• Beijing: city tour (3 nights)
• Great Wall & Forbidden City
• Xian: City tour (2 nights)
• Terracotta Warriors
• Guilin & Yangshuo: Guided tour (3 nights)
• Li River Cruise
• Shanghai: city tour (2 nights)
• Zhujiajiao water village guided tour & boat ride
• Maglev train
• Hong Kong, Seoul, Japan: Optional Extension

View Itinerary

Day 1
Depart from Heathrow or your preferred airport on scheduled flights to Beijing. Meals on board.

Day 2 Beijing
Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be greeted at the airport by our English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel by private transport. The rest of the day is at your leisure to recover from jet lag and get ready for the adventures awaiting you! (China is 8 hours ahead of UK GMT)

Day 3 Beijing (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Today, enjoy a full day city tour to soak up the atmosphere of Beijing. This includes visiting must-see historical sites such as the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

Our welcome evening dinner in the evening provides an opportunity to sample a delightful selection of Beijing style dishes, including Peking Duck.

Optional Evening entertainment * Acrobatic show.

Day 4 Beijing (Breakfast, Lunch)
The highlight of today's tour is a walk on the Great Wall of China. We visit the Mutianyu Section of the wall, which is quieter and less touristy, compare with many other access points. This section is also equipped with a cable car for those who prefer an easier way up (fee payable at local ticket office, approx £5). We allow plenty of time for you to walk along the wall and enjoy the unforgettable views.

Our memorable day continues with a trip to see the 2008 Bird's Nest Olympics Stadium and enjoy great photo opportunities. Time permitting, we will have a stroll in the large Olympic square and see the Water Cube (exteriors only).

After a full day visiting the many highlights of Beijing, enjoy a relaxing evening with free time for dinner on your own. This will give you a better opportunity to sample various dishes to your own liking. Our guide will be happy to make recommendations according to your requirement. A good dinner of your choice (with a beer/drink) should be no more than £10 per person.

Day 5 Beijing to Xian (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast, we visit the stunning 12th century Summer Palace, Kunming Lake and the Garden of Harmony. Next we take the ferry alongside the famous Marble Boat and enjoy a fascinating Rickshaw ride through the 'Hutong' traditional residential area of Beijing. For a great place to experience shopping in China and purchase some unique souvenirs, we can take you to the popular Xiushui Silk Market and shopping mall.

In the evening, we take a flight to Xian, the former capital of China and starting point of the ancient Silk Road.

Day 6 Xian (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
An exciting day awaits, as we head to the Terracotta Warriors Archaeological Museum, home to over 6,000 life-size Terracotta Warriors and their horses. The warriors are meant to be the after life protectors of the first emperor Qinshihuang, who united China (221BC-206BC).

Enjoy a selection of Xian's speciality dishes for lunch and afterwards we visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built as a Buddhist Monastery during the Tang Dynasty. We enjoy the jovial atmosphere around the beautiful Pagoda and picturesque boulevards, where Xian residents come to socialise & relax.

Evening entertainment includes: a re-enactment of the royal arts performance of a 7th century Tang Dynasty Show, with a special dinner of dumplings included.

Day 7 Xian to Guilin (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast we explore Xian's historic Muslim Quarter, home to a large Chinese Muslim community who have lived in the city since the silk road was first established.

Enjoy walking through Muslim Square, along narrow winding streets crammed with shop stalls selling an array of interesting handcrafts and local food specialities. We also have opportunity to visit Xian's Wooden Mosque. Afterwards we walk to the majestic Bell Tower (exterior only) for a great photo opportunity. On the opposite side of the square we visit the famous Drum Tower, which provides fantastic views across the city.

In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely walk & optional cycle ride along the ancient city walls. The smooth & well preserved walls provide an ideal and safe walking & cycling route around the entire historic city centre. This is a charming way to enjoy the local lifestyle of Xian.

Late afternoon take a flight to Guilin. After the 1.5 hours flight and help you to check in at your hotel, our guide will leave you to have a good rest and ready for tomorrow's adventure.

Day 8 Guilin (Breakfast, Lunch)
Guilin is a beautiful city set among picturesque mountains alongside the majestic Li River. Many of our travellers fall in love with Guilin and Yangshuo, as they are often regarded as the most scenic locations in China. Our guided tour of Guilin includes visiting either the delightful Fubo Hill or Elephant Trunk Hill (depends on local situation). Later we visit Reed Flute Cave, a vast underground cavern of exotic rock formations.

Optional Evening entertainment includes*: watching Cormorant fishing etc.

Day 9 Guilin - Yangshuo (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast we take an hour drive to Zhujiang Dock and board our boat for a leisurely cruise down the picturesque Li River, surrounded by magestic limestone hills and rice terraces. The cruise is a great opportunity to witness the lifestyle of rural communities that live along the river banks. You are likely to see many forms of river transport, farmers busy working in the rice fields, children playing along the banks and water buffalo cooling themselves in the river.

Lunch will be served on board and we will disembark upon arrival at Yangshuo. This is a charming ancient town that is famous for its beautiful scenery and tranquil countryside.

Optional Evening entertainment *:The spectacular Liusanjian Impression show is a outdoor performance set to the scenic backdrop of Yangshou's mountains and rivers. This masterpiece combining awesome natural scenery with an excellent theatrical production. Highly recommended and a must see event.

Day 10 Guilin to Shanghai (Breakfast, Lunch)
Today, we take a flight to Shanghai and meet our local guide upon arrival. After checking into our hotel and having a short rest, we start our city tour of Shanghai. Our tour includes visiting Yu Garden, famous for its rock gardens, pavilions, halls and ponds. We then explore the famous promenade and marvel at the futuristic landscape of magnificent towers and building situated along the Huangpu River, the Bund and Nanjing Road. Finally our tour takes us to the historic districts of Shanghai and we visit the former colonial French quarters, known locally as 'Heaven on Earth'.

Optional evening entertainment *Martial art show, dance show etc.

Day 11 Shanghai - Zhujiajiao (Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast, we drive to the Water village of Zhu-jia-jiao, known as the 'Venice of China' and unspoiled for hundreds of years. Upon arrival we take a pleasant stroll through the village and you have the opportunity to take a relaxing boat ride whilst being serenaded. Later we drive back to Shanghai.

Day 12 Shanghai to Homeward (Breakfast)
Today, you will be taken by private transport to the Maglev train station in Shanghai (Alternative transportation will be provided when the train is not in operation). Our local guide will assist you to board the futuristic and super fast Maglev train with a top speed of 267mph. The train will take you to the airport in time for your flight homewards.

Extension stay in Shanghai city and or to Suzhou gardens can be provided on request.

***Hong Kong, Seoul, Japan extensions available***

Please Click here for 3 nights Seoul package extension...

Please Click here for Japan Guided Tour extension...

Hong Kong extension (from £399* per person inc flight)

Day 12 Shanghai to Hong Kong (Includes: Breakfast)
Today, you will be taken by private transport to the Maglev train station in Shanghai (Alternative transportation will be provided when the train is not in operation). Our local guide will assist you to board the futuristic and super fast Maglev train with a top speed of 267mph. The train will take you to the airport in time for your flight homewards.

Day 13 Hong Kong (Includes: Breakfast)
After breakfast, enjoy a half day morning tour to visit some of Hong Kong's must-see locations, such as the Victoria Peak, Stanley Market and Aberdeen Fishing Village. Rest of the day is free.

Day 14 Hong Kong (Includes: Breakfast)
Airport transfer from your hotel will be provided to suit your departure flight times. u are transferred to airport for flight home

Alternative Hong Kong option- For the same price, you may choose to have 3 nights/4 days in Hong Kong. (flight & accommodation only).

*Supplement apply for Mar, Apr, May, Sept, Oct, Nov.

China Encounters tour 2016

Ref	Departure dates on Saturdays	Twin share £	Twin share £ (Excl international flights)
CE	19 March - 30 March	£2480	£1780
CE	26 March - 06 April	full	full
CE	09 April - 20 April	£2480	£1780
CE	14 May - 25 May	£2480	£1780
CE	04 June - 15 June	£2480	£1780
CE	11 June - 21 June	£2480	£1780
CE	18 June - 29 June	£2480	£1780
CE	25 June - 06 July	£2480	£1780
CE	23 July - 3 Aug	£2580	£1780
CE	06 Aug - 17 Aug	£2580	£1780
CE	13 Aug - 27 Aug	£2580	£1780
CE	20 Aug - 31 Aug	£2580	£1780
CE	03 Sept - 14 Sept	£2480	£1780
CE	10 Sept - 21 Sept	Full	Full
CE	15 Oct - 26 Oct 2016	£2480	£1780

Price Includes (The prices shown above are 'per person')

• All internal flights in China including airport tax.
• All airport/hotel transfers.
• Sightseeing tours (including entrance fee) by professional English-speaking tour guide.
• Selections of good 4 star hotels in well furnished rooms with private facilities. In Hong Kong it is 3 star in good location, upgrade choice can be provided upon request. Please view our Hotel Selection.
• All breakfast, most lunches and dinners as specified in the itinerary. Several meals not included to allow more free time for you. Trying out food by yourselves can be part of the great holiday experience.

Price Does Not Include

• International flight from £600 per person. We can book it based on your prefered airline choice with full ATOL Protection.
• Travel Insurance.
• Chinese visa - we can provide service, currently £110/person.
• Tips - recommend £3 for guide and £2 for driver per day but not compulsory.
• Optional tours and extensions.
• Single supplement £380.

FAQ and further Tour information
Please see our FAQ page for further essential tour information.

The itinerary is designed according to the most updated information of flights available, although on rare occasions the sequence in which cities are visited, duration of time spent can change due to local conditions which are out of our control. The above itinerary highlights the main attractions that are to be visited each day. Further places of interest may be visited during your stay, which will provide unique ethnic and cultural handcraft shopping opportunities. We reserve the right to change, amend or alter the itinerary, although we will act in your best interests to handle any amendments. Please refer to the booking form for detailed terms & conditions.