Imperial China & Yangtze River Cruise - EXODUS TRAVEL

Food: 18 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 2 dinners are included on this trip. Food is cheap in China and you can avoid the spicier regional food if you wish. Western food is readily available in the cities, but the flavour is generally adapted more to the Chinese taste.
Start destination: Beijing
End destination: Shanghai
Depart London
Start Beijing
Beijing/Great Wall
Second day of Beijing sightseeing.
Third day of Beijing sightseeing; overnight train to Xian
Morning walking tour of the Muslim area and mosque; free afternoon or optional cycle ride.
Visit the Terracotta Warriors; overnight train to Chengdu.
Morning transfer to hotel; afternoon sightseeing tour of Chengdu.
Sightseeing trip to Leshan Giant Buddha; return to Chengdu.
Visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Centre; to Chongqing, board cruise boat.
Two full days cruising the Yangtze River including the Three Gorges and see the dam.
Second day of cruise.
Disembark; overnight sleeper train to Liuzhou.
Arrive Liuzhou; transfer to Yangshuo; free afternoon.
Two free days in Yangshuo, surrounded by towering limestone scenery.
Second free day in Yangshuo
To Guilin for flight to Shanghai; drive to Tongli water town for orientation walk.
Drive to Suzhou, famous for its canals and silk industry; tour of gardens; late afternoon return to Shanghai
Morning city tour; afternoon free
Fly to London

The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors and Giant pandas - China's iconic sights need little introduction and we visit them all on this comprehensive and varied journey. Equally inspiring are China's great scenic attractions including the breathtaking Three Gorges on the Yangtze River and the serene limestone mountains around Yangshuo. China remains one of the world's 'must-see' destinations; from ultra-modern Shanghai to the wizened faces of ancient Chinese villagers, this trip reveals a country as fascinating and beguiling as ever.

Day 1: Depart London

Depart London.

Day 2: Start Beijing

Start Beijing.

Day 3: Beijing/Great Wall

For these three busy days we will enjoy the sights and sounds of China's capital. The sightseeing will include the Forbidden City with its innumerable courtyards and temples, and the Temple of Heaven Park in the southern part of the city. We also visit Tianamen square, the largest square in the world and able to hold over a million people. Just outside the city centre is the Summer Palace, a huge park dotted with impressive pavilions and temples which, like the Forbidden City, was once the exclusive playground of China's Emperors and their concubines. We will take a walking tour of the cities hutongs (narrow alleys) to see what is left of old Beijing and its traditions. We will also leave the capital and head into the countryside to the Great Wall, an approx 2 hour journey to the north of the city. We go to one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall at Mutianyu which is an impressive sight, snaking off across mountains and valleys into the distance. This section of Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. The wall here is upto 8.5 metres high and 5 metres wide, and has 22 watchtowers on its 2,250-metre-long stretch. There are some steep steps to navigate and clients who suffer from vertigo may find it difficult, (there is an optional cable car that takes you from the bottom to the wall itself). There is the option of a trip to the opera, kung fu or acrobat show one evening while in Beijing. In the 3 days in Beijing lunch is only provided on the Great Wall day (breakfast is included every day).

Day 4: Second day of Beijing sightseeing.

Second day of Beijing sightseeing.

Day 5: Third day of Beijing sightseeing; overnight train to Xian

Tonight we board an overnight train to the ancient city of Xi'an. It is recommended to try and get food before the train as there is a limited selection provided on the train. The train itself is of a good standard, although please note that all facilities such as washrooms and toilets are shared with other passengers. Sleepers are four berth and bedding is provided.

Day 6: Morning walking tour of the Muslim area and mosque; free afternoon or optional cycle ride.

Xi'an is one of China's former capitals 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 we will visit the city and the Bell and Drum Plaza at its heart, along with the Great Mosque. The Muslim quarter is a fascinating place to visit, especially in the evening as it comes alive with the bustle of the bazaars and food stalls. This afternoon is free;it is possible to appreciate the sheer scale of the City Wall, you can hire bikes and cycle on the city walls.

Day 7: Visit the Terracotta Warriors; overnight train to Chengdu.

Today we visit the famous Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin. Originally four armies were planned, at each point of the compass, life-size and lifelike. 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 China's great tourist attractions, and some people may find the sheer numbers of visitors rather overpowering. In the evening we will leave Xi'an and board an overnight train to Chengdu.

Day 8: Morning transfer to hotel; afternoon sightseeing tour of Chengdu.

We arrive in Chengdu around midday, the capital of Sichuan province. We then transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, your group leader will take you on a walking tour (travelling by public buses) through the lively parks and city center square where you will get a taste of the real local life. Don't miss the options to join the locals in the atmospheric outdoor tea houses for some local tea.

Day 9: Sightseeing trip to Leshan Giant Buddha; return to Chengdu.

Today, we will visit one of the iconic UNESCO sites near Chengdu - the Leshan Giant Buddha. About 2-3 hours drive from Chengdu, this 71m tall Buddha carved out of the cliff face of the mountain is the biggest sitting Buddha in the world which took almost 100 year of hard work to finish about 1300 years ago. You will have 2 options of visiting the Buddha, either by boat on the river or by walking around it in the mountain. Be prepared for the crowds and long queues who come to worship this Giant Buddha if you walk, and your group leader will advise you the best way to visit depending on the season. We return to Chengdu in the late afternoon.

Day 10: Visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Centre; to Chongqing, board cruise boat.

These two days are spent cruising on one of the world's great rivers as we head downstream through stunning scenery of towering cliffs and gorges. En-route we pass many towns and villages that have sprung up along the banks of the river that supplies the lifeblood to the heart of China.To try to limit the impact of flooding, the Chinese government has undertaken a huge construction project with a massive dam being built. This has flooded the famous three gorges of Qutang, Wu and Xiling. A journey amidst these natural wonders is a must see for any visitor to China. The nights are spent on the boat and there is time for shore excursions on the way as the boat docks at some of smaller towns and villages, and the lesser gorges by smaller boats, depending upon water levels. Twin Berth Cabin with en suite bathroom. The day-to-day schedule for the cruise can change due to adverse weather conditions. The details of on board and shore activities will be explained in the briefing and the river guide will be able to give you more information after boarding.

Day 11: Two full days cruising the Yangtze River including the Three Gorges and see the dam.

Day 12: Second day of cruise.

Second day of cruise.

Day 13: Disembark; overnight sleeper train to Liuzhou.

We complete our cruise this morning and disembark and can take a look at the dam and learn about the massive engineering project that took place. If water levels are ok we will cruise through a series of locks through the dam itself, but this cannnot be guaranteed as it depends on the weather and river traffic. We then drive to Yichang where we catch the afternoon train to Liuzhou.

Day 14: Arrive Liuzhou; transfer to Yangshuo; free afternoon.

We arrive in Liuzhou early this morning (4:30/5:00am) and then transfer by road for 3 ½ hours through the stunning 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. A view of a rural landscape that has changed little in centuries. Despite its small size, Yangshuo has quite a tourist infrastructure due to its large transient population of backpackers and domestic tourists. This afternoon is free to relax.

Day 15: Two free days in Yangshuo, surrounded by towering limestone scenery.

Second free day in Yangshuo

Day 17: To Guilin for flight to Shanghai; drive to Tongli water town for orientation walk.

In the morning we transfer to the airport at Guilin to fly to Shanghai, from here we take a 2 hour bus journey to Tongli, a mediaeval town criss-crossed by canals and tiny bridges. This fascinating town has retained much of its original character and is frequently used as a film set. After a short orientation tour, there is free time to wander along the canal banks or take a boat ride (optional) and soak up the atmosphere of this picturesque town.

Day 18: Drive to Suzhou, famous for its canals and silk industry; tour of gardens; late afternoon return to Shanghai.

Leaving Tongli we take a short bus ride of 45 mins to Suzhou. 'In Heaven there is paradise, on Earth there is Suzhou and Hangzhou' runs an old Chinese saying. Due to its strategic situation on the Grand Canal, Suzhou long ago became a place of great affluence. One offshoot of this wealth was the construction in the town of several beautiful gardens, with rich officials of the past competing with each other to produce ever more impressive displays. We visit the largest of these gardens the Humble Administrator's Garden which gives an insight into the lifestyle of China's former imperial elite. Suzhou is also one of China's main silk producing towns. From here we take a private bus to Shanghai. Shanghai's world famous Acrobatic Troupe performs nightly and their show is well worth a visit.

Day 19: Morning city tour; afternoon free.

With a population of around twelve million Shanghai is yours to explore today. This morning we have a guided tour of the Bund, a museum of turn of the century architecture, 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 (Shanghai's 'Oxford Street') or visiting the newly opened Shanghai tower, (currently the tallest building in China and second tallest in the world, standing at 632m high) or Shanghai's smaller television tower to see some of the city's stunning architecture.

Day 20: Fly to London

Fly to London.