Physical Grading: Easy Culture Shock Grading: Low Accommodation: Hotel Transport: Train, private car/mini van, boat, flight Accompanied by: Local guides Meals: Breakfast daily, 1 dinner Included entry fees and activities: YuYuan Gardens, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Acrobats, Taiping Museum, Terracotta Warriors, Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven

Long perceived as one of the world’s most exotic destinations, today Shanghai remains a glamorous, vital consumer paradise and architectural marvel - a mesmerizing array of old and new and walking is a great way to explore the streets and get a feel for this enormous city.

Nanjing is a city which has witnessed the highs and lows of humanity. Explore the Fu Zi Miao Area with its many interesting side streets with Qing buildings, gateways and cobblestone paths.

Tour the massive Three Gorges Dam - a source of international controversy and technological wonder. After touring the dam site board a fast boat to travel through the Three Gorges themselves to BaiDi City at the mouth of Qutang Gorge - a site closely associated with the events of the Chinese classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Capital of Chinese empires for more than 2000 years, Xi’an is a city of ancient treasures - the most magnificent and famous of which is the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang Di. The thousands of soldiers, crafted in intricate detail, stand in battle formation to guard the mausoleum of the emperor who ordered their creation. The city has many other attractions including the Great Mosque, a wonderfully serene place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and fantastic evening food markets.

Tiananmen Square, the elaborate grandeur of the Forbidden City and 2000 year old Great Wall are just a few of the attractions that Beijing has to offer. Tiananmen, the Gate of Heavenly Peace, shields the Forbidden City from the vase expanse of the Square. Its lavish palaces and ornate courtyards tell their own story of China’s rich history and the surrounding hutongs (old alleyways) reveal the traditional life of the city.

Shanghai Colonial architecture of The Bund and French Concession; elegant Chinese gardens and temples; the incredible shopping world of Nanjing Lu and the new age skyscrapers of Pudong - one of the world's most incredible cities.

Nanjing The 'South Capital' set amid lakes, river and wooded hills. Capital of the 19th C Taiping Kingdom of Heavenly Peace, site of the treaty which gave Hong Kong to Britain and of one of the worst wartime atrocities in history.

Yangzi & the Three Gorges Inspiration to painters and poets, source of international controversy, Three Gorges remain one of the world’s natural scenic wonders and the massive dam, an incredible feat of modern technology.

Terracotta Warriors An army of over 7,000 life size warriors guard the tomb and afterlife of the 3rd Century emperor Qin Shi Huang Di.

Tiananmen & Forbidden City Behind the Gate of Heavenly Peace lies the vast Imperial City, home to the Emperors of China and forbidden to commoners.

Great Wall of China Whilst not the only man made object visible from space, the Wall is an impressive sigh,t stretching thousands of kilometers from the sea to the Gobi desert.

Tour Cost: from €1010p/p Departures A private departure at any time Best: April-November

Itinerary Days 1-2 Shanghai Days 3-4 Nanjing Days 5-7 Yangzi & the Threre Gorges Days 8-9 Xi'an Days 10-12 Beijing