Dynasties and Discovery

China, 12 Nights

Day 1 - London/Beijing
Board your overnight British Airways flight from Heathrow to Beijing.

Day 2 - Beijing
Arrive in Beijing and check-in to The Peninsula hotel for three nights. This afternoon, visit the Temple of Heaven with your private guide. Follow this with a Hutong tour by pedicab and a visit to Hongqiao Market or Silk Alley.

Day 3 - Beijing
This morning, explore Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Try roast duck for lunch at Chef Dong's restaurant, before a visit to the Summer Palace and a boat trip on Kunming Lake.

Day 4 - Beijing
Drive to the Great Wall of China to climb the ramparts at Mutianyu, or take a cable car ride. Enjoy a local lunch before exploring the Spirit Way and Ming Tombs.

Day 5 - Beijing/Xian
Enjoy a morning at leisure in Beijing before your flight to Xian. Check-in to the Shangri-La hotel for the next two nights.

Day 6 - Xian
Today visit the Terracotta Warriors, an army of more than 7,000 terracotta figures. Have lunch in a local restaurant before exploring the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, one of China's best museums. Lastly, stop at the City Walls, one of the few city walls in China that still remains standing.

Day 7 - Xian/Guilin
This morning, visit the Xian Museum and Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Climb the pagoda for wonderful views of the city. Transfer to the airport via the Han Yang Ling Museum. Here you will discover terracotta animals and pottery figurines from the Western Han dynasty. Fly to Guilin and check-in to The Sheraton.

Day 8 - Guilin
Depart on a Li River cruise, with lunch on-board. Arrive in the historic town of Yangshuo, surrounded by rice paddies and limestone peaks. Explore the town and local market before an early dinner at a local restaurant. This evening enjoy a spectacular folk musical 'Impressions Liu Sanjie' on the Li River, before returning to your hotel.                                                                                

Day 9 - Guilin/Hong Kong
Explore the sights of Guilin including the Reed Flute Cave and glorious views from Fubo Mountain. Also look out for Xiangbi Shan or 'Elephant Trunk Hill' resembling an elephant dipping its trunk into the Li River. Enjoy lunch at the hotel before taking a late-afternoon flight to Hong Kong. Arrive in style at The Peninsula, by Rolls Royce. Check-in for three nights.    

Day 10 - Hong Kong
This morning, visit Sheung Wan Market, followed by the incense-filled Man Mo Temple. Take the tram up Victoria Peak and enjoy a sampan ride through the floating village at Aberdeen. Experience a traditional dim sum lunch before an afternoon at leisure.

Day 11 - Hong Kong
Take the ferry across to Lantau Island and head up to Ngong Ping. Visit the Po Lin monastery and temple complex where you will also find the enormous Tian Tan bronze Buddha statue. Return to the hotel by private transfer for an afternoon at leisure.

Day 12 - Hong Kong/London
Enjoy some time at leisure before your Rolls Royce transfer back to the airport. Depart on the overnight flight back to London, arriving the following day.