This 17 day tour takes you through the heart of China visiting some of the most well know and spectacular attractions. You will walk along the awe-inspiring Great Wall, see the Tiananmen Square and witness the amazing archeological find of the Terracotta Army in Xi'an. Further south you will cruise along the mighty Yangtze River and enjoy a few relaxing days under the limestone karts scenery of Yangshuo. At last, the jewel of the trip is a two night stay high up in the Longji Rice Terraces with incredible views down the valley.

This trip is guaranteed to depart with just 2 people so be quick.

Countries visited

• China

Places visited

• Beijing
• Xi'an
• Yangtze River
• Yangshuo
• Chengdu
• Leshan
• Great Wall of China
• Guilin

Transportation

Transport by minibus, soft sleeper trains and domestic flight

Included In Price

*English-speaking tour leader, plus some local guides
*Private individual arrival airport transfers in Beijing
*All transportation as described
*Entrance fees as described
*Meals: 14 Breakfasts + 11 Lunches + 13 Dinner
*Twin share accommodation as listed in itinerary
*Overnight trains are quad share soft sleeper berths

Meals Included

This tour includes 39 meals; 15 breakfasts 11 lunches 13 dinners

Not Included In Price

Items of a personal nature, tipping, meals not described in the itinerary, travel insurance, passport and visa for China, Government arrival and departure taxes, excess baggage charges and all items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar, beverage charges and telecommunication charges.

Important Information

This tour can be modified for families to enjoy. We can include family friendly activities and fun. Children's prices on request.

Day 1: Arrive in Beijing

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Upon arrival at the airport in Beijing (BJS) you will receive a personal transfer to your hotel in central Beijing. This day is an arrival day with no activities planned as travellers may arrive from different corners of the world. There is a tour briefing planned for 6 pm in the lobby of the hotel when you will meet your tour guide and other fellow travellers to go through the details of the tour. A welcome dinner is planned for this evening.

China Southern Airlines has regular flights to Beijing via Guangzhou from most major international destinations.

Accommodation

Dong Fang Hotel Beijing or similar

Meals Included

1 x Dinners

Day 2 to 4: Beijing - the Great Wall of China, Forbidden City and duck.

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Any good introduction to Beijing, the capital of China, starts with a guided walk across the massive Tiananmen Square followed by a tour of the impressive Forbidden City. These are two of the landmarks of Beijing and are sure to impress.

We make a full day excursion to the Great Wall at Simatai, which is one of the lesser visited but equally impressive parts of the wall. Going to Simatai also means we can offer the more active traveller an opportunity to make a 4 hour hike along the Great Wall from Simatai to Jinshanling, and be picked up by our bus at the other end without inconveniencing others in the group. We enjoy packed lunch in one of the towers of the wall with 360 degree vistas. The building of the Great Wall of China was started as far back as the Qin Dynasty 221-206BC to protect the country from invaders from the north, with its last sections was completed during the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644AD). The Great Wall stretches over 6000 kilometres across the top of China all the way out to its last frontier at Jiayuguan in the westernmost Xinjiang province.

On our last day in Beijing you have the opportunity to join our guide for a half day tour of the Summer Palace north of the city. We get there by undergroun, which is the way to get around Beijing instead of joining the chorus of honking vehicles stuck in traffic. The Summer Palace covers 2.9 square kilometres of gardens, pavilions, palatial buildings and bridges built around Kunming Lake. The gardens were initially constructed during the late 18th century, and were enlarged as late as in the late 19th century after withstanding two major attempts of destruction. The Summer Palace famously served as a summer retreat for Emperor Dowager Cixi away from the hot hustle and bustle of central Beijing.

In the early evening of day 4 we board a comfortable soft sleeper train heading to Xi’an. The train has lockable compartments with 4 bunk beds each with shared facilities. Note that single supplements are not available on board overnight trains in China.

Accommodation

Dong Fang Hotel Beijing or similar, plus soft sleeper train evening of day 4

Meals Included

3 x Breakfasts
2 x Lunches
2 x Dinners

Day 5 & 6: Xi'an - Terracotta Warrior Museum

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Arriving Xi’an in the morning we are met by our local driver and transferred to our centrally located hotel. We make a late morning walking tour of the Muslim Quarter, a set of narrow streets with trinket shops, art galleries, and great noodles and dumplings.

On day 6 we visit the Terracotta Warrior Museum to witness this amazing archaeological find made as late at the 1970’s. The Terracotta Warriors are a collection of about 8000 terracotta soldiers buried in an underground vault. The army, facing east, dates from 200BC and is said to protect the grave of Emperor Qin Shi Huang the first Emperor of China. Each soldier has a different look, which makes the feat of constructing the army even more amazing.

There will also be time for a walk along the top of the city walls that surround the city of Xi’an. The wall is approx. 9km long with watch towers and gates. And, as a treat on our last night in Xi’an we join up for a banquet of dumplings.

Accommodation

Skytel Hotel Xi'an or similar

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
2 x Lunches
2 x Dinners

Day 7: Fly to Chengdu - Pandas Pandas Pandas

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We take a morning flight to Chengdu. On our way to our hotel we stop at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, and get an opportunity to meet these giant and gentle beasts up close. The Giant Panda is endangered and found in the wild only in the forests of the Sichuan Province in China. Sichuan is also famous for its hot and spicy food, which by the Chinese themselves is considered the best food in China. In the evening we enjoy a traditional Chongqing hotpot dinner at a local restaurant.

Accommodation

Garden City Hotel Chengdu or similar

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Dinners

Day 8: Day tour to Leshan

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We make a day trip to Leshan to see the giant Buddha, Dafo – the world’s largest sitting Buddha. Dafo is guarding the confluence of the of the Dadu and Min rivers, overlooking the town of Leshan. The structure measuring 72 metres tall was commenced during the reign of the Tang Emperor Tang Xuanzong, and is now under UNESCO World Heritage Site protection. We return to Chengdu in the early afternoon.

Accommodation

Garden City Hotel Chengdu or similar

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 9 to 11: Yangtze River Voyage

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The mighty Yangtze River has its source high up on the Tibetan plateau and flows east as it grows to the world’s longest waterway before it flows out in the East China Sea near Shanghai. The river forms a geographical divide between north and south China, and brings life to the rural farming area of the plains of central east China.

We board our Yangtze River cruise boat in the city of Chongqing with a population of 30 million people in its greater area. The cruise down-river to Yichang and the Thee Gorges Dam site takes 3 nights and 2 ½ days, and brings us through the spectacular Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, or Chang Jiang, as it is known locally. Despite the elevated water level following the building of the dam, the Three Gorges are still impressive as we sail under cliffs towering 800 to 900 metres above.

Accommodation on board is in comfortable twin share cabins with private facilities with bedding and all meals provided on board. Please note that the cabin sharing on board the cruise boat may mean you share with a person (of the same gender) that is not part of our group. Single supplements are not available for the three nights on board the Yangtze cruise boat.

Accommodation

Four Star Yangtze Voyage

Meals Included

3 x Breakfasts
2 x Lunches
3 x Dinners

Day 12: Yichang, overnight train to Liuzhou

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Our cruise ends in Yichang where we disembark. Yichang is a fairly new and uninteresting; however, it provides the chance to take a tour of the controversial, but impressive Three Gorges Dam site. In the early evening we catch an overnight soft sleeper train to Liuzhou, which is our gateway to the incredible limestone karst scenery of southern China.

Accommodation

Overnight soft sleeper train

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches

Day 13 & 14: Yangshuo - the Grand Limestone Karts and river trips.

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Yangshuo is a smaller town nestled in amongst the grand limestone karts formations of the surrounding landscape. Taking a boat up along the Li River we can understand that this scenery would have inspired poets and artists up through the centuries. Our boat trip takes us up to one of the villages along the river where our bicycles are awaiting us. After a local lunch we pedal through the beautiful countryside passing farmers and water buffalos tending their rice fields. On our way back to Yangshuo we stop at Moon Hill and enjoy a well deserved beer and a cooking lesson at a local village.

There are also numerous activities on offer out of Yangshuo, such as e.g. guided walks, fishing trips and cave exploration. There will be ample time to try some of these, or to just wander around town to soak up the relaxed atmosphere. Yangshuo is also a good place to shop for souvenirs, or savour some local delicacies at the many small home style restaurants.

Accommodation

West Street Hotel or similar

Meals Included

2 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 15 & 16: Longji Rice Terraces

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The village of Ping An is perched high up in the Longji Rice Terraces, which are some of the most impressive terraced areas worldwide. In spring (April) the terrace fields come alive in a blanket of green newly planted rice seedlings, slowly turning to gold just before harvest in autumn (Sept). Our local guesthouse offers striking views across the valley, and Ping An proves the perfect place to end our travels through China.

Accommodation

Ping An Guesthouse (best in village) or similar

Meals Included

2 x Breakfasts
2 x Lunches
2 x Dinners

Day 17: Tour ends Guilin airport

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An early morning transfer from Ping An brings you to the airport of Guilin (KWE) where our tour ends.

China Southern Airlines has regular flights from Guilin via Guangzhou to most major international destinations. Or extend your stay with a few days in the metropolis of Hong Kong.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts