FT-02 Martial Arts & Snow Dragons

✔︎  The chance to Toboggan down the Great Wall!
✔︎  Kite flying & Beijing’s Hutongs by cycle rickshaw!
✔︎  Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven & Summer Palace!
✔︎  Kung Fu & Calligraphy lessons – Cycle Xian’s City Walls!
✔︎  Kunming’s extraordinary Stone Forest!
✔︎  Amazing cable car ride up the Snow Dragon Mountain!
✔︎  Giant Pandas & exciting Sichuan Opera in Chengdu!

Arrival Beijing With Time to Relax at the Hotel

Welcome to Beijing, China’s cultural and political capital and a real highlight with it’s extraordinary blend of ancient and modern sights. Your guide will greet you at the airport with a transfer by private car to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax from the long flight or start to explore the city with the help of your personalised and exclusive Trip Guidebook we send you before the trip. The area around your centrally located hotel is perfect for an introductory walk. We tend to find that by the end of the day any concerns you may have had about China not being child friendly have been dispelled!

Meals Included: None today.

Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park & Lao She Teahouse

Today see some of the highlights of Beijing starting with the Temple of Heaven, considered by many to be the most beautiful building in China. What makes the Temple of Heaven really special is that it is set inside a vast park which is a centre for a wide range of cultural activities. Here you will see – and be able to participate in if you wish – kite flying, Tai Chi, various styles of dancing, all manner of martial arts, water calligraphy and a range of sports peculiar to China. In short, there is something for everyone.

On to the vast Tiananmen Square, home to the Mao Mausoleum (it may be possible to visit if open) and Monument to the People’s Heroes before walking to the huge palace complex of the Forbidden City with its 980 buildings with 8,707 rooms (you can keep the kids busy by asking them to check this figure!) We walk up the middle axis from South to North taking in the splendour of the most important buildings before finishing the ancient garden by the north gate. Directly north of the Forbidden city is Jingshan park where we climb beautifully landscaped “Coal Hill” for one of Beijing’s best views.

A fun evening of entertainment awaits you at the Lao She Teahouse to experience a variety of traditional performances including Peking Opera, Acrobatics, Martial Arts, Cross Talk, Music and Shadow Puppetry. Transfers from and back to your hotel are included.

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast & Restaurant Lunch.

The Great Wall at Stunning Mutianyu & the 2008 Olympic Venues

Today we will be showing you one of China’s most famous sights – the Great Wall. We visit the dramatic and less crowded Mutianyu section 70 km from Beijing set amongst spectacular mountain scenery. Dating back to the 6th Century and largely rebuilt in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty, it is one of the best preserved sections of the wall largely due to the high standard of construction. You can also opt to descend from the Wall the exhilarating way by toboggan (small local payment required).

On the way back to the city we stop at the 2008 Olympic sites of the spectacular Bird’s Nest Stadium and the aquatics centre known as the Water Cube – external viewing only.

Return to your hotel with the rest of the evening free or just ask us for suggestions of shows or cultural activities.

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast & Restaurant Lunch.

Explore Old Beijing by Cycle Rickshaw & the Summer Palace

Step back in time with a trip by cycle rickshaw through some of Beijing’s ancient residential Hutongs – the heart and soul of the city. The Hutongs surround the Forbidden city and the closer you lived to the Emperor the more important you were socially. Today the Hutongs are preserved in the centre of Beijing and provide a fascinating insight into traditional Chinese city life. There is also luxury in the Hutongs and we visit Prince Gong’s Mansion, an extravagant residential complex of gardens and pavilions built in 1777.

After lunch a tour to the Summer Palace to the west of Beijing. Dominated by Kunming lake it is as popular an escape from the city for todays Beijingers as it was for the Imperial court over the centuries. Your tour here will include a boat trip on the lake. Return to your hotel with the rest of the evening free.

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast & Restaurant Lunch.

Bullet Train to the 100,000 Buddhist Carvings at the Longmen Grottoes

Transfer to the station for a bullet train to Luoyang, the perfect base for visiting the fabulous Longmen Grottoes and the impressive Shaolin Temple complex up in the Song Mountains.

Transfer on arrival directly to the important Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO recognised masterpiece of Buddhist rock carving 13 km south of of Luoyang. The carvings date from around AD 500 when Luoyang was the capital of China. Over 100,000 were sculpted from tiny buddhist statues just centimeters high to the 17 meter high statue of Buddha in the Ancestor Worshipping Temple, the face of which was supposedly modeled on that of Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty who happened to pay for this temple! Continue on to your hotel with free time in the evening.

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast & Restaurant Lunch.

The World Famous Shaolin Martial Arts Temples & Bullet Train to Xian

Today leave Luoyang for a full day tour up into the Song Mountains to the Shaolin Monastery Temple complex, famous the world over for the practice and teaching of martial arts. The Monastery was founded in AD 497 to teach the Mahayana branch of Buddhism. Since then it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. We visit the main temples, will see a martial arts display and explore the unusual Forest of Pagodas, a cemetery of 246 pagodas of various sizes containing the ashes of prominent monks. We can also include a 2 hour martial arts lesson if you wish.

Return to the city to catch a bullet train in to Xian, the once golden city of Emperors, soldiers, arts, culture and the capital of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. Your guide and driver will meet and transfer you to your hotel to overnight.

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast.

The Terra Cotta Army, Calligraphy Lesson, City Walls, Muslim Quarter & Tang Dynasty Show

Today visit one of China’s most extraordinary sights, the Terra Cotta Army built by China’s first Emperor Qin Shi Huang in 246 BC. Several thousand of the life-sized soldiers are on display and, with no two soldiers looking alike, make for a truly impressive spectacle.

After lunch it is time for a calligraphy lesson. There is more to the Chinese script than just writing as characters often have stories and deeper meaning attached to them. You will have an opportunity to learn the brush technique and keep the results of your efforts. After this we finish on Xian’s largest construction, the 13.7 km City Walls which are up to 18 meters thick at the base and 12 meters in height. The walls were constructed during the Ming Dynasty from 1370 AD and replaced an even larger wall. It is possible to hire bicycles and ride some sections of the wall (a decision that can be made and paid for locally) and the top of the Wall is perhaps the safest place in China to ride a bicycle!

Wander through Xian’s vibrant Muslim quarter, including a visit to the Great Mosque, unusually built entirely in the Chinese architectural style. This area is an excellent place to souvenir shop and eat. This evening a trip to the lavish Tang Dynasty show performed in a beautiful theatre. The show itself highlights Chinese culture from this Dynasty, considered a golden age in China’s long history. Music, singing and dance with a traditional orchestra and colourful costumes makes this a visual feast for all ages! Tickets include return transfers.

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast & Restaurant Lunch.

The Hanyangling Mausoleum Before a Flight on to Kunming

On the way to the airport we visit the unique Hanyangling Mausoleum, the burial place of the Emperor Jing of Han who ruled from 188 BC to 141 BC. The Mausoleum is China’s first underground museum where you can actually walk over the burial pits along glass paths. Much less crowded and more intimate than the Terra Cotta Army, the experience allows you to get up closer to the ancient artifacts which are well presented.

Continue onto the airport for your flight to Kunming with its pleasant year round climate and a gateway to the highlights of popular south west China. Your guide and driver will meet and transfer you to your hotel.

The rest of today is free to start exploring this pleasant this city with the help of your trip Guidebook.

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast.

Visit the Unique Limestone Karst Formations of the Stone Forest

Today’s tour leaves the city driving 85 km south east to the extraordinary and unique Stone Forest or “Shilin” in Mandarin. This area of unusual and photogenic Karst formations covers a vast 2,670 sq km and is believed to have been formed over 270 million years ago. You see some of the Greater Stone Forest, Lesser Stone forest, the edge of the wild outer Stone Forest and the Stone Forest Lake.

After the tour a transfer to the station for an overnight sleeper train to Lijiang.

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast & Restaurant Lunch.

Arrival in Lijiang With a Half Day Tour of the Old Town

Arrival in Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage city of cobbled streets and tiled roofs set against the magnificent backdrop of the 5,596 meter high, 13 peaked Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Your guide and driver will meet and transfer you to your hotel.

Please note that the check-in time is 12 noon but if a room is available or you have pre-booked early check-in you can go straight to your room. We have booked an extra breakfast for you today due to your early arrival.

Today you have an half day tour of the Lijiang’s Old City including the fabulous palace of the Mu Clan who ruled over this area for 400 years. This large complex is a superb example of local Naxi architecture. You also visit the Black Dragon Pool, a beautiful park containing traditional architecture and one of the most famous views in China of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain – stunning if the weather cooperates!

Return to your hotel with the rest of the evening free.

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast.

The 13 Peaked Jade Snow Dragon Mountain & the Frescoes of Baisha Village

Today we drive the 15 km through beautiful countryside to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the 5,596 meter, thirteen peaked massif clearly visible from Lijiang but much more impressive up close. We take a cable car up to a high grassland plateau on the mountain from where the snow covered peaks tower above.

Descend by cable car and visit Baisha Village, the earliest known settlement of the Naxi people and a treasure trove of local, traditional architecture. The village is known for the 44 Baisha Frescoes drawn during the Ming Dynasty and which embody the artistic styles of the Naxi, Tibetan and Bai minorities.

Return to your hotel with the rest of the evening free.

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast & Restaurant Lunch.

Flight on to Chengdu, Home of the Giant Panda

After breakfast a transfer to the airport for your flight. Arrival in Chengdu, capital of mountainous and spicy Sichuan province and the place to come and see Giant Pandas. Your guide and driver will meet and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of today is free to start exploring Chengdu with the area around your hotel being full of interest. Alternatively, this characterful hotel’s courtyard is an ideal place to relax.

In the evening trip to the colourful, loud and exciting Sichuan Opera. Not sure if opera is for you? Well this opera is like no other including it’s cousin – Peking opera. In spicy Sichuan the show combines stunts such as face-changing, sword play and fire spitting with the plot. The tickets include transfers from and back to your hotel.

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast.

The World Famous Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding

This morning we visit Chengdu’s famous Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding which has over 60 pandas and is considered the best place in the world to see these endangered icons of China. In addition to the many pandas you can see here (including Red Pandas) there is an opportunity to hold a panda cub although note that this is not guaranteed and requires a local payment direct to the the Research base of RMB 2,000 per person in the photo (not per photo) and must be booked in advance which we can do for you.

Return to your hotel with the rest of the day free or just ask us for suggestions of shows or cultural activities.

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast.

Transfer to the Airport to Fly Back Home

Free time until a transfer to airport to catch your flight out of China. We sincerely hope that you have had a fantastic China experience with us full of all the memories which make this country such a fascinating destination that continues to inspire us!

Meals Included: Hotel Breakfast.

The hotels & accommodation used for this trip are from our hand picked selection and all are excellent for their class. We also offer upgraded hotels in most locations. Click here to explore additional hotel options and let us know of any changes you wish to make.

What is included?

Transport between destinations as described.

All accommodation as specified under the accommodation tab

All private transfers and any other transportation as described

All meals as specified in the itinerary

All tours as specified in the itinerary

All entrance fees to sights toured in the itinerary

24 hour emergency assistance

Visa Paperwork required in order to obtain the visas

Financial Peace of Mind as your trip is protected

What is not included?

International Airfare to / from the start / finish of your trip – we can book these flights on request

The Chinese visa – we can advise and partner with VisaCentral

Travel insurance to cover any medical treatment – we have partnered with Citybond Suretravel (UK residents only)

Discretionary gratuities to drivers and guides