Day 1 – To Beijing: Fly overnight from
London Heathrow to Beijing with British
Airways. (N)
Day 2 – Beijing: Morning arrival and transfer
to the Novotel Peace Hotel for 3 nights.
Afternoon visit to the Yi He Yuan, or Summer
Palace, on the outskirts of Beijing, a former
retreat for the Qing court from the pressures
of the Forbidden City. A Unesco world
heritage site, the palace is a masterpiece of
garden design; its pavilions, lakes, bridges, gate
towers and corridors a delight to stroll around.
Evening welcome dinner. (D)
Day 3 – Beijing: Begin today with a visit to Tiananmen Square followed by the Forbidden
City, the latter containing China’s largest and
best-preserved complex of ancient buildings.
A special visit to the Chonghua Palace, not
normally open to the general public, has
been arranged. In the afternoon, explore the
National Museum of China, home to more
than 1.7m years of history, before a final visit
to the Temple of Heaven park complex. (B, L)
Day 4 – Great Wall:
Full-day tour of the
Jinshanling section of the Great Wall of China,
a quieter and less tourist-developed segment
that will allow for a peaceful appreciation of
this awe-inspiring wonder. In the evening,
enjoy a performance of Beijing Opera at the
Liyuan theatre or similar. (B, L)
Day 5 – To Xian: This morning, visit the 798
Modern Art district before taking a ight
to Xian. Upon arrival, transfer to the New
World Grand Hotel for a 2-night stay. Time
permitting; make an afternoon visit to the
Tang Art Museum for a private calligraphy
demonstration. (B)
Day 6 – Xian: Morning tour of the Provincial
Museum, with its excellent Tang dynasty
tomb-wall paintings, the finest of their kind
in China. Also on view is a wealth of gold and
silverware, ceramics, coins and calligraphy.
Afternoon tour of the Terracotta Warriors;
a vast collection of sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huangdi, the . rst emperor
of China. (B, L)
Day 7 – To Luoyang: Morning walk along the
Xian ancient wall, which divides the inner and
outer city. Simple, yet gargantuan, in style, it is
the best preserved ancient wall in China. Visit
the Big Wild Goose Pagoda before boarding a
bullet train to Luoyang. Arrive late afternoon
and transfer to the Friendship Hotel for 2
nights. (B, L)
Day 8 – Luoyang: Begin today with a journey
south to the fifth-century Longmen Grottoes
where tens of thousands of Buddhist statues
are carved into the mountains. Together with
stelae, inscriptions and pagodas, this Unesco
world heritage site is the finest example of
Northern Wei and Tang-era Buddhist art in
China. Return to Luoyang via the atmospheric
White Horse Temple, the oldest Buddhist
temple in the country. (B, L)
Day 9 – To Shanghai: Fly to Shanghai and stay 2
nights at the Howard Johnson Hotel. Afternoon
tour of the city visiting the Jade Temple, one of
the few active Buddhist monasteries, Yu Yuan
Gardens and the Bund. (B)
Day 10 – Shanghai: Spend this morning at
the Shanghai Museum, which has extensive
collections of Chinese ceramics, bronzes and
paintings. Afternoon tour of the Museum of
Contemporary Art, which features Chinese
and international pieces. End the day with a
walk through the Moganshan Contemporary
art district, a former textile mill that is now
a bustling hive of art galleries, markets and
studios. This evening, enjoy a performance of
Chinese acrobatics at a local theatre. (B, L)
Day 11 – To Hong Kong: Morning flight to
Hong Kong. Arrive and transfer to the Royal
Pacific Towers for 2 nights. This afternoon,
take the Peak Tram to the upper levels of
Hong Kong Island for excellent city views.
Descend and take the ferry to Lamma Island
for dinner at one of Hong Kong’s most
popular open-air seafood restaurants. (B, D)
Day 12 – Hong Kong: Full-day tour of Hong Kong. Visit the Museum of Art for a
special lecture by a senior curator (subject to
con. rmation). Continuing to the Cultural
Centre, perhaps the territory’s most iconic
landmark with its panoramic views of Victoria
harbour. Take the Star Ferry across the harbour
to the Central Financial District and walk to
Hollywood Road, famed for its antique shops
and art galleries. (B)
Day 13 – To London: Day at leisure for
independent exploration of Hong Kong.
Optional half-day tour to the Museum of History, Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery
and the Tsing Ma Bridge. Evening farewell
dinner at a local restaurant before transferring
to the airport. Fly overnight to London with
British Airways. (B, D)
Day 14 – London: Early morning arrival in
London. (N)
Meal Basis: (B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner, (N) = No Meals
