Classic China tour

Today you'll visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City with your guide. Afterwards, enjoy a rickshaw tour through the traditional hutong district, where you'll learn more about the city as it once was, and daily life amid this maze of narrow streets.

Rise early today to practise t'ai chi outside of the Temple of Heaven with Beijing's active pensioners. In the afternoon, enjoy a leisurely tour of the Summer Palace.

You'll leave the city today to see one of China's iconic sites — The Great Wall. You'll be taken a few hours out of the city in order to escape the crowds, making your day here a much more personal experience and allowing you to witness the magnificent site of the original wall snaking into the mountainous distance in tranquillity. Tonight, we'll organise dinner reservations for you to enjoy an authentic meal after working up a big appetite.

This morning your driver and guide will escort you to the Beijing train station for your high speed bullet train to Xian. Upon arrival your local guide and driver will meet you for a leisurely tour of the Muslim Quarter and Grand Mosque. We also suggest enjoying the views from the Ancient City Walls.

This morning head out to Xian's star attraction — the Terracotta Warriors. Even if you've read about them nothing can prepare you for the sheer scale and number of warriors found, not to mention the Herculean effort it must have taken to produce them. Later today you'll fly onto Guilin, with time to explore this southern city on arrival. On the way to the airport you'll visit the smaller but no less impressive Hanyangling Tombs. The evening will be at leisure for some much-needed rest.

This morning you'll be taken on a relaxing cruise up the Li River to take in Guilin's famous limestone scenery. Arriving into Yangshuo at lunchtime you'll be met and taken to your hotel. Yangshuo is a small town set right among the pretty limestone karst scenery. This evening we suggest the Liu Sanjie Light Performance. The show's director also directed Beijing's 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremony.

Today, raft along the Yulong River with your guide. Yangshuo is the perfect escape from the bustling cities with a variety of outdoors activities for you to enjoy. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

You leave the town of Yangshuo this morning and head to the mountainous rice terraces of Longji. Upon arrival, embark on the hike along the Dragon's Backbone. This 23-kilometre hike will lead you through the best of the area's breathtaking scenery. The village is set around centuries old rice terraces, and a visit here will give a small taste of rural life in China.

In the morning explore the pretty rice terraces. In the afternoon transfer back to Guilin's airport and fly onto Shanghai. There you'll be met and taken to your hotel. The evening is at leisure to explore what Shanghai has to offer.

This morning, wake up with a side-car tour through Shanghai. You'll visit some of the city's many interesting landmarks. Afterwards enjoy a tour of the Bund, the Jade Buddha and the Yuyuan Gardens.

This morning leave the city behind to visit Suzhou, an ancient water town. This cobblestone city is woven with water canals. You'll have the opportunity to take a gondola through the 'Venice of China'. Return to the city to enjoy a final evening in Shanghai.

Today you'll be taken to the airport in time for your return flight. Your return flight will arrive the same day.