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Highlights include Hong Kong, Yangshuo, Bike ride, Chengdu, Panda, Leshan Giant Buddha, Yangtze River cruise, Xi’an, Terracotta warriors, Shanghai, Beijing, Forbidden City and the Great Wall.

Days 1-2: Hong Kong
Your trip starts today with your arrival in Hong Kong. No activities are planned, so arrive early if you can, as there is plenty to see. There will be a pre-tour briefing with your tour leader late in the afternoon. Please note that your Tour Leader will collect the Local Payment during your group meeting so be sure to take the 500 US dollars to the meeting along with you travel insurance details. Please bring new USD notes/bills in large denominations. Please see the noticeboard in the hotel reception for details.

After dinner there is the opportunity to view the spectacular Sound and Light Show on the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island - 8:00 to 8:20pm. If you are a first-time visitor to Hong Kong, it is recommended that you arrive a few days before the tour starts to allow yourself enough time to explore this exciting city.

The next morning we head to Guangzhou (Canton) on a two-hour hydrofoil journey. The views, as we sail out of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, are sensational! In Guangzhou, we transfer to the train station, for our overnight journey to Guilin. You can purchase dinner on the train or prior to boarding. We stay in air-conditioned cabins. A blanket, sheets and a pillow are provided, although some people may wish to bring their own inner sheet. Travelling on the train is a great way to mix with the locals and practise your Chinese language skills.
Meals included: 1 breakfast

Days 3-4: Yangshuo
We arrive in Guilin in the early morning and transfer by bus to the small countryside town of Yangshuo (1.5 hrs). Yangshuo, a place nestled amongst the imposing limestone karst formations that have inspired poets and painters for centuries. This small town is a haven for travellers and here we stay in a delightful local style hotel.

Day 4 we take a half-day bike ride through the surrounding countryside to gain an insight into rural life in South China and have a scrumptious lunch in a local restaurant at the foot of Moon Hill. It is also a wonderful area for exploring individually, as every turn in the road brings you to another picture-postcard location- this is why Yangshuo is the favorite with PANDA travellers. A boat trip on the Li River to the surrounding town is an option to consider in your free time.

Meals included: 1 lunch

Days 5-6: Chengdu-Leshan
We catch a flight to Chengdu, capital of south-west Sichuan Province. Sichuan is known for its hot, spicy dishes, considered by the Chinese as the best cuisine within China. There is free time to explore the city. There is a large statue of Chairman Mao in the middle of the city and the tranquil Renmin Park is well worth a visit, with its beautiful gardens and interesting teahouses. On a day trip, we travel to Leshan, where we see the world’s largest Buddha, carved into the hillside near the confluence of the Dadu and Min Rivers. A seated figure (as opposed to the ‘standing’ or ‘reclining’ Buddha images found elsewhere), it is a staggering 71 metres high. It is over 1,000 years old and took almost 100 years to build. It is not only impressive at close quarters, but can be viewed on a boat from a distance, in order to gain a different perspective. One morning we also visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base situated near the city. The giant panda is one of the world’s most endangered species and has become Chinese national treasures and an icon for conservation movements everywhere. It is still found in parts of the Sichuan province, but is very difficult to spot in the wild.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts

Days 7-9: Yangtze River Cruise
We travel by bus to the city of Chongqing, where we board our boat to commence a cruise on one of the great rivers of the world. The Yangtze (also known locally as the Changjiang River) is, at 6,300 kilometres, the world’s third longest waterway. It rises deep in the heart of the province of Qinghai, to the north of Tibet, and flows relentlessly eastwards until it empties into the East China Sea near Shanghai. Effectively dividing the country into north and south, the river not only supplies the rural heart of China, but has also spawned many industries reliant upon its power. The Yangtze has also inspired poets, writers and travellers over the centuries. The “Sanxia”, as they are known in Chinese, stretch for 200 kilometres and vary from 100 metres to 300 metres in width. We enjoy our cruise on a tourist-class boat and travel between Chongqing and Yichang. This is a much more comfortable way to travel than on the local boats that ply the same route, and offers a fascinating insight into life along the river. We spend three nights on board and sleep in twin-share cabins with private facilities, in accommodation similar to a small hotel room. Bedding and sheets are provided, as are all meals throughout the cruise. We travel along one of the most picturesque sections, through the renowned Three Gorges and finish our cruise near the construction site of the massive new dam.

Please note that all rooms on the Yangtze cruise are on a twin share basis. If you are not already sharing a room with someone from your group, you may be required to share with someone (of the same gender) from outside your group. This could be a member of another tour group or a local person. If you have paid a single supplement, please note that this does not cover the cruise.
Meals included: 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners

Day 10: Yichang – Xi’an
After disembarking from our boat, we travel by bus to Wuhan through some typical Chinese rural areas and catch the flight to Xian
Meals included: 1 breakfast

Days 11-12: Xi’an
Xian topped the other ancient capital cities in China. Many wonderful places are on your exploration list. Food options are excellent here as well, ranging from delicious Muslim fare to great little dumplings in local restaurants. Widely known as the first capital of a united China in 221 BC, the city is the deep root of Chinese history. A half-day tour to the renowned Terracotta Warriors shows us to these unearthed pottery statues, considered one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th Century. Over 6,000 of them were individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costume, height, even facial expression. They are standing in battle formation, facing east in order to protect the tomb of China's first Emperor, the great Qin Shi Huang Di. These soldiers were accidentally discovered by local farmers in 1974. A free day can easily be spent wandering the narrow streets among the Muslim quarter where we find quaint shops, lively markets, groups of white-bearded men in skull caps sipping tea in dingy cafes. For those who are interested in history, please do not miss Shaanxi History Museum, which introduces you the total history of Chinese civilization. Other places you may visit include Bell Tower, Drum Tower, City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a famous Buddhist temple.
Meals included: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch

Days 13-15: Shanghai
We will take a morning flight to Shanghai and will be transferred to our hotel located near the famous Bund or waterfront area, with dozens of imposing European colonial buildings, remnants of the concession era, along the promenade. The shopping area on Nanjing Road is situated nearby. We will enjoy free time in Shanghai, and your tour leader can show you how to find the way to the famous Yuyuan Gardens and Bazaar, a representative of private garden in south China and highlight of the city. We might have opportunities to try some wonderful food stalls as well. In the evening, there is a chance to see a performance of the famous Shanghai Acrobats. Keen photographers are rewarded by an early start to the day, as scores of locals practice Taichi along the waterfront at dawn. The old French Quarter is also a great place to wander around, and the Jade Buddha Temple and the impressive Shanghai Museum are both well worth a visit. The gleaming towers on the Pudong side reflect China’s march towards modernisation and the rapid rate of changes that are taking place. On the evening of Day 15, we board another overnight train for our final destination - Beijing.
Meals included: 3 breakfasts

Days 16-18: Beijing
Beijing is abundant in cultural and historical sites. The vast Forbidden City, built nearly 600 years ago and off limits to citizens for almost all that time, is a truly amazing place. The size might surprise you (it is huge!), but what makes it fascinating is that every square metre is interesting, ranging from intricately carved walkways to colourful, painted ceilings. Temple of Heaven is the other fine example of extraordinary workmanship and architecture. We will travel to Simatai Great Wall, a largely unrestored and, as such, more authentic section of the famous wall, not crowded with hordes of other tourists. Climbing up this incredible man-made engineer and surveying the spectacular surrounding countryside is an unforgettable experience. There is also ample free time in the itinerary, allowing you to make your own discoveries and explorations of old Hutongs and shop in Silk Market or Pearls Market. In the evening, you have the chance to enjoy a performance of the unique Beijing Opera or Kongfu (Martial Arts) Show(optional).
Meals included: 2 breakfasts

Day 19: Beijing
Your tour PANDA organized will end after breakfast. A transfer to the airport is not included; however, your tour leader will be on hand to advise you as to the options available.
Meals included: 1 breakfast