Grand Tour of China 2024/2025
17 Days Train Tour from £3545 per person
Departing April 14th 2018 - Returning April 29th 2018
Happy Chinese New Year! As the Year of the Dog dawns, why not take this as inspiration for a holidays to the gloriously traditional country of China this year? Discover some of the most incredible man-made structures in the world, from the enormous Great Wall of China, to the Giant Buddha, to the incredible soldiers of the Terracotta Army, and find the wonderful wildlife and scintillating scenery as you travel from place to place.
Itinerary
Days 1-3
Beijing
Depart London for our overnight flight to Beijing, arriving on Day 2. On arrival, the rest of your day is free to begin your explorations of China’s captivating capital. On Day 3, we explore Beijing on a guided tour, viewing some of its more famous sights, including the Forbidden Palace and Tiananmen Square.
Days 4-6The Wonders of China
We begin our discovery of the most famous wonders of China, beginning on Day 4 at the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. After time to walk along the wall, we return to Beijing, stopping off for a photo-stop at the Water Cube and the Birds Nest. On Day 5, we travel by rail to Xi’an, discovering the famous Terracotta Warriors on Day 6
Days 7-9
China's natural beauty
Transferring to the airport today, we fly to Chengdu. We travel to Leshan on Day 8 to visit the Giant Buddha Statue. On our return to Chengdu, we see the Wenshu Monastery and Jinli Street. On Day 9, we visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Institute, and transfer by bullet train to Chongqing to board our ship on the Yangtze River.
Days 10-11Cruising the Yangtze
On the first day of our cruise, we visit the Shibaozhai Pagoda. On Day 11, we journey through the magnificent Three Gorges, entering the Qutang Gorge first, then journeying through the pretty Wu Gorge. This evening, enjoy the Captain’s Banquet on board as we descend the Three Gorges Dam.
Days 12-14Suzhou
We disembark from our cruise at Yichang at lunch, and take the high-speed train to Wuhan. On Day 13, we visit the distinctive Yellow Crane Tower, a stunning example of traditional Chinese architecture. We then transfer by rail to Suzhou, where we have a guided tour and a rickshaw ride on Day 14.
Days 15-17Shanghai and home
We travel by high-speed rail to Shanghai today, visiting the Yu Garden on arrival. On Day 16, we visit the Jade Buddha Temple, as well as a variety of other famed landmarks. On Day 17, we transfer to the airport for our flight back to London, arriving on the same day.