China3rd Sep 2026
From:$8160.50
Summary
Beyond the Great Wall
China has a remarkable history, spanning back over 10,000 years and remnants of its glorious past can be seen at every turn. From Buddhist temples to the gargantuan monuments of imperial ambition, to lesser-known prehistoric settlements, this tour is the story of not one but many Chinas through the ages. Over 17 days, we put the great sites we see into their historical context starting in Beijing, China’s capital almost without interruption since the 12th century and today the cultural and political centre where the Imperial past and dynamic present converge. We see the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors and Ming Tombs not just as grand relics, but as products of the time, people and places that led to their creation.
What to Expect
- Discover China’s remarkable prehistoric archaeology at sites such as Jinsha and Banpo, which tell the story of ordinary people in ancient China
- Admire the underground army of the life-sized Terracotta Warriors - one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world
- Explore Luoyang - the cradle of Chinese civilisation - home to Buddhist temples from the 1st century at the outstanding Longmen Grottoes
- Enjoy two of the stunning gardens at Suzhou, one of the oldest centres in the Yangtze basin
Day by Day Itinerary
Beijing
We meet as a group for lunch, and then in the afternoon we visit the Forbidden City, or Palace Museum. Built between 1406 and 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, this vast imperial palace complex served as the home of Chinese emperors and the ceremonial and political centre of the Chinese government for almost 500 years, and we will explore its succession of halls and courtyards and admire an extraordinary collection of artwork and artifacts from China’s imperial past.
