Imperial China & Yangtze River Cruise

Catch your free airport transfer to the hotel in the centre of Beijing. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, in which we meet our leader and the rest of the group. For dinner, we can get our first taste of authentic Chinese cuisine – ask your leader for their top tips on where to go.

Accommodation: Dong Fang Hotel (or similar)

The exploration of Beijing today will include the Forbidden City, with its innumerable courtyards and temples, as well as Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world and able to hold more than 1m people. We take a walking tour of the hutongs (narrow alleys) to see what is left of old Beijing and its traditions. This afternoon is free to explore.

Accommodation: Dong Fang Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

We leave the capital and head into the countryside to the Great Wall, around a two-hour journey to the north of the city. We go to one of the best-preserved parts: Mutianyu, an impressive sight as it snakes into the distance across mountains and valleys.

The wall here is up to 28ft (8.5m) high and 16ft (5m) wide, and has 22 watchtowers on its 7,380ft (2,250m) long stretch. We spend a few hours exploring – please note, there are steep steps; clients who suffer from vertigo may find it difficult (there is an optional cable car).

Lunch is at a local restaurant on the return to Beijing; expect traditional northern Chinese cuisine with vegetables (aubergine/eggplant, lotus roots, mushrooms etc), tofu, chicken, pork and much more.

There is the option of seeing an acrobatic, kung fu or opera show this evening in Beijing.

Accommodation: Dong Fang Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, we visit the Temple of Heaven, followed by the Summer Palace where you can witness how vast the exclusive playground of China's emperors and their concubines once was.

In the evening, we board an overnight train (approximately 12 hours) to the ancient city of Xi'an. We recommend purchasing food before the train as there is a limited selection on board. The train itself is of a good standard, although facilities, such as washrooms and toilets, are shared with other passengers and the cleanliness can never be guaranteed. Sleepers are four-berth bunks and bedding is provided.

Accommodation: Overnight train

Meals Included: Breakfast

Xi'an is a former capital and one of the few cities in China to have retained its city walls, probably because they are so massive that no revolutionary was willing to tackle the huge task of removing them.

Today, after a Chinese breakfast, we embark on a walking tour, passing the Bell and Drum Plaza to the Muslim quarter, where we visit the Great Mosque. The Muslim quarter is a fascinating place to visit, especially in the evening when it comes alive with bustling bazaars and food stalls. This afternoon is free. To appreciate the sheer scale of the city walls, hire a bike and cycle along them.

Accommodation: Skytel Hotel/Bell Tower Hotel Xi'an (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we visit the Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin. Originally four life-size and life-like armies were planned, marking each point of the compass. Three have been found and it is assumed the emperor's successors decided enough was enough before the fourth was begun. The first pit excavated had an estimated 6,000 figures in its one army. The third pit has been opened to the public, which contains the 'command post' for the entire operation. This is one of the great tourist attractions, and some may find the number of visitors overwhelming. After our visit, we lunch at a nearby farmer's restaurant with the opportunity to taste fresh seasonal produce, home-made noodles and bread.

The evening is free for further exploration in Xi'an. Perhaps your leader will take you to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Square to witness a (free) water and light show.

Accommodation: Skytel Hotel/Bell Tower Hotel Xi'an (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

We transfer to the train station and catch a morning bullet train (approximately 4hr 15 min) to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, arriving around lunch/early afternoon. This area is recognised throughout China as being the spicy province, and it certainly lives up to its name. Major flavour combinations include garlic, star anise, chillies, and the ever-present Sichuanese peppercorn (hua jiao) which is used in many recipes. In the afternoon, your leader will take you on a walking tour (which also includes using public buses) through the lively parks and city centre square for a taste of local life.

Accommodation: Garden City Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, we visit a Unesco World Heritage site near Chengdu – the Leshan Giant Buddha. About two to three hours’ drive from Chengdu, this 233ft (71m) tall Buddha carved into the cliff face is the biggest sitting Buddha in the world and took almost 100 years to complete. Either see it by river boat or by walking around it in the mountain (be prepared for crowds and long queues if you walk). Your leader can advise you on the best way to visit depending on the season. We return to Chengdu in the late afternoon.

In the evening, we can taste Sichuanese cuisine at a Chengdu hotpot dinner. The typical flavours of this much-loved dish are created with Sichuan pepper and involve a certain amount of interaction as the food is cooked in a large hotpot by the diners themselves. Those not a fan of spice can omit the peppers from the hot broth in which the food is cooked.

Accommodation: Garden City Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

With an early start, we visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Hopefully, these intriguing and rare animals will be feeding, as this is when they're most active; otherwise, we can watch them indulge in their most common form of entertainment: sleeping!

We then travel by train to Chongqing city (approximately three hours), the embarkation point for our Yangtze river cruise (after a 30-minute transfer to the dock). On arrival, we board our four-star cruise boat and settle into our cabins. We stay in air-conditioned twin-berth cabins with en suite bathrooms.

Accommodation: Cruise boat (four-star international rating/five-star local rating)

Meals Included: Breakfast

We spend two days cruising one of the great rivers, as we head down the Yangtze, passing towering cliffs and gorges. To limit the impact of flooding, the Chinese government built a massive dam. This flooded the Three Gorges of Qutang, Wu and Xiling and a journey among these wonders is a must for any visitor to China. Nights are spent on the boat. There is also time for shore excursions, as the boat docks at smaller towns and villages, and to explore the lesser gorges on smaller boats, depending upon water levels.

The day-to-day schedule for the cruise can change with weather and river conditions, and the permissions of navigation authorities. Activity details will be explained in the briefing and the river guide can give you more information after boarding. The cruise will cover what is commonly considered as the essence of the Three Gorges, but some parts will be passed during the night. If water levels are okay, we cruise through a series of locks in the dam itself, but this cannot be guaranteed as it depends on the weather and river traffic.

Accommodation: Cruise boat (four-star international rating/five-star local rating)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We complete our cruise this morning and disembark, taking a look at the dam and learning about the massive engineering project that took place. We then drive to Yichang, where we catch the afternoon train to Liuzhou (approximately 16 hours).

Accommodation: Overnight train

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

We arrive in Liuzhou early this morning (4.30am/5am) and then transfer by road for 3hr 30min through towering limestone scenery to Yangshuo. The surrounding region is famous for the steep-sided karst mountains that pierce the otherwise flat landscape of paddy fields. Despite its small size, Yangshuo has quite a good tourist infrastructure due to its large transient population of backpackers and domestic tourists. In the afternoon, we have a cookery class, led by a local host, learning how to make some of China's most iconic dishes, before enjoying our culinary creations for lunch.

Accommodation: New West Street Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning gives us the opportunity to appreciate the spectacular landscape on two wheels, as we take a bike and ride towards Moon Hill. We enjoy a leisurely pace, and there are plenty of stops to hydrate and appreciate the glorious scenery.

Lunch is spent with a local family, giving us the opportunity to sample new foods and create friendships over a meal. Expect delicious dishes such as clay-pot taro, stir-fried chicken and veggies, and traditional fried eggs. Please note, your leader can arrange a taxi or minivan to take you on a scenic drive through the countryside to meet the group at the lunch stop (at your own expense) if you do not wish to cycle. The afternoon is free to relax or enjoy one of the many optional activities Yangshuo offers.

Accommodation: New West Street Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today is free to relax and enjoy the scenery and laid-back atmosphere of Yangshuo. There are many optional activities available: cruise on the Li River, visit the Black Buddha caves, enjoy a Chinese massage or kung fu class, or watch the Liu Sanjie Show, an outdoor performance on a natural stage formed by the Li River and 12 peaks. Even if you choose to relax, this is an ideal place: you can take a stroll around the market and examine the local produce or rest in one of the cafes and watch the world pass.

Accommodation: New West Street Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

In the morning, we transfer to the airport at Guilin to fly to Shanghai, a city with an international feel. In the evening, we take a walking tour of the Bund area, to see the illuminated buildings along the riverside. We can visit the Jin Mao Tower (optional), one of the tallest buildings in the world, which has a spectacular view of Shanghai from the observation deck.

Accommodation: Greenland Jiulong Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

We have an early start (around 7am) to avoid the crowds at the ancient water town of Xitang; famous for its cobbled streets and bridges arching over the many canals. There are several well-preserved buildings from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, and the town is a delightful place to explore on foot. We lunch here before returning to Shanghai (around two hours) where the evening will be free.

Accommodation: Greenland Jiulong Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

We visit the Shanghai Museum this morning, followed by the Yu Yuan garden; the rest of the day is free to explore. Though it no longer warrants the title Paris of the East, many of the vestiges of its colonial past are still apparent. It is worth strolling along Nanjing Road (the main shopping street in Shanghai) or visiting Shanghai Tower (the tallest building in China at 2,073ft/632m high) or the smaller Oriental Pearl Tower to admire its Space Age design.

Optional activities this evening include the much-loved Shanghai Acrobatic show.

Accommodation: Greenland Jiulong Hotel (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

The tour comes to an end after breakfast. You may want to begin your return journey home, but if you’d like to continue the adventure, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Meals Included: Breakfast

For those on the group flight to London the flight is in the morning, with a same-day arrival into London, UK, in the evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast