Walls, Warriors and Women

1. 1–2

   Days 1–2

   Arrive Beijing & Summer Palace

   Leave UK and fly to Beijing, China on an overnight flight. We are met on arrival and after a transfer to the hotel, we drive to the Summer Palace. It is an immense park containing some Chinese traditional architectures and arts. This evening we have a welcome dinner at a Peking Duck Restaurant and learn about the preparation and complexity of food transportation and storage in ancient times.

2. 3

   Day 3

   Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, The Temple of the Heaven &

   Beijing Opera We visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City where the emperors of Qing dynasty used to live. We continue to explore Beijing with a visit to the Temple of Heaven where the emperors worshipped and prayed for harvest in the Ming & Qing Dynasties. We spend the rest of the afternoon learning about Beijing Opera, painting masks, and then visit the Opera in the evening.

3. 4

   Day 4

   The Huanghuacheng Great Wall, 798 Art Center

   In the early morning we drive directly to Huanghuacheng Great Wall, known for its well- maintained watch towers. Upon arrival, we hike and enjoy one of the Seven Wonders of the Medieval Wall– a stunning spectacle. After lunch in a local restaurant, we transfer to 798 Art Centre, where Chinese artists display their modern art in an old converted factory complex. Finally we are transported to the train station for the overnight train to Xi’an.

4. 5

   Day 5

   Xi’an City Wall, Museum of Stone tablets, Wild Goose Pagoda, the

   Great Mosque On arrival in Xi’an, we have breakfast at a local restaurant, before visiting the City Wall and Museum of Stone tablets. After some free time for shopping we have a local dumpling lunch and visit the Wild Goose Pagoda and the Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter. Dinner will be in a typical Qin Dynasty Style Restaurant.

5. 6

   Day 6

   Tai Chi lesson, Terra Cotta Amy Museum, Han Yang Ling Mausoleum

   The morning will start with a Tai Chi lesson, followed by a lesson on Chinese Culture (Philosophy and religion) ending in a short session of Chan Meditation. After Lunch we visit the incredible Terra Cotta Army Museum – an extraordinary example of craftsmanship and extravagance. After our visit here we drive to the Han Yang Ling Mausoleum before depart for our overnight train to Chengdu.

6. 7

   Day 7

   Pandas and Sichuan cooking school

   Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, is the home of the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. We visit the centre and learn about their struggle for survival in modern China, and the environmental issues that are affecting much of China as a whole. After lunch, we visit a local family and learn about the role that Chinese housewives traditionally follow. We will have a distinctive homemade cooking class of Sichuan cuisine which will take us step-by-step through the process of preparing a traditional Sichuan meal.

7. 8

   Day 8

   Life of business woman in China, Hotpot & face-changing show

   In the morning, we have a small discussion & presentation with a local business woman regarding her life in China and female standing within society. This gives us a great insight into women’s lives in China and comparing their experiences in this destinations changing society. After the discussion, we will have hot pot for dinner whilst enjoying the unique Sichuan face-changing opera.

8. 9

   Day 9

   The World Financial Centre, panoramic view of Pudong, Shanghai

   History Museum We take an early morning flight to Shanghai arriving around 10:30 a.m. We visit the financial centre and take in the famous panoramic view of Pudong new area, followed by a trip to the Shanghai History Museum. Here, we literally walk through Shanghai’s history, with life-size exhibits reflecting the historical evolution of the politics, economy, culture, society and people’s life in this prosperous city. Finally we drive 84km to Suzhou and overnight there. In many ways, Suzhou is an antidote to the excesses of Shanghai, with canal scenes, pagodas and humpbacked bridges, but don’t be fooled – it’s still a busy Chinese city and a popular tourist spot.

9. 10

   Day 10

   The Humble Administrator's Garden, Pan Gate, Walking the Bund

   We have most of the day to explore Suzhou and visit the Humble Administrator's Garden, a classic example of Chinese medieval gardens during the Ming period for which Suzhou is so famous. We move on to Pan Gate, an ancient city gate with land and water entrances, again typical of medieval China, (the Pan Gate is the only one left). In the afternoon, we return to Shanghai and have a walk around the Bund, soaking up the atmosphere.

10. 11

    Day 11

    Fly home from Shanghai

    We arrive back into the UK on day 11.

Itineraries can change with the seasons, local conditions and your group's needs. Ask us and we'll tailor it.