Meet & greet: Upon arrival at Beijing International Airport you will be welcomed to China by your private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel.

Afternoon walking tour of the hutongs: After arriving and having some time to settle into your hotel, you will set out to explore the fascinating hutong district with your guide. Hutongs are the narrow networks of lanes created by closely built quadrangular homes in the centre of Beijing. Mostly built during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the hutongs once covered most of the city but are now a fast disappearing sight as Beijing's city developers move in to modernise these areas. Leave your hotel on foot and walk around 800m to the starting section of the ancient Grand Canal. Follow the canal for a short distance until you reach Wanning and Jinding Bridges, two ancient stone bridges connecting the Canal with Qianhai Lake. Walk along the banks of Qianhai until you reach the hutong area next to famous Houhai Lake. Houhai is the largest of the three lakes, along with Qianhai & Xihai, that comprise Shichahai, the collective name for the three northern-most lakes in central Beijing which in recent years have become a recreational area. Spend some time exploring the winding alleyways around the lakes, before continuing on to see the Drum and Bell Towers. Afterwards you will walk back to your hotel. The total walking distance today will be around 5km.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Shichahai Shadow Art Performance Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Full day tour of Beijing: The morning will start on Tiananmen Square, where you will be able to take in the panorama of the largest public square in the world. It is through here that you will enter the Forbidden City, the largest and most complete group of ancient buildings in China. Built in the 15th Century, the Imperial Palace was a forbidden area for 500 years before the revolution of 1911. It was home to two royal dynasties, the Ming and Qing emperors, and it is from this palace that the emperors governed China, stepping out of its confines extremely rarely. Afterwards you will visit Jingshan Park from where you can get a great view over the Forbidden City on a clear day. 

Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant, following which you will be driven to the outskirts of Beijing to the Imperial Summer Palace. The original Summer Palace was laid out in the 12th century and over the centuries was used by the emperors as their summer escape from the humidity of Beijing and the Forbidden City. The Palace is set in 2.5 kilometres of gardens on the large Kunming Lake. You will be taken around the palaces of the complex, including Empress Dowager's retreat, and the gardens.

Private transfer: This evening, your guide and driver will transfer you to the train station for your overnight journey to Xi’an.

Overnight train: Board the overnight Z19 train to Xi’an, which departs at 20.40 and arrives at 08.31 the following morning. A private 2-berth soft-sleeper cabin will be reserved for your exclusive use.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Private transfer: On arrival in Xi’an, you will be met at the train station and transferred to your hotel to check in (early check-in is subject to room availability).

Guided tour of Xi’an: After some time to settle into your hotel you will set out to visit the Shaanxi Museum, established in 1952, and considered to be one of the best museums in China. Its exhibits date from prehistoric times through early dynastic China and up to the early 20th century, and many are from the local area. Included are terracotta horses and soldiers, Ming and Qing pottery, bronze cooking vessels from the Shang and Zhou dynasties (16th - 11th centuries B.C.) and tools and pottery from the Palaeolithic and Neolithic ages. 

After the museum, continue to the old part of the city. Visit the Bell Tower, Drum Tower and the historic Muslim quarter of the city. In the centre of the walled city, the bell in the Bell Tower was sounded at dawn when the city gates were opened, and the drum in the nearby Drum Tower at dusk when the gates closed. The renovated Bell Tower, dating from 1384, was moved to its present site in 1582 where it is now encircled by downtown's shopping and commercial centre and stands 118 foot high. The beautiful mosque lies close by the Drum Tower in Huajue Xiang. It is surrounded by the old houses and narrow lanes of Xi’an's Muslim, or Hui, community. Islam has been the most enduring of all faiths in Xi’an. It was first introduced by Arab merchants during the Tang Dynasty, and flourished during the Yuan (1279-1368). The Great Mosque survived the Cultural Revolution virtually unscathed and remains an outstanding Chinese re-interpretation of an Islamic place of worship. It was founded in 742 A.D, according to a stone tablet in the mosque, but nothing from this Tang period survives. The present layout dates from the 14th century.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Bell Tower Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Morning tour of the Terracotta Warriors: After breakfast, leave Xi’an with your guide and drive to the outskirts of the city to the site of the Terracotta Warriors & Horses. In 1974 a peasant digging a well came upon what now stands as one of the main tourist attractions in China and one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century. An army of thousands of life-sized warriors and their horses in battle formation, which were buried for 2,000 years, stand guard over the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The figures were buried with artefacts and weapons of the day and every figure differs in facial features and expressions. The dig is still in progress, as it is believed that the site is part of an even larger army still buried. After the tour, return to Xi’an for lunch at a local restaurant. The rest of the afternoon will be free at leisure for you to relax and continue exploring at your own pace.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Bell Tower Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Private transfer: This morning, you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the railway station to catch your high-speed train to Luoyang.

High-speed train journey from Xi’an to Luoyang: Board the high-speed G656 train from Xi’an to Luoyang. The train departs at 10.07 and arrives at 11.43.

Private transfer: On arrival in Luoyang, you will be met and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Afternoon tour of the Longmen Grottoes: After lunch, set out to visit the stunning Longmen Caves. The site is one of China’s four famous Buddhist cave complexes and home to thousands of Buddha statues carved into the rock by pilgrims and religious artists. The caves here provide a large amount of historical data for studying ancient religion, fine arts, architecture, calligraphy, music, dress, as well as medicine. 

Following your visit, transfer back downtown and visit the Luoyang Museum, which contains over 1,000 exhibits showcasing a time when Luoyang was the ancient capital of China. Finish your tour at Luoyang Old Street, a vibrant area featuring well-preserved traditional old buildings, which now plays home to many local shops and street food stalls.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Luoyang Hotel (Deluxe Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Morning tour of Luoyang: This morning, you will be taken to visit the Museum of the Imperial Carriages of the Emperor of the Zhou Dynasty. This museum covers an area of over 1,700m², and includes many artefacts from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, of which Luoyang was the capital city. The museum features several important archaeological sites, including sacrificial pits and grave sites where you can see sculptures and skeletons. Following your visit you will also be taken to the Mausoleum of Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty. The founder of the Eastern Han Dynasty, his tomb is located in a village outside of Luoyang.

Road journey to Kaifeng: After your morning sightseeing, you will depart Luoyang this afternoon and transfer by road to the ancient Song Dynasty capital Kaifeng. The journey will take around 3 hours and on arrival, you will check into your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at New Century Grand Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Guided tour of Kaifeng: Today, you will be taken on a tour of some of Kaifeng’s main historical sites of interest. Kaifeng has a long history, and acted as capital for several of China’s most important dynasties. Your first stop of the day will be at the Iron Pagoda. Not actually made of iron, but of bricks, this structure has become one of the defining symbols of Kaifeng. Originally built in 1049 during the Song Dynasty as a brick replacement for a wooden pagoda which had been struck by lightning, the pagoda has since survived multiple earthquakes, floods, and other disasters, and has yet remained intact for almost 1,000 years. You will also visit the Po Pagoda, another famous pagoda with a distinctive appearance. Built in 977 in the Song Dynasty, this predates the Iron Pagoda and is the oldest ancient structure in Kaifeng. Afterwards, visit the Kaifeng Guildhall, an important ancient building along the Grand Canal which acted as a meeting place for the townspeople and merchants from surrounding provinces. 

Finally, you will also get to see the Yellow River and the Grand Canal. The Yellow River (Huang He) is often referred to as the “Cradle of Chinese Civilisation”, as the origins of China’s first dynasty (the mythical Xia) were said to be found on its banks. The Grand Canal at one time reached from the Yangtze up to the Yellow River and on to Beijing and is the longest canal in the world. It is no longer possible to traverse the full length of the canal, but many important historical relics remain on the banks, and some parts still play a big role in trade to this day. You will have the chance to take a cruise along the Kaifeng section of the Grand Canal and learn some more about the history of this ancient trading route.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at New Century Grand Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Transfer to Zhengzhou Railway Station: This morning, you will be collected from your hotel in Kaifeng and transferred to the railway station in nearby Zhengzhou, to catch your high-speed train to Nanjing, a journey of around 1 hour.

High-speed train journey from Zhengzhou to Nanjing: Board the high-speed D294 train from Zhengzhou to Nanjing. The train departs at 09.02 and arrives at 14.29. 

* Please note that although there are trains to Nanjing departing from Kaifeng, tickets can be hard to come by. If possible we will book a train directly from Kaifeng rather than Zhengzhou.

Private transfer: On arrival in Nanjing, you will be met and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Afternoon tour of Nanjing Museum: This afternoon, you will be taken to visit the Nanjing Museum. Located within the Zhongshan Gate, this was one of the first museums established in China. Nanjing served as the capital of various Chinese dynasties, and the museum showcases the progression of Chinese history with over 400,000 important cultural artefacts from throughout the ages. After looking around the museum, you can take a walk along Qinhuai River. The river runs through the city of Nanjing and there are many historical and cultural sites of interest along the riverfront.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Mandarin Garden (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Full day tour of Nanjing: Begin your full day tour of Nanjing with a visit to the Presidential Palace of the former Kuomintang Government. Possibly the only place in Mainland China where the flag of the Kuomintang Government is still flown proudly, this was where Dr Sun Yat-sen was declared as the first president of the Republic of China back in 1912, and from where Chiang Kai-shek ran his government before fleeing to Taiwan in 1949. 

Continue to the mausoleum of China's great revolutionary forerunner, Dr. Sun Yat-sen (1866 - 1925), which was built in 1926-1929 on the southern slopes of Zhongshan Hill. Now designated a national scenic spot and historical site, the mausoleum is a popular place for visitors coming to pay their respects to the ‘Father of Modern China’. 392 granite steps lead to the memorial hall and a vault where the remains of Sun Yat-sen are buried under a marble statue of him in reclining posture. The entire Mausoleum covers an area of 80,000 square metres with the architecture arranged in the form of a freedom bell, with green foliage as backdrop and overlooking the plain. 

Afterwards visit the Ming Tombs and the Confucius Temple (Fuzi Miao). Nanjing’s Ming Tombs are one of the largest imperial mausoleums in China, and are situated at the base of the Purple Mountain. Fuzi Miao was the centre of Confucian study in China for over 1,500 years, and to the right (east) was once the Jiang Nán Gòngyuàn, an academy first built in 1169 and which later became the largest imperial civil examination halls during the Míng and Qing dynasties, with over 20,000 cells for examinees. Although this may have once been a place of quiet contemplation, today's Fuzi Miao is a popular market square and Nanjing's entertainment district.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Mandarin Garden (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey to Yangzhou: This morning, you will check out of your hotel and transfer by road to Yangzhou, a journey of around 2 hours.

Afternoon tour of Yangzhou: This afternoon, you will begin your sightseeing in another of China’s ancient capitals, Yangzhou. Start with He Garden, a beautifully preserved garden dating back to the Qing Dynasty. Continue on to the Museum of the Tomb of the Guangling King. The museum displays the tombs of the ruler of the ancient Guangling Kingdom and his wife. The impressive tomb was cleverly constructed from wood without using a single nail. Finally, you will also pay a visit to the well-preserved Wang’s Residence, former residential home of a salt merchant, and a great showcase for late Qing Dynasty architecture and landscaping.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Yangzhou Centre & Residence (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Guided tour of Yangzhou: This morning, you will visit Yangzhou’s slender West Lake, a manmade lake in a southwest suburb of the city. Walk around the scenic lake, and enjoy the traditional architecture, and picturesque gardens. The highest point of the scenic area, Xiaojin Hill, provides visitors with a stunning panoramic view of the lake. Continue the day with a walk along Dongguan Street. An ancient alleyway in the city centre, Dongguan Street is one of the oldest areas in the city, and features many Ming & Qing style buildings. Its a good place to see some of Yangzhou’s old folk culture, do some shopping, and sample some street food. At one end of the street can be found the reconstructed remains of the city’s East Gate.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Yangzhou Centre & Residence (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Private transfer to Zhenjiang Railway Station: This morning, you will be collected from your hotel in Yangzhou and transferred to the railway station in nearby Zhenjiang to catch your high-speed train to Suzhou, a journey of around 45 minutes to 1 hour.

High-speed train journey from Zhenjiang to Suzhou: Board the high-speed G7045 train from Zhenjiang to Suzhou. The train departs at 09.58 and arrives at 11.02.

Private transfer: On arrival in Suzhou, you will be met and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Afternoon tour of Suzhou: Suzhou is one of the oldest cities in the Yangtze basin, and flourished as a trading and silk centre from the 6th century. Its most prosperous period was during the Ming and Qing dynasties when many officials, scholars, and artists settled here and local traders grew rich. This wealth was largely invested in the 150 gardens that make Suzhou famous today. The gardens are however hidden behind high walls. Today you will visit the Garden of the Humble Administrator, which is part park, and part restored Ming garden. This classical Ming garden has a pool patterned with islands and bridges, one island of which is said to suggest a moored boat. 

You will then be taken to see Panmen, Suzhou’s oldest city gate, said to have a history of over 2,400 years. The only remaining city gate in China with both a land and a water entrance, Panmen has been well restored in recent decades and remains an impressive sight today. Finally, you will also visit a section of the Grand Canal, which runs through many of the cities visited on this trip.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Garden Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning tour of Tongli Water Town: After breakfast, you will drive from Suzhou to Tongli Water Town. Tongli is a well-preserved water-town, dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Here you will have a chance to visit the charming Tuisi Gardens, and the Jiayin Hall with its impressive carvings. Afterwards visit the Silk Embroidery Institute, started in 1957. For more than a thousand years silk has been a massively important part of China’s trade and art and the institute has its own museum showing the development of embroidery stitches and motifs.

Private transfer: This afternoon, you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the railway station to catch your high-speed train to Hangzhou.

High-speed train journey from Suzhou to Hangzhou: Board the high-speed G7571 train from Suzhou to Hangzhou. The train departs at 15.35 and arrives at 17.12.

Private transfer: On arrival in Hangzhou, you will be met and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tea Boutique Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Full day tour of Hangzhou: Begin your tour of Hangzhou with a short cruise on Hangzhou's West Lake. Originally a shallow sea inlet, due to the laying down of silt this six square kilometres (1483 acres) of water became the famous West Lake. With hilly peaks on three sides it has been an attraction for centuries and it is small wonder that it was a favourite imperial retreat. 

This morning, you will also visit the Grand Canal, the prosperous trading route for commodities including tea, which has connected the north and south of the country since the 6th century. Hangzhou was the southernmost point of the Canal, which once reached all the way up to Beijing. Take a ride on the public ferry along the Grand Canal to Gongcheng Bridge, and visit the Grand Canal Museum to learn about the history of this remarkable piece of ancient engineering. 

In the afternoon, you will head to Hefang Street. An important centre of trade as far back as the Song Dynasty, Hefang Street has now been opened up as a pedestrianised street showcasing traditional Chinese architecture, crafts, and food. Here you can visit the Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a fascinating museum housed in an ancient building, and which has been operating as a traditional pharmacy since 1874.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tea Boutique Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Morning tour of Hangzhou: Hangzhou is famous for the quality of its green tea, which is noted for its flavour and health giving properties, and that tea culture is an intrinsic part of Chinese life. This morning you will visit Longjing Village, where you will be able to see the fertile hills where this tea is grown and be given demonstrations on brewing as well as having opportunities for tasting. Later you will also visit the National Tea Museum, the only museum in China dedicated solely to tea.

Private transfer: This afternoon, you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the railway station to catch your high-speed train to Shanghai.

High-speed train journey from Hangzhou to Shanghai: Board the high-speed G7316 train from Hangzhou to Shanghai. The train departs at 14.00 and arrives at 14.45.

Private transfer: On arrival in Shanghai, you will be met and transferred to your hotel to check in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Anting Villa Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Guided tour of Shanghai by walking and public transport: After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel and you will set out together for a guided tour of Shanghai. First you will head to the Bund, lined with fine colonial buildings from its 1930's heyday when the city was occupied by European, American, and Japanese banks, trading houses, clubs, consulates, and hotels. These buildings have been restored as a showcase of the city and are spectacularly lit up at night. Continue on foot to the old city and the Yu Gardens. Within the past turbulent century much of Shanghai's old quarters were destroyed; however what remains gives an interesting insight into Shanghai's past. The Yu Gardens date from the 16th century, and are a wonderful mixture of pavilions and corridors, small hills, lotus ponds teeming with goldfish, bridges, winding paths, trees and shrubs. After looking around the gardens you will have time to visit the adjoining market or sip tea in the tea pavilion. 

Enjoy a dim sum lunch in a local restaurant, and then hop on the metro to visit the former French Concession. This area was established for the French population of Shanghai, resident from 1849 to 1946, and the leafy streets still retain a European air. Spend some time walking along the pleasant streets before jumping back on the metro to Renmin Square where you can visit the Shanghai Museum. Set in a newly designed building in the 'People's Park', the Shanghai Museum is China's foremost collection of exhibits dating from Neolithic times. The bronze collection is considered the best in the world, with other first-rate exhibits of sculpture, jade, calligraphy, painting, and Ming and Qing dynasty furniture and minority art. Afterwards, you can walk along Nanjing Road before transferring back to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Anting Villa Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch