China's Timeless Treasures An Epic Journey

Welcome to China. We transfer to the hotel and settle in. We arrive in Shanghai – a dynamic metropolis of more than 15 million people, home to the country’s busiest commercial port and its most cosmopolitan outlook.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

We explore Shanghai’s signature sights, beginning in Pudong, the modern financial district across the Huangpu River, crowned by soaring towers such as the Pearl Tower. We then take the ferry across the river for sweeping views of both historic and contemporary skylines. We stroll the Old City to visit tranquil Yuyuan Garden, where we also enjoy an introduction to traditional tea. We continue through fashionable Xintiandi and lunch is included. In the afternoon we discover Tianzifang’s maze of alleys, craft studios and galleries, and we finish with a walk along the Bund, lined with grand colonial architecture. You have free time – if you wish, you can join a boat trip to see Shanghai illuminated at night, an unforgettable experience.

We transfer to the station for a high speed train departing at 07:17 a.m. – in just over five hours we cover around 1,000 kilometres through changing countryside to Luoyang. Lunch is included. We visit the Longmen Buddhist Caves, an extraordinary riverside complex stretching for over a kilometre, with more than 100,000 Buddha figures carved into the cliff. To appreciate the scale, we also take a short boat ride on the river. We then continue into ancient Luoyang, pass through its walls and enjoy the lively lantern lit streets.

In the early morning we visit the White Horse Monastery on the outskirts of Luoyang – one of China’s great centres of Buddhist learning. We continue to Sanmenxia to admire the Yellow River, visit Baolun Temple with its striking tall pagoda, and explore the renowned Guo Museum to see the ancient funeral carriages of the State of Guo. Lunch is included. We travel east past sacred Mount Hua and arrive in Xian by late afternoon.

We have arrived in Xian, the city where the Silk Road began. In the morning we visit the Terracotta Army – thousands of life size warriors guarding the tomb of the first emperor. We return to Xian to see the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, then explore the historic walled centre, including the Muslim Quarter and the Great Mosque. Our tour also includes the Drum Tower, where we enjoy a short performance of traditional Chinese music. You then have free time to explore at your own pace.

We depart Xian by modern high speed train to Linfen, then continue by coach to the Mansion of the Wang Clan, an imposing complex built between the 17th and 19th centuries that showcases classical architecture. Lunch is included. We travel on to Pingyao, China’s best preserved historical city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to wander its evocative streets where traditions endure. Our visit includes entry that grants access to temples, mansions and the city walls so we can immerse ourselves fully.

Today we journey to Wutai Mountain – one of China’s most sacred Buddhist sites, set amid green peaks and forests. Home to a large monastic community, it preserves more than 40 ancient monasteries alongside many recent foundations, creating a deeply serene atmosphere. With our guide we visit Nanshan Temple, after which you have free time to seek out quieter temples and respectfully observe monastic life. Dinner is included.

After breakfast we follow a scenic mountain road towards Yanmen Pass near the Mongolian border. In one of the passes we visit a secluded section of the Great Wall, where we can enjoy a peaceful walk away from the crowds. We continue to Yingxian, a picturesque village noted for its remarkable wooden pagoda. Lunch is included. In the afternoon we visit the astonishing Hanging Temple of Xuankong, built into the cliff face, before travelling by coach to Datong, where you can stroll the restored historic centre and impressive city walls.

On the outskirts of Datong we visit the Yungang Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from the fifth century, with 252 caves and more than 51,000 carved Buddhist statues. We transfer to Datong station for a high speed train to Xuanhua, then continue by road to Jiming Post, a small traditional settlement that began as a rest stop for imperial couriers. In the afternoon we travel on to Beijing, arriving by mid afternoon.

An exciting full day in the capital begins with a walk across vast Tiananmen Square before we visit the Forbidden City – China’s most imposing imperial complex, seat of 24 emperors for nearly five centuries. We also visit Jingshan Park and climb Coal Hill for superb views of the Forbidden City, weather permitting. Lunch is included. In the afternoon we experience local life on a tricycle ride through the hutong lanes and step inside a siheyuan courtyard home. We finish at the serene Summer Palace, the Qing imperial retreat of gardens and lakes. 06:30 p.m. – tour ends. You may return to the hotel by bus or choose to stay in the city centre – if so, the return will be at your own expense and we recommend carrying the hotel’s address in Chinese. Note: due to conservation measures and enhanced visitor safety, the Forbidden City currently operates with reduced daily capacity, so access cannot be guaranteed. If entry is not possible, we will visit the Confucius Temple and the Lama Temple instead.

Today we travel to the Great Wall at Mutianyu – an iconic stretch set amid magnificent mountain scenery. We take the cable car up and down for sweeping views. We then visit the Temple of Heaven, one of China’s largest sacred complexes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To unwind, we join a calming Tai Chi session and enjoy a relaxing foot massage. We bid farewell to Beijing with a traditional Peking duck dinner, then return to the hotel.

After breakfast our journey concludes – leaving you with wonderful memories.