Day 1  London

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

Day 2  Beijing

Arrive at Beijing, met by our tour representative and transfer to 4 star hotel 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 4 star hotel 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/Shanghai

In the morning in Xian, take a tour to the enormous city walls, sensing the immense scale and enduring impregnability. After lunch, transfer to airport for flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer to 4 star hotel for 3 nights stay. (B, L)

Day 9  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 10  Shanghai

Free time at own leisure. (B)

Day 11  Shanghai/Hangzhou

In the morning, transfer to Shanghai railway station for train to Hangzhou, famed for its silk and the idealized West Lake which eulogised Marco Polo as well as many other western travellers at the time. Transfer to a 3 star hotel for one night stay.  Tour the beautiful West Lake and Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou’s most sacred place. (B, L)

Day 12  Hangzhou/Nanjing

Transfer to railway station for train to Nanjing, a city on the southern bank of the Yangtze River which was frequently the capital of regional empires including twice the capital of modern China. Transfer to 3 star hotel for one night stay (B, L)

Day 13  Nanjing

Full day tour in Nanjing to include Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, Confucius Temple, Nanjing Museum, and Yangtze River Bridge.  After dinner, transfer to railway station for overnight train in soft-sleeper class to Luoyang. (B, L)

Day 14  Luoyang

In the morning, the trains arrives at Luoyang, a city at the southern bank of the Yellow River, was the capital to 10 of China’s dynasties. Upon arrival, transfer to 3 star hotel for one night stay. Full day excursion to Longmen Grottoes, an exhilarating legacy from master Buddhist sculptors, created between 473 and 755 A.D. The day’s tour also includes White Horse Temple – the first Buddhist temple in China.  (B, L)

Day 15  Shaolin Temple

After the visit at the old town of Luoyang, car travel to Denfeng and tour Shaolin Temple, founded in the 5th century A.D. and home to the martial arts or Gongfu. Overnight stay at 3 star hotel in Dengfeng. (B, L)

Day 16  Kaifeng

Car travel onwards to Keifeng, once prosperous and cosmopolitan and served as China’s capital to 7 dynasties. Tour Dragon Pavilion, Iron Pagoda and Xiangguo Monastery. Overnight stay at 3 star hotel in Kaifeng. (B, L)

Day 17  Kaifeng/Zhengzhou

Morning sightseeing includes the provincial museum, folk museum, and Erqi Square. Afternoon free time at own leisure. In the evening, transfer to Zhengzhou railway station for overnight train in soft-sleeper class to Beijing. (B, L)

Day 18  Beijing/London

Train arrives at Beijing in the early morning. Transfer to a nearby hotel for refreshment including shower and dim sum breakfast.  Afterwards, transfer to airport for your midday departure direct flight to London with Air China or British Airways. The flight arrives London in the late afternoon on the same day. ( B)

One Day Suzhou Excursion (Optional):

Day 10  Shanghai/Suzhou/Shanghai

Full day excursion to Suzhou, famous for its elegant gardens criss-crossed by natural ponds and canal. Tour the Garden of Maser Nets and the Pan Men Gate, visit the Embroidery Institute to learn the history of silk and how it’s produced, and take a boat ride on the Grand Canal. (B, L)

Hong Kong Extension (Optional):

Day 18  Beijing/Hong Kong

Train arrives at Beijing in the early morning. Transfer to a nearby hotel for refreshment including shower and dim sum breakfast. Afterwards, transfer to airport for your flight to Hong Kong. Upon arrival at Hong Kong, transfer to 3 star hotel in central Kowloon for 2 nights stay. Free time at own leisure for the rest of the day. (B)

Day 19  Hong Kong

Half-day Hong Kong Island tour – duration: 4 to 5 hours.

Pick up from the hotel. The tour starts with a Tram-ride up to the Victoria Peak (1, 810 ft above the sea level) for a panoramic view of the city's famous skyline, magnificent Victoria Harbour and the romantic South China Sea and the surrounding islands. Then travelling along the scenic coastline and visit the picturesque Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay. Proceed next to the famous fishing village of Aberdeen and have a close look at the local fishermen and their boat community. An optional sampan ride can be arranged on site. A short visit to a prestigious jewellery factory and take a behind the scene look at the fine art that has made Hong Kong the best in Asia. The tour ends in the famous Stanley Market. (B)

Day 20  Hong Kong

Free time at own leisure during the day. In the evening, transfer to airport for late night direct flight to London with Virgin Atlantic Airways or British Airways. (B)

Day 21  London

Flight arrives at London in the early morning.