China Uncovered

Our China Uncovered itinerary is a great mix of city and countryside with an emphasis on getting underneath the surface a little bit of Chinese culture and the traditions which have shaped modern day China.

Begin in Beijing and in addition to seeing major landmarks, enjoy a Tai Chi lesson on the Great Wall, learn about Zen Buddhism and enjoy tea in a local tea-house.

Visit Qufu, the birthplace of Confuscious, and learn how this strand of thought permeates almost everything in modern day China.

Shanghai is the heartbeat of modern China, but the Jade Buddha Temple and Yu Gardens provide links to the past in the heart of this bustling city.

Visit Suzhou, one of the great historic water towns, an easy but fascinating day excursion from Shanghai.

Hangzhou is famous for its beautiful West Lake. Learn about Chinese medicine and traditional tea ceremonies here and visit the ancient water town of Wuzhen for a day.

From Hangzhou head to the stunning scenery around Huangshan Mountain and discover some of the most beautiful villages in China and landscapes which have been the inspiration for Chinese water-colour paintings for centuries.

Spend a night on top of Huangshan Mountain and with some luck enjoy a spectacular dawn view over the rolling Sea of Clouds, a fitting highlight to end an insightful journey through Eastern China.

All of our China Tours are completely tailor made and can be adjusted to suit 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

Arrive in Beijing and transfer to your hotel with the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight Beijing. Breakfast included.

Day 3: Beijing

Visit two Beijing landmarks in Chinese religion, the Lama & Confucius Temples, and learn about the development of both lines of thought throughout Chinese history.

After a lunch stop alongside Buddhist Monks at King’s Joy Buddhist Restaurant, set out to discover Beijing’s historic Hutong neighbourhood by rickshaw.

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.

Finally learn about the many and varied types of Chinese tea and the equally varied ways to drink them in a tea appreciation class. Sample several types of tea in a local teahouse.

Overnight Beijing. Breakfast included.

Day 4: Beijing – Great Wall

Today discover something about Tai-Chi, the ancient art of meditative self-defense.

Your Tai Chi Master will guide you through introductory poses and breathing exercises in the most remarkable of settings, the Great Wall.

After your lesson, explore the much quieter Mutianyu section of the Great Wall.

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.

Enjoy a delicious local lunch at The Schoolhouse before heading back to Beijing

After your active morning of Tai Chi and climbing the wall, soak your feet in a fragrant bath, sit back and appreciate the Chinese art of foot massage.

The evening is free at leisure although your guide may recommend somewhere to eat.

Overnight Beijing. Breakfast & Lunch included.

Day 5: Beijing

This morning discover the Art of Zen Meditation in a soothing workshop, and gain an insight into the teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism.

A practicing Buddhist layman will guide you on your journey of self-discovery as you learn about Zen through music, stories, art, rituals, and even martial arts.

Learn how to apply Zen principles to enrich your daily life with tranquility, and walk away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and transfer to the station for the high-speed train connection to Qufu, best known as the birthplace of Confucius.

The historic walled town is small enough to see by foot, with lovely restored gates and a winding creek providing a beautiful atmosphere for visitors.

Overnight Qufu. Breakfast & Lunch included.

Day 6: Qufu

Discover the Confucius Temple which lies at the heart of Qufu and bears a striking resemblance to Beijing‘s Forbidden City.

The Kong Family Mansion is located just behind the temple, and was the home of the main branch of Confucian descendants until the 77th generation fled to Taiwan to escape the Communists in 1949.

Here see signs of the rigid social order promoted by Confucianism, from narrow passages servants had to disappear into unnoticed to the cold slabs of stone where they were made to kneel as punishment.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to your next stop.

The Kong Forest houses the cemetery in which Confucius and his descendants have been buried.

See signs of the anti-Confucian sentiments of the 1960’s and 1970’s in China, as cracks in many of the tombstones indicate places where Mao‘s red guards attempted to smash the ancient relics.

Kong cuisine is made from the recipes of Confucian descendants who hosted banquets for visiting emperors in Qufu throughout Chinese history.

Sample Kong cuisine at Qufu’s Shang Palace restaurant.

Overnight Qufu. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.

Day 7: Shanghai

After breakfast, transfer to the station for the train to Shanghai (about 3 hours). On arrival you will be met and transferred to your chosen hotel.

In the afternoon visit the Jade Buddha Temple, one of Shanghai’s few Buddhist Temples, which is still home to 70 monks.

Also visit the Yu Garden, a tranquil oasis in the heart of Shanghai before taking a stroll through Old Shanghai.

Overnight Shanghai. Breakfast included.

Day 8: Suzhou

Transfer to the station for the short train ride to Suzhou (35 minutes).

Visit the Humble Administrator's Garden, the largest and most renowned of Suzhou‘s famous gardens.

It was built as the residence and garden of a Tang dynasty scholar, and has retained the sense of serenity and refinement envisaged by its original owner.

Sometimes the smallest spaces can contain the most wonderful architectural delights, and the tranquil Garden of the Master of the Nets is a prime example of this.

It is the smallest of the Suzhou residential gardens, yet is the most impressive because of its use of space, which creates the illusion of an area much greater than its actual size.

Enjoy lunch at a local Chinese restaurant before continuing on to your next stop.

Visit the Suzhou Institute of Embroidery, dedicated to the production, research and training of Suzhou embroidery, and housing some of the most valuable pieces of embroidery ever made.

On display are several imperial robes from Emperor Qianlong, and other priceless court gowns once worn by members of the royal family.

Finally visit the outstanding Suzhou Museum, which contains over 15,000 pieces in its collection, including paintings, ceramics, calligraphy, and more, and dating back to the Song dynasty (960-1276 AD).

Transfer back to Shanghai by train with the evening at leisure.

Overnight Shanghai. Breakfast and 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.

In China, staying in a traditional Courtyard style hotel for a night or two is a great option and something we recommend. Bear in mind however that beds can sometimes be hard and comfort levels aren't always the same as they might be in a standard hotel.

We keep on top of hotel developments in China from our office in Vietnam and regularly inspect the hotels we use.