On arrival in Beijing Daxing or Beijing Capital Airport, you will be met in the arrival hall by your local guide and/or National Escort from Wendy Wu Tours. Together with all other group members who may be arriving at a similar time, you will transfer approximately 1 hour to your hotel. Early check-in is not included. Additional nights’ before and after your tour can be arranged. An informal Welcome Dinner will be held on Day 1. If you miss this due to your arrival time, all information will be provided to you at breakfast the following morning.

Walk across the lengths of Tiananmen Square and into the magnificent Forbidden City. Sightseeing here involves approximately 3-4 hours on foot. Soak up the harmonious ambience of the Temple of Heaven for around 1 hour where you can watch, or take part in, an outdoor dance group. This evening, enjoy a Chinese acrobatic show and a traditional Peking Duck Dinner. The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays. If this day of touring falls on a Monday, your touring in Beijing will be switched around so that the Forbidden City is visited on an alternative day.

Rise early this morning to avoid the crowds and drive approximately 2 hours northwest of the city to the Juyongguan Pass to take a walk on the Great Wall of China, appreciating the wall itself and the dramatic scenery. Your visit involves walking from the bus to the first section. Once your group has been given an introduction to the Great Wall’s unique history you will have free time to explore the rest at your own pace. Later, visit the Jade Factory, and in the afternoon, stroll through the Summer Palace.

Transfer to the train station and take the bullet train for 5 and a half hours to Xian. Visit the lovely Little Wild Goose Pagoda, and in the evening, enjoy a delicious feast of traditional Shui Jiao dumplings and a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing.

Spend the morning viewing the enigmatic ranks of the life-sized Terracotta Warriors. The Museum of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses is located approximately a 1-hour drive outside of Xian. From the bus park to the museum entrance is a 15-minute walk. There are electric carts offered by private vendors which can be organised at your own cost. There is no electric cart available for the return from the museum exit to the bus park. Within the museum area the warriors can be seen in three different ‘pits’, which are active archaeological digs. The site is large and will take about 2 and a half hours to explore. After this, visit the Xian Art Ceramics and Lacquer Exhibition Workshop to see smaller models of the warriors being made. Later, stroll on the beautifully preserved 14th century city walls that enclose Xian’s old town. The local guide will give you time to explore the ancient city walls at your own pace. There are options here to hire a bicycle or an electric cart to drive along the length of the wall. These are offered by private vendors and can be organised at your own expense. Please note: If you wish to undertake a bike ride on the Ancient City Wall, we strongly recommend wearing a helmet.

Today you will fly to the city of Guilin and visit the Reed Flute Caves to admire the stunning colours of the stalagmites and stalactites. You will take a short walk through the caves, sometimes along damp paths and stairs. It usually takes about 1 hour to complete the route and it is very cool inside.

Take a relaxed 3-hour cruise along the Li River to the charming village of Yangshuo where you will spend 2 nights. Around every river bend is a view to take your breath away as jagged peaks loom over rural scenes of lush greenery, grazing buffalos and local fishermen. These are small cruise boats usually holding approximately 100 passengers; with an enclosed dining area on the lower deck and an open viewing area on the upper deck. Usually the boats depart at 9am, from the dock located a 1-hour drive from your hotel. However, when the river level is low they depart from further downstream which would mean a longer drive and an earlier check-out from your hotel. Disembarking from the cruise, your Local Guide will walk with you to your hotel, approximately a 30-minute walk from the river. There are electric carts offered by private vendors which can be organised at your own cost. In Yangshuo, visit the local markets.

Begin the day with a relaxing and invigorating session of Tai Chi, taking a class with a master to learn this ancient martial art. Explore Yangshuo’s countryside, which is surrounded by landscapes of jewel-green paddy fields and dramatic limestone karsts, and stop for a photo opportunity on the banks of the Li river to meet a genuine cormorant fisherman.

Drive back to Guilin and visit the Pearl Museum before catching a train to Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, China’s ‘Spring City’. This evening, dine on a local dish, Across the Bridge noodles.

Drive 1 and a half hours to the Stone Forest and spend the morning exploring the unusual limestone rock formations of the Kunming Stone Forest. This involves around 2 and a half hours walking along cobblestone paths to view the maze of rock pinnacles, lake and ponds. After lunch, you will drive back to Kunming for an afternoon at leisure.

Transfer to the train station this morning to board a 3 hour bullet train to Lijiang, one of Yunnan’s most beautiful spots and quintessential Chinese towns. Transfer about 40 minutes to Lijiang Old Quarter and explore the maze of canals and cobbled alleys on foot, admiring the traditional architecture, before visiting Black Dragon Pool where you can enjoy spectacular vistas of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Daytime altitude - 3,200m at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Overnight altitude - 2,300m at Lijiang

Drive around 2 hours (depending on number of photo stops) out of Lijiang to the Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of China’s most dramatic sights. The bus will drop you off at the southern end of a walkway which follows the gorge as far as the upper rapids. It is a newly constructed, even walkway. There are sedan chairs offered by local vendors, which can be organised at your own cost. The whole area is spectacular, so prepare for breathtaking views. Lunch today will be a simple meal as the choice of restaurants in this area is limited. Return to Lijiang in the afternoon.

A magnificent mountain massif, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain incorporates several peaks, the tallest of which is 5,500m. Visiting Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is very popular with travellers to this area, so to avoid the large crowds of people queuing at the same time, the local Government’s tourist authority allocates times to each group. The bus will drive to the base of the mountain where you will take a cable car and explore one of the beautiful high meadows and enjoy the amazing vistas. From the cable car, there is a wooden pathway to the meadow; this walking route takes approximately 20 minutes. Descend by chairlift to re-board the bus. You may reach a maximum altitude of 3250M during your time on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Later, take a leisurely visit to Baisha Old Town to view the fascinating murals, painted during the early Ming Dynasty. There are ruthless souvenir sellers near the bus park so be firm to avoid any hassle. Overnight altitude - 2,300m at Lijiang. Please note that this section of the itinerary is subject to change at late notice. Your local guide will keep you informed of any changes as they are made aware of them.

This morning is at leisure, before you fly 1 and a half hours to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. Tonight, enjoy a typical Sichuanese dinner.

Today you will visit China’s most famous resident, the Giant Panda. Visit the Panda Conservation Centre and see these lovable creatures in surroundings that mirror their natural habitat. It is not guaranteed that you will be able to see the feeding of the younger pandas, as this only happens at the start and end of each day. Sightseeing involves approximately 1 and a half hours on foot and there are electric carts offered by private vendors that can be organised at your own cost. Wander through the People’s Park to see the fascinating Matchmaker’s Corner. Later, transfer 4-5 hours by coach to Chongqing, where you will board your Yangtze River Cruise. Please note: The Yangtze River cruise section of your itinerary will not be confirmed by the cruise operators until after you commence your tour as it is subject to local river conditions and water levels. Your Local Guide will do their utmost to keep you informed of any changes but cannot guarantee against delays or – in rare cases – cancellations of sections of your itinerary. Shore excursions are subject to change depending on local conditions. A detailed itinerary will be handed out on the vessel each day. If you do not wish to take part in a shore excursion but you still wish to disembark the cruise ship, there is a mandatory port tax which must be paid by each customer. The port tax amount is approx. USD20-USD30 per person; however, this amount can vary and for security reasons, it is not always possible to disembark at all ports of call. Please be aware that there are a number of steps involved in embarking and disembarking your Yangtze River Cruise Ship, particularly during low tide. If you think this may be an issue, please inform us in advance. You may be offered cabin upgrades locally which may include some of the amenity package services. Please note that the amenity package benefits start on the second day of the cruise.

Cruise down the Yangtze through some of China’s most dramatic scenery, particularly the Three Gorges. Over the next two days prepare for one breathtaking panorama after another. Take a side trip to the Goddess or Shennong Stream and enjoy shore excursions to the Ghost City of Fengdu or Shibaozhai. You will also see Three Gorges Dam which showcases a massive feat of engineering. Disembark, transfer to Yichang and fly to Shanghai.

Shanghai is China’s great metropolis, where east and west collide on streets lined with futuristic skyscrapers and 10th century temples. Today’s explorations include 3-4 hours sightseeing on foot, visiting the peaceful Yu Gardens and the atmospheric alleys of the old town. Admire the magnificent colonial architecture with a stroll along the historical waterfront Bund, before visiting the Silk Factory. This evening, view the city from the Huangpu River on a panoramic cruise, before sampling some traditional Shanghai cuisine.

Any time before your flight is at leisure. You will be transferred from your hotel to Shanghai Pudong or Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, according to the departure time of your international flight. Late check-out is not included. Additional night's before and after your tour can be arranged.