China | Highlights of China
 A view to another world |
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12 days / 11 nights
| Location | Nights |
| Beijing | 3 |
| Xian | 2 |
| Yangzi Cruise | 3 |
| 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.
Beijing (Choice of category)
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 for a tai chi demonstration and visit the nearby pearl market – a must for shoppers (B,L).
Beijing (Choice of category)
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; take a boat cruise on Lake Kunming to see the Summer Palace or visit the 798 District, a former Soviet electronics factory, and now the centre of Beijing’s burgeoning contemporary art scene (B,L). Beijing (Choice of category)
Day 04 Beijing – Xian
A transfer for the flight to the Tang Dynasty capital Xian. En route to the hotel visit the small but well designed Yangling Museum which houses recent archaeological discoveries from Han dynasty tombs (B).
Xian (Choice of category)
Day 05 Xian
Ancient history comes to life as you explore this treasure trove of Chinese civilisation. From a VIP viewing point, you will be dazzled by the amazing Terracotta Warriors. Regarded by many as the most sensational archaeological discovery of the 20th century, you will see up close the army of life-sized figures. After an authentic Shaanxi dumpling lunch visit the Xian Museum and Small Wild Goose Pagoda (B,L).
Xian (Choice of category)
Day 06 Xian-Chongqing
Xian was the start of the ancient Silk Road, the historic junction of East and West. There is time to explore the Old Quarter and Great Mosque beside the ancient city walls before an onward transfer to the airport. Fly to Chongqing to board M.S. Yangzi Explorer (B,L,D).
Yangzi Explorer (Choice of category)
Days 07 – 08 Cruising the Yangzi
Considered one of China’s iconic experiences, the next three days are a river journey through the breathtaking Three Gorges with a variety of shore excursions included en route. It is the perfect way to explore in comfort this rather inaccessible part of the country. See thriving riverside towns, temples, pagodas, dramatic cliff faces and sheer peaks and of course the impressive Three Gorges Dam, China’s biggest construction project since the Great Wall (B,L,D).
Yangzi Explorer (Choice of category)
Day 09 Yichang – Shanghai
Disembark for your orientation of Yichang and lunch. Fly to Shanghai, the ‘Paris of the East’ (B,L).
Shanghai (Choice of category)
Days 10 – 11 Design Your Days Shanghai
The glittering metropolis of Shanghai is China’s commercial heart with diversions aplenty. Over the next two days, choose two of the following half day activities: a visit to the Shanghai Museum, the world’s finest showcase of Chinese art and antiquities, as well as the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall which houses a vast scale model of Shanghai in 2020; see the peaceful Ming era Yu gardens, the grand colonial waterfront strip, the Bund, and the Old Town; stroll the charming tree-lined avenues of the French Concession; head to M50, the city’s new gallery precinct where studios, cafes and boutiques stand alongside old industrial warehouses; or venture into the countryside 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, and a lively and energetic acrobatic show one evening (B,L).
Shanghai (Choice of category)
Day 12 Depart Shanghai
The adventure in China comes to an end as the high speed Maglev train spirits you to the airport for your departure flight (B).
travel onboard A&K’s new Yangzi cruise boat and receive a cabin upgrade or complimentary spa treatment. Yangzi Explorer is the finest ship on the river representing a standard of cruising never before seen in China. There are only 124 passengers accommodated in deluxe cabins and suites, service is highly personalised and the guides are the best on the river with small group sizes.
Shanghai's stylish new Glamour Bar
See the glittering lights of The Bund at night (before they go off at 10.30) and a view to die for in one of Shanghai’s most stylish new establishments, The Glamour Bar. The Art Deco interior is indeed glamorous and reminiscent of a 1930s Hollywood film set. Relax into a comfortable armchair and sip gently on a Dragon’s Pearl, a signature blend of vodka, lychees and amaretto!
Choice of Accommodation
| City | Platinum | Gold |
| Beijing | The Peninsula Beijing (Grand Deluxe Club Floor) | Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing (Deluxe) |
| Xian | Shangri-La Xian (Horizon Floor) | Shangri-La Xian (City or Garden View) |
| Yangzi Explorer | Deluxe Cabin | Deluxe Cabin |
| Shanghai | Hyatt on the Bund (Club Riverview Room) | Hilton Shanghai (Guest Room) |
Yangzi Explorer – A New Level of Luxury
A&K’s brand new Yangzi cruise boat was launched in August. It is a truly elegant vessel with the discreet ambience of an exclusive club, perfect for a relaxing journey along the Yangzi. She carries 124 passengers in superior five star style and embodies a standard of cruise experience never before available in China. All cabins have private balconies and are the largest on the river. Sightseeing through the Three Gorges is uniquely tailored to help avoid the crowds, accompanied by a fully qualified Chinese guide.
Onboard facilities include a restaurant, two private dining rooms, a library, cinema, viewing lounge and bar, as well as a spa, state-of-the-art fitness centre and hairdresser. An elevator on board allows easy access to all decks.
Click here to download a Yangzi Explorer fact sheet.
