Departure dates: 13/03/08, 27/03/08, 10/04/08, 24/04/08, 08/05/08, 22/05/08, 05/06/08, 16/06/08, 03/07/08, 10/07/08, 28/08/08, 11/09/08, 25/09/08, 09/10/08, 23/10/08, 06/11/08, 20/11/08. For 2009 departure dates, please enquire.

Price includes: International flights, visa to China, airport/hotel transfers, internal flights, 4 star hotel accommodation as stated or similar with daily buffet breakfast, 5 star cruiser, entrance fees for all sightseeing spots listed in the schedule, boat trip, special dinners and evening entertainments mentioned in the program, all the meals indicated in the schedule, English-speaking local guides and air-conditioned vehicles, Chinese insurance and city construction fee. Please add £160 per person for departure in March and July. Price excludes: Travel insurance, local airport tax, drinks, tips, optional entertainment, personal expenses and any service not specified.
Price is  per person based on 2 persons sharing a twin/double room. Single room supplement is £295. Group size: approx 35 persons.
                         

Day 01: Departure Depart from Heathrow. Scheduled flights to Shanghai, the biggest city and commercial heart of the Peoples Republic of China. 

Day 02: Shanghai  Upon your arrival in Shanghai, you will be met and transferred to the four-star Shanghai Hotel or similar. 

Day 03: Shanghai (B.L.D) Shanghai is China's most populous city with 12 million inhabitants, and it is the nation's industrial center and a busy port. There is the chance to stroll on the Bund overlooking the Huangpu River with its backdrop of early 20th century buildings followed with an unforgettable Huang Pu River Cruise. Also of interest are the Jade Buddha Temple, Yu Garden and the former concession areas and narrow streets of the Old Town. In the evening, you will attend an unbelievable Acrobatic Performance.

 Day 04: Shanghai (B.L.D) After breakfast, the coach will bring you to the People’s Square where you can have your own arrangements: walking along the Nanjing Road to see more shops there, or visit the famous Shanghai Museum where all the exhibits are displayed with English explanations. After lunch visit the Xiangyang Market where you can find many exportation fashion products with great prices. 

Day 05: Shanghai / Suzhou / Wuxi (B.L.D) A private chartered drive will take you to the Oriental Venice, Suzhou. Upon your arrival, visit the Garden for Lingering In, Hanshan Temple, Tiger Hill Scenic Resort and manufacture process of silk at a factory. Continue to drive to Wuxi where you will be transferred to your four-star Picturesque Hotel or similar. 

Day 06: Wuxi (B.L.D) Wuxi with its charming and picturesque Tai Lake will welcome you in morning. You will then move on to experience a sightseeing tour to beautiful Liyuan Park and Turtle Head Islet.

 Day 07: Wuxi / Wuzhen / Hangzhou (B.L.D) Your chartered coach drives to Hangzhou known to Chinese as the Pearl of China in the morning, on the way, you will stop over at Wuzhen Watertown, which located in Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, with a history of more than 1,000 years. Upon arrival in Hangzhou, transfer to your four-star Ramada Plaza Hotel or similar.

 Day 08: Hangzhou (B.L.D) Relax on a wonderful cruise of China's most famous lake, the West Lake. See the famous Three Pools Reflecting the Moon and Huagang Park. In the afternoon visit the Lingyin Temple, also called Temple of the Soul’s Retreat, which is one of the most famous ancient Buddhist temples in China.

Day 09: Hangzhou / Beijing (B.L.D) Take your morning flight to Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China. Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be transferred to your four-star Beijing Holiday Inn Downtown Hotel or similar. Today you will leave for your Beijing Alleys Tour. Ride in three-wheeled rickshaws through Beijing's quaint alleys experiencing life as a Beijing local.

 Day 10: Beijing (B.L.D) You will visit and experience the splendor of the Summer Palace, built as a royal garden for Qing Dynasty Emperors. On to visit the picturesque Temple of Heaven, built in 1420, where emperors of Ming and Qing would perform rituals essential to the well being of the country, praying to Heaven for good harvests.

 Day 11: Beijing (B.L.Dinner Special) A full-day tour will take in the grandeur of The Eighth Wonder of the World, the Great Wall, built more than 2000 years ago to protect China from northern invaders. On the way back to Beijing stop and visit the sacred Ming Tombs, where 13 emperors of Ming Dynasty were buried. This evening, you are invited to a Peking duck banquet.

 Day 12: Beijing (B.L.D) Your day will begin at Tiananmen Square, which is the largest square in the world. Next continue to the magnificent Forbidden City, home to emperors for over 500-years. In the afternoon visit the holy Lama Temple once a mansion home for a prince.

 Day 13: Beijing / Xian (B.L.D) In the morning, you will visit Wang Fu Jing Street, which is one of Beijing’s oldest streets and now a premier shopping district with a new modern face. Enjoy shopping and bargaining in the bustling alleys of the Silk Market. You are then transferred to the airport for a flight to Xian. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the four-star Xian Aurum International Hotel or similar.

 Day 14: Xian (B.L.D) You will visit the well-preserved City Walls and then the majestic Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In the afternoon, visit Shaanxi Provincial Museum, one of the best history museums in the nation.

 Day 15: Xian (B.L.Dinner show) A full day excursion to the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang guarded by the famous Terracotta Army, 7000 life-size clay statues each individually crafted, complete with chariots and horses. After Lunch visit the Muslim Markets and Mosque. Here you will be able to purchase all sorts of curios and artifacts. In the evening, you will attend a dinner performance of Tang dynasty music and dance at the grand Tang Theater. 

Day 16: Xian / Yichang / Yangtze Cruise (B.L.D) Today you will fly to Yichang. On arrival, meeting and transfer directly to the five-star Century Star Yangtze River Cruiser or similar.

 Day 17-19: Yangtze River Cruise (B.L.D) Enjoy the overwhelming sceneries along the Yangtze River. Cruise to the Upper Yangtze and visit the 230-foot high Gezhouba Dam at Yichang. Cruise through the Xiling Gorge and Wu Gorge, with bewitching Twelve Peaks soaring above. Then continue to Wushan and have a Little boat trip along the Daning River enjoying the magnificent sceneries of Three Lesser Gorges. Your cruise will arrive at Wanxian, a famous mountain town. There you meet the local people and see the real China. (The cruise programs are subject to change due to water levels and Navigation authority advice.)  

Day 20: Chongqing / Dazu / Chengdu (B.L.D) In the morning arrive in Chongqing, depart on a scenic drive to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. On the way you will visit Dazu, which has more than 50,000 stone carvings dating from the 13th -19th century AD. Upon arrival in Chengdu, check in the four-star Jinyu Sunshine Hotel or similar.

 Day 21: Chengdu (B.L.D) Today you will have a chance to visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. In the afternoon you will visit the Sanxingdui Museum.  

Day 22: Chengdu / Leshan / Chengdu (B.L.D) This morning, you will drive to Leshan, to visit Leshan Giant Buddha. Known as the largest stone Buddha in the world (71 meters), this Giant Buddha is located in Leshan city 167 kilometers from Chengdu. 

Day 23: Chengdu / Guilin (B.L.D) Enjoy the free time in the morning. You will take the afternoon flight to beautiful Guilin. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to local four-star Guilin Park Hotel or similar.

 Day 24: Guilin / Yangshuo / Guilin (B.L.D) Appreciate the beauty surrounding Guilin on your Li River Cruise to Yangshuo. Visit a market in Yangshuo and practice bargaining, before taking a coach back to Guilin.

Day 25: Guilin / Longsheng / Guilin (B.L) After breakfast, you will go to see the terrace in Longsheng. Also you can appreciate the beautiful scenery in Guilin. Later in the afternoon, you will return back to Guilin.

 Day 26: Guilin / Hong Kong (B.L.D) Morning tour will take in the Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill. You will take the late evening flight to Hong Kong. Upon your arrival, you will be transferred to the first-class Newton Hong Kong Hotel or similar. 

Day 27 - 28: Hong Kong (B) You will at leisure to explore fascinating Hongkong.

 Day 29 : Departure (B) At leisure or shopping if time allows. Transfer to airport for departure. Arrive home at Heathrow with unforgettable memories.