Amazing China

A journey from imperial landmarks and the Great Wall to Shanghai's skyline, classical gardens, canal-side neighbourhoods, Taihu Lake and West Lake.

11 Days • from A$1,799 per person (AUD) • including return flights from major Australian cities

Tour Highlights

  • Five cities over eleven days: Beijing's imperial centre, Suzhou's classical gardens, lakeside Wuxi, Hangzhou's tea country and Shanghai's riverfront
  • Tiananmen Square, the vast paved centre of the capital and one of the biggest public spaces anywhere
  • The Forbidden City, which UNESCO lists as World Heritage, or the Temple of Heaven if palace tickets for the day are gone
  • Walking a stretch of the Great Wall at Juyong Pass, on ramparts that follow the ridgelines as far as you can see
  • Peking Duck at lunch, the roast Beijing has built a reputation around, with a vegetarian option if you prefer
  • A boat ride on West Lake, past willow trees at the water's edge and small misty islands
  • Lihu Park, a quiet patch of lakeshore in Wuxi where the pace slows right down
  • Shanghai History Museum lays out how the city grew from its early days into the metropolis outside

Itinerary at a Glance

  1. Day 1: Departure day: Australia or New Zealand to Beijing — Depart on your international flight to Beijing. On arrival, meet the local representative and transfer to the hotel. The remainder of the day is kept deliberately light so you can settle in and prepar
  2. Day 2: Imperial Beijing: Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City — Begin in the monumental heart of Beijing at Tiananmen Square before continuing into the city's imperial story. Subject to advance ticket availability, visit the Forbidden City and walk through its gra
  3. Day 3: The Great Wall, Peking Duck and old Beijing — Leave the city for the mountain landscape surrounding the Great Wall and enjoy time to walk along the ancient fortifications, taking in the sweeping views. A Peking Duck lunch is included today, intro
  4. Day 4: Beijing to Shanghai: the Bund and first skylines — Travel by domestic flight or high-speed rail to Shanghai. This programme stays in Shanghai first rather than transferring immediately into Jiangnan. After check-in, begin with the Bund, where grand ea
  5. Day 5: Shanghai: old lanes, new skylines — A full day for Shanghai. Explore the Yu Garden and Old City precinct, where traditional architecture, narrow lanes and local flavours contrast with the modern towers. Continue to Xintiandi, known for
  6. Day 6: Shanghai to Suzhou: classical gardens and Pingjiang waterways — Travel to Suzhou and enter the refined world of Jiangnan. Visit one of the city's celebrated classical gardens, selected according to ticket availability, and discover how rock, water, pavilions, fram
  7. Day 7: Suzhou to Wuxi: Taihu Lake and canal-side life — Continue to Wuxi for a day that feels distinctly different from Suzhou. Visit a scenic area associated with Lake Taihu, selected according to season and final operation, and enjoy the broad lakeside l
  8. Day 8: Wuxi to Hangzhou: West Lake from the water — Travel south to Hangzhou. On arrival, experience the scenery that has inspired generations of artists and poets with a boat ride on West Lake — from the water, take in tree-lined causeways, pagodas, g
  9. Day 9: Hangzhou: Longjing tea hills and slow travel — A second day in Hangzhou creates space for a deeper experience. Visit the Longjing tea-growing area in the hills near West Lake and learn about local tea traditions, seasonal cultivation and preparati
  10. Day 10: Hangzhou to Shanghai and the flight home — After breakfast, travel toward Shanghai. Depending on the international flight schedule, enjoy a final stop or some free time before transferring to the airport. The route completes a natural Jiangnan
  11. Day 11: Arrive home in Australia and New Zealand — Arrive home. From Beijing's imperial avenues and the Great Wall to Shanghai's energy, Suzhou's waterways, Wuxi's lake scenery and Hangzhou's tea hills, the journey offers a varied introduction to both

What's Included

  • Return international flights on a full-service carrier, economy class
  • One flight within China, from Beijing down to Shanghai, or a high-speed rail sector when seats allow
  • Nine nights in 4-star hotels
  • Beijing: the Ramada Beijing North (comparable standard)
  • Suzhou: the Snowy Sea Hotel (comparable standard)
  • Wuxi: the Mingdu Hotel (comparable standard)
  • Hangzhou: the Fubang International Hotel (comparable standard)
  • Shanghai: the Courtyard by Marriott in Jiading (comparable standard)
  • Breakfast every day
  • A Peking Duck lunch in Beijing
  • Air-conditioned private vehicles for road travel
  • The internal sector by air or high-speed rail, Beijing to Shanghai
  • Airport transfers in both directions