CALL OUR EXPERTS 0800 781 4893
or call us on 0800 781 4893
Set amongst a backdrop of natural wonders, delight in China's historical legacy with visits to the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Warriors and the astonishing earthen communal homes of Fujian.
Depart London on your scheduled overnight flight to Beijing, via Shanghai.
Upon arrival into Beijing you will be met by a local guide and transferred to your hotel.
Delve into Beijing's rich history, starting at the world's largest plaza, and China's Tiananmen Square, and enter the vast Forbidden City, brimming with age-old relics and a staggering 9,999 rooms and chambers.
Walk on a section of the emblematic Great Wall of China. Later, stroll around the world's best persevered imperial gardens at the exquisite Summer Palace before navigating Silk Street's bustling market stalls, and feasting on a succulent Peking Duck dinner.
This morning, admire the 14th Century Temple of Heaven, an architectural masterpiece which is now also a popular meeting place for locals to perform their weekly exercise routines or partake in tai chi. Transfer to the airport for an afternoon flight to Xi'an, arriving in time for dinner.
Behold the vast underground vaults which boast the extraordinary 8,000-strong Terracotta warriors, known by many as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World'. Later, witness the intricate process of producing smaller Terracotta replicas at the Art Ceramics and Lacquer Exhibition Centre, before enjoying a colourful evening of culture at a captivating Tang Dynasty Show.
A morning tour of Xi'an incorporates the chance to saunter along a fragment of the megalithic 14th century City Walls, followed by a visit to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Before boarding this afternoon's bullet train to Chengdu, try your hand at the ancient art of calligraphy, learning to script iconic Chinese symbols.
Meet Chengdu's most famous residents and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime encounter at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Centre; take in the delights of endearing pandas snoozing on treetops or snacking on bamboo, before exploring People's Park. Following a tasty dinner, stroll amidst the elegant architecture lining Jinli's Ancient Street.
Experience Chengdu's largest and bestpreserved Buddhist monastery with a visit to Wenshu Temple; greeted by the aromatic scents of burning incense, observe an assembly of local worshippers before boarding your bullet train to Yichang to embark on a four-night Yangtze River cruise.
Affording breath-taking panoramas, cruise upstream to reach your first excursion at the monumental Three Gorges Dam.
Take a side-trip to Shennong Stream, a zigzagging watercourse where local inhabitants line the shore. Sail to Wu Gorge, the prettiest of the Three Gorges followed by Qu Tang Gorge, the shortest, and in the afternoon, an optional tour of the White Emperor City explores this ancient temple, perched at the top of an island in the middle of the river.
Following an excursion at the Shibaozhai Temple, sail past the Fengdu Ghost City - the place where souls go to pass three tests before entering the afterlife, according to legend. Conclude this spellbinding cruise by sailing to the Fengdu Jade Emperor.
Disembarking at Chongqing, board this morning's bullet train to China's most picturesque region, Guilin, and witness a striking natural phenomenon at Elephant Hill, whose distinctive appearance illustrates the trunk of an elephant drinking from the Taohua River. Please note, today's lunch will be in the form of a lunch box.
Relax in tranquillity on the Lijiang River's rippling waters. Following lunch on board, disembark in Yangshuo to explore its oldest avenue; West Street's bustling shopping district attracts visitors from all over the globe for its mesmerising combination of Eastern and international elements. Discover local heritage during an optional theatrical performance of The Impression of Liu Sanje this evening.
After breakfast, explore the sights of Yangshuo, stopping at a traditional farming house, before an afternoon at leisure.
With a dramatic backdrop dominated by stunning karst formations and at the foot of Yao Mountain, visit Guilin Tea Science institute and Tea Gardens, delighting in the chance to sample traditional tea in incredible surroundings. Later, catch a flight to Xiamen and arrive in time to uncover the delicate architecture of Nanputuo Temple, an ancient Buddhist shrine, idyllically nestled in the foothills of Wulaofeng Mountains.
Journey to the historic town of Nan Jing in Fujian Province where you can delve into ancient Chinese history whilst exploring the unique 'earth buildings' of the Nan Jing Tulou clusters. Visit the characteristic Tianluokeng Cluster, the 'leaning building' of Yauchanlou, and ancient village of Taxia. Set amongst a backdrop of natural wonders, delight in China's historical legacy with visits to the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Warriors and the astonishing earthern communal homes of Fujian.
Dating back to the Ming Dynasty, visit the Chuxi Tulou cluster. Catch a glimpse of the Jiqing Building, the oldest of the cluster, as well as the Gengqing and Shanqing builings. Return to Xiamen after lunch for your overnight stay.
Transfer to the airport for today's midday flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, travel to your hotel and enjoy an afternoon at leisure.
Commencing today's full-day tour in the heart of cosmopolitan Shanghai, discover two rare Buddhist relics, carved out of genuine white jade and housed within the generously embellished Jade Buddha Temple. Heading towards the Garden City of Suzhou, absorb the tranquil scenery of Pan Men Gardens, wander around Guangian Street, and learn about China's long-standing silk history at the Silk Museum and Factory. After dinner, return to Shanghai.
Today, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
A visa is required for entry into China. We work closely with The Travel Visa Company who will be able to arrange your visa for you on your behalf. Please call them on 01270 250 590 and quote 'Mercury Holidays'. All applicants who wish to apply for a China Tourist Visa must do so in person at the Chinese Visa Application Centre in London, Manchester, Belfast or Edinburgh where fingerprint information will be collected. Fingerprints are not required for children under the age of 14 and adults over the age of 70. The visas take around 10 working days to issue and are valid for unlimited trips to China for 2 years from the date of issue. We therefore recommend that you apply for your visa 8 weeks before travel, however please be aware that your passport will be required for the application so make sure that you will not need it during this time.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
If booking more than 10 weeks before departure a deposit of £250pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 10 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 10 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves full days of sightseeing, often on foot, and includes some climbing of stairs and getting on and off coaches and boats. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
The currency in China is the Renminbi, known as RMB or CNY. It is often referred to as the Yuan. We recommend that you exchange your currency before you depart. US Dollars are widely accepted in China should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you.
| Depart UK | Arrive UK | Price | Book Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Dates | |||
| 23 Jul 2020 | 12 Aug 2020 | £3299.00 | Book Now |
| 13 Aug 2020 | 02 Sep 2020 | £3299.00 | Book Now |
| 10 Sep 2020 | 30 Sep 2020 | £3199.00 | Book Now |
| 24 Sep 2020 | 14 Oct 2020 | £3199.00 | Book Now |
| 08 Oct 2020 | 28 Oct 2020 | £2899.00 | Book Now |
| 22 Oct 2020 | 11 Nov 2020 | £2799.00 | Book Now |
| 05 Nov 2020 | 25 Nov 2020 | £2599.00 | Book Now |
| 2021 Dates | |||
| 18 Feb 2021 | 10 Mar 2021 | £2499.00 | Book Now |
| 11 Mar 2021 | 31 Mar 2021 | £2699.00 | Book Now |
| 22 Apr 2021 | 12 May 2021 | £2799.00 | Book Now |
| 13 May 2021 | 02 Jun 2021 | £2899.00 | Book Now |
| 20 May 2021 | 09 Jun 2021 | £2969.00 | Book Now |
| 10 Jun 2021 | 30 Jun 2021 | £2999.00 | Book Now |
| 24 Jun 2021 | 14 Jul 2021 | £2999.00 | Book Now |
| 29 Jul 2021 | 18 Aug 2021 | £3299.00 | Book Now |
| 12 Aug 2021 | 01 Sep 2021 | £3299.00 | Book Now |
| 09 Sep 2021 | 29 Sep 2021 | £3299.00 | Book Now |
| 23 Sep 2021 | 13 Oct 2021 | £3199.00 | Book Now |
| 14 Oct 2021 | 03 Nov 2021 | £2949.00 | Book Now |
| 21 Oct 2021 | 10 Nov 2021 | £2899.00 | Book Now |
| 04 Nov 2021 | 24 Nov 2021 | £2749.00 | Book Now |
| 25 Nov 2021 | 15 Dec 2021 | £2599.00 | Book Now |
Yuan
11 hours
-4 °C / 27 °C
Mandarin, English
Weather can vary quite considerably throughout the year, so please familiarise yourself with the climate charts below.
Call our experts 0800 781 4893
Towering skyscrapers form the backdrop to Hong Kong's busy harbour whilst the street markets that fill the teeming alleys remain untouched by western influences. Explore Hong Kong and Kowloon at your own pace during this extension which includes a half day city tour.
This add-on tour must be taken at the end of the main tour.
View Tour + Extension