China Splendour

Tour Highlights

Forbidden City

Xian

Wulong National Park

Giant Pandas

Forbidden City

Trace the history of the emperors at one of Beijing’s biggest attractions

Xian

Admire thousands of relics at the Shaanxi History Museum

Wulong National Park

Explore beautiful Wulong National Park

Giant Pandas

Come face to face with these cuddly creatures at Chengdu's Panda Conservation Centre

Authentic Experiences

Our China Splendour 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.

• Discover the Three Natural Bridges National Park

  Discover the magnificent nature of the Three Natural Bridges National Park in Wulong, walking through the lush valleys and gorges to admire the spectacular geological wonder of the three bridges themselves.

• Taste Local Shiu Jiao Dumplings

  Tuck into a delicious feast of local speciality Shiu Jiao dumplings before stepping back into Xian's golden age, during the Tang Dynasty, with a music and dance performance.

• Wander the Muslim Quarter

  Wander the atmospheric alleyways of Xi'an's old Muslim Quarter, an area that perfectly showcases the city's illustrious history as a terminus of the ancient Silk Road.

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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Find a tour with the same inclusion cheaper and we will match it AND give you a reward. We will match the price of any Wendy Wu Tour quoted elsewhere. The price of your tour will never rise after you've paid. With our Flexible Booking Guarantee book with confidence with low deposits, free changes and late final payment. See full terms and conditions.

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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 £2590pp (Shanghai – Chengdu)

Regional UK departures available

Single room from £540 to 590

Flight upgrades available on request

Tipping payable locally RMB480pp

Price listed is based on new bookings only

China Splendour - Tour Itinerary

DAYS 1-2: FLY OVERNIGHT TO SHANGHAI

Fly overnight to the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai, also known as the 'Paris of the East'. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

DAY 3: DISCOVER SHANGHAI

Shanghai is China's great metropolis, where east and west collide on streets lined with futuristic skyscrapers and 10th-century temples. Visit Yu Garden, stop in the old town and admire the magnificent colonial architecture with a stroll along the Bund. Later, learn about the age-old silk production process at a silk factory, from the cultivation of silkworms up to creating the final piece. This evening, view the city from the Huangpu River on a panoramic cruise and enjoy a delicious meal of traditional Shanghainese cuisine.

DAY 4: TEMPLE OF HEAVEN

Fly to Beijing, China's fascinating capital. 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 practise Tai Chi, dance or play cards. Later this evening, savour Beijing's best-known delicacy – Peking duck.

DAY 5: IMPERIAL BEIJING

This morning, head to Beijing's symbolic heart, Tiananmen Square and into the sprawling magnificence of the Forbidden City where you will find a complex full of imperial treasures. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. An evening of Chinese acrobatics rounds off the day.

DAY 6: THE GREAT WALL

This morning is dedicated to China's most iconic sight – the Great Wall. There is no better way to appreciate both the sheer magnificence of the wall itself and the dramatic scenery that surrounds it than by taking a fascinating walk along it. Also visit a jade factory, then relax in the idyllic gardens of the Summer Palace as you explore traditional Chinese landscapes and view exquisite architecture. This evening, you may wish to join an optional kung fu show.

DAY 7: ANCIENT XIAN

Fly to Xian, the historic former capital and take a stroll on the beautifully preserved 14th-century city wall. Tonight, feast on traditional Shui Jiao dumplings before watching 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. Visit the workshop of the craftsmen who recreate them in the style of their ancient counterparts. Also visit the Little Wild Goose Pagoda and soak up the atmosphere in the narrow alleyways of the Muslim Quarter.

DAY 9: WULONG

Fly to Chongqing and transfer to Wulong – an area of stunning natural scenery with towering limestone karsts, deep gorges, caves and natural bridges. Its remote location has ensured that the park is relatively unspoilt. It comes as no surprise that Wulong is a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

DAY 10: THREE BRIDGES NATIONAL PARK

Today, visit Three Bridges National Park, a rare geological wonder consisting of three natural karst bridges: Tianlong Bridge, Qinglong Bridge and Heilong Bridge. Continue to Longshuixia Fissure, a narrow fault line that has been carved out by the river.

DAY 11: CHENGDU

Return by road to Chongqing and then take the bullet train to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province.

DAY 12: PANDAS

Visit Chengdu's famous Panda Conservation Centre where you can get up close to China's celebrated bears, as they chomp through piles of bamboo, in surroundings that mirror their natural habitat. Continue to People's Park and spend time in Matchmaker's Corner. Tonight, dine on delicious Sichuanese cuisine. There is an optional performance to see the 'face changing' show at the Sichuan Opera.

DAY 13: LESHAN GRAND BUDDHA

Take a day trip to Leshan to see the 71-metre-high UNESCO-listed Grand Buddha. Completed in the year 803, it is said that the Buddha’s presence has calmed the turbulent waters of the river. View the Buddha from above before taking a short boat trip, which will give you an even better perspective from below. Later, return by road to Chengdu.

DAY 14: FLY CHENGDU 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 our visa team will be on hand to help you with any questions or queries.

The 'China New Visa' is available on this tour for departures from January 2020. This means a simplified Visa process and no embassy visit is needed. All you need to do is provide us with is a full colour copy of your passport and a passport style photograph and we'll take care of everything else.

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.

• Holiday Inn Downtown Shanghai

  Holiday Inn Shanghai Downtown is located in central Shanghai, with easy reach of a large shopping centre, local resaturants and the metro. Each air conditioned, modern en-suite room includes satellite television, a minibar and tea making facilities. The onsite Chinese restaurant offers Dim Sum and seasonal Hairy Crab for those wishing to try the local flavours.

• Jiangxi Grand Hotel

  Located in the Fentai District, the Jiangxi Grand Hotel is close to many of Beijing’s sites and attractions. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant serving Chinese and Western cuisine, a coffee shop, a bar, a tea house and a fitness centre. The 322 rooms and suites are traditionally furnished with air conditioning, satellite television, tea making facilities, a minibar and a safety deposit box.

• Jin-Tone Hotel

  Jin-Tone Hotel is a four-star hotel located in the core business area of Chengdu, close to CBD, Tianfu Square and Wide and Narrow Alleys.