Memories of China
Memories of China
View China from land, air and water with the Memories of China tour
Explore The Ling Yin Temple, spend time with China’s famous Giant Pandas, take a cruise down the Li River and watch the fascinating cormorant fishing. This comprehensive tour takes you to the exciting illustrious capital, Beijing, the vibrant city of Shanghai and the anciant city of Xian, giving you a taste of China’s most essential and historic attractions.
Locations you will be visiting
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Beijing, China
Beijing is the capital city of China and is the nation’s political and cultural centre.
3 Days
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Xian, China
Xian, the eastern starting point of the Silk Road, capital of Shaanxi province and one of China’s ...
2 Days
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Guilin & Yangshuo, China
Home to the Li River, this area is spectacularly beautiful
3 Days
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Chengdu, China
Chengdu, home to the Giant Panda, is the capital of Sichuan province
2 Days
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Hangzhou, China
Hangzhou is home to the stunningly beautiful West Lake, and is surrounded by tea plantations.
1 Day
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Shanghai, China
A vibrant financial city where tradition meets innovation
2 Days
YOUR TOUR ITINERARY
Memories of China
15 day Tour Itinerary
An overview of your trip
DAY 1 UK to Beijing
Take a scheduled flight from the UK to Beijing. We can arrange departures from your local airport.
- Transport: Airplane
DAY 2 Arrive Beijing
Upon arrival, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel for a three night stay. In the afternoon you will have time to relax or take a walk in the surrounding area. Your guide will be pleased to advise you on what you can do. In the early evening your guide will escort you for dinner where you will meet your fellow travellers.
- Meals included: Dinner
DAY 3 Beijing City Tour
In the morning, visit the Temple of Heaven, where the Ming and Qing emperors worshipped the god of heaven and prayed for good harvests. Here you can observe the tradition of Tai Chi practised in the courtyard. This will be followed by a stroll through Tiananmen Square, the biggest square in the world, and continues to the Forbidden City which served as the grand imperial palace for centuries. Your final stop will be at the Hutongs, for an insight into the everyday life of traditional Beijing citizens.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4 Great Wall
Today visit the Great Wall at Mutianyu, a post along the wall offering breathtaking views in a less crowded atmosphere. Mutianyu was built in the mid-6th century and has a rich, well-preserved, history. This will be followed by an opportunity for photographs at the Birds Nest Stadium and Water Cube, and in the evening, enjoy a sumptuous Peking Duck Dinner, a traditional delicacy and a culinary must.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5 Bullet Train to Xian
A morning visit to the Summer Palace, which includes a grand collection of lakes, gardens, palaces and scenic views, starts the day. Afterwards, enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the beautiful Kunming Lake, before catching a bullet train to Xian (approx. 5 hours 30 minutes), for a two night stay.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
- Transport: Train
DAY 6 Terracotta Warriors
Your guide will take you to visit the Terracotta Warriors, a stunning collection of 10,000 life size statues of the Chinese army made over 2,000 years ago. This will be followed by a visit to the ancient city wall in Xian, which is best explored by bike or on foot. This evening you will try a tasty dumpling dinner while being entertained by the Tang Dynasty Show.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7 Xian City Tour and to Guilin
Start with a visit to the Shaanxi Museum home to over a quarter of a million artefacts, including treasures from many periods of China’s history. The next stop, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, for a glimpse of China’s unique architecture style, and the Muslim Quarter to see the local life. Finally, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Guilin and an overnight stay.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
- Transport: Airplane
DAY 8 Li River Cruise
Take a four hour boat cruise on the breathtaking Li River towards Yangshuo with opportunities to enjoy the tranquil rural scenes of buffalo farming, children playing in the river and the towering karst mountain peaks, before arriving in Yangshuo. This evening there is an optional spectacular ‘Impressions of Liu Sanjie’ show, staged on the river.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9 Yangshuo, Guilin
A morning free at leisure to explore this beautiful area independently, or perhaps join an optional cookery class. Return to Guilin, and visit the Reed Flute Caves, a remarkable collection of colourfully illuminated stalactites and stalagmites. In the evening, you will see the fascinating cormorant fishing show.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 10 Chengdu
Fly to Chengdu. Transfer to your hotel upon arrival, remainder of the day at leisure to discover Chengdu independently. Perhaps explore the old town, or relax in the People’s Park watching the locals play mahjong or practising Tai Chi.
- Meals included: Breakfast
- Transport: Airplane
DAY 11 Giant Pandas and to Hangzhou
After breakfast, the first stop will be at the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Centre. Here naturalistic habitats have been created to provide the best possible environment for rearing and breeding pandas. Afterwards transfer to the airport for a flight to Hangzhou and an overnight stay.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
- Transport: Airplane
DAY 12 West Lake
Today will begin with a fascinating trip to the Ling Yin Temple Buddhist Monastery. This will be followed by a visit to the famous Longjing Tea Plantations where you can sample some traditional brews in a local Tea House. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a leisurely cruise on the West Lake before being transferred to Shanghai in the evening, for a three night stay.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 13 Shanghai City Tour
First stop Yu Yuan Gardens followed by the Jade Buddha Temple. The centuries old Yu Yuan Gardens is home to beautiful pavilions, walkways, streams, courtyards and flowers. At the Jade Buddha Temple you can expect both historic and modern, with large, intricate sculptures of Buddha. After exploring the Shanghai Museum, next is the waterfront attraction of the Bund to admire Shanghai as a modern metropolis. Later, you can enjoy a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the city from top of the Shanghai world financial centre.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 14 Zhujiajiao
Today, visit Zhujiajiao, an ancient water town with a 1,700 year history, known as the Pearl Stream. You can expect to see the Ming and Qing Dynasty bridges, two ancient and historic buildings, and the Ma Family Garden before heading back to Shanghai for an afternoon at leisure.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 15 Shanghai to UK
- Meals included: Breakfast
Optional Extras - Cultural Experiences
There is some free time in your itinerary for you to explore on your own, or treat yourself to an excursion. Use the links below to create a to-do list, or, if you’d prefer us to book you onto one of these or any other excursions, please let us know when booking your tour.
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China
China: Cookery Classes in Yangshuo
Learn to cook traditional dishes in Yangshuo
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China
China: Cycling in Yangshuo
Explore the countryside, cycling in Yangshuo
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China
China: Impressions of Liu Sanjie in Yangshuo
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China
China: Beijing Opera
Delight at a performance of traditional Beijing Opera
Sample Accommodation
Your holiday details
Departures and Prices 2019/20
Single supplement from £498
Land only from £2,198 (no international flights or visa fees)
Prices and products are subject to availability at the time of booking.
The deposit for these arrangements is £300 per person. Balance is due 10 weeks before departure.
China: Memories of China
from£2,847
What's included:
- International flights in economy class departing from London Heathrow with British Airways. Regional departures and flight upgrades are available on request
- Domestic flights in economy class
- Bullet train in first class
- 4★accommodation based on twin share
- Transfers
- English speaking guides
- Meals as specified
- Entrance fees to the sites listed
- Airport taxes
- Local tips: RMB590 (approx £69) per person
- Personal spending
- Travel insurance
- China visa
When making an enquiry or reservation we will request your contact details, however no payment will be required at this stage. We will contact you for payment details and to confirm your booking, your details and the details of those travelling with you along with any extras you’d like to add.
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