Wendy Wu Enchanting China

• Spend 3 nights sail down the Yangtze River
• Explore the hutongs of Beijing
• Meet Giant Pandas in Chengdu
• See the impressive Terracotta Warriors

Days 1-2: Fly overnight to Beijing
Fly overnight to Beijing, China’s historic capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
(Dinner)

Day 3: Imperial Beijing
Begin today by strolling across Tiananmen Square to reach the Forbidden City. Head to Yandaixiejie to wander the hutongs. Enjoy lunch here before spending the rest of the day at leisure.
(Breakfast and lunch)

Day 4: Huanghuacheng Great Wall and Wangfujing
This morning, visit Huanghuacheng, a particularly scenic section of the Great Wall reached by boat that boasts spectacular views from the top. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring colourful Wangfujing Street which is one of the largest and best-known shopping streets in Beijing. This evening, enjoy an optional Peking duck dinner.
(Breakfast and lunch)

Day 5: Summer Palace
Explore the beautifully designed grounds of the Summer Palace including the Long Corridor and the Marble Boat. Spend time strolling along the lake and admire the Chinese architecture, followed by a walk up Longevity Hill to enjoy the panoramic views. Also make a stop at the Olympic Park for a photo opportunity.
(Breakfast)

Day 6: Temple of Heaven
Begin today soaking up the harmonious ambience of the Temple of Heaven, an orderly oasis in a bustling urban landscape. Later, fly to the former capital city, ancient Xian.
(Breakfast and lunch)

Day 7: Terracotta Warriors
Housed in three immense hangars, the ranks of the Terracotta Army stand sentinel in their subterranean necropolis, constructed to protect China’s first emperor. Gaze over the ranks of warriors and horses, while you are introduced to these life-like soldiers’ fascinating story. Take a walking tour of the Muslim Quarter and maybe sample some of the freshly cooked snacks. Enjoy the evening at leisure with a cold beer in Defu Lane or take an optional tour of Xian by night.
(Breakfast and lunch)

Day 8: Cycle the Wall (optional)
Today is a day at leisure to explore Xian. There is the option to enjoy a gentle cycle ride that will take you the nine miles around Xian’s beautifully preserved city wall for a fantastic overview of the city. This evening, enjoy an optional Tang Dynasty show.
(Breakfast)

Day 9: Chengdu like a local
Take the bullet train to Chengdu and walk around People’s Park, a hive of activity. See beautiful golden koi, locals dancing and practising Tai Chi, visit a local teahouse, and most interesting of all spend time in Matchmaker’s Corner, where parents search for suitors for their children. This evening, enjoy an optional Sichuan hot pot dinner and a ‘Changing Faces’ show.
(Breakfast and lunch)

Day 10: Pingle Ancient Town (optional)
Today is a day at leisure to relax in Chengdu or take the option of visiting the old town of Pingle. Dating back to the Han Dynasty, Pingle was a stopping point on the Tea Horse Road. Take time to walk through its maze of teahouse-lined streets before seeing the bamboo forest from above on the Jinji Rope Bridge.
(Breakfast)

Day 11: Giant Pandas
Spend the morning visiting the famous pandas at Chengdu’s Panda Conservation Centre. Here you can observe these gorgeous creatures lounging, playing and chomping through piles of bamboo in surroundings that mirror their natural habitat. Drive to Chongqing and board your Yangtze cruise vessel, home for the next three nights.
(Breakfast and dinner)

Days 12-13: Yangtze Cruise
As you cruise downstream, nature takes over, revealing some of the world’s most dramatic scenery including the Three Gorges themselves. Over the next two days, take a side trip to the attractive Shennong or Goddess Stream and enjoy various shore excursions.
(Breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 14: Three Gorges Dam
Disembark your cruise vessel and visit the Three Gorges Dam. A man-made marvel, the project showcases a massive feat of engineering. Next, travel to Yichang and then fly to the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai, also known as the ‘Paris of the East’.
(Breakfast and lunch)

Day 15: Shanghainese Shanghai
Walk through the city’s most fascinating districts, marvelling at monuments and rickety old buildings before enjoying breakfast as the locals do – sample pancakes, fried bread sticks and tofu. Visit the classical Yu Garden, the old town and a silk factory. Later, take an evening stroll along the Bund and cruise down the Huangpu River, as you are serenaded by the neon lights of Pudong.
(Breakfast)

Day 16: Zhujiajiao (optional)
Enjoy a day at leisure in Shanghai and explore this action-packed city. Alternatively, take an optional tour to Zhujiajiao, one of Shanghai’s sleepy water towns built on an old canal system once used to transport goods all over imperial China. Tonight, enjoy the ERA show and a farewell dinner of authentic Shanghainese cuisine.
(Breakfast and dinner)

Day 17: Fly Shanghai to UK
Fly to the UK, arriving home the same or following day.
(Breakfast)

Visit the Muslim Quarter
Explore Xian’s Muslim Quarter and sample some of the delicious snacks on offer

Traditional Tea House
Visit one of Chengdu’s traditional tea houses to learn about the history and customs associated with tea.

Shanghai’s Circus World
See the fantastic ERA Show at Shanghai’s Circus World

• 15 Breakfasts, 8 lunches and 5 dinners
• International flights and taxes
• Domestic transportation
• 4 Star accommodation
• Touring with guides and entrance fees
• Visa fees for UK passport holders

Go Beyond

Featuring lesser-known destinations and unique experiences that are tantalisingly off the tourist trail, our flexible and often more active Go Beyond tours are all about helping you to see and experience places that may not have made it onto other travellers’ radars. On these tours, you may find yourself away from the comforts of home, but you’ll be rewarded with unique culture, interactions with local people and unforgettable sights.

This tour has a level 2 fitness rating. This means that a reasonable level of fitness is required, as you’ll be spending time on your feet and doing a bit of walking to cover short distances during your daily sightseeing. There will also be some climbing of steps and climbing on and off of coaches and boats.

If you want to explore more of China or simply want more time in your destination, then you can add an extension or stop over.*

Choose from the following Extensions and Stopovers
Macao Special (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong Glimpses (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong in Focus (Hong Kong)
Macau (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong and Macau (Hong Kong)
Kunming & Lijiang (Kunming)
Nine Villages Valley (Chengdu)
Zhangjiajie (Zhangjiajie)
Chongqing, Dazu and Wulong (Chongqing)
Guilin and Yangshou (Guilin)
Mount Huang (Shanghai)
Lhasa (Lhasa)
Chengdu (Chengdu)
Beijing and Xi’an (Beijing)
Suzhou and Hangzhou (Shanghai)
Shanghai (Shanghai)
Guilin (Guilin)

*Available extensions and stopovers depend on your chosen airline