Asia

Days 1 to 5 - Beijing, Start your journey to China with its most formidable city, Beijing, the historical and cultural heart of the Middle Kingdom. On arrival in Beijing, you will be met and transferred to your hotel to meet your group and tour leader for a welcome drink and tour briefing. We then commence our exploration of Beijing with the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square. We also take time to explore the classic lanes and hutongs in the backstreets of the city. Travel to the amazing Great Wall of China, visit the dramatic Temple of Heaven, learn about Tibetan Buddhism at the Lama Temple, walk the streets of Dazhalan, Liulichang and parts of Beijing's Underground City, and wander through the vast grounds of the Summer Palace. There will be time for shopping, night market visits and opportunities to enjoy some of Beijing’s most famous dishes before experiencing a comfortable overnight train trip to Xian.

Days 6 to 9 - Xian & Nanjing. In Xian we explore the ancient, fortified city walls, Wild Goose Pagoda, the Great Mosque and Muslim Quarter. We see Xian’s greatest treasure, and one of China’s most awesome, the Terracotta Warriors, buried for over 2000 years and uncovered in the 1970s. We also have time in Xian to visit the Drum Tower and take a stroll along calligraphy lane before flying to Nanjing. This city has a long and rich history dating back to the early years of the Ming dynasty and covering significant periods of prosperity, obscurity and atrocity. On arrival from Xian, we tour the impressive Ming City Wall, and learn more about the 300,000 lives lost during Japanese occupation in 1937-38 at the confronting Nanjing Massacre Memorial. We’ll also see the mausoleum and museum of Dr Sun Yat Sen, as well as the tomb of Emperor Hong Wu.

Days 10 to14 - Shanghai, Wuzhen & Hangzhou. We journey on to Shanghai, Asia’s most amazing modern city – with its soaring skyline dwarfing the grand colonial structures of old. Shanghai’s energy and momentum is unmatched anywhere. We explore the Bund, the Shanghai Museum – China’s finest – the bustling Chinese Quarter, Yu Yuan Garden and Bazaar. Using Shanghai as a base we head out to explore the beautiful water town of Wuzhen, and the garden city of Hangzhou. These towns provide a distinct contrast to the pace of Shanghai as we experience a great mix of history, cruising, cobbled streets, temples, beautiful gardens and peaceful lakes