China | Classic China
 Incense burning on the Streets of China |
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14 days / 13 nights
| Location | Nights |
| Beijing | 3 |
| Lijiang | 2 |
| Ringha | 3 |
| Hangzhou | 2 |
| Shanghai | 3 |
Day 01 Arrive Beijing
Arrive into Beijing, China’s capital since the 13th century. A private A&K welcome awaits and you are escorted to your luxury hotel.
The Peninsula Beijing (Grand Deluxe Club Floor)
Day 02 Beijing
A full day in this fascinating city. Start with a stroll around Tiananmen Square, the largest in the world, and continue on foot into the Forbidden City, home to the Imperial family during the Ming era. After lunch a pedicab whisks you into the delightful hutongs, Beijing’s maze of old neighbourhoods, where you are welcomed into a traditional courtyard house for conversation with a local family. Try your hand at dumpling making while you’re there. Continue on to the beautifully restored Temple of Heaven and the nearby pearl market – a must for shoppers (B,L).
The Peninsula Beijing (Grand Deluxe Club Floor Room)
Day 03 Design Your Day Beijing
With so much more to see, plan your day to suit. Choose one of the following half day activities: a visit to the Great Wall of China, recently voted one of the new ‘Wonders of the World’ where A&K visits the Mutianyu section. Ride the cable car up to the wall for a walk along the impressive ramparts and on your return a drive past the Olympic sites; a boat cruise on Lake Kunming to see the Summer Palace; visit the 798 District, a former Soviet electronics factory, and now the centre of Beijing’s burgeoning contemporary art scene; or see the nation’s most gifted and disciplined athletes at work in the Beijing Sports Training Institute (B,L).
The Peninsula Beijing (Grand Deluxe Club Floor Room)
Day 04 Beijing – Lijiang (2,400M)
A flight to Lijiang for the blue sky and fresh air of Yunnan province. After settling into your luxury villa your guide escorts you on a visit to the legendary Black Dragon Pool where views of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain are breathtaking. Afterwards a dose of culture at the new museum nearby which displays manuscripts, costumes, instruments and houses of the local Naxi people. A traditional dance performance for you this evening (B).
Banyan Tree Lijiang (Garden Villa)
Day 05 Design Your Day Lijiang
A city as full of cultural surprises and architectural wonders as Lijiang takes time to explore. Choose one of the following half day activities: explore the old town on foot, strolling the cobbled streets, crossing ancient timber footbridges over the network of spring-fed canals and then on to the Wangulou Pagoda, said to be the highest timber pagoda in China; explore the typical Naxi villages of Baisha and Longquan; or visit the village of renowned Austro-American botanist Dr. Joseph Rock, an expert in the flora, people and languages of southwest China (B,L).
Banyan Tree Lijiang (Garden Villa)
Day 06 Lijiang – Ringha (3,200M)
A full day travelling overland to Shangri-La (formerly Zhongdian) on the Yunnan-Tibet Highway with a stop at the ‘First Bend’ in the Yangzi River, a major landmark for all Chinese. Visit Shigu Village with its large stone drum memorial and the dramatic Tiger Leaping Gorge for a short hike to see the Yangzi River roaring 4,000m below on the gorge floor. Continue to Ringha village and your luxury lodging (B,L).
Banyan Tree Ringha (Tibetan Suite)
Day 07 Shangri-La
Spend the morning visiting the Songzangling Monastery, the largest in Yunnan with a special visit to the Protector Temple. Next stop the central market and the Old Town before taking tea with a traditional Tibetan family. Your guide will assist with any required interpretation as you experience Yunnan culture first hand. A traditional Tibetan hot pot dinner is in store tonight and afterwards see the locals dancing in the square (B,L,D).
Banyan Tree Ringha (Tibetan Suite)
Day 08 Ringha
A day at this beautiful mountain lodge designed in the style of Tibetan farmhouses. The tiny village is located amidst rolling meadows and there is much to occupy yourself here. Active options include a climb to the serene Five Wisdom Buddha Temple, horse riding, bike riding or an indulgence at the heavenly Banyan Tree Spa (B).
Banyan Tree Ringha (Tibetan Suite)
Day 09 Ringha – Hangzhou
A flight via Kunming to Hangzhou, one of the seven ancient Chinese capitals, famous for its history, culture and scenery (B).
Shangri-La Hangzhou (Lakeview Room Horizon Floor)
Day 10 Hangzhou
A day exploring this surprising city surrounded by lakes, tea plantations and lush green forests. Start at the Lingyin Temple, the largest and most famous in southern China, see the Old Town and a magnificent example of courtyard architecture at the residence of Hu Xueyan. There is a stop at the Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the lovely Botanical Gardens. Famous for its green tea, a visit to Hangzhou would not be complete without a tea appreciation ceremony which is also included today (B,L).
Shangri-La Hangzhou (Lakeview Room Horizon Floor)
Day 11 Hangzhou – Shanghai
A bullet train ride up to Shanghai where your first stop is the impressive Urban Planning Exhibition Hall which houses a vast scale model of Shanghai in 2020. Continue to your hotel, located right on The Bund. An afternoon free (B).
Hyatt on the Bund (Club Riverview Room)
Days 12 – 13 Design Your Day Shanghai
The glittering metropolis of Shanghai awaits. Choose two of the following half day activities. A walk through the peaceful Ming era Yu gardens plus the grand colonial waterfront strip, the Bund, and the Old Town. Or stroll the charming tree-lined avenues of the French Concession. Or M50, the city’s new gallery precinct where studios, cafes and boutiques stand alongside old industrial warehouses. Or a trip out of the city to the peaceful waterside town of Zhujiajiao where a boat ride on the canals is the best way to appreciate its well-preserved Ming architecture and ancient stone bridges. Lunch is included one day at Shanghai institution, Meilongzhen (B,L).
Hyatt on the Bund (Club Riverview Room)
Day 14 Depart Shanghai
A speedy farewell to China as you travel by Maglev bullet train to the airport (B).
Dine in imperial fashion on beggars chicken, fish head tofu or dongpo port at Huang Fan Er, located at the foot of Wu Mountain in Hangzhou. This is one of the oldest establishments in the city and is famous for its exquisite Hangzhou-style cuisine.
