China Villages & Gorges:
Beijing, Guizhou, Yangtze Cruise & Shanghai

Day 1

Arrival in Beijing + Hotel Check In

On arrival in Beijing, you will be met by your guide for a comfortable transfer into the city and a smooth check in at your hotel. Once you have settled into your room, the remainder of the day is intentionally unhurried, giving you time to recover from the journey and ease into the rhythm of the capital. If you feel up to it, you might take a gentle stroll nearby for a first glimpse of Beijing’s atmosphere before returning to the hotel for a quiet evening and a good night’s rest. You will be staying at the Grand Hyatt Beijing, a 5 star hotel.

Overnight: Beijing

Day 2

Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Hutongs

After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel lobby and set out for the Temple of Heaven, where the Ming and Qing emperors once held the Heaven Worship Ceremony. You will then drive into central Beijing to see Tiananmen Square, one of the world’s largest city-centre squares, before continuing through the southern gate to the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace and household of China’s emperors. Later, take a rickshaw ride into the traditional hutong lanes to explore historic courtyard residences and experience a glimpse of old Beijing. Return to your hotel in the afternoon with time to relax before dinner.

Overnight: Beijing

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3

Great Wall at Mutianyu and the Summer Palace

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and you’ll set off for a full day exploring two of Beijing’s most iconic sights. Begin at the Great Wall at Mutianyu, prized for its sweeping mountain views and a more relaxed atmosphere than the busiest sections. You will have time to walk along the ramparts at your own pace, pause for photographs, and take in the sheer scale of this extraordinary landmark without feeling hurried.

Later, return to the city and continue to the Summer Palace, the Qing emperors’ elegant lakeside retreat. Stroll along shaded pathways and through landscaped gardens, taking in classical pavilions and scenic viewpoints across Kunming Lake. At the end of the day, return to your hotel for a restful evening, with time to unwind and recharge.

Overnight: Beijing

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4

Beijing to Guiyang: Flight and Qingyan Ancient Town

After breakfast, take a moment to pack your bags and check out, then transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Guiyang. On arrival, you will be met by your local guide and begin your introduction to Guizhou, a province known for its minority cultures and slower, more traditional rhythms.

In the afternoon, visit Qingyang Ancient Town, with its historic stone streets, old gateways, and timeworn architecture that speaks to centuries of local life. You will have time to wander gently, explore small lanes, and take in the atmosphere before returning to Guiyang in the evening for check in and a quiet night. You will be staying at the Hilton Guiyang, a 5-star hotel.

Overnight: Guiyang

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5

Guiyang to Zhaoxing: Dong Villages and an Evening Show

After breakfast, pack your bags, check out, and meet your guide in the hotel lobby for your transfer to Zhaoxing, one of the most famous Dong villages in China. On arrival, you will begin exploring a place shaped by wooden drum towers, roofed bridges, and an architectural style that feels both beautiful and deeply practical.

As you walk through the village, your guide will explain the role of the drum towers in Dong community life and the meaning behind the bridges and clan traditions. Later, enjoy an evening Dong chorus and dance performance, a moving cultural experience that brings local heritage to life in a warm and memorable way. You will be staying at the Shanyeji Garden Resort Panorama Hotel, a 4-star hotel.

Overnight: Zhaoxing

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6

Zhaoxing, Tang’an and Jitang Dong Villages and Time at Leisure

After breakfast, your guide will meet you and you will set out to visit Tang’an, often described as an eco museum of Dong culture. From Tang’an, you will enjoy a scenic two-hour hike via Xiage back to Zhaoxing. The setting is especially beautiful, with terraced fields and quiet rural scenery creating a softer pace for the day.

In the afternoon visit Jitang Dong village, another authentic community where daily life still follows traditional patterns. The afternoon is kept flexible, giving you time to explore Zhaoxing at your own pace, revisit favourite corners, or simply enjoy a slower afternoon before your next travel day.

Overnight: Zhaoxing

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7

Zhaoxing to Kaili, Miao Culture, Village Visit and Hands-On Craft

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and meet your guide for your transfer to Kaili, the cultural heart of Guizhou’s Miao and Dong communities. En route, enjoy the changing scenery as the road winds through rural landscapes and small settlements.

On arrival, continue into the countryside to visit Huanggang and experience a more personal insight into local traditions. In the afternoon, visit Shiqiao Miao village, where you will see traditional dress, distinctive wooden architecture, and the rhythms of community life. You will also have the chance to try a local craft experience, including making paper from tree bark, a simple but memorable hands on moment. In the evening, enjoy a dinner inspired by Miao cuisine, before returning to your hotel to rest. You will be staying at the Hampton by Hilton Kaili, a 4-star hotel.

Overnight: Kaili

Meals included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8

Walking Through Tea Fields, Village Life and a Cultural Show

After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel lobby and begin a day designed to feel both immersive and unhurried. Start with a hike through tea farms and terraced fields, then continue into mountain forests on your way to an authentic Miao village, where the scenery is soft and the pace naturally slows.

You will spend time learning about Miao village life and share a simple lunch in a local Miao home, served as a traditional long table banquet, offering a warm glimpse into local hospitality. You will also learn how to make sticky rice cake. In the afternoon, visit Langde Long Skirt Miao village, known for its strong cultural identity and traditional clothing. Later, enjoy an ethnic show performed by villagers in festival dress, a colourful and heartfelt way to end your time in Guizhou before returning to your hotel for a relaxed evening.

Overnight: Kaili

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 9

Kaili to Chongqing, City Landmarks and Embark Your Yangtze Cruise

After breakfast, take a moment to pack your bags and check out, then transfer to the station for your bullet train to Chongqing, a dynamic river city and the gateway to your Yangtze cruise. On arrival, meet your guide and begin exploring with a visit to Chongqing People’s Auditorium, one of the city’s architectural symbols, then continue to Eling Park, known for its elevated viewpoints, and Liangjiang Pavilion for sweeping views across the city and rivers.

Later, visit Liziba Station, famous for the surreal sight of the train passing directly through the building, a uniquely Chongqing moment that always leaves an impression. In the evening, transfer to the pier and board your Yangtze River Cruise. Settle into your cabin, enjoy the first views of the river at night, and ease into the cruise atmosphere as the journey begins.

Overnight: Yangtze River Cruise

Meals included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 10

Yangtze River Cruise, Fengdu Ghost City and Time on Board

After breakfast, enjoy a slower morning on the river, with time to take in the changing scenery from the deck or relax with the comfort of the ship.
Later, take a shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City, an ancient site with a long history and distinctive folklore, often described as a “ghost city” in local tradition. Your guide will explain the cultural background as you explore. Return to the ship in the afternoon and enjoy onboard activities at your own pace. In the evening, you may choose to attend the optional performance War Fires of the Three Kingdoms after dinner.

Overnight: Yangtze River Cruise

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11

Yangtze River Cruise, White Emperor City, Qutang Gorge and Shenni Stream

After breakfast, take a shore excursion to White Emperor City, a dramatic and historically rich site with beautiful viewpoints over the river.
Later, return to the ship and enjoy one of the most iconic moments of the cruise as you pass through Qutang Gorge, the narrowest of the Three Gorges, where steep cliffs rise sharply on both sides.

In the afternoon, take a smaller boat excursion to Shennv Stream, a quieter tributary where the scenery feels more intimate, with fast flowing water and a sense of stepping away from the main river route. Return to the ship for a relaxed evening on board.

Overnight: Yangtze River Cruise

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12

Yangtze River Cruise to Yichang, Three Gorges Dam, Then Fly or Train to Shanghai

After breakfast, disembark and begin your onward journey with a visit to the extraordinary Three Gorges Dam, a vast feat of engineering and one of the most significant infrastructure projects in modern China. You will have time to understand its scale and purpose from key viewpoints before continuing onward.

Later, transfer to the airport or railway station for your flight or train to Shanghai. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for a smooth check in and a restful evening, with time to unwind after the travel day. You will be staying at the St. Regis on the Bund, a 5-star hotel.

Overnight: Shanghai

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 13

Shanghai City Highlights, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum and Skyline Views

After breakfast, meet your guide in the hotel lobby and begin with Yu Garden, a tranquil private garden from the Ming Dynasty, offering a calm start to the day in the middle of the city. Continue to the Shanghai Museum, known for its outstanding collection of cultural treasures, then head to Shanghai Tower for panoramic views across the skyline and the Huangpu River. Later, enjoy time in Zhangyuan, an area of historic shikumen houses where old Shanghai architecture meets a renewed, creative energy. Return to your hotel with time to relax before dinner.

Overnight: Shanghai

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 14

Shanghai, Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, the Bund and Zhujiajiao Water Town

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and you will begin at the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, a fascinating way to understand the city’s scale, ambitions, and how dramatically it has transformed. Continue to the Bund, where the historic waterfront and modern skyline face each other across the river, one of Shanghai’s most iconic scenes. In the afternoon, slow the pace with an excursion to Zhujiajiao Water Town, often called the “Venice of China”. Wander along canals and stone bridges, explore quiet lanes, and take in the charm of traditional houses built beside the water, before returning to Shanghai for a relaxed final evening.

Overnight: Shanghai

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 15

Departure

After breakfast, take a moment to pack your bags and check out. You will then be met for a smooth private transfer to Shanghai airport for your onward flight. Settle into your seat, relax as you journey home, and savour the memories of the cultures, landscapes, and moments you have experienced, from Beijing’s imperial grandeur to life along the Yangtze and the warmth of Guizhou’s villages. We look forward to creating your next adventure, wherever you choose to go next.

Meals included: Breakfast