Grand Tour of China

Fly to Beijing, China's historical capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

Visit Tiananmen Square and discover the sprawling magnificence of the Forbidden City before exploring Beijing's old hutongs where you can meet a local family and visit their home. This evening, eat traditional Peking duck. The next day, spend the morning taking a walk on the Great Wall and in the afternoon, enjoy a stroll through the idyllic gardens of the Summer Palace.

In the morning, soak up the harmonious ambience of the Temple of Heaven, an orderly oasis in a bustling urban landscape. Later, take a bullet train to Xian.

Visit the Little Wild Goose Pagoda before wandering around the narrow alleys of the Muslim Quarter. Tonight, feast on traditional Shui Jiao dumplings before a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing. The next day, view the enigmatic ranks of warriors that make up the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Later, stroll on Xian's beautifully preserved 14th-century city walls.

Fly to Yichang where you will board your Yangtze River cruise vessel.

The Three Gorges Dam may be an impressive feat of engineering but as you cruise upstream nature takes over, revealing some of the world's most dramatic scenery including the Three Gorges themselves. Over the next three days prepare for one breathtaking panorama after another. Take a side trip to the attractive Goddess or Shennong Stream and enjoy various shore excursions.

Disembark in Chongqing then explore old Ciqikou, whose narrow streets are perfect for a stroll to admire the traditional architecture. Transfer to Chengdu where tonight you will be served a traditional Sichuanese dinner with the option to watch a Sichuan Opera performance.

Visit Chengdu's famous Panda Conservation Centre to see and learn about these celebrated bears up close in surroundings that mirror their natural habitat. Later, fly to the charming city of Dali.

Dali offers a peek of the China of times-gone-by. Explore Xizhou village to browse around the local market, see the Yan Family House, cruise on Erhai Lake, visit the Golden Flower Tie Dye shop and explore Dali's quaint old quarter.

Enjoy some relaxed sightseeing around the symmetrical Three Pagodas before boarding the bullet train approximately 2.5-hours to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province.

Explore the fascinating limestone formations of the picturesque Stone Forest and tuck in to local delicacy, Across the Bridge Noodles, for dinner tonight.

Take a bullet train to beautiful city of Guilin.

Take a relaxed cruise along the Li River to charming Yangshuo. Around every river bend is a view to take your breath away as jagged karst peaks loom over rural scenes of lush greenery and grazing buffalo.

Begin with a relaxing and invigorating session of tai chi, taking a class with a master to learn this ancient martial art. Explore the countryside and stop on the banks of the Li River for a photo opportunity with a cormorant fisherman. Enjoy time at leisure or choose one of the many optional activities available.

Return to Guilin and visit a pearl factory and Reed Flute Cave. Also stroll around Ronghu Lake and admire the Sun and Moon pagodas – two towering examples of traditional Chinese-Buddhist architecture.

Fly to Hangzhou and visit the Temple of Inspired Seclusion and the tea plantations of Meijiawu.

Today, cruise on Hangzhou;s West Lake, admiring the gardens, pagodas and old bridges on its shores. Disembark your cruise and explore the Xihutiandi area before transferring 3 hours to Suzhou.

Suzhou's centre has managed to retain a sense of quaint charm. Renowned for its elegant gardens, visit one of the finest, the Humble Administrator's Garden – typical of the Chinese appreciation of balance and harmony. Also cruise on the Grand Canal.

Travel to the exuberant and cosmopolitan city of Shanghai, also known as the 'Paris of the East'. Visit Matchmaker's Corner, where parents search for worthy suitors for their children, the Shanghai Museum and People's Square. Later, enjoy a view of the glittering city from the Huangpu River on a panoramic cruise. This evening, dine on a delicious meal of Shanghainese cuisine.

Today's explorations include the peaceful Yu Garden and a visit to the old town. Admire the magnificent colonial architecture with a stroll along the Bund, before visiting the Silk Factory. End the evening with the fascinating ERA acrobatic show.

Fly to Australia, arriving home the same or following day.