China: The Big One

Tour Highlights

Beijing

Xian

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Shanghai

Beijing

Visit the imperial treasures as well as the hutongs of China's capital city

Xian

Come face to face with the enigmatic Terracotta Warriors

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

Climb the heights of this magnificent mountain enjoying high meadows and amazing vistas

Shanghai

Sample delicious cuisine during an exciting breakfast tour incorporating local delicacies

Authentic Experiences

Our China: The Big One 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.

• Visit Shaxi Ancient Town

  Shaxi ancient town is not only a charming place to explore but, as the heart of an area that is home to a number of China's minority people, is the perfect place to delve into a timeless, rich culture and meet the friendly communities for yourself.

• Meet with a Taoist priest

  At Weibaoshan, meet with a Taoist priest to learn about the principles of this native philosophy and take part in a guided meditation session amongst these peaceful surroundings.

• Explore the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall

  Surrounded by tranquil lakes and most picturesquely reached by boat, explore the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall and marvel at the spectacular views over the surrounding countryside.

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 £3,790pp (Beijing – Shanghai)

Regional UK departures available

Single room from £1,050 to £1,090

Flight upgrades available on request

Tipping payable locally RMB1250pp

Price listed is based on new bookings only

China: The Big One - 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 at leisure.

DAY 3: FORBIDDEN CITY

Stroll across Tiananmen Square and into the sprawling magnificence of the Forbidden City. Next, visit Yandaixiejie Street where there's time to wander the hutongs. These narrow alleys offer a glimpse of old Beijing. (B,L)

DAY 4: HUANGHUACHENG GREAT WALL

Visit Huanghuacheng, a particularly scenic section of the Great Wall. Reached by boat it boasts particularly spectacular views from the top. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring colourful Wangfujing Street. In the evening, enjoy an optional Peking duck dinner. (B,L)

DAY 5: IMPERIAL SUMMER PALACE

Explore the beautifully designed grounds of the Summer Palace, including the Long Corridor and the Marble Boat. Spend time strolling along pretty Kunming Lake and walk up wooded Longevity Hill. Make a photo stop at the Olympic Park. (B,L)

DAY 6: TEMPLE OF HEAVEN

Visit the Temple of Heaven and mingle with the locals as they start their day with Tai Chi, dancing and cards in a flurry of sociable activity. Take the overnight train to Xian. (B,L)

DAY 7: CYCLING IN XIAN

Start your day with a gentle cycle ride that will take you nine miles around the city wall that enclose Xian's old town. Also visit the Little Wild Goose Pagoda and Xian Museum. (B,L)

DAY 8: TERRACOTTA WARRIORS

Spend the morning gazing over the ranks of warriors and horses, while you are introduced to these life-like soldiers' fascinating story. Take a walking tour of the Muslim Quarter and enjoy the evening at leisure. (B,L)

DAY 9: BEAUTIFUL GUILIN

Fly to Guilin. Walk around the lakes before enjoying the evening at leisure – you may wish to stroll down Zhengyang Street. (B)

DAY 10: HIKING IN LONGJI (OPTIONAL)

Today, there is an option to take a four-hour hike in the stunning rice terraces of Longji. Otherwise, spend more time in Guilin. (B)

DAY 11: LI RIVER CRUISE

Take a gentle cruise along the Li River to Yangshuo. Lined with dramatic limestone cliffs, the serenity of life on the riverbanks is a wonderful sight. Take a walk through this idyllic wonderland and get an insight into life here. There’s an option to hike to the top of Moon Hill for epic views. (B,L)

DAY 12: YANGSHUO TAI CHI

Start the day with an invigorating session of Tai Chi, taking a class with a master to learn this ancient martial art. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure or take part in an optional activity. (B)

DAY 13: KUNMING AT LEISURE

Transfer to Guilin and visit Reed Flute Cave before flying to Kunming. (B)

DAY 14: STONE FOREST

Meander through the formations of the UNESCO-listed Stone Forest. Return to Kunming to visit Green Lake Park and have an evening at leisure, perhaps enjoying the vibrant Wenhua Alley district. (B,L)

DAY 15: DALI'S ANCIENT TOWN

Drive to Dali and visit the Three Pagodas and the Old Town. Also stroll along Foreigner's Street and enjoy time at leisure. (B,L)

DAY 16: WEIBAOSHAN (OPTIONAL)

Enjoy the day at leisure or take an optional visit to Weibaoshan, one of the fourteen sacred Taoist mountains. Steeped in legend, the mountain features 20 Taoist temples nestled on its forested slopes. Walk up the hillside to see a handful of intricately decorated temples and meet a Taoist priest for a meditation session. (B)

DAY 17: SHAXI ANCIENT TOWN

Drive to the ancient town of Shaxi, nestled deep in the Himalayan foothills. Learn about the fascinating minority people that reside in the area and enjoy a local lunch. In the afternoon, continue to Lijiang and spend the evening in the historic old town. (B,L)

DAY 18: JADE DRAGON SNOW MOUNTAIN

Take a cable car to one of the high meadows and enjoy the vistas. Visit the minority Naxi village and admire the fascinating Baisha frescoes painted during the Ming Dynasty. (B,L)

DAY 19: TIGER LEAPING GORGE (OPTIONAL)

Enjoy the day at leisure or trek to Tiger Leaping Gorge, through dramatic cliffs and down into the gorge itself. (B)

DAY 20: CHENGDU LIKE A LOCAL

Fly to Chengdu and walk around People's Park. Visit a local teahouse and most interesting of all, Matchmaker's Corner. (B,L)

DAY 21: GIANT PANDAS

Visit the Chengdu Panda Conservation Centre and see these adorably charming bears up close. The rest of the day is at leisure. Enjoy an optional hot pot dinner and a 'face-changing' show. (B,L)

DAY 22: ANCIENT CIQIKOU

Take the bullet train to Chongqing. Enjoy free time in the charming old town of Ciqikou then board your Yangtze Cruise vessel. (B,D)

DAYS 23-25: YANGTZE CRUISE

A cruise down the Yangtze reveals some of the world's most dramatic scenery. Over the next few days, visit the Three Gorges Dam and enjoy various side trips and shore excursions. Disembark your cruise vessel, travel to Yichang and then fly to Shanghai. (B,L,D)

DAY 26: SHANGHAINESE SHANGHAI

Wake up to the buzz of Shanghai and take a breakfast walking tour between shimmering skyscrapers and traditional streets. Visit Yu Garden, the old town, a silk factory, stroll along the Bund and cruise along Huangpu River. (B,L)

DAY 27: ZHUJIAJIAO (OPTIONAL)

Join the optional day tour to delightful Zhujiajiao, or spend time at leisure in Shanghai. This evening, enjoy the ERA show and a delicious farewell dinner. (B,D)

DAY 28: FLY SHANGHAI TO UK

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

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.

• 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.

• Lijiang Waterfall Hotel

  Located in Guilin’s city center and opposite the attractive Sun and Moon pagodas, the Lijiang Waterfall Hotel offers luxury rooms equipped with a flat screen satellite television, a minibar, a safety deposit box and a stunning en-suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries. The hotel also boasts an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness centre. Guests can enjoy Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Western cuisines in the onsite restaurant.

• Elite Garden Hotel

  In the centre of Yangshuo, the 4-star Elite Garden Hotel offers spacious guest rooms designed and decorated to make you feel at home, all equipped with free internet access, complimentary bottled water and a coffee machine. The private bathrooms include both bath and shower facilities.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Jinjiang Huating Hotel

  A short distance from Shanghai's major tourist attractions, the 5-star Jinjiang Huating hotel offers elegant guest rooms with large windows providing views of Shanghai. This beautiful hotel is home to the rooftop Moon View Restaurant, offering breathtaking city views and exquisite Chinese dishes.