Grand Tour of China

Day 1 - Heathrow to Beijing:

Non-stop overnight flight to Beijing with British Airways.

Day 2 - Beijing:

Upon arrival at Beijing airport, transfer to the Grand Mercure Xi'dan for your three night stay. Afternoon at leisure, before dinner in a local restaurant.

Overnight accommodation - Grand Mercure Xi'dan Beijing.
(D)

Day 3 - Beijing:

After breakfast depart for a full day of sightseeing starting at the famous Tiananmen Square, one of the largest squares in the world where you can see the Great Hall of the People and other historical monuments. You will then spend the rest of the morning in the Forbidden City where the Ming and Qing Dynasty Emperors and Empresses lived and ruled from 1420 to 1924. After lunch, you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where the Emperors worshipped and prayed for a good harvest. Return to the hotel for a short rest before dinner and the Peking Opera.

Overnight accommodation - Grand Mercure Xi'dan.
(B,L,D)

Day 4 - Beijing:

After breakfast depart for a full day of sightseeing including the Great Wall of China at Badaling just 45 miles northwest of Beijing, providing a good opportunity to see the countryside surrounding Beijing. Approximately two hours will be spent at the Great Wall, along which you will be able to walk and climb or travel by cable car (optional and payable locally). A stop at a Jade workshop is included before a walk along the beautiful 15th century Sacred Way guarded by stone statues of the Emperors' officers, officials and animals. Evening dinner of Peking Duck is served in a local restaurant.

Overnight accommodation - Grand Mercure Xi'dan. (B,L,D)

Day 5 - Beijing to Xian:

After breakfast and check-out, depart for the Summer Palace. After lunch, you will be transferred to Beijing Airport for your flight to Xian (ticketed locally). Upon arrival in Xian you will be transferred to the Grand New World Hotel for your two night stay.

Overnight accommodation - Grand New World Xian. (B,L,D)

Day 6 - Xian:

After breakfast depart for a full day of sightseeing. The Terracotta Warrior Museum is in the suburbs of Xian-Lintong, a visit to the Museum usually begins with a presentation film explaining the period of history during which the Terracotta Warriors were constructed. A visit of about two hours will be spent studying the thousands of Terracotta Warriors and their chariots. After lunch, visit the Wild Goose Pagoda and the City Wall. Dinner is followed by the Tang Dynasty show in a local theatre.

Overnight accommodation - Grand New World Xian. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - Xian to Chongqing:

Morning flight to Chongqing. Upon arrival go for lunch followed by a half day city tour. After dinner in a local restaurant, board the cruise boat for three nights.

Overnight accommodation - Onboard the MS Sunshine China cruise boat. (B,L,D)

Days 8-9 - Yangtze River Cruise:

Journey along China?s longest waterway for two nights, stops will be made en-route to visit historical sites and the Three Gorges Project.

Overnight accommodation - Onboard the MS Sunshine China cruise boat. (B,L,D)

Day 10 - Yichang to Shanghai:

Disembark in Yichang and, after lunch, depart for the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer to the Crowne Plaza Hotel for your two night stay.

Overnight accommodation - Crowne Plaza Shanghai
(B,L,D)

Day 11 - Shanghai:

After breakfast in the hotel, a full day sightseeing starts with a visit to the Yu Garden, with typical pagodas and classic architecture from the Qing Dynasty. After lunch visit the functional Jade Buddha Temple. The rest of your afternoon will be spent in Nanjing Road and the famous Bund. Dinner is in a local restaurant.

Overnight accommodation - Crowne Plaza Shanghai. (B,L,D)

Day 12 - Shanghai to Suzhou:

After breakfast, depart for Suzhou by bus and visit a typical water village, Tongli, en-route. After lunch, transfer to the Holiday Inn Youlian in Suzhou for your two night stay.

Overnight accommodation - Holiday Inn Youlian. (B,L,D)

Day 13 - Suzhou:

Morning visit to the Garden of Master of Fishing Nets, the best
and most celebrated of all the Suzhou gardens. In the afternoon, visit the ancient Panmen Gate with time to explore the picturesque promenade of Pingjiang Road.

Overnight accommodation - Holiday Inn Youlian. (B,L,D)

Day 14 - Suzhou to Hangzhou:

After breakfast, you will depart for Hangzhou by bus. After checking into ZheJiang International Hotel, take a dragon boat cruise on the beautiful West Lake and visit visit Huagang Park.

Overnight accommodation - ZheJiang International Hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 15 - Hangzhou to Guilin:

Morning departure for the airport for your flight to Guilin. Upon arrival, transfer to the Guilin Bravo Hotel for two nights and afternoon sightseeing tour.

Overnight accommodation - Guilin Bravo Hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 16 - Guilin:

After breakfast in the hotel, you will be transferred to the pier for your cruise on the picturesque Lijiang River. The whole morning is spent on the boat with lunch served on board. In the afternoon you will go ashore for a short visit to the interesting market town of Yangshou. From there travel back to Guilin by bus.

Overnight accommodation - Guilin Bravo Hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 17 - Guilin to Hong Kong:

Morning visit to the Reed Flute Cave before departing for the airport for your afternoon flight to Hong Kong. Upon arrival, transfer to the Kowloon Hotel for three nights.

Overnight accommodation - Dong Fang Hotel. (B,L,D)

Days 18-19 - Hong Kong:

Two days at leisure to explore the sights and sounds of Hong Kong.

Overnight accommodation - Kowloon Hotel. (RO)

Day 20 - Hong Kong to London Heathrow:

Overnight non-stop flights with British Airways to London Heathrow. (RO)