China Family Tour

Arrive Beijing and check-in at hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax,or perhaps explore something of our local surroundings and acclimatise a little to the enigma that is Beijing.

Overnight Simple Hotel

This morning we drive by private bus to Mutianyu, some 125 kilometres to the north-east of the city, to pay a visit to China’s famous Great Wall. One of the country’s most iconic symbols, the Great Wall stretches from the China Sea to the Gobi desert, a journey of over 5,000 kilometres. The section we visit today is one of the best preserved parts of the wall, built over 400 years ago during the Ming dynasty. Over 10 kilometres in length, this magnificent structure crosses five mountain passes and features two beacon towers and nearly 70 watchtowers.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today offers a chance to explore something of a city that has been at the centre of China, politically and culturally, since the days of the great Kublai Khan. You could pay a visit to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, home to the Ming and the Manchu (Qing) emperors for over 500 years. Other options include a visit to the Temple of Heaven, a trip out to the Summer Palace, or a tour of the city’s fascinating hutongs (traditional alleys and backstreets) by rickshaw. This evening we then take the overnight train to Xian.

Overnight Basic Train Included meals: Breakfast

We arrive in Xian early this morning and walk the short distance to our hotel in time for breakfast. The rest of the day is then free to make the most of China’s old imperial capital. You might like to pay a visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a 64 metre high structure that offers some superb views out across the city. Another possibility is a visit to the Shaanxi National Museum. Alternatively, the network of alleys that make up the city’s Muslim Quarter provide an excellent destination for a day of exploring.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we visit one of China’s most famous sights, the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. Travelling by public bus, we spend three to four hours exploring this incredible site, visiting the three excavated pits that hold, literally, thousands of life-sized archers, soldiers and charioteers. Buried here to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, the Terracotta Army is considered to be one of the greatest archaeological finds of the last century. Returning to Xian by public bus, we then have the rest of the day free.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

A morning flight to Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan Province, brings us to a city that once marked the starting point of the old southern Silk Road. Set along the western edge of the Sichuan Basin, Chengdu can trace its ancestry back over 2,500 years and is famed throughout China for its food and its embroidery. The city is also home to the world famous Panda Breeding and Research Centre which lies just on the outskirts of the city. On arrival, the rest of the day is free to relax.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we travel by private bus to the Panda Research Centre, to see for ourselves an animal that has become synonymous with China itself. Home to a dozen or so free roaming Giant Pandas, the ultimate aim of the centre is to reintroduce these rare animals back into the wild, in such numbers as to ensure their survival. To that end, the centre has enjoyed an extraordinary level of success with new-born pandas over the past few years. After our visit we return to Chengdu to catch the overnight train on to Sanjiang.

Overnight Basic Train Included meals: Breakfast

Arriving in Sanjiang early this afternoon, we take private minivans on to Ma An Zhai, a Dong minority village that lies amongst the forested hills along the Hunan, Guizhou and Guangxi borders. One of over 55 minority groups that live in this region, the Dong are renowned for their architecture, particularly their covered bridges and multi-storey drum towers. This afternoon we have a chance to see some of these remarkable structures ourselves, on a walk between the villages. We follow a fairly level path and pass through three Dong villages on our route as well as taking time to visit the local school and small market. The walk takes approximately 3 hours.  We spend the night in village houses with a chance to learn about this rural, and traditional way of life.

Overnight Simple Village House

The village of Pingan sits perched on the central ridge of the ‘Dragon’s Backbone’, a visually stunning series of rice terraces that runs along the meandering contours of surrounding hills.  Driving there this afternoon, we take a walk around the village, meeting some of the local Zhuang people and taking in the unique agricultural feat of engineering that has created this remarkable landscape. Todays walk follows the rice terraces and there are a lot of steps along the route, we take our time to enjoy the views and take plenty of breaks to rest our legs. We walk for approximately three hours in total.

Overnight Simple Village House Included meals: Breakfast

The Zhuang migrated into this region of China over 5,000 years ago and today represent the largest of the country’s minority groups. Skilled in weaving and embroidery, the Zhuang follow a fascinating tradition of beliefs that are deeply rooted in the power of nature. This morning we take a walk to another Zhuang village at Longji.  We follow a flat path to the village and in total we walk for approximately three hours.  We then drive on to the small market town of Yangshou late this afternoon. Nestling besides the banks of the Li River, Yangshou lies amongst what many consider to be some of the most scenic landscapes in China.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today has been left free for you to relax and soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful riverside town. You can hire bikes and cycle out into the surrounding countryside, or take a climb to the top of ‘Moon Hill’ for some wonderful views across the open plains and out to the distant mountains. A rafting trip along the Li River is a great way to take in the karst landscapes that surround Yangshou, whilst a wander through the town’s local market offers a chance to barter for everything from batiks and silk paintings to Chairman Mao’s ‘Little Red Book’. If you decide to try bamboo rafting we recommend you are confident swimming 25 metres unaided.

Overnight Simple Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

After a free morning in Yangshou we then take an overnight train to Shenzen, just to the north of Hong Kong. A testament to the resurgence of China as a modern world power, Shenzen is one of the country’s most successful ‘Special Economic Zones’. It is also the end of our journey across mainland China.

Overnight Basic Train Included meals: Breakfast

On arrival in Shenzen this morning we need to cross the border into Hong Kong by way of the Lu Wu rail connection. This requires us carrying our own bags across the border, where our local Hong Kong guide will be waiting to take us to our hotel. The rest of the day is then free to relax and enjoy one of Asia’s most vibrant cities.

Overnight Standard Hotel

You are free to take in Kowloon’s bustling waterfront today, perhaps taking a trip on the famous Star Ferry to enjoy one of the world’s most famous cityscapes from the water. Other options include a ride on Hong Kong’s funicular railway to the top of Victoria Peak, where you can enjoy some panoramic views out across the city and the outlying islands. You could also visit the Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree, one of the city’s most popular shrines, or take a stroll through the stalls and markets of Li Yuen Street in search of some last minute bargains.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Tour ends this morning after breakfast.