China Contrasts

This 3-week China journey will take you on a true journey of discovery, from Imperial China via bustling Shanghai to soaring pine-clad peaks and Tibetan monasteries.

Begin in Beijing with the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and a visit to the quieter section of the Great Wall before catching the high speed train to Shanghai.

See the best of old and modern Shanghai and make a day trip to Suzhou, one of China's most beautiful canal towns.

Take the train to Hangzhou and discover its picturesque West Lake before heading on to the historic villages of Anhi and Huangshan

Spend the night atop Yellow Mountain, soaring above the Sea of Clouds, one of China's great natural attractions.

Fly to Yunnan on the fringes of Tibet and discover the best of this fascinating region of China.

Visit the old town of Lijiang, discover Tibetan Monasteries, unique Naxi and Bai culture and dramatic Tiger Leaping Gorge.

This China journey culminates in Kunming, the city of eternal Spring, following a visit to the spectacular rice paddies in Yuanyang.

All of our China Tours are completely tailormade and we can tailor your trip around your interests, time and budget so just let us know your preferences.

Day 1: Fly UK to Beijing

Overnight flight UK to Beijing.

Day 2: Beijing

On arrival you will be met and transferred to your chosen hotel with the rest of the day at leisure in Beijing.

Overnight Beijing.

Day 3: Beijing

Enjoy a full day privately guided tour of Beijing.

Visit Tiananmen Square and prepare to be overwhelmed by the sheer size of one of the world’s largest public squares.

Pass several monuments, including Chairman Mao’s mausoleum on the way to the entrance the Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City was completed in 1420, and was home to 24 emperors, the last of which left Beijing in 1924.

Stroll through what is arguably the best-preserved example of classical Chinese architecture in the world.

Enjoy an easy walk up Jingshan Hill, for a birds-eye view of the Forbidden City.

Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.

After lunch, recapture the feeling of Beijing’s past from the wooden seat of a traditional rickshaw, and visit a local family’s courtyard home along the way during a tour of Beijing's traditional Hutong district.

Overnight Beijing. Breakfast & Lunch included.

Day 4: Beijing

Enjoy a full Day Tour to the Great Wall.

The Great Wall of China is the longest man-made structure in the world.

Explore the much quieter Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, which was first begun in the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557) and finished in the 17th century.

The 2.5-km stretch of the Wall allows you to walk along its storied length for over an hour and visit twenty-two watchtowers, should you so choose.

Also enjoy a cable car ride to the top.

Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant.

On the way back, pay a visit to this art district of Beijing where Maoist slogans still adorn the walls, to experience a different side of Beijing.

Once a complex that manufactured electronics, Factory Number 798 was divided, rented out, and converted into galleries, artist studios, design companies, restaurants and bars at the turn of the 20th century.

Overnight Beijing. Breakfast included.

Day 5: Beijing - Shanghai

Enjoy a morning tour to Beijing's Temple of Heaven.

This tranquil park where the Temple of Heaven is located is a favourite stop for visitors to Beijing, as it provides an authentic look into local life - it's a great place to people watch.

On any given day, you're likely to see enthusiastic groups of Beijingers practicing Tai Chi, playing traditional instruments or singing Peking Opera.

The grounds consist of a sequence of buildings and altars set in beautiful groves of cypress trees.

Learn more about the fascinating history behind this massive, circular structure and see local life unfold before your eyes in this very special visit to the Temple of Heaven.

Return to your hotel for lunch (not included) and check-out.

Afterwards, transfer to the railway station for your high speed rail transfer to Shanghai.

On arrival in Shanghai you will be met and transferred to your chosen hotel.

Overnight Shanghai. Breakfast included.

Day 6: Shanghai

Enjoy a full day tour of Shanghai, visiting some of the most important landmarks and locations in Shanghai, including the Jade Buddha Temple, the Bund, Yu Yuan Gardens, Shanghai Old Street, the French Concession and Xintiandi.

The Jade Buddha Temple is an active temple, with 70 resident monks, and the centerpiece is a sitting Buddha carved out of white jade and encrusted with jewels, measuring over two meters tall and rumored to weigh over 1000 kilograms.

From the Jade Buddha, head over to the Yu Yuan Gardens, a classic creation of the Ming Dynasty. Nearby is Shanghai Old Street which had its origins in the Qing Dynasty.

After a Shanghainese lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Bund, Shanghai's waterfront, known for its grand display of colonial-era architecture and the wonderful views of both sides of the Huangpu River.

Visit Xintiandi, a stylish nightlife district with many boutiques, pubs, and restaurants and on to Shanghai's Art District. Xintiandi is a good place to return to for dinner this evening.

Finally visit the Shikumen Open House Museum, a well-preserved Shikumen house from the 1920's that displays furniture and articles for daily use during that time.

Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch included

Day 7: Shanghai

Today enjoy a full day in Suzhou. You will be collected from your hotel by your driver and guide for a private excursion to Suzhou, one of China's famous water towns.

Visit the Garden of the Master of the Nets, the smallest of the Suzhou residential gardens, yet the most impressive because of its use of space and the feeling of tranquility and harmony that it instills on visitors.

After lunch visit the  Suzhou Institute of Embroidery and see some of the most valuable pieces of embroidery
ever made, including several priceless court gowns.

Finally visit the superb Suzhou Museum, itself an architectural masterpiece, containing over 15,000 ancient pieces in its collection, including paintings, ceramics & calligraphy.

Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch included

Day 8: Shanghai to Hangzhou

Transfer to the railway station for your high-speed train to Hangzhou, where you will be met to begin your tour of Hangzhou.

Visit Lingyin Temple, founded in 328 AD and one of the largest Buddhist temples in China.

Between the 10th and 14th centuries, monks carved over three hundred Buddha statues into the peak of the mountain in front of the temple.

By West Lake, see tea leaves at various stages of being processed; cut, sorted and dried, before being packaged to be shipped and sold as one of China’s finest green teas.

Enjoy lunch before taking a cruise on beautiful West Lake, passing numerous temples, pagodas, pavilions, gardens, islands, and ornamental trees on this lake which has inspired artists and landscape designers over the centuries.

Overnight Hangzhou. Breakfast included.

Day 9: Hangzhou - Huangshan

Transfer to the Railway Station for your high speed rail journey to Huangshan where you will be met and transferred to your chosen hotel for check-in.

Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to have a stroll down Tunxi ancient street and soak in the atmosphere of old China.

Cable car to top of Huangshan with the rest of the day free.

Overnight Huangshan. Breakfast & Lunch included.

Day 10: Huangshan - Hongkun - Yellow Mountain

This morning make an excursion to Hongkun Ancient Village, a UNESCO site preserving Ming and Qing style residences.

Enjoy lunch in the village before transferring to the foot of Yellow Mountain from where you will catch a Cable Car to the higher trails. From the top Cable Car Station it's an easy 45-minute walk to your accommodation for the night.

Yellow Mountain (Mount Huangshan) is set amidst a spectacular landscape of pines, stone pillars and soaring peaks through which various trails wind.

Your accommodation for the night is in a hotel near the top, with easy access to the trails and sunrise spots.

The evening time can be a beautiful time to explore the trails which are generally quiet at this time of day.

Overnight Yellow Mountain. Breakfast & lunch included.

Is this a Private Tour or a Group Tour?

All of our China tours are private tailor made itineraries, customised for you - we can amend things to entirely suit you.

You will have your own private car, driver and English-speaking guide on excursions.

What are the departure dates?

Let us know your preferred dates of travel and we will find the best and most suitable flights to fit your itinerary.

As this is a private tour, there are no set departure dates. We can advise you on the best times of your to travel, and some times to avoid.

Which Airlines do you use?

We work with all the major airlines flying to China.

Typically for China, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, Air France, Cathay Pacific, Finnair and Air China would be airlines we often use.

However, just let us know your preferred airline if you have one. We can organise flights from any regional destination in the UK.

There are direct flights from the UK to a few destinations in China including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and of course Hong Kong.

Which Hotels do you use?

We're careful with our choice of hotels, but we're guided by our customers also. If you have some preferred hotels, just let us know.

We specialise in boutique hotels and so we will often suggest some of our favourite smaller hotels where we think these will be suitable.

China is a destination where large hotels predominate. These are geared for business and group travellers as the Chinese usually travel in groups. We try to suggest smaller more personal hotels where we can.