Discover China

On arrival in Beijing, be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Blending tradition and modernity, Beijing offers a unique cultural experience with its traditional ancient architecture, culinary delights and vibrant art scene. This evening, savour a Welcome Dinner and meet your Great Rail Journey Tour Escort and fellow travellers. Stay Three Nights: Beijing, Novotel Peace Hotel (D)

Set off for a full day exploring this fascinating city. Explore Tiananmen Square, the site of the 1989 protests and home to the tomb of the founder of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zedong. Continue to the Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, a massive palace complex which served as the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing dynasties for over 500 years. Discover ornate grand halls, breathtaking architecture and beautiful gardens as you stroll through this wonderous site.

Later, marvel at the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing's most popular attractions. Built in the 15th century during the Ming Dynasty, it served as a place of worship for emperors to pray for good harvests and today serves as a bustling meeting place for locals to engage in activities like tai chi and card games. (B/L)

Begin your day by discovering China's greatest icon, the Great Wall of China. Take in breathtaking views during a cable car ride to the Mutianyu section, one of the best-preserved parts of the wall, before spending time for a walk along a section of the Wall. Return to your hotel, enjoying photo stops at the Beijing National Stadium, also known as the Birds Nest, and Water Cube; striking architectural designs from the 2008 summer Olympic Games held in Beijing. Tonight, enjoy your Insider Experience for dinner. (B/L/D)

Insider Experience - Banquet in Beijing This evening, sample Beijing's most iconic dish with a delicious banquet of Peking Duck at a local restaurant.

Board your high-speed train and be whisked to Xi'an, arriving in the morning. Xi'an was the easternmost point of the ancient Silk Road route, the famous, ancient network of trade routes that connected Asia with Europe and the Middle East, playing a vital role in the exchange of cultures, ideas and valuable commodities like tea, silk and spices. This evening, enjoy your Insider Experience at a delightful dumpling banquet. Stay Two Nights: Xi'an, Grand Mercure Renmin Square (B/D)

Insider Experience - Chinese Banquet Feast on a traditional Chinese dumpling banquet, savouring a selection of delicious handmade dumplings filled with fresh local vegetables, meats and seafood.

Known for its extraordinary collection of Terracotta Warriors, Xi'an, once the starting point of the ancient Silk Road and China's capital for over a millennium, offers a captivating glimpse into the nation's imperial past. Visit the vast archaeological site where thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, buried around 210 BC, stand guard over Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb - each hand carved with unique features.

Later, explore Xi'an's highlights on a guided tour, including the Great Mosque, a blend of Chinese and Islamic architecture, and the lively Muslim Quarter bazaar, famous for its street food from the Xinjiang province. (B/L)

This morning, board a high-speed train in Xi'an and be whisked through the countryside to Chengdu - home of China's beloved giant pandas and UNESCO's first City of Gastronomy. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

In the evening, sample the region's celebrated cuisine, known for its spicy, bold flavours and distinctive use of Sichuan peppercorns that produces a unmistakable tingling sensation on the tongue. Stay Two Nights: Chengdu, Tibet Hotel (B/L/D)

After your Insider Experience, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then visit the Buddhist Wenshu Monastery to learn about the ancient structure. Finish your day with a visit to charming Jinli Street, where bright lanterns light up the path and traditional crafts, food vendors and market stalls provide a sensory treat of cultural delights. (B/L)

Insider Experience - Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Centre Spend time at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Get up close to the adorable pandas and hear all about how they are being protected.

Following breakfast at your hotel, enjoy your Insider Experience before travelling by train to Chongqing. Arrive in Chongqing and transfer to the port to embark your vessel for your unforgettable three-night cruise on the mighty Yangtze river. This evening, meet your fellow travellers and enjoy a delicious dinner on board. Stay Three Nights: Yangtze River, Century Paragon (B/L/D)

Insider Experience - Sip tea at a teahouse in People's Park Located inside People's Park, surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and manicured bonsai plants, your authentic Chinese teahouse awaits. Learn the ancient and refined art of brewing and serving tea. Enjoy a cup of Chinese tea and experience an authentic slice of local Chengdu life.

Early risers may like to join a tai chi class before breakfast. This morning, soak up the scenery along the Yangtze River while relaxing on board the ship.

Afterwards, perhaps choose an optional excursion (additional expense) to Fengdu Ghost City, a famous attraction located on the Ming Mountain near the Yangtze River. Known as the ‘City of Ghosts' due to its folkloric association with the afterlife, the ancient city offers an ideal setting to explore its various temples, shrines and statues depicting demons and spirits. Back on board the vessel, join a variety of cultural activities, before enjoying a delicious dinner on board. (B/L/D)

Immerse yourself in the region's stunning gorges. For early risers, there is another opportunity to try the ancient art of tai chi before breakfast. This morning's optional excursion (additional expense) is to the White Emperor City, an ancient fortress and temple complex also known as the ‘City of Poems'. Either side of lunch, sail through the Qutang and Wu Gorges, two of the famous Three Gorges, both renowned for their picture-perfect scenery.

In the afternoon, join a sailing excursion along the Shennv Stream, a picturesque and tranquil tributary that meanders cuts through the ancestral lands of the Tujia people. Tonight, enjoy the Captain's Farewell Banquet. (B/L/D)

Bid farewell to your river ship and disembark at Maoping Pier. Spend the morning at the Three Gorges Dam Site and take in the colossal scale of the world's largest hydropower project.

After lunch, transfer to Yichang airport for your flight to Shanghai - a pulsating city bursting with skyscrapers and a window to modern China. Stay Three Nights: Pullman Shanghai Jing'an (B/L/D)

Journey to Suzhou this morning, a city famous for its labyrinth of canals, bridge, and gardens. Visit the Master of the Nets, one of the finest classical gardens in China. The garden has a long and rich history and shares UNESCO World Heritage status with others in the area due to its beautiful design.

After lunch, visit the city's 100-year-old Silk Mill and Garden of Cultivation, a wonderfully preserved example of a Ming Dynasty classical garden. End the day's explorations with a drive to Pingjiang Road for your Insider Experience. Afterwards, return to Shanghai for an evening at leisure. (B/L)

Insider Experience - Scenic Canal Cruise Embark on a stroll on Pingjiang Road, a historic street that's part of Suzhou's Old Town lined with picturesque canals and lovingly preserved historical buildings, offering a glimpse into life in China in the Song Dynasty. Explore the charming shops along the canal, before boarding a boat for a scenic cruise along the waterways of Suzhou, also known as 'Venice of the East'.

This morning, explore the beautiful scenery and artistic architecture of Yu Garden, also known as Yuyuan Garden, which was built in the Ming Dynasty over 400 years ago. Experience Shanghai's bustling bazaar before visiting the historic Jade Buddha Temple, a working Buddhist monastery - one of the few in China. The star attractions of the Jade Buddha Temple are two statues brought to Shanghai from Singapore by a Burmese monk in the 19th century: a seated jade Buddha encrusted with semiprecious stones and a smaller white jade reclining Buddha. This evening is a special Insider Experience. (B/D)

Insider Experience - Cruising the Huangpu River Enjoy a Farewell Dinner while cruising the Huangpu River. Marvel at the incredible city skyline of contrasting architecture, with the western shore home to European-style historic buildings, and the opposite, Pudong side of the river, featuring ultra-modern buildings including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

After breakfast, you'll be transferred to Shanghai Airport for your onward flight. (B)