Private transfer to Macau: On arrival in Hong Kong, you will be met at the airport by a driver, and transferred over the Hong Kong – Zhuhai Bridge to Macau, the world’s longest sea crossing bridge. The bridge spans 34 miles and the journey to Macau will last around 1.5 – 2 hours depending on traffic. Stops will be made at the check point to pass through immigration and customs formalities.

Accommodation: Rio Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: None today

Guided tour of Macau: After breakfast your guide will pick you up from the hotel and you will set out to explore the former Portuguese colony of Macau. Your first visit will be to the Ruins of St. Paul which is a landmark of Macau. The church here was built in 1602 and burnt down in 1835. Today it is a celebrated monument and on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Afterwards visit A-Ma Temple which is dedicated to the Chinese sea-goddess Mazu. Built in 1488, the temple is one of the oldest in Macau and is thought to have provided the inspiration for the colony's name. A stop for lunch (payable locally) will be made and later you will look around Senado Square, and its surrounding colonial streets, and Fortaleza do Monte which is the historical military centre of Macau. Afternoon visits will be made to the famous statue at Kum Lum Temple and you will see one of the casinos which have shaped Macau's recent development. Time permitting you may also get a chance to look into mainland China from the border gate which once separated this colony from the People's Republic. After the sightseeing return to your hotel.

Accommodation: Rio Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to Shenzhen Railway Station: After breakfast you will be met at your hotel by a driver, and transferred by road to Shenzhen North Railway Station. This is a drive of around 1.5-2 hours (not including the time to pass through immigration at the border).

High-speed train to Chaozhou: Board the high-speed D2354 train from Shenzhen to Chaozhou. The train departs at 13:16 and arrives at 15:33. Please note train times are subject to change.

Private transfer to your hotel: On arrival at Chaozhou's railway station you will be met and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Accommodation: Chaozhou Yuyu Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Chaozhou: After breakfast you will be picked up from the hotel by your guide, and taken to visit some of the sights of Chaozhou. Begin in Chaozhou Ancient Town, which has a history of more than 1,600 years. See Chaozhou West Lake, and Memorial Archway Street. You will also visit Guangji Bridge, one of 4 famous ancient bridges. Said to be the first moveable bridge of its kind in the world, this bridge is celebrated as an important cultural relic in China’s history, and remains an impressive sight today.

Accommodation: Chaozhou Yuyu Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer to Chaozhou railway station: At the locally advised time today, you will be transferred to the railway station in time to board your onward train.

Train journey to Xiamen: Board the high-speed D662 train from Chaozhou to Xiamen. The train departs at 10:03 and arrives at 11:34. Please note train times are subject to change.

Xiamen
The island city of Xiamen has an old colonial charm about it due to its history as one of the treaty ports opened up by the British in the mid-19th century. Since becoming one of the first cities in China to be designated a Special Economic Zone, Xiamen has now grown into a flourishing, affluent, modern city. Its most interesting quarter is the bustling waterfront area known for its small side streets and traditional style housing. Opposite lies the island of Gulang Yu which is a worth a visit to see the colonial legacy of Western churches, post offices and schools which fill the narrow and relaxed streets.

Private transfer to your hotel: On arrival at Xiamen's railway station you will be met and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Guided tour of Xiamen: This afternoon, you will embark on a leisurely tour of Xiamen. Follow the Hundao Road, a scenic tour route in Xiamen around the sea which includes several major landmarks and attractions. A visit will be made to the Huli Shan Fortress which was built in 1891 using a combination of architectural styles from the Ming and Qing dynasties and also from Europe. Later you will visit Zhongshanlu Pedestrian Street, the oldest commercial street in Xiamen which showcases different architectural styles.

Accommodation: Hampton by Hilton Hubin South Road (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Yongding with sightseeing en route:  This morning you will depart Xiamen and set off for Yongding.

On the way, you will stop to visit Chuxi Lou which is one of the most picturesque and authentic groups of Fujian Tulou. Often described as a "hidden gem," it is a UNESCO World Heritage site that remains less commercialized and more peaceful than the famous Nanjing or Hongkeng clusters.

On arrival in Yongding in the afternoon you will check into your guesthouse.

Yongding
Located in Fujian Province, Yongding is most famous for its unique Tulou buildings, used as communal residences by the Hakka people. Tulou are large earthen buildings which are rectangular or circular in shape and can be up six storeys in height. In many ways each Tulou is like its own village, with several extended families living together, and some of the largest Tulou can house several hundred residents. The Hakka Tulou have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008 and most are still occupied to this day, although the future of these unique residences is uncertain as many of the younger generation are moving out to more modern accommodation in China’s ever-growing cities.

Accommodation: Yongding Earth Building Duilu·Shengheng Building World Heritage Home Stay (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day Tulou tour: After breakfast, set out to visit some of the famous Hakka Tulou earth buildings. Tulou are rectangular or circular buildings, up to 6 storeys in height, which were used as residences for the Hakka people. The ground floor was usually reserved for livestock and food storage and preparation, while the upper storeys were the living quarters. Depending on the size of the structure several extended familes could be living together. The Hakka tulou have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008, and most are still occupied to this day, although the future of these unique residences is uncertain as many of the younger generation are moving out to more modern accommodation in the city.

Today you will visit Hongkeng Tulou, widely regarded as the most concentrated and diverse showcase of Hakka earthen architecture. You will also visit the Gaobei Tulou cluster, which is home to some of the largest and most iconic tulou buildings such as Chengqi Lou (the tulou with the most ring layers). Today, you will also experience how to make local rice cakes.

Accommodation: Yongding Earth Building Duilu·Shengheng Building World Heritage Home Stay (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tulou tour: After breakfast you will visit some more tulou settlements. Start with Tianluokeng Tulou, known for its unique arrangements and nicknamed 'four dishes and one soup' due to its unique layout. Continue to Yuchang Lou, one of the oldest tulou buildings. You will also visit Taxia Village, a picturesque Hakka village.

Road journey to Xiamen: This afternoon you will be transferred back to Xiamen and on arrival you will check into your hotel.

Accommodation: Hampton by Hilton Hubin South Road (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer to the airport: At the locally advised time today you will be transferred to the airport in time to check in for your onward flight.

Domestic flight: Depart Xiamen International Airport on Shandong Airlines flight SC2261 to Guilin Airport.  The flight departs at 12:05 and arrives at 13:40. Please note domestic flight times are subject to change.

Guilin
A charming provincial capital which sits on the banks of the River Li and is surrounded by truly wondrous landscapes. One of the most inspirational places in China for artists, the karst topography which lends a slightly surreal feel to the region is best viewed from the top of the chairlift at Mount Yao. Many of the rock formations scattered throughout Guilin have been given nicknames due to their shape e.g. Old Man Hill and Elephant Trunk Hill. The local rock has also led to the formation of the Reed Flute Cave where you can see wonderfully shaped stalactites, and huge caverns which the locals used for shelter during the Second World War.

Private transfer to your hotel: Upon arrival at Guilin Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel in a private chauffeur driven car.

Accommodation: Aroma Tea House (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning tour of Guilin: After breakfast you will set out to explore some of the sights of Guilin, such as Elephant Trunk Hill, and Reed Flute Cave which was used as a shelter for town residents during WWII and has an amazing array of stalactites and stalagmites.

Afternoon at leisure:  This afternoon, you have some time to explore the charming riverside city of Guilin at your own pace.

Accommodation: Aroma Tea House (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: After breakfast you will be transferred to the river where you will board your cruise boat.

Shared cruise to Yangshuo on the River Li: Depart from Guilin on a leisurely four-hour cruise down the picturesque Li River towards Yangshuo. There is stunning scenery on the way as your boat meanders between the dramatic forested peaks and past bamboo fishing villages. This is one of the most enchanting river journeys in China with great photo opportunities along the way. This journey will be taken on one of the comfortable 4* cruise boats and a buffet lunch will be provided for you to eat on-board.

Private transfer: On arrival in Yangshuo you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the countryside to check-in.

A delightful town best reached by the sublime boat trip from Guilin, which takes around four hours. Once the preserve of backpackers, Yangshuo has opened its doors to a wider audience and has seen much development in recent years. Although the town itself may no longer be the serene countryside retreat it once was, stay in one of the many boutique hotels dotted around the countryside out of town and you can still find the peace you are looking for. Unwind and spend a few days here cycling around some of the most fantastic scenery you could wish to see. Small villages, with their traditional way of life, are dotted throughout the lush paddy fields which in turn are bisected by the Rivers Li and its sister the Yulong. Everywhere you go the karst landscape forms a beautiful backdrop, whether walking, cycling or drifting downstream on a bamboo raft.

Accommodation: Secret Garden Boutique Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day at leisure in Yangshuo: Today you are free at leisure to roam the Guangxi countryside independently. By far the best way of getting around is by bike, with bikes cheap and easy to hire locally. Your hotel or guide can help with this, and can also suggest a variety of cycling routes to suit all levels of fitness and interest.

Spending time on the water either on the Li itself or by bamboo raft along one its’ many gullies is also a memorable way to explore. Numerous other activities are also recommended, such as a cooking class at the Yangshuo Cooking School, shopping along Yangshuo’s central West Street, taking in the evening Son et Lumiere show, or arranging a trip to witness the fascinating fishing with cormorants method still practised by local fishermen.

Accommodation: Secret Garden Boutique Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Longji: This morning you will be driven to Longji in the ‘Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces', which are a collection of paddy fields that cover hill after hill providing a wonderfully scenic backdrop to the region. The drive will take around two to three hours.

Around a 1.5 hour drive north of Guilin you will find the Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces. Longsheng is the major town in the region, and from here you can travel further into the hills to Longji and stay in an alpine style guesthouse overlooking a landscape formed of terraced paddy fields. Truly spectacular, the sculptured hillsides offer a different colour for each season: silver in spring as the fields are full of water, iridescent green in summer, gold as the crops ripen in autumn and white as the hills become snow-capped during winter. Spend some time walking through the hillside, meeting the local tribespeople and admiring the fantastic views.

Guided tour of the ‘Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces': This afternoon, you will set out to explore the surrounding rice terraces, stopping off at several scenic viewpoints, and meeting some of the minority people that inhabit the hilltop villages before returning to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Ridge Inn (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Longji to Chengyang: After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and be transferred to the Dong village of Chengyang. The drive will take around two hours. On arrival you will check into your guest house close to the famous Wind & Rain Bridge and have the rest of the afternoon and evening to explore the village.

The Dong community of Chengyang is located close to Sanjiang, in China's Guangxi Province. Sanjiang is the capital of the Dong community and offers visitors the opportunity to get close to one of the region's most colourful ethnic minorities, while enjoying beautiful scenery in an undeveloped region of China's south. In the villages surrounding Sanjiang you will find a fascinating way of life, wonderful scenery and some memorable sites, most notably the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge.

Guided walking tour of Chengyang Village: You will join your guide for a short walk around this picturesque Dong tribe village taking in the drum towers, and the famous wind & rain bridges.

Accommodation: Lost World Inn (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer to Sanjiang railway station: At the locally advised time today you will be transferred to Sanjiang's railway station in order to board your onward train.

Train journey to Guangzhou: Board the high-speed G3717 train from Sanjiang to Guangzhou. The train departs at 10:05 and arrives at 12:54. Please note train times are subject to change.

Train journey to Hong Kong: Board the high-speed G6525 train from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. The train departs at 13:43 and arrives at 14:37. Please note train times are subject to change.

As you drive from Hong Kong’s new airport on the north of Lantau island, over the huge bridges that link it to the mainland you will see Hong Kong’s spectacular skyline appear in the distance. Now a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong is one of the world’s most modern and dynamic cities. Beneath its gleaming skyscrapers and aside from its streets and shopping arcades of neon, Hong Kong can still give an insight into ancient Chinese customs and traditions. Explore the maze of streets around Western District on Hong Kong Island or Mongkok in Kowloon, with their street food stalls, flower and bird markets or venture into the little known green hills of the New Territories with their traditional small villages. Hong Kong’s transport system is a highlight in itself, especially the Star Ferry across the harbour or the Peak Tram which offers amazing views of the whole city.

Private transfer: On arrival in Hong Kong you will be welcomed to Hong Kong by your driver and transferred to your hotel.

Accommodation: Metropark Hotel Kowloon (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: Today you are free to explore independently. This would be a good time to take a trip around Hong Kong Harbour on the famous Star Ferry.  You may also wish to take the funicular railway to Victoria Peak to admire views from the top. Alternatively you may wish to explore some of the outer islands and it is easy to take a ferry to Lamma Island or Lantau Island, where you can find the Tian Tan Buddha which is also known as Big Buddha due to its colossal size (34m high).

Accommodation: Metropark Hotel Kowloon (Standard Room) - Late check out 

Meals: Breakfast