Fairmont Peace Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Yuyuan Gardens, Shanghai

Day 4: Fly from Shanghai to Guilin

Private transfer: At the appropriate time today, you will be collected from your hotel by your guide, and transferred to Shanghai Airport in time for your onward flight.

Flight: FM9381 Shanghai - Guilin 09.10 - 11.45

Private transfer: Upon arrival at Guilin Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Afternoon at leisure in Guilin: This afternoon, you have some time free at leisure to relax and explore the charming riverside city of Guilin at your own pace. Pay a visit to Elephant Hill or Reed Flute Cave, or simply wander around the picturesque lakes in the centre of the city and sample some of Guilin's famous rice noodles.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Shangri-La Guilin (Horizon Club Riverview Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guilin

Day 5: Cruise along the Li River to Yangshuo

Private transfer: After breakfast, you will be transferred to the river where you will board your cruise boat.

Shared cruise to Yangshuo on the River Li: Depart from Guilin on a leisurely 4 hour cruise down the picturesque Li River to Yangshuo. There is stunning scenery on the way as your boat meanders between the dramatic forested peaks and past bamboo fishing villages. This is one of the most enchanting river journeys in China with great photo opportunities along the way. This journey will be taken on one of the comfortable 4* cruise boats and you will have seats booked on the upper deck. A buffet lunch will be provided for you to eat on board.

Private transfer: On arrival in Yangshuo, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel in the countryside to check-in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Alila Yangshuo (Sugar House Retreat)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Li River, Yangshuo

Days 6-7: Time at leisure in Yangshuo

Days at leisure in Yangshuo: You have a couple of days free at leisure to roam the Guangxi countryside independently. By far the best way of getting around is by bike, with bikes cheap and easy to hire locally. Your hotel or guide can help with this, and can also suggest a variety of cycling routes to suit all levels of fitness and interest. Spending time on the water either on the Li itself or by bamboo raft along one its’ many gullies is also a memorable way to explore. Numerous other activities are also recommended, such as a cooking class at the Yangshuo Cooking School, shopping along Yangshuo’s central West Street, taking in the evening Son et Lumiere show, or arranging a trip to witness the fascinating fishing with cormorants method still practised by local fishermen.

Suggested evening activity: If the weather is fine, you may like to watch the spectacular ‘Son et Lumiere' show which is the telling of a traditional folk tale that takes place in an open-air theatre set against a backdrop of the serene rivers, dramatic mountains and green terraces of Yangshuo. The lightshow is world famous. This excursion would be booked and paid for locally.

Accommodation: Stay these nights at the Alila Yangshuo (Sugar House Retreat)

Meals: Breakfast

Yulong River, Yangshuo

Day 8: Fly to Chengdu and transfer to Qingcheng Mountain

Private transfer: You will be met at your hotel and transferred to Guilin’s airport, in time for your onward flight. This is a journey of around 1.5 hours.

Flight: 3U8428 Guilin - Chengdu 14.25 - 16.20

Private transfer: Upon arrival at Chengdu airport, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel located by the base of Qingcheng Mountain, around an hour's drive outside the city.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain (Six Senses Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Jinli Street, Chengdu

Day 9: Visit the Giant Panda Centre and explore Chengdu

Morning visit to the Giant Panda Research Centre: This morning, set out to meet the pandas! It is estimated that there are between just 700 and 1,000 pandas left in the wild. Writings about the panda can be traced back 3,000 years, and they were once believed to have magical powers that could ward off evil spirits. It is extremely difficult to see Pandas in the wild nowadays. The breeding station in Chengdu has been in operation since 1990 and does a great job in helping to preserve one of the world's most iconic creatures. The best time to visit is in the morning around feeding time when they are at their most active. For the rest of the day, the panda's main activity is sleeping. Enjoy some time to look around the centre and learn more about this loveable creature.

Afternoon visit to Chengdu’s People’s Park & Jinli Street: This afternoon start your tour of Chengdu at Renmin Park (People's Park) where you can watch locals enjoying this scenic open space in the heart of the city. Sample the tranquil atmosphere and stop to enjoy a cup of green tea in one of the tea houses there. Continue to Jinli Street, once a commercial centre built during the Shu Kingdom (221-263 AD), which is now a popular place for locals and tourists alike to sample some local Sichuan cuisine with a drink. The 350m long street, lined with Qing Dynasty style buildings, offers a fabulous array of stalls selling street food, snacks and souvenirs. It becomes particularly lively in the late afternoon / early evening.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain (Six Senses Suite)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Panda, Chengdu

Day 10: Day at leisure at Qingcheng Mountain

Day at leisure at Qingcheng Mountain: Today, you have a full day at leisure to relax and enjoy the facilities at your luxurious resort. This would also be a good opportunity to pay a visit to the nearby Qingcheng Mountain, one of the most famous Taoist mountains in China and home to some beautiful scenery and a number of fascinating Taoist temples. Chengdu City is around an hour's drive away, and your guide or hotel will be able to assist with arranging transport if you would like to visit.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain (Six Senses Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Qingcheng Mountain

Day 11: Take the high-speed train to Xi'an and explore the Muslim Quarter

Private transfer: This morning, you will be transferred to the railway station in time to catch your onward train.

High-speed train: Depart from Chengdu on train D1918 to Xi'an. The train departs at 09.00 and arrives at 12.21. You will have reserved 1st class tickets on this train.

Private transfer: On arrival at Xi'an railway station, you will be met and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Guided tour of the Muslim Quarter & the Great Mosque: This afternoon, you will visit the historic Muslim quarter of the city. In the centre of the walled city you will find the old houses and narrow lanes of Xian's Muslim, or Hui, community. Islam has been the most enduring of all faiths in Xian. It was first introduced by Arab merchants during the Tang Dynasty, and flourished during the Yuan (1279-1368). The Great Mosque survived the Cultural Revolution virtually unscathed and remains an outstanding Chinese re-interpretation of an Islamic place of worship. It was founded in 742 A.D, according to a stone tablet in the mosque, but nothing from this Tang period survives. The present layout dates from the 14th century.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel (Premium Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Bell Tower, Xi'an

Day 12: Visit the Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda & the City Walls

Morning visit the Terracotta Warriors & Horses: This morning, leave Xi'an with your guide and drive to the outskirts of the city to the site of the Terracotta Warriors & Horses. In 1974 a peasant digging a well came upon what now stands as one of the main tourist attractions in China and one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century. An army of thousands of life-sized warriors and their horses in battle formation, which were buried for 2,000 years, stand guard over the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The figures were buried with artefacts and weapons of the day and every figure differs in facial features and expressions. The dig is still in progress, as it is believed that the site is part of an even larger army still buried. After the sightseeing return to Xi'an.

Afternoon tour of the City Walls & the Wild Goose Pagoda: This afternoon, you will be taken to see the old city walls which form a circumference of 9 miles with a gateway and watchtowers on each side. Most sections of the wall have been restored or even rebuilt and it stands at 12 metres high. Afterwards visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a symbol of ancient Xian, and a well preserved ancient building and Buddhist holy place which is located in the southern suburb of Xian City, about 2.5 miles from the city centre. Standing in the Da Ci'en Temple complex, the pagoda attracts visitors due to its appealing style of construction and the new square that is in front of the temple.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel (Premium Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Terracotta Warriors, Xi'an

Day 13: Take the high-speed train to Beijing and visit the hutongs

Private transfer: This morning, you will be transferred to the railway station in time to board your onward train.

High-speed train: Depart from Xi'an on train G26 to Beijing. The train departs at 09.18 and arrives at 13.50. You will have reserved 1st class tickets on this train.

Private transfer from Beijing railway station to hotel: On your arrival at Beijing's railway station, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Afternoon walking tour of the hutongs: This afternoon, you will set out to explore the fascinating hutong district on foot with your guide. Hutongs are the narrow networks of lanes created by closely built quadrangular homes in the centre of Beijing. Mostly built during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the hutongs once covered most of the city but are now a fast disappearing sight as Beijing's city developers move in to modernise these areas.

Peking Duck Dinner: This evening, you will have dinner at the renowned Dadong Peking Duck Restaurant, as featured in Heston Blumenthal’s “In Search of Perfection” television series. Dadong's hallmark bird is a crispy lean duck without the usual high fat content, plus plum (or garlic) sauce, scallions and pancakes. Also carved up is the skin of the duck, served with sugar this is an old imperial favourite.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Cote Cour Hotel (Deluxe Suite)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Hutong, Beijing

Day 14: Full day guided tour of Beijing

Morning tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City: After breakfast, you will be taken for a tour of Tiananmen Square where you will visit the mausoleum of Chairman Mao and see the Monument to Heroes. From the square you will enter the Forbidden City which is the largest and most complete group of ancient buildings in China. Built in the 15th Century, the Imperial Palace was a forbidden area for 500 years before the revolution of 1911. It was home to two royal dynasties, the Ming and Qing emperors, and it is from this palace that these emperors governed China, stepping out of its confines extremely rarely. Afterwards you will visit Jingshan Park, from where you can get a great view over the Forbidden City on a clear day.

Afternoon tour of the Temple of Heaven: This afternoon, you will be taken to visit the Temple of Heaven. Located in the centre of Tiantan Gongyuan Park, the spectacular Ming temple has become regarded, and is widely used, as the symbol of Beijing. Dating from 1420, its wooden pillars support a curved ceiling without cement or nails to a height of 38 metres. The temple’s intricate carvings and bright colours illustrate the opulent Ming style. Also in the temple complex is the Echo Wall - a circular structure composed of polished bricks on the inside. The temple and its surrounding altars, gates and park are a meeting place for the people of Beijing and it is possible to see the locals enjoying a game of chess or practicing the ancient art of Tai-Chi.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Cote Cour Hotel (Deluxe Suite)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Temple of Heaven, Beijing

Day 15: Day trip to Jinshanling Great Wall

Full day tour to see the Great Wall at Jinshanling Pass: This morning, you will set off to visit the Great Wall of China. Stretching from the Gobi desert to the Yellow Sea, this is the largest man made structure on earth and is an amazing feat of engineering, labour and sacrifice. The original wall was begun 2,000 years ago when China was unified under Emperor Qin Shi Huang to keep out marauding nomads. The construction used hundreds of thousands of political prisoners and an estimated 180 million cubic metres of packed earth. Two hours’ drive from Beijing, Jinshanling is further out of the city than some of the more developed and more crowded parts of the Wall. Visitors here can see the collection of watchtowers and ramparts that rest on the mountain ridges, offering views of the Great Wall as it snakes across the skyline far into the distance. You will have lunch in a local restaurant and there will be time to explore, before returning to Beijing late in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Cote Cour Hotel (Deluxe Suite)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Jinshanling Great Wall

Day 16: Visit the Summer Palace

Morning tour to the Summer Palace: This morning, you will be driven to the outskirts of Beijing to the Imperial Summer Palace. The original Summer Palace was laid out in the 12th Century and over the centuries was used by the emperors as their summer escape from the humidity of Beijing and the Forbidden City. The Palace is set in 2.5 kilometres of gardens on the large Kunming Lake. You will be taken around the palaces of the complex, including Empress Dowager's retreat, and the gardens. After seeing the Palace and strolling around the grounds, you will be taken on a short cruise across the picturesque Kunming Lake.

Afternoon at leisure in Beijing: This afternoon is free at leisure. You can relax at your hotel, or do some exploring around Beijing independently. Get lost in the hutongs, visit the Wangfujing Night Market to sample some exotic local delicacies, or wander around any of Beijing’s many picturesque parks and hidden temples. Further afield the ruins of the Ancient Summer Palace are a less visited alternative to some of the more mainstream sights, and the 798 Art District is unmissable for a look at the more modern side of this fast-growing country.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Cote Cour Hotel (Deluxe Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Summer Palace, Beijing

Day 17: Fly from Beijing to London Heathrow

Private transfer: At the appropriate time today, you will be collected from your hotel by your guide, and transferred to Beijing Airport in time for your onward flight.

Flight: BA88 Beijing - London Heathrow 11.25 - 15.30

Meals: Breakfast

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China in Style

China In Style (17 days)

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