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This wide-ranging tour has China's top destinations covered, with time to soak up the sights. Whether you are looking for history, character and culture, the modern and marvellous, or a straight-up combination of the two, then this is the itinerary for you.
Our Grand Tour of China tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine.
Take a 4-night voyage on China's most famous river and see the magnificent Three Gorges
Meander amongst the eerie Stone Forest in Kunming
Spend time with these furry creatures at the world famous Panda Conservation Centre in Chengdu
Visit Dali's sentinel Three Pagodas, standing guard at the bottom of the mountain
A speciality dish of Yunnan province, tuck into a delicious bowl of Across the Bridge noodles in provincial capital Kunming, a famous and flavourful noodle soup with a touching story behind it.
Learn the time-honoured art of tie-dying, a cherished handicraft of the Bai ethnic group in Dali, through a demonstration showcasing traditional techniques.
Long practised across China, Tai Chi channels the flow of qi to bring balance to both body and mind. Join a morning class led by a master instructor, and carry on your day feeling calm, centred and invigorated.
Experience the beauty of the Yangtze River aboard one of the elegant 4-star vessels from the Victoria Cruise fleet. The one pictured here is the Victoria Jenna, but depending on the departure date you book you could be cruising aboard Victoria Katarina, Anna, Sabrina or Isabella. Relax in your Superior Cabin situated on the Main Deck, equipped with Wi-Fi access, an ensuite bathroom, and a private balcony - a tranquil retreat for you to relax and take in the scenic beauty around you. Onboard entertainment may include informative lectures, painting demonstrations, Tai Chi, lessons in the Mandarin language and more! Amenity package upgrades are available upon enquiry with our Reservations team.
This tour is suited for customers who have an extensive amount of time to explore China and wish to take in the most famous and iconic sights in depth. This tour also incorporates a Yangtze River cruise.
Fly overnight to Beijing, China's historical capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
Visit Tiananmen Square and discover the sprawling magnificence of the Forbidden City before soaking up the harmonious ambience of the Temple of Heaven. This evening, eat traditional Peking duck. The next day, head to China’s most iconic sight – the Great Wall. Stretching thousands of miles, a walk on this incredible structure is the best way to appreciate its sheer magnificence. This afternoon, enjoy a stroll through the idyllic gardens of the Summer Palace.
Explore Beijing’s old hutongs where you can meet a local family and visit their home. Later, take the bullet train to Xian, the starting point of the fabled Silk Road.
Take part in a calligraphy lesson before wandering around the narrow alleys of the Muslim Quarter. Tonight, feast on traditional Shui Jiao dumplings before a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing. The next day, view the enigmatic ranks of warriors that make up the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Later, stroll on Xian’s beautifully preserved 14th-century city walls then quench your thirst at a local brewery.
Board the bullet train to Yichang, home to the Three Gorges Dam site, where you will board your Yangtze River cruise vessel.
The Three Gorges Dam may be an impressive feat of engineering but as you cruise upstream nature takes over, revealing some of the world’s most dramatic scenery including the Three Gorges themselves. Over the next three days prepare for one breathtaking panorama after another. Take a side trip to the attractive Goddess or Shennong Stream and enjoy various shore excursions.
Disembark in Chongqing then explore old Ciqikou, whose narrow streets are perfect for a stroll to admire the traditional architecture. Transfer to Chengdu where tonight you will be served a traditional Sichuanese dinner with the option to watch a Sichuan Opera performance.
Visit Chengdu’s famous Panda Conservation Centre to see and learn about these celebrated bears up close in surroundings that mirror their natural habitat. Later, fly to the charming city of Dali.
Dali offers a peek at the China of times gone by. Over the next two days, explore Xizhou village and the local market, see the Yan Family House, cruise on Erhai Lake, discover Dali’s ancient quarter and Three Pagodas, then take a bullet train to Kunming.
Explore the fascinating limestone formations of the picturesque Stone Forest and tuck in to local delicacy, Across the Bridge Noodles, for dinner tonight.
Bullet train to the beautiful city of Guilin. Stroll along Ronghu Lake past the Ancient South Gate and admire the Sun and Moon Pagodas.
Take a relaxed cruise along the Li River to charming Yangshuo. Around every river bend is a view to take your breath away as jagged karst peaks loom over rural scenes of lush greenery and grazing buffalo.
Yangshuo sits in an exquisite rural location, surrounded by landscapes of emerald-green paddy fields and dramatic limestone karsts. Begin your day with an invigorating Tai Chi class led by a local master, followed by a soothing Chinese reflexology massage. Spend the rest of the morning exploring the countryside and enjoy the afternoon at leisure.
Return to Guilin, stopping to discover the colourful stalagmites and stalactites at Reed Flute Cave.
Fly to Hangzhou. The next day, visit the Temple of Inspired Seclusion and Xihu Tiandi, then enjoy a cruise on West Lake before continuing to Suzhou.
Renowned for its elegant gardens, visit Suzhou’s Humble Administrator’s Garden – typical of the Chinese appreciation of balance and harmony. Also cruise on the Grand Canal.
Travel to the exuberant and cosmopolitan city of Shanghai, also known as the ‘Paris of the East’. Enjoy time for shopping along the Bund and Nanjing Road, then take in sweeping views of glittering Shanghai from the Jin Mao Tower, and again from the water on a panoramic Huangpu River cruise. Tonight, enjoy classic Shanghainese cuisine.
Today, explore the classical Yu Garden, wander the old town, and visit a silk mill. Round out the tour with the thrilling ERA acrobatic show.
Fly to the UK, arriving home the same or following day.
Our tours feature hand-picked properties selected for their comfort, modern amenities and convenient location for sightseeing. We occasionally include a stay in a guesthouse or lodge where we feel the character of the property will enhance your tour, or to allow access to a more unique and memorable location. Here is a taster of the type of hotels you will be staying in on your tour.
The best times to visit China are in spring (April to May) and autumn, (September to October) when temperatures are warm and humidity low.
Places Visited: UK - Beijing (3N) - Xian (3N) - Yangtze River Cruise (4N) - Chengdu (1N) - Dali (2N) - Kunming (2N) - Guilin (2N) - Yangshuo (2N) - Hangzhou (1N) - Suzhou (2N) - Shanghai (2N) - UK
Make the most of your time away. Whether you want to delve deeper into a destination, discover somewhere completely new, or simply unwind on a beautiful beach, we've created a range of ways to help you stay a little longer and see a little more.
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Dedicated Solo departures are available on selected dates for this tour.
These solos-only departures feature smaller group sizes of up to 18, along with free airport lounge access.
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.
The same great Wendy Wu tour - just with an extra level of comfort. Enjoy relaxed 5-star city hotels, unique properties, and overnight cruises, each selected to deliver an elevated experience. See Upgraded Tour Hotels above for more details.
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