1 -
Arrival dayThis journey begins in Shanghai. If you need advice or assistance getting to Shanghai then please Contact Us
Arrival Transfer: You will be met at the airport and taken to your Meeting Point Hotel. Our representative will answer any questions that you may have and ensure that you are checked-in before leaving.
(Please note: You may only actually be able to check-in after the hotel's standard time. If you will arrive in the morning and want to be able to check-in immediately you should consider booking the previous night as an Extra Service.)
After check-in you are free to do as you please. Please do look for a message from your Guide about a Briefing this evening.
In the evening, your Guide will meet with the group and take you to dinner. After eating the guide will brief you all on some important aspects relating to your Journey. This should only take about half an hour.
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
2 -
Water-town ExcursionWe get immersed in China immediately with an excursion to one of the old water-towns close to Shanghai.
There are several water-towns to choose from. All offer a look at a way of life based around the network of canals that has changed little in centuries. We leave the choice until close to the departure day so as to avoid surges in popularity of any one water-town..
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Approximate driving time,
3.0 hours
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
3 -
To Yunnan: south of the cloudsWe fly to Lijiang via Kunming. The minority groups in Yunnan have been known as the Coloured Clouds, a reference to the beautiful clothing worn, especially by the ladies. Our journey takes us south-west to their homelands.
Lijiang is home to the Naxi people, one of Yunnan Province's more colourful ethnic minorities.
After check-in your guide will take you for a short orientation walk into the Old Town.
Those wanting to head up to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain during their free day tomorrow should make arrangements with a local travel service today.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Approximate flight duration,
5.0 hours
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
4 -
LijiangToday is a free day. You can explore the network of streets and alleys without fear of getting lost. Follow any of the water-courses upstream to get back to the familiar waterwheels.
In the evening we gather again for dinner and to see the local Naxi Music Performance. This show includes both music and an entertaining commentary.
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
5 -
To DaliWe transfer to the station for the train to Dali. Enjoy magnificent mountain scenery through your carriage window as we take advantage of this new rail service.
(N.B. At the moment the only choice is to buy Hard Seats. If and when soft seats become available we will upgrade without any surcharge.)
Dali is home to the Bai ethnic group. The old town is situated on the banks of the Er Hai. The station is in the new town (aka Xiaguan) and we have a short transfer around the lake.
After check-in you will be given an orientation walk in the Old Town. Make sure you remember where to meet for dinner later. The rest of the time is free.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Approximate train duration,
3.0 hours
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
6 -
The Cloud WayWe take advantage of a clever mountain trail purpose built for visitors. We take a cable car up to the Cloud Way. The trail is well made and easy to follow in all but the foulest weather. The route takes us almost horizontally around the side of Cang Shan, the mountain that overlooks Dali and Lake Erhai. The views are fabulous in all directions and so we will not hurry.
Lunch will normally be at a small local restaurant on the mountain. This offers a range of freshly picked edible fungi as well as other delicious local produce.
The descent is by another cable-car close to the restaurant. This arrives almost at the top of the Old Town. The walk down from here is worth doing as you pass through areas you would otherwise miss.
Those who are not ready to descend straight after lunch can continue a bit further along the Cloud Way for more spectacular views. You will have to return the same way.
A truly momentous day, with minimal effort.
Approximate driving time,
1.0 hours
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
7 -
Dali to KunmingWe have a free morning in Dali. You may want to hire a bike and cycle further around the lake or take a boat out on the lake for views of the mountains and back to town.
We gather again for lunch and then drive to Kunming in our own private vehicle.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transport:
Private vehicle
Approximate driving time,
5.0 hours
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
8 -
Temples in the HillsToday's excursion takes us up into the hills overlooking the city.
Our first visit is to the Golden Temple. This Taoist temple on Mingfeng Shan (Singing Phoenix Hill) is actually made of vast quantities of bronze, not gold.
Our second stop is at the Buddhist Bamboo Temple. This temple is set amongst dense bamboo groves, though legend assigns another explanation for the temple's name.
There will be some free time to explore the city centre sites on our return.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Approximate driving time,
3.0 hours
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
9 -
Rocks Above and BelowToday we head out to Shilin Stone Forest about 90 kilometres outside of Kunming. This area of heavily eroded limestone contains many fantastic rock formations, many with descriptive names.
We continue the theme later with a trip down and into Jiuxiang Cave. We follow the river below ground through some impressive caverns and see more of nature's handiwork on a grand scale.
For a special dinner we have the famous local dish: Crossing-the-bridge Noodles. The curious name will be explained.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Approximate driving time,
6.0 hours
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
10 -
Fly to Chengdu. Tea With TaoistsWe transfer to the airport for our flight to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province.
In the afternoon we visit the Qing Yang Gong, a delightful temple where Laozi is meant to have expounded upon his emerging philosophy/religion - Taoism. Since drinking at a tea-house is a local tradition this is included in our afternoon's activities.
In the evening we watch a Variety Performance which includes Chengdu Opera's 'Changing Faces', shadow puppets, comedy and many other routines.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Approximate flight duration,
1.0 hours
Approximate driving time,
1.5 hours
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
11 -
Pandas and ChongqingWe have an early start to ensure we get to the Panda Breeding And Research Centre whilst these delightful but indolent animals are still relatively active.
We return to the city centre to catch our train across to Chongqing, Chengdu's rival for status in these south-western parts.
We will visit the Three Gorges Museum and have some free time before dinner.
After dinner we will board our cruise boat ready for the next morning's departure.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Approximate train duration,
2.0 hours
Approximate driving time,
3.0 hours
Accommodation:
Cruise Boat
12 -
Yangtse CruiseOn this first day of our cruise we get used to the routine of life aboard ship. Meals are generally buffet style taken in the dining room. There are common areas for recreation or you can rest up in your cabin.
There will be at least one shore excursion. This is normally to Fengdu, hailed as the 'Ghost City'. Local tradition has it that all recently deceased pass this way for judgement before their next reincarnation. The guides introduce a series of activities, many of which must have been dreamed up purely for entertainment value.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:
Cruise Boat
13 -
Yangtse CruiseWe continue downstream with at least one more shore excursion. Usually there will be one to a tributary of the Yangtse by smaller boat. These tributaries were also flooded by the rising waters of the Dam Project and so any boat trip can go much further than before. Some sites are now lost below the water whilst others, such as coffins on the cliffs, have become more accessible.
Today is the day that we enter the Three Gorges section. It is well worth getting comfortable on the viewing deck to take in the magnificent scenery.
Stay on deck as we also pass through the Five-stage Ship lock to get below the dam. This record-breaking construction project rarely fails to impress. You would have thought our ship was big until it enters these massive chambers, probably with other ships.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation:
Cruise Boat
14 -
The Three Gorges Dam ProjectWe have an opportunity to visit the dam site and its small museum before disembarking at Yichang. We have lunch before heading off for our flight to Xi'an.
Xi'an is renowned for its tasty snacks and we gather again in the evening for a rather special treat; a Dumpling Banquet where the various dumplings are shaped according to their filling.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transport:
Flight, Private vehicle, Cruise Boat
Approximate driving time,
5.0 hours
Approximate flight duration,
1.5 hours
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
15 -
Xi'an SitesThis morning we have a guided excursion to the Wild Goose Pagoda, once one of the most important Buddhist temples in China.
For those who love the TV series 'Monkey' it is worth noting that the scriptures collected by the real monk Triptaka (aka Xuanzang) are stored here.
We then visit the Fine Arts Museum nearby.
The afternoon is free. You will have been thoroughly briefed on the options by your guide and can therefore make as much of the day as you want. Taxis are cheap and allow you to visit the sites outside of the city wall easily. Within the city walls you are better off walking. At dinner everyone can report back on their discoveries.
Approximate driving time,
1.5 hours
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
16 -
Terracotta Warriors and on to BeijingWe head off early so as to be amongst the first to the site of the Terracotta Warriors. This gives us the best chance of getting unobstructed views and photos in the main pit.
The site has been enhanced and our excursion will include talks at all major pits and the museum, one cycle of the show at the cinema and some free time for you to revisit your favourite bits or to shop for souvenirs.
Later we fly to Beijing and check-in to our central hotel. There may be some free time before dinner and a trip to the Beijing Opera.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Approximate flight duration,
2.0 hours
Approximate driving time,
2.5 hours
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
17 -
Jinshanling Great WallToday we have a full day excursion by private vehicle to the Great Wall of China at Jinshaling.
Jinshaling is not the closest section of The Great Wall but is one of the most interesting. There are many design features here unique to this section.
We hike up to the wall and then follow it up along the ridge. Whilst the section at Simatai is renovated there is a limit to how far we may walk.
N.B. There is a cable-car for those not feeling energetic on the day.
We return to Beijing and, after a chance for a quick freshen-up we head off for a well-deserved Peking Duck dinner.
Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Approximate driving time,
6.0 hours
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
18 -
Free day in BeijingWe include a Free Day here so that you can enjoy those other sites in Beijing that are top of your list.
Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City are sure to top the list for most people and these can be enjoyed at your own pace.
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
19 -
Beijing Sites, then back to ShanghaiWe have a full day taking in sites that are best enjoyed with a guide, including some lesser known gems.
We visit the Ancient Observatory to the East of the city. This under-rated site contains an eclectic collection of both Chinese and Western astronomical instruments. The Jesuits had a large influence at court for a while, mostly because their instruments and calculations were more accurate.
The delight is in seeing western instruments made to Chinese designs - with dragons and other strange beasts forming supports and decorations. The explanations around the site relate traditional beliefs to the scientific phenomena observed. Look out for the Golden Bird covered by a Toad; obviously a solar eclipse.
Later we will head north to Jiaodaokou where a number of interesting sites are congregated.
First we will visit the Yonghe Gong Lama Monastery, home to the Panchen Lama when he is in Beijing.
Our last scheduled visit is just across the way. The Temple of Confucius was once a very important site but is now sadly forgotten. The temple contains some original Yuan Dynasty architecture.
We then head off to the station to catch the fast train back to Shanghai. On arrival we will transfer to our hotel.
Approximate train duration,
5.5 hours
Approximate driving time,
2.0 hours
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
20 -
Shanghai City TourWe return to Shanghai and finish with a flurry. You will get a city tour that shows you the city as it is and how it will look in the future.
We have a full day city tour.
We will visit Shanghai Museum where the collections are presented clearly and with good information in English. We then move across People's Square to the Urban Planning Museum where the displays bring to life the exciting plans for the Shanghai of the future.
With the plans in mind we head off to Jinmao Tower where we can get a bird's eye view of the city as it is. The model, then the reality.
We have chosen to visit the Longhua Gardens in the afternoon rather than the more famous Yuyuan Gardens so as to avoid the crowds as best we can. Those who want can be dropped near to the Bund for a look before dinner.
We finish with one last meal together. This is a chance to relive the highlights of your journey, to thank your guide and to exchange contact details if you haven't done so already.
After dinner we all head off to the totally amazing Shanghai Acrobats, a performance that will have you at the edge of your seat..
Approximate driving time,
2.0 hours
Accommodation:
4-Star Hotel
21 -
Journey's endsThis Journey ends after breakfast.
We include a departure transfer for all of our travellers. This will be timed to connect with your onward travel plans. Since check-out is normally 12:00 noon you may want to request a late check-out for an evening flight.
