Tour description
This tour begins in the Chinese capital of Beijing, where you’ll have ample time to admire the magnificent classical architecture of the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. Or the Lama Temple, built in a combination of three styles: Tibetan, Mongolian and Chinese. You could take an optional day-trip to the Great Wall and, in the evening, you may want to visit the Beijing Opera or an acrobatic display. Obviously, a culinary attraction is Peking duck. You may have a little trouble using chopsticks at first, but it’s worth persevering!
Pingyao and Xi'an
At dusk on day 4 we’ll board the night train to Pingyao and settle in our pre-booked couchettes. Travelling by train in China is an experience in itself - an excellent way to get to know the country and its inhabitants. The following morning we arrive in Pingyao, to spend one day and one night in this picturesque city before continuing Xi'an, a city with an impressive history. We’ll visit the famous Terracotta Army, thousands of life-size sculpted soldiers guarding the underground mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shihuang, the man who unified China in the 3rd century BC. In Xi'an town you should make a beeline for the city walls and the old Muslim quarter with its numerous attractive street restaurants.
Chengdu, here we come!
We’ll board another train on day 8, to go to Chengdu. This is the country’s best rice-growing area and renowned for the enormously-popular Szechuan Cuisine. You may be inclined to visit the attractive Wenshu Monastery complex, a traditional tea-house, and the giant panda bears in the Giant Panda Breeding Centre (the best place for them; they’d wreak havoc if they lived in conservatories!).
Rustic Lijiang
We’ll be boarding the night train on day 11, arriving in Panzhihua on day 12. We then continue our journey through central China’s spectacular mountain scenery to rustic Lijiang, inhabited by the Naxi people. Here you’ll be able to rent a bike and explore, or book an optional excursion to the snow-covered Jade Dragon Mountain.
Zhongdian and Dali
Leaving Lijiang on day 15, we’ll head through wonderfully mountainous scenery to Zhongdian via the wonderfully named and equally spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge. On day 17 we arrive in Dali, a small town sandwiched between Lake Erhai and 4,000-metre-high mountains. It‘s the home of the very colourful Bai people who specialise in selling ethnic products.
Stone Forest and rice terraces
On day 19 or 20 there will be an optional excursion to the Stone Forest, a geological miracle consisting of strange shaped limestone rocks. Then, the next day, we’ll pass through Guilin before arriving at the endless rice terraces of Ping’an. We arrive in Yangshuo on day 23.
Stunning Yangshuo
Exploring the countryside around Yangshuo by bike will burn its stunning scenery into your memory for life. Nobody who sees it can forget the striking Karst Mountains in the midst of green rice fields and flowing bamboo bushes. Local farmers sometimes even invite tourists into their home for a meal! You could also admire the enchanting scenery from the Li River. Yangshuo has many terraces and restaurants where you can treat yourself to Chinese specialties.
Guangzhou
On day 26 we’ll take one last night train and spend a couple of days in Guangzhou, a place rich in history and a melting pot of foreign influences,. Finally, your journey finishes on day 28!