6-20 April 2025
Experience the sights, sounds and scenery of China in this two week discovery of Shanghai, Wuzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Dali, travelling by high speed train, coach and plane.
Tour highlights
- Discover Shanghai, China’s vibrant commercial capital. Visit Shanghai Tower for views from China’s tallest building. Explore a Buddhist temple and the gardens and markets in old Shanghai. Walk on the waterfront and see Shanghai at night.
- Visit Wuzhen, a well-preserved ancient water town. Explore the waterways and traditional buildings.
- Enjoy Hangzhou, a centre for tea and silk production. Visit tea plantations and see how silk is made. Cruise on the West Lake and visit a wetland park.
- Explore Chengdu, home of the Giant Panda sanctuary. Learn about the raising of pandas, cruise on the Minjiang river and see one of China’s largest Buddhist statues.
- Delight in Dali and Shuanglang, ancient towns in scenic Yunnan Province in the foothills of the Southern Himalayas. Visit the walled city, Cang shan Mountains and a mountain lake.
- Optional extension to Xian, site of the terracotta warriors and Beijing to visit the Great Wall and Forbidden City.
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1: Fly overnight from London to Shanghai
Day 2: Arrive Shanghai | City orientation talk | Overnight Shanghai
Day 3: Yuyuan Gardens & Old City | Shanghai Museum | the Bund | Pearl TV Tower | Overnight Shanghai
Day 4: Walking tour of former French concession | Fuxing Park | Longua Temple | Overnight Shanghai
Day 5: Coach to Wuzhen | Discover the historic Dongzha District | Boat Cruise | Overnight Wuzhen
Day 6: Morning in charming Xizha District | Coach to Hangzhou | Cruise West Lake | Overnight Hangzhou
Day 7: Explore Linyin Temple | Visit Longjing tea plantation | Xixi Wetland Park | Overnight Hangzhou
Day 8: Fly to Chengdu | Transfer to Luodai Ancient Town | Lunch | Overnight Chengdu
Day 9: Visit the Giant Panda Sanctuary | People’s Park | Street Market | Overnight Chengdu
Day 10: Coach to Leshan | Marvel at the Giant Buddha | Boat ride on Minjiang River | Overnight Chengdu
Day 11: High-speed train to ancient walled town of Dali | Transfer to hotel | Overnight Dali
Day 12: Discover Erhai Lake & Three Pagodas | Visit Shuanglang Ancient Village | Overnight Dali
Day 13: Excursion to Cangshan Mountains | Cable car to Gantong Station | Farwell Dinner | Overnight Dali
Day 14: Transfer to airport for flight to Shanghai | Afternoon and evening at leisure | Overnight Shanghai
Day 15: Transfer to airport | Daytime direct flight Shanghai to London
Day 1: 6 April 2025 London to Shanghai
Day 2: 7 April 2025 Shanghai
Day 3: 8 April 2025 Shanghai
Day 4: 9 April 2024 Shanghai
Day 5: 10 April 2025 Shanghai to Wuzhen
Day 6: 11 April 2025 Wuzhen to Hangzhou
Day 7: 12 April 2025 Hangzhou
Day 8 13 April 2025 Hangzhou to Chengdu
Day 9 14 April 2025 Chengdu
Day 10 15 April 2025 Chengdu - Leshan - Chengdu
Day 11 16 April 2025 Chengdu - Dali
Day 12 17 April 2025 Dali
Day 13 18 April 2025 Dali - Cang Shan Mountains - Dali
Day 14 19 April 2025 Dali - Shanghai
Day 15 20 April 2025 Shanghai to London
Dates and Prices
Prices are in UK£, per person, based on double occupancy
| Room Type | Price | Single Supplement | Optional Flight from London | Availability |
| Standard Twin/Double | £3,180 | £510 | £650-£800 return approx | Available |
Inclusions
Twin or double bedroom with a private bathroom in 3-4 star hotels, breakfast daily, lunch daily except on arrival and departure days, and Day 13, dinner every evening except Day 9, 12 and day of departure, all excursions with local guides including entrance fees, transfers, and expert leader Anne Martin accompanying throughout.
Exclusions
International flights, Chinese visa (currently £130), breakfast or lunch on Days 1 and 2, dinner on 2 evenings, meals after breakfast on the day the tour ends, travel insurance, drinks, tips to drivers & local guides, items of a personal nature.
Optional flights
Temple World can arrange flights from London to coordinate with this tour. We recommend flying with British Airways direct from Heathrow and will be basing our group transfers to meet the following flights:
Sun 6 April 2025 BA0169 dep Heathrow at 12:10, arr Shanghai Pu Dong 07:55 next day (7 April)
Sun 20 April 2025 BA0168 dep Shanghai Pu Dong 11:00 arr Heathrow 18:35 the same day
The ticket cost starts from £680 per person including taxes and 23kg checked baggage, return – this will increase as the flights fill up. Other airlines and connecting services from UK regional airports may be available – please ask us for a quote from your nearest airport. Ugrades to Premium Economy and Business Class are also available for a supplement – ask us for a quote.
Note: if you plan to use Avios to pay or part-pay for your ticket, or to upgrade your ticket, it’s essential you book your flights with BA direct instead of with Temple World. This is because BA does not permit agents to apply Avios as payment or for upgrades/companion fares at any point in the booking process.
Note: We will arrange a group transfer to and from the airport to coincide with the flight/departure times shown above. If booking your own flights to/from Shanghai and arriving at different times, a private transfer will be required at your own expense. We are happy to quote for private transfers to meet any flight or you can book your own.
Those who are adding the extension to Xi’An and Beijing will fly out on the same service as the main group but will return from Beijing via Hong Kong. Flights as per below:
Sun 6 April 2025 BA0169 dep Heathrow 12:10, arr Shanghai Pu Dong 07:55 tnext day (7 April)
Thu 24 April 2025 CX393 dep Beijing Capital at 18:35 arr Hong Kong* 22:25 the same day
Thu 24 April 2025 BA28 dep Hong Kong 23:40, arr Heathrow 06:55 the next day (25 April)
*Stopovers in Hong Kong are available – please ask if you’d like to spend a few nights in Hong Kong and we can quote flights back on Saturday or Sunday and arrange a quote for accommodation and transfers if required.
Booking your own travel
Clients wishing to use airmiles to buy or upgrade flights are advised to book their own flights. The start and end point of the main tour is Shanghai – you should aim to arrive at Shanghai Pu Dong International Airport or before 07:55 on 7 April if you would like to join the group transfer to the hotel. If arriving later or into Shanghai’s other airport we can arrange a private transfer at additional cost. The group has a day at leisure but will meet for dinner in the early evening so we would advise aiming to be at the hotel no later than 5pm. On leaving the tour you can fly any time on 20 April as there are no activities that day, but our group transfer to the airport will be early in the morning to correspond with the BA flight time.
*Very important! Those who plan to book their own flights should not make any binding or non-refundable arrangements until their place has been confirmed in writing on the tour and Temple World has confirmed that it is a guaranteed departure.
Immunisations
NHS Fit For Travel advises travellers to China are usually recommended to ensure all childhood and booster vaccinations are up to date as per life in the UK (including annual flu jab/Covid jab etc). Additionally your doctor is likely to recommend that you immunise against: Tetanus, Typhoid and Hepatitis A. Some travellers may be recommended additional vaccines based on their personal health requirements. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required ONLY if arriving from a country with a risk of Yellow Fever (parts of Africa and Latin America only). Please seek professional medical advice at least 8 week before departure. NHS Fit For Travel Website
Entry Regulations
British citizens require a visa to enter China. If you are aged 69 and under, you must apply in person for a visa in London, Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast. If you are aged 70 and over you may apply by post instead. The visa fee is not included in the tour cost, and is currently £130 for a 4-day turnaround (you should expect to be without your passport for around 1 week). We recommend applying 8 weeks before the tour departure. We will provide instructions and advice throughout. Should you prefer not to apply in person, we work with a visa agency who will go on your behalf – their fee is £144 plus 1 x special delivery postage fee, on top of the £130 visa cost. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into China, and have two blank pages.
Fitness Guideline
We have graded the fitness level required for participation in this tour as Moderate. There is quite a lot of walking whilst sightseeing during the tour, in busy urban/touristic areas or on uneven/unmade paths when visiting more rural areas. There are no strenuous or lengthy hikes, but whilst sightseeing we might be ‘on the go’ for several hours at a time, without anywhere to sit down and rest. We have a busy schedule and some areas may be relatively crowded, so it is important that everyone is able to keep up with the group whilst sightseeing. You should be able to walk 1-2 miles at a reasonable pace. Please contact us for more detailed information about the sightseeing day to day if you’re considering whether this tour is appropriate for you. Guests are welcome to opt out of any excursions they feel they might find too challenging.
5 night extension
Xi’An & Beijing
An optional 5-night extension to visit the Terracotta warriors at Xi’An and the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and China’s Great Wall in Beijing.
ITINERARY
Day 14 – Saturday 19th April 2025 Dali—Xi’An B/D
Morning at leisure in Dali. Afternoon fly to Xi’an. Meet and transfer to our hotel, Bell Tower Hotel in Xi’An or similar.
Day 15 – Sunday 20th April 2025 Xi’An B/L
Morning visit to see the Terracotta Warriors. In the afternoon, see the Muslim quarter including a visit to the Grand Mosque and the former House of the Gao’s family. Overnight Bell Tower Hotel in Xi’An or similar.
Day 16 – Monday 21st April 2025 Xi’An—Beijing B/D
Check out this morning and take the high-speed train to Beijing, arriving in the early afternoon. Enjoy a visit to the Summer Palace with our guide, and in the evening, sample a traditional Peking roast duck dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at the Xinqiao Hotel in Beijing or similar.
Day 17—Tuesday 22nd April 2025 Beijing B/L
This morning, explore Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, as well as Jingshan Hill, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight Xinqiao Hotel in Beijing or similar.
Day 18—Wednesday 23rd April 2025 Beijing B/L
Visit the iconic Great Wall at Mutianyu. Overnight Xinqiao Hotel in Beijing or similar.
Day 19—Thursday 24th April 2025 Beijing-London/onwards B
Transfer to airport for an overnight flight to the UK with change of planes in Hong Kong, back to the UK the next morning.
Day 20 – Friday 25 April – London
Arrive into London Heathrow earliy this morning.
EXTENSION COST
The extension costs £1350 per person sharing, based on a minimum of 6 participants, including domestic flights. Single supplement £270. An additional supplement to the international airfare of around £100-£200 per person is likely to apply to fly back from Beijing.
Tour Leader: Anne Martin
Anne has had a long career as a teacher of Mandarin Chinese and a pioneer of travel to lesser-visited parts of China for the travel industry. Anne first studied Chinese at school (very unusual for the 1960’s!), went on to get a degree in Chinese at Leeds University and first travelled to China overland from London to Beijing during the throes of the Cultural Revolution. Continuing her studies with two years living in Beijing on a scholarship awarded by the British Council, Anne’ s experiences there have stayed with her forever, and inspired her life-long career working in Chinese-related education and tourism. Over the years, Anne has explored every corner of the country, including the Trans Siberian route, and she spent her early career planning and leading tours all over China and India for Thomas Cook in the, pioneering new routes for tourists in Tibet and on the Silk Road during the 1980s. She later became a teacher of Chinese, and set up a department at a school in London which became a well known Confucian classroom. Now retired, Anne speaks fluent Mandarin and continues to lead tours to China.
