Magnificent China tour

Start your discovery of Beijing by touring some of the key sites of the city this morning with a visit to the historic Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Summer Palace with your private guide. Tiananmen Square is one of the world’s largest, and each day thousands of locals from all over China come to pay their respects to Chairman Mao’s statue. Continue to the imperial Forbidden City, a vast site of ancient buildings that was once off-limits to all but the emperor and the imperial family. End the day by exploring a few of the thousands of fascinating sights located among the calm lakes and wooded hills of The Summer Palace, a classical imperial garden that served as the official summer residence of the imperial families of the Qing Dynasty.

Today, you'll visit the Great Wall at Jinshanling, with its spectacular views and mountain scenery. This is one of the quietest and most attractive parts of the wall and should be one of your trip's highlights. Take a four-hour walk on the wall with your private guide, looping back through a valley. After the excursion, you'll be taken back to Beijing.

Spend this morning exploring the Temple of Heaven with your private guide. This Confucian-designed temple is technically an altar and stands in the middle of a leafy park. We can arrange for you to arrive early to see Beijing residents perform the ancient art of t'ai chi, then take the high-speed train to Xian. On arrival, you're met by a private guide and driver and transferred to your hotel.

Today, explore Xian's star attraction, the Terracotta Army, with your private guide. Even if you have read about these, nothing can prepare you for their sheer scale and number. Discovered in 1974 by a group of farmers digging a well, it’s now one of the main attractions in China and one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century. Once back in Xian, you'll embark on an evening exploration of Xian's delectable street food and drink scene, visiting places around the Muslim Quarter that not many visitors discover on their own.

This morning, take a walk or cycle along the Ancient City Wall. Originally built during the Ming dynasty, the city wall has been restored to its former glory, and you can marvel at the sheer scale of the construction as you explore the ramparts, which offer magnificent views of the city. In the afternoon, take a private transfer to Xian station to take the train to Chengdu.

Today, you'll visit the Chengdu Panda Research Base, which provides an excellent opportunity to get as close as possible to China's ambassador animal and see some less endangered species, such as the smaller red panda. Later, visit the Wangjiang Bamboo Park, a riverside park that has over a hundred different kinds of bamboo from all over Asia. Here, you can stroll through the thick bamboo groves and then sit and enjoy traditional tea and snacks at one of the many local teahouses in the middle of the park. In the evening, you may wish to take a private street food tour and enjoy some of Chengdu’s famous snacks and spicy specialties.

You'll be taken to Chengdu Airport by private transfer with your guide for your flight to Lijiang this morning. On arrival, you'll be met and transferred to your hotel by your private guide and driver. Lijiang has a remarkably well-preserved old town where many Naxi minority people live. Later in the afternoon, you'll join your guide for a tour of its old streets, tightly packed with slate-tiled houses and latticed with mountain streams and waterways.

This morning, you'll travel out of Lijiang to visit Zhiyun Monastery, one of the five most essential lamaseries in the region with a 300-year history, where you may be able to witness the monks doing daily tasks and prayers. Afterwards, continue to Shuhe village to meet a Naxi Shaman and his family. The Shaman will show you around the village and give you an introduction to his faith and ceremonial practices before you join his family for lunch. In the afternoon, return to Lijiang and visit Black Dragon Pond Park. Sitting in the shadow of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which towers in the background, the picturesque park is built around a large pond formed by numerous freshwater springs that rise here.

Today, take a private transfer to Shangri-La, a two-hour drive from Lijiang. En route, you stop at the spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the world's deepest gorges, where you'll admire the gorge from a viewing platform. If you wish, you can take a steep walk down the steps to the Jinsha River at the bottom. You then continue to Shangri-La, driving through more gorges and valleys before reaching the relatively flat Tibetan plain.

Your private guide will meet you in the morning and take you on today’s excursions. You’ll discover Shangri-La’s Tibetan culture with a visit to Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in China, which offers excellent views over a valley, giving you an insight into the day-to-day life of its monks, and explore some of the fascinating surrounding Tibetan villages. Later, take in the beautiful scenery of Napa Lake, where you may spot wildlife and birds.

Today, take the train from Shangri-La to Dali.

Today, you'll take the train to Kunming. Before its departure, spend some time exploring Dali's old town with your private guide and driver. Walk around its willow-lined waterways and visit the markets that cluster around the gate towers on the old city walls. Afterwards, visit the Buddhist site of the Three Pagodas. Your guide will explain about their architecture and their place in the region's history. These elegant structures have stood in the same spot for over one thousand years and have miraculously survived earthquakes.

Today, you'll leave Kunming behind and take the train to Guilin.

Today, you'll explore the stunning rice terraces of Longji with your private guide and driver. Leave Guilin early and drive to a Yao village at the foot of the 'Dragon's Backbone' mountains. You'll have the opportunity to explore the village before hiking to Pingan, a Zhuang village nestled among the rice terraces. Numerous paths snaking through the terraced hillsides offer fantastic views across the valley. At the end of the excursion, you'll be taken back to Guilin, and if time permits, you may break your return journey at the town of Longsheng, which has an interesting market.

This morning, accompanied by your private guide, you'll embark on a boat journey to cruise down the Li River to the town of Yangshuo. You'll sail past bamboo forests and limestone karst mountains. Look out for water buffalo and farmers working in the fields. On arrival in Yangshuo, you're met by a private driver and taken to your hotel. You then have an afternoon to explore the town at leisure. We suggest ambling around its markets and cafes.

A day at leisure in Yangshuo. We recommend cycling around the surrounding paddy fields and countryside, or even trying a local cookery lesson. The more energetic can even try bamboo rafting. In the evening, you can enjoy the Impression Liu Sanjie show, a riverside light show illuminating the karst scenery designed by Zhang Yimou, who directed the 2008 Beijing Olympics' opening ceremony.

This morning, you'll be transferred to the station for your high-speed train journey to Hong Kong. You'll arrive at West Kowloon station, where you'll be met by a private driver and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore this vibrant metropolis at your own pace. You might choose to board the historic Star Ferry to cross Victoria Harbour for iconic skyline views, or take the Peak Tram to the top of Victoria Peak. Standing at the highest point on Hong Kong Island, you can marvel at the breathtaking panorama of the city's dense urban canopy set against the backdrop of the South China Sea.

Today, you'll be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

Arrive home today to complete your journey.