Captivating China, with Yunnan Province

Day 1 London - In flight Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your journey to London Heathrow Airport and a scheduled KLM flight to Shanghai via Amsterdam. Day 2 Shanghai This morning we arrive into Shanghai Pudong Airport and transfer to the Hotel Equatorial (4T), our base for two nights. We are ideally located on the colonial district of Bund, lined with Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque and Renaissance style buildings. We explore this area today and visit the Shanghai Museum, which has acquired a large collection of ancient and modern Chinese arts including paintings, ceramics and calligraphy. Dinner is included tonight. Day 3 Shanghai Today we take a tour of the extensive 400 year old classical Yu Garden and the Jade Buddha Temple, built a century ago to contain a white jade seated Buddha encrusted with jewels, a proud centrepiece at 1.9 metres high. We also visit the Silk Museum where you can learn about the production of this beautiful material from silk worm to market. Dinner is included this evening, after which you have the opportunity to take an optional excursion to see one of the oldest performing arts at an Acrobatic Show. Day 4 Shanghai - Tongli - Suzhou This morning we visit Tianzifang, a maze of narrow alleyways with arts and crafts shops, bars and cafés in Shanghai’s Old French Quarter, before driving to Tongli, a water town characterised by stone bridges and well-preserved ancient architecture, intersected by fifteen canals. We continue on our route to Suzhou and our hotel for tonight, the Pan Pacific Suzhou (4T+). Included dinner this evening. Day 5 Suzhou We start today with a visit to the Master of the Nets Garden, among the finest of China’s gardens it has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status. We take a cruise on the Grand Canal, the longest canal in the world, and visit the Silk Embroidery Institute which has trained thousands on the art of embroidery. Day 6 Suzhou - Hangzhou We transfer to the station to board the bullet train and travel a section of the world’s longest high-speed railway to Hangzhou, described by Marco Polo as the most enchanting city in the world. We visit tranquil UNESCO-listed West Lake and bustling Hefang Street, the city’s pedestrianised shopping street. Tonight we stay at Zhejiang International Hotel (4T). Day 7 Hangzhou - Guilin We transfer to the airport for a flight to Guilin and on arrival we transfer to the Lijiang Waterfall Hotel (4T), where we stay for two nights. The city is built around two rivers and four lakes. This evening you have the opportunity to take an optional night cruise on the four lakes. Day 8 Guilin We take a breathtaking cruise on the Li River, its banks rising steeply to stunning lush green peaks. We have free time in Yangshuo, a diverse town nestled in the karst peaks. Day 9 Guilin - Kunming This morning we visit Reed Flute Cave, with fantastic stone formations, stalactites and stalagmites, before we go to the tea plantation, hectares of land growing 250 different tea plants, all farmed traditionally by hand. We transfer to Guilin Airport and fly on to Kunming, the capital of the Yunnan Province, sitting about a mile above sea level. On arrival we transfer to our hotel for two nights, Jin Jiang Hotel Kunming (4T). Day 10 Kunming The Stone Forest is one of the world’s natural wonders. Today we visit the large fingers of limestone rocks that protrude vertically from the ground. While we are in the flower capital of Asia, we visit the flower market which offers a vast array of colourful bouquets. Dinner is included tonight. Day 11 Kunming - Lijiang This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Lijiang. On arrival, we travel towards the city, with a stop at the Yufeng Monastery and fresco in Baisha Village, a small lama monastery hiding the ‘camellia tree of ten thousand blossoms’. We stay at the Wang Fu Hotel (3T+) in Lijiang for the next three nights. Day 12 Lijiang We take a drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge, a deep, 18 km-long gorge with rapids and waterfalls named after a legendary tiger who attempted to leap across at the narrowest point. Day 13 Lijiang Today we visit Black Dragon Pool, considered one of the most beautiful viewpoints in China. Later we take in the Dongba Culture Museum which offers an insight into the almost extinct Naxi culture and the Mu Mansion - home of the old chief of Naxi, and the UNESCO World Heritage listed old town of Lijiang. Day 14 Lijiang - Chengdu We take a morning transfer to Lijiang Airport and fly to Chengdu. We spend time on Jinli Old Street, Chengdu. Recorded to be in existence since the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), Chinese have visited here ever since, to take in the leisurely ambience amongst the traditional buildings. We stay at the Dorsett Grand Hotel (4T) or Tibet Hotel (4T) for two nights. Dinner is included tonight. You may wish to take the optional Changing Face Show excursion to see the unique, magical skills of Sichuan Opera. Day 15 Chengdu Today we visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where over 80 pandas are being reared in surroundings similar to their natural habitat, in an effort to protect this endangered species. We also take in the ancient town of Huanglongxi, its history and customs highly evident with three ancient temples in the main street. Day 16 Chengdu - London Today we travel to Chengdu Airport for a scheduled KLM flight to London Heathrow Airport via Amsterdam. On arrival you will be met and guided to your Titan vehicle, for the journey home.