Day 1  London

Direct flight from London Heathrow Airport to Beijing with Air China.

Day 2  Beijing

Arrive at Beijing, met by our tour representative and transfer to the 5 star standard hotel Four Points by Sheraton Beijing for 4 nights stay. 

Day 3  Beijing

Tour the Imperial Winter Palace also called the Forbidden City in the heart of the Capital. Walk in the world’s largest public square the Tiananmen Square. The tour then takes you to the Summer Palace, a sprawling imperial encampment of temples, pavilions and halls set in a park around the vast Kunming lake. Take a boat ride on the Lake. (B, L)

Day 4  Beijing

Full day excursion to the Great Wall. Here you’ll have plenty time to walk along the historic ramparts and marvel at its size and grandeur. After that, stroll along “The Sacred Path” which leads to the Ming Tombs where 13 Emperors were buried, and visit the Emperor’s resting place through a series of under-ground passageways and chambers. On return, stop by the landmark 2008 Olympic venues the “Bird Nest” Stadium and “Water Cube” Aquatics Centre for viewing and picture takings. (B, L)

Day 5   Beijing

In the morning, visit the Temple of Heaven, a beautiful ornate wood structure built in 1420 and used by the Emperors to perform sacrificial rituals for good harvests. After lunch tour Yonghe Lamasery, which was built in 1694 and later occupied by Emperor Yongzheng as his official residence before he came to the throne. It’s the largest Lamasery in Beijing and served as the centre for the Imperial Court to administer the nation’s Lamaism affairs. It was also served as the official residence for the visiting Dalai Lama from Tibet and the Kings from Mongolia. (B, L)

Day 6  Beijing/Xian

Free time at own leisure in the morning. In the afternoon, transfer to airport for flight to Xian, the city of eternal peace, once the flourishing capital of China of 11dynasties. Upon arrival, transfer to the 4 star Mercure Hotel on Renmin Square for 2 nights stay. Guided walk through the Muslim quarter of the Old Town and the local market. (B)                        

Day 7  Xi'an

Excursion to Qin Emperor’s Tomb, where 8,000 life-sized terracotta warriors and horses were unearthed in 1974. They were interred within the outer wall of the Emperor’s mausoleum as his eternal imperial guards. The scale of the endeavour is awe-inspiring and the image of warriors solemn and moving. Lunch at Terra Cotta Warriors Museum with noodle-making demonstration. The day also includes a visit to Xian History Museum and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. (B, L)

Day 8  Xian/Guilin

In the morning in Xian, take a tour to the enormous city walls, sensing the immense scale and enduring impregnability. In the afternoon, transfer to airport for flight to Guilin, the city renowned for its natural beauty. Upon arrival at Guilin, transfer to the 4 star Bravo Hotel for 2 nights stay. (B, L)

Day 9  Guilin

Take a full day cruise trip on the Li River with lunch on board and enjoy a panorama of bamboo grooves, sleepy villages and karst peaks of limestone formations fancifully christened by painters and poets over the centuries. The trip will take you to Yangshuo, a place of pastoral patchwork of fields, rivers, and limestone peaks. In the evening, experience the unique local attraction of cormorant fishing accompanied by the local fishermen. (B, L)

Day 10  Guilin/Shanghai

A tour in Guilin this morning includes descending into the most extraordinary scenery underground in the Reed Flute Cave, and climbing up to the Fubo Hill for a panoramic view of the city. After lunch, transfer to the airport for flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer to the 4 star Greenland Jiulong Hotel for 3 nights stay. (B, L)

Day 11  Shanghai

Full day tour in Shanghai to include Nanjing Road, Jade Buddha Temple, Yu Yuan Garden, and the Children’s Palace. Stroll along the Bund, enjoying its elegant sweep of European architecture and landmarks, and immersing yourself in the location’s history and unique character. (B, L)

Day 12   Shanghai

Free time at own leisure. (B)

Day 13  Shanghai/London

Transfer to airport for direct flight to London with Virgin Atlantic Airways or Air China. The flight arrives back London in late afternoon on the same day. (B)

Flight with Emirates from the following UK airport and

Stopover at Dubai could be arranged:

London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, and Glasgow.