China Encounters

Tour Highlights

Chengde

Xian

Yangtze River

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Chengde

Discover the former summer resort of the Manchu emperors

Xian

Come face to face with the amazing spectacle that is the Terracotta Warriors

Yangtze River

Cruise the dramatic Three Gorges along one of China's most famous rivers

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Admire the spectacular scenery of this awe inspiring mountain

Authentic Experiences

Our China Encounters Tour has been thoughtfully designed and thoroughly researched to bring you a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, many of which are entirely exclusive to us.

• Yunnan Province History Show

  Learn about the history of Yunnan Province and its many minority peoples in a spectacular show of traditional music, dancing and performance, called Dynamic Yunnan.

• Walk the Lesser-Visited Great Wall

  Walk on the magnificent Great Wall, discovering the lesser-visited Jinshanling, a section restored to its Ming Dynasty glory and which passes through magnificent surroundings.

• Tibetan Home-Cooked Meal

  Sit down to a delicious meal of home-cooked food, prepared for you by members of the Tibetan community in a charming, rural Yunnan village.

Tour Dates & Prices

All of our tour departures include international flights and taxes in the price. If the dates we have available for this tour don't suit your needs, or you are not sure travelling as part of a group is for you, maybe a Private Tour would be more ideal. If your tour departs in less than 30 days, please call our travel experts to book.

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There are no dedicated Solo departures for this year. You can enjoy any of our tours with no Single Supplement on our Happy to Share option or explore the solo departures in other years.

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Additional Price Information

Based on London Heathrow departures

Land only from £3290pp (Beijing – Kunming)

Regional UK departures available

Single room from £920 to 970

Flight upgrades available on request

Tipping payable locally RMB1090pp

Price listed is based on new bookings only

China Encounters - Tour Itinerary

DAYS 1-2: FLY OVERNIGHT TO BEIJING

Fly overnight to Beijing, China's historic capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

DAY 3: IMPERIAL BEIJING

This morning, head to Beijing's symbolic heart, Tiananmen Square and stroll into the sprawling magnificence of the Forbidden City where you will find a complex full of imperial riches. Later, soak up the harmonious ambience of the Temple of Heaven, an orderly oasis in a bustling urban landscape. Here, mingle with the locals and watch or participate as they practice Tai Chi, dance or play cards. This evening, sit down to a traditional dinner of Peking duck and enjoy an acrobatics show.

DAY 4: SUMMER PALACE

In the morning, enjoy the idyllic gardens of the Summer Palace before visiting a jade factory, then travel to Chengde by road.

DAY 5: EXPLORE CHENGDE

The summer retreat of Manchu emperors, Chengde is home to a wealth of imperial architecture. Visit the magnificent Mountain Resort and sacred temples, including Puning and Puyuo.

DAY 6: THE GREAT WALL

Make the return journey back to Beijing. This morning is dedicated to China's most iconic sight – the Great Wall, namely the Jinshanling section. Taking a walk on this incredible structure is the best way to appreciate both the sheer magnificence of the wall itself and the dramatic scenery that surrounds it.

DAY 7: TRAVEL TO XIAN

Take a bullet train to Xian and enjoy some time at leisure. Tonight, feast on traditional Shui Jiao dumplings followed by a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing.

DAY 8: TERRACOTTA WARRIORS

After their fortuitous discovery in the 1970s, the Terracotta Army of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, has intrigued visitors ever since. Spend the morning viewing the enigmatic ranks of life-sized warriors and horses. Also visit the Xian Art Ceramics and Lacquer Workshop to see where the warriors are intricately recreated. Later this afternoon, take a stroll on the beautifully preserved 14th-century city walls that enclose Xian's old town. Also explore the narrow and winding streets of the atmospheric Muslim Quarter, which are lined with Islamic food stalls. Here, you will gain an insight into the city's fascinating culture.

DAY 9: BULLET TRAIN TO CHENGDU

Board the bullet train to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province.

DAY 10: CHENGDU GIANT PANDAS

Begin the day with a visit to Chengdu's famous Panda Conservation Centre to see and learn about China's celebrated bears up close in surroundings that mirror their natural habitat. A look around the information museum gives an overview of the reserve's breeding programme. Next, stroll through the bustling People's Park to Matchmaker's Corner, where parents search for worthy suitors for their children, and wander through the Wide and Narrow Alleys.

DAY 11: BOARD YOUR CRUISE

Take the bullet train to Yichang and board your Yangtze River cruise vessel, where you will stay for the next four nights.

DAYS 12-14: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

Visit the Three Gorges Dam, which showcases a massive feat of engineering. As you cruise upstream, nature takes over revealing some of the world's most dramatic scenery including the Three Gorges themselves. Over the next few days prepare for one breathtaking panorama after another. Enjoy a side trip tothe attractive Shennong or Goddess Stream, as well as various shore excursions.

DAY 15: FLY TO ZHONGDIAN

Disembark in Chongqing and then fly to the monastery town of Zhongdian, also known as Shangri-La. This afternoon is at leisure to acclimatise to the altitude.

DAY 16: SONGZANLIN MONASTERY

Spend the morning exploring the spectacular Songzanlin Monastery. Afterwards, make your way to a rural Tibetan-style village where you will learn about the villagers' way of life and taste home-cooked dishes. End the day with a tour of the old town and Dafo Temple.

DAY 17: TIGER LEAPING GORGE

Journey to the 3,000-metre-deep Tiger Leaping Gorge. With its stunning backdrop of snow-capped mountains, it is one of China's most extraordinary sights. The whole area is spectacular, with breathtaking views. Travel to Lijiang and discover the old quarter; the quintessential Chinese 'old town' and wander the jumble of cobbled streets, traditional wooden buildings and rustic stone bridges.

DAY 18: JADE DRAGON SNOW MOUNTAIN

A magnificent mountain, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain comprises several peaks, the tallest of which soars 5,500 metres. Taking a cable car, explore one of the stunning high meadows and enjoy the amazing vistas. Visit Baisha Old Town to view the fascinating frescoes painted during the early Ming Dynasty and take a tour of the embroidery school.

DAY 19: BLACK DRAGON POOL

This morning, visit Black Dragon Pool Park where there are wonderful views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Later, travel to Dali and explore the lively Foreigners' Street.

DAYS 20-21: ENCHANTING DALI

The area surrounding Dali is extremely scenic. Explore the village of Xizhou to browse its local market. See the Yan family home and watch a tie-dying demonstration. Wander through Dali's ancient quarter and relax with a cruise on Erhai Lake. The next day, visit the Three Pagodas and take the bullet train to Kunming. This evening, dine on local dish Across the Bridge Noodles.

DAY 22: STONE FOREST

Explore the magnificent formations of the picturesque Stone Forest, where towering limestone pillars stand treelike in a fascinating illusion of woodland, before taking your seats to see the impressive 'Dynamic Yunnan' show.

DAY 23: FLY KUNMING TO UK

Fly to the UK, arriving home the same or following day.

Weather Information

Useful Information

Visas

Everyone needs a visa to travel to China, and this visa should be arranged before you travel. Your visa is included in the price of your holiday, and when it comes to organising it, our visa team will be on hand to help you with any questions or queries. Our step-by-step guide on completing your visa form is available on our website and we will comprehensively check your visa application form to make sure it meets the embassy guidelines. For those passengers travelling to the London visa centre, you will be met and assisted by a member of the Wendy Wu Tours team.

Communication

To call the UK the international access code is 0044. Out of hours is 0044 1888 288 288. Mobile phones are quite popular in China and you will find high quality coverage. SMS and call rates can be expensive: we recommend that you contact your mobile supplier for more details. Some of our hotels have WIFI in the rooms and some will only have it in the lobby. There may be additional charges. Many websites, including Google, Facebook and Twitter are banned and inaccessible in China. If you need to access your email via Gmail whilst in China, please use an alternative email account whilst in the country.

Tipping

Tipping while on holiday is common in most parts of the world and China is no exception. In order to avoid any inconvenience Wendy Wu Tours operates a tipping policy where a stated amount is given to your national escort at the beginning of your tour and tips are distributed to local guides and drivers throughout your tour. Yangtze cruise companies operate a service charge policy and this is paid separately when boarding the vessel. We indicate tipping amounts in your final documents for guidance.

Shopping

Shopping can be a fun and entertaining component to any travel adventure, and China has a vast array of shopping opportunities for those who love to seek out a bargain. In keeping with most people’s interests whilst on holiday, your tour will include a reasonable number of opportunities to shop for local goods and souvenirs. We have included visits to establishments that not only provide an opportunity to purchase a locally produced, great-value souvenir; but you’ll witness first-hand how these local products are made, their history and how they support the local economy.

Food

The cost of meals is included in your group tour cost. Breakfast is served in the hotel and includes western dishes. As is traditional in China, lunch and dinner consist of small dishes of local cuisine which are placed on a ‘Lazy Susan’ for everyone to share. If you would like to drink beer, soft drink or bottled water with your meals, payment is to be made directly to the restaurant staff. If you have booked a tour that does not include all meals, your local guides will be able to recommend where to eat. Any food/diet requests MUST be specified at the time of booking.

Accommodation

Wendy Wu Tours inspect all of our hotels to ensure they meet the high levels of service which we require for our guests. We pick the right hotel for the specific destination, meaning your accommodation can range from a smart business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. Hotels in China are bound by Government laws which mean that air conditioning is switched on nationally in May and the central heating in November (this may vary slightly depending on the region).

Sample Tour Hotels

We draw from a wide range of hotels on our holidays, each one is chosen to suit the tour you are travelling on meaning your accommodation can range from a smart business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. Here are some examples of the type of hotel you can expect to find on this tour.

• Mercure Beijing Downtown

  The 4-star Mercure Beijing Downtown is very well connected across the city, with easy access to the city centre and multiple transport links. The elegant and spacious guests rooms offer free internet access and satelite TV.

• Mountain Villa Hotel

  The Chengde Mountain Villa Hotel is located directly opposite the entrance to the Mountain Resort and the Imperial Palace Garden. Built around a verdant courtyard, this hotel offers large rooms with modern facilities including satellite television and en-suite bathrooms. The six onsite restaurants serve excellent Chinese and Western cuisine, and the hotel also offers a gym.

• Lanxi International Hotel

  A short distance from Xian's historic old town, the 4-star Lanxi International hotel features a terrace for you to enjoy, as well as an indoor pool and hot tub. The modern guest rooms offer a private bathroom, desk and flat screen TV.

• Xinliang Hotel

  The 4-star Xinliang Hotel is located in the heart of Chengdu, just a short distance from some of the cities key attractions. The hotel's interior was inspired by Bashu culture and blended with a modern charm. Enjoy the recreational facilities available to you, including a sauna and steamroom designed for escapism and relaxation.

• Zhaxidele Hotel

  Situated 1.0 Km away from the city centre, The Shangri-la Zhaxidele Hotel offers comfortable en-suite rooms with modern amenities, including air conditioning and satellite television. Other amenities include a salon, shops and Wi-Fi in public areas. The hotel also features a superb restaurant and bar.

• Adange Hotel

  Located in the city centre of Lijiang, the Adange 4 star hotel offers 283 elegantly furnished en-suite rooms equipped with air conditioning, satellite television, safety deposit box and refrigerator. The onsite restaurant offers local Chinese and Western dishes. A swimming pool and gym are also available.

• Asia Hotel

  Backed by the snow-capped Cangshan Mountain range and facing Erhai Lake, the four-star Asian Star Hotel offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the natural scenery of this area. The hotel offers an onsite restaurant, fitness room and currency exchange facilities. All of the rooms feature air conditioning, a telephone and a view of the mountain or lake.

• Jinjiang Hotel

  JinJiang Hotel is located close to Kunming's main attractions. Each of its air conditioned, modern en-suite rooms include satellite television, a minibar, complimentary toiletries and tea making facilities. The hotel is home to one revolving restaurant as well as 6 dining options and a bar. The onsite fitness centre and spa is a highlight.