Graded gentle, anyone in good health should be able to take part in this trip, as there are no physical difficulties. You sometimes explore by bicycle, but alternative arrangements can be made for those not wishing to cycle.

We offset the carbon emissions associated with the in-country travel on all of our trips by supporting a solar stove and clean energy project in Madagascar. However, it is your flight that will have the largest environmental impact on your holiday. We offer you the opportunity to offset your carbon dioxide emissions with a donation to our solar stove and clean energy project in South Africa. The project is run by the non-profit organisation Blue Ventures Carbon Offset and validated by the Tourism Industry Carbon Offset Service (TICOS) as delivering measurable carbon reduction and wider sustainable development benefits for local people. We strongly encourage you to donate to our project, so if you would like to offset the carbon emissions generated by your flight, please contact us. Offsets start from as little as £4.

Depart on overnight flight to Beijing.

Following your flight, you transfer to your first night’s accommodation and check in. This afternoon you have time to relax and meet the other members of your group before perhaps heading out to enjoy the first of many superb Chinese meals. Hotel – 3 nights

Although the original terminus of the Silk Route was Xian, the infamous Kublai Khan made Peking his capital and extended the route. During the Ming dynasty, two of the city’s greatest monuments were built; the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven. The complex of buildings within the Forbidden City itself became the symbolic and literal heart of the capital and the empire. Symbolism abounds; dragon and phoenix represent emperor and empress and construction was in accordance with the principles of Yin and Yang, the balance of negative and positive.

This afternoon you continue your tour of Beijing’s architectural marvels by exploring the beautiful temples of Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park. Built at the same time as the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven complex was the altar of sacrifice for the emperors at the time of the winter solstice. The ‘Prayer Hall for Good Harvests’ is a beautiful, circular building with a wonderful triple roof and sumptuous interior. It is here that the emperor and his retinue would gather to pray for an abundant harvest. A visit today not only allows a glimpse into the past but enables you to marvel at the craftsmanship of the artists who created such stunning buildings. This evening you may have an opportunity to see the famous Peking Opera (optional).

Today you set off for another of this fantastic trip’s highlights; a visit to one of China’s best-known attractions - the Great Wall. Stretching over 5000km, the wall was built as a defence against invasion from the horsemen of the far north. Surrounded by woodland and streams and around 90km from Beijing, the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is considered by many to be one of the best preserved parts of the wall. Renowned for its Ming Dynasty guard towers (there are 22 of them over this 2,250 meter-long stretch) and built mainly of granite, the wall is an impressive sight at over 7 meters high and more than 4 meters wide. You hike along a section of the wall, taking in the surrounding scenery and getting a feel for the sheer size of this amazing construction. On your return to Beijing, you are free to explore or perhaps make your way to Tiananmen Square where you can buy paper kites to fly with the locals, who are always keen to meet foreign visitors.
Please note that the order of sightseeing in Beijing may change from that shown above.

Today is free for you to explore Beijing at your leisure. You have a day to wander through the hutongs or perhaps visit some of the capital’s less well-known attractions, such as the Yonghe Gong, a traditional Tibetan style temple. Another option is the famous Summer Palace; built by the Empress Cixi during the late 1800s, it is home to the famous marble boat - a sight which has to be seen to be believed! Later you transfer to the station and board your overnight sleeper train to Taiyuan. Berth on overnight train - 1 night

Once an important trading city during the Ming dynasty, Pingyao retains an air of imperial splendour as its streets have remained unchanged for much of the twentieth century. On arrival at Taiyuan you will head for this impressive city. On the way, you can get a feel for the life of ancient China. You visit the Qiao family courtyard residence, a richly decorated complex of rooms set around six counrtyards. Made famous as the set of Zhang Yimou's 'Raise The Red Lantern', this evocative location will transport you back through the centuries. You arrive into Pingyao in the afternoon, in time to wander around the streets of the city in the evening. Hotel – 1 night

Today you have the chance to see everything that Pingyao has to offer as you take a tour of the city. Pingyao was home to the first banks in China, a result of having grown rich on the trade that passed through from north to south. As the twentieth century arrived, the money in the town ran out, and as a result it has remained frozen in the last century. One of the most impressive buildings within the city walls is the Rishengchang Financial House, one of the many banks that grew from a small shop to be one of the largest financial institutions comprising almost 100 rooms. The city walls themselves are worht a visit. Dating from 1370 these sloping walls are ten metres high and have seventy-two watchtowers spreadn along their length. The watchtowers are each inscribed with a chapter from Sun-tzu's The Art of War, and a walk along them is not to be missed. Within the city there are countless sights that are worth visiting and you can see the Qing era streets and the many lavish residences that comprise this city. Tonight you head out by train for Xian . Berth on overnight train - 1 night

Early this morning you arrive at the Imperial city of Xi’an. Human activity in this area dates back 6000 years, but it was the Zhou dynasty which established Xian as its capital on the Fen River. Under the Tang dynasty a magnificent city was built which was used thereafter as a model for other Chinese cities and also for the Japanese capital at Nara in 710. As terminus of the Silk Road, Xian was the world’s largest, richest and most cosmopolitan city and capital of a powerful nation. Many monuments reveal Xian’s importance over the centuries and reflect the fact that it was the capital of an empire some twelve times in its history.

After taking some time to freshen up, you are taken on a walk around this imperial city. Among the impressive sights of the city are the Bell and Drum Towers, which date from the 14th century and the muslim quarter with its fascinating mosque. Hotel – 2 nights

Xian is famous of course for the Terracotta Warriors, guarding the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Although this vast army was buried some 22 centuries ago, it was only discovered in 1974. The 6000 plus figures guarded the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and remain a spectacular sight to this day.
On your return to Xian you visit the famous Shaanxi History Museum – a treasure house of priceless items dating from prehistory right up to the Qing dynasty. After your visit the remainder of the day is free for you to sightsee at leisure. This evening you will have the opportunity to visit the popular Tang Dynasty Show (additional charge).

This morning, you transfer by train to Luoyang. Train travel in China is one of the best ways to glimpse Chinese life at its most vibrant and exciting. You may well find that complete strangers become your cloest friends for the duratino of this trip, and that you are the centre of attention at all times! In Luoyang you can see how China has developed throughout the centuries. Once one of the most important imperical cities, Luoyang has now been transformed into a modern metropolis. You arrive here by mid-morning when you are met by a local guide and transfered by bus the revered Shaolin Temple, the spiritual home of kung fu.

Famous for the legendary monks who could balance on one finger, or hang from a tree by their neck, the Shaolin Temple remains one of China’s most famous sights. The original kung fu was based on the movements of animals (tigers and snakes for instance) and is the basis of many of the martial arts which are practised today. During your time here you will see kung fu displays and have time to wander around the renowned temple. If time permits, you may have the option to join in with a Kung Fu class (additional charge). Surrounding the temple there are countless other fantastic sights, for example, the stone memorials of the Forest of Dagobas or the holy mountain of Song Shan. Hotel (1 night)

This morning you drive out to the incredible Longmen Caves, 13km south of Luoyang. The site has over 100,000 images of Buddha carved into caves and niches in the rock, which stretches for over a kilometre past the Yi River. The statues of Buddha are carved in a variety of styles that display the influence of northern characteristics, even traces of Greek techniques. The most impressive sections of the caves are the ten thousand Buddha cave and the 17m high image of Buddha built for Empress Wu Zetian. In the afternoon, you transfer to Luoyang airport and fly to Shanghai, before making the short drive to Suzhou. Hotel - 2 nights.

Lying less than an hour away from Shanghai by train and with a history dating back some 2500 years, Suzhou is one of Jiangsu’s oldest cities. Located on the famous Grand Canal it has always occupied a strategic trading position and was wealthy when Marco Polo passed this way in the late 13th century. The city walls no longer exist but the surrounding moat and gateways do. Inside the heart of the city there is a network of canals and the wonderful gardens for which Suzhou is renowned. Created by wealthy merchants and various ruling mandarins, the gardens are a living testament to the importance that was placed on areas of secluded retreat even as far back as the 16th century. The city is best seen on foot or by bike and on arrival you take to two wheels to explore. There were once over 100 gardens in Suzhou and many remain today. Laid out in a traditional Chinese style, one must forget mental pictures of Versailles or Hampton Court Palace; these gardens are all babbling brooks, hump-backed bridges, tiny pavilions, moon gates and beautifully manicured trees and shrubs, all carefully composed to maximise the atmosphere of tranquillity and calm. All of the gardens have evocative names. Two of the best known are the ‘Garden of the Master of the Nets’ and the ‘Garden for Lingering In’.

You'll transfer approximately an hour and a half by bus this morning to the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai. You'll have plenty of free time here to explore. You can take in the famous Bund (where, in the early morning, locals practice Tai Chi) and also to Nanjing Road – trendy heart of the modern city. Time should allow a visit to Yu Yuan Gardens, which continue to attract thousands of people every year or the Shanghai Museum which houses priceless treasures, especially bronzes, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy (entrance fees for own account). There is also time to pick up those last minute souvenirs, or explore the less visited corners of the city. Hotel - 2 nights

The trip ends for Land Only clients. Those on group flights transfer to the airport and fly home overnight.