Glories of China

Tour Highlights

Shanghai

Xian

The Great Wall

Li River Cruise

Shanghai

Marvel at this sparkling city on a Huangpu River Cruise

Xian

Come face to face with the Terracotta Warriors

The Great Wall

Walk along this incredible wall, one of the modern great wonders

Li River Cruise

Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo on the stunning Li River

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.

Our Price Match Promise

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. See full terms and conditions.

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Additional Price Information

Based on London Heathrow departures

Land only from £1990pp (Shanghai - Beijing)

Regional UK departures available

Single room option from £460

Flight upgrades available on request

Tipping payable locally RMB450pp

Price listed is based on new bookings only

Glories of China - 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: HUANGPU RIVER CRUISE

Shanghai is China’s great metropolis, where east and west collide on streets lined with futuristic skyscrapers and 10th-century temples. Start with a visit to the classical Yu Garden, pass through the old town and visit a silk factory. View the city at night from the Huangpu River on a panoramic cruise. This evening, enjoy a meal of Shanghainese cuisine.

DAY 4: EXPLORE SHANGHAI

Travel to Zhujiajiao, one of Shanghai’s sleepy water towns and explore its many charms. Return to Shanghai to see the antiquities of the Shanghai Museum before admiring magnificent architecture with a stroll along the Bund. .

DAY 5: SEVEN STAR PARK

Fly to the scenic city of Guilin. Enjoy a stroll through the Seven Star Park and explore the spectacular formations of Seven Star Cave

DAY 6: LI RIVER CRUISE

Take a relaxed cruise along the Li River to the charming town of Yangshuo. Around every river bend is a view to take your breath away as jagged karst peaks loom over rural scenes of lush greenery, grazing buffalo and local fishermen. This evening there is an option to watch the spectacular Impression Liu Sanjie music and light show.

DAY 7: YANGSHUO

Yangshuo sits in an exquisite rural location, surrounded by landscapes of emerald-green paddy fields and dramatic limestone karsts. Start the day with a relaxing and invigorating session of Tai Chi, taking a class with a master to learn this ancient martial art. Spend the rest of the morning exploring the countryside and enjoy the afternoon at leisure. There are many optional activities available including cycling, rafting and walking

DAY 8: CORMORANT FISHERMEN

Return to Guilin. En route, stop on the banks of the Li River for a photo opportunity with a cormorant fisherman. Stroll around Ronghu Lake and admire the Sun and Moon pagodas – two towering examples of traditional Chinese Buddhist architecture. Visit the South China Pearl Factory which covers the fascinating 1,700-year-old history of pearling and see the many displays and demonstrations on offer.

DAY 9: TANG DYNASTY DANCING

Fly to Xian and visit the Little Wild Goose Pagoda before feasting on traditional Shui Jiao dumplings and watching a lively performance of Tang Dynasty dancing.

DAY 10: 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, followed by a visit to the workshop of the craftsmen who recreate terracotta warriors. Later, stroll on the beautifully preserved 14th-century city walls that enclose Xian’s old town.

DAY 11: BULLET TRAIN TO BEIJING

Board the bullet train to Beijing, the capital of China. On arrival, enjoy a leisurely stroll in the warren-like hutongs and visit a local family to gain a deeper insight into Chinese culture and local customs.

DAY 12: THE GREAT WALL

This morning is dedicated to China's most iconic sight – the Great Wall. Taking a walk on this incredible structure is the best way to appreciate the sheer magnificence of the wall itself and the dramatic scenery that surrounds it. In the afternoon, enjoy the idyllic landscapes of the Summer Palace. End the day watching a Chinese acrobatic show.

DAY 13: FORBIDDEN CITY

Soak up the harmonious ambience of the Temple of Heaven, an orderly oasis in a bustling urban landscape, where you can watch, or participate in a dance class and mingle with the locals. Head to Beijing's symbolic heart, Tiananmen Square, and stroll into the sprawling magnificence of the Forbidden City. Entering through the Gate of Supreme Harmony, you will find a complex full of imperial riches. This evening, savour Beijing's best-known delicacy – Peking duck

DAY 14: FLY BEIJING 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.

• Regal Shanghai East Asia Hotel

  The Regal Shanghai East Asia Hotel is within the shopping district of Xu Jia Hui and built into the facade of Shanghai’s Olympic Stadium. Classically decorated, the hotel’s en-suite rooms include free Wifi, satellite television, air conditioning, tea making facilities and a safety deposit box. The hotel’s two onsite restaurants serve both Cantonese and Western cuisines. An indoor heated pool and fitness centre are also available.

• 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.

• Jasper International Hotel

  Yangshuo Jasper International Hotel is located a 5 minute complimentary shuttle ride to the centre of Yangshuo’s pedestrianised market streets. Each of its 400 air conditioned, modern en-suite rooms include satellite television, safety deposit boxes and tea making facilities. There are 2 onsite restaurants offering local southern Chinese cuisine as well as Western cuisine. The outdoor pool is a highlight.

• YuLong International Hotel

  Located 5 kilometers from the city downtown, Yulong International Hotel ,combines elegance and sophistication with first-class service. Facilities include three restaurants, a lobby bar, games room, beauty salon, fitness room and business centre. The 258 beautifully decorated and well-equipped rooms have air-conditioning, satellite LCD flatscreen TV, tea/coffee making facilities, telephone, mini-bar, hairdryer and a safe deposit box.

• Park Plaza Beijing West

  Hotel Park Plaza Beijing West is located close to the capital’s attractions, a large shopping district and the metro system. The hotel’s en-suite rooms include free Wifi, flat screen satellite television, air conditioning, a minibar and a safety deposit box. The hotel’s three onsite restaurants serve a wide range of Chinese and Western dishes, including Cantonese and Sichuan styles. The hotel also boasts a fitness centre.