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Ni hao! Welcome to China! Your adventure begins in Shanghai, where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. You’ll then have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe head out to get a feel for this vibrant city and its bright lights. Maybe visit the Yuyuan Gardens where you can explore the sculptures, gardens and pagodas from the Ming Dynasty. After your meeting, it’s time for a foray into Shanghai’s unbeatable food scene. Head with your group and leader to a famous local restaurant to sample some of the city’s regional favourites like fried dumplings, braised pork and crystal shrimp.

Start your day with a walking tour with your trip leader, who will introduce you to the sights and sounds of this animated city. Explore old residential neighbourhoods, known as nongtang, then head to the tree-lined Wukang Road in the former French Concession part of the city – home to 37 protected historic buildings. Stop by a market and watch the locals go about their daily life, then hop on the metro and head to the Bund – an iconic promenade along the Huangpu River that divided Shanghai into Puxi and Pudong. The spectacular Art Deco buildings that line the street will give you a glimpse into 1920s Shanghai against the modern backdrop of Pudong’s metropolitan skyline. Your tour ends here, and the rest of the afternoon is yours.

Depart Shanghai this morning and board a high-speed train to Huizhou. The beautiful villages of Huizhou and their unique Hui-style architecture have inspired poets and painters for generations. When you arrive, head to the home of a local family for a homecooked Hui lunch. Chat to your hosts about their way of life and find out what makes Hui cuisine so delicious. In the afternoon, take a tour of the ancient village of Tangmo – founded during the Tang dynasty. Visit some local families who have been weaving bamboo for decades and learn about the ancient art form, then head to the village ancestral temple to meet a local artisan famous for his stone inscription printing skills. Speak to him about his trade and gain insight into the world of Chinese calligraphy. This evening will be spent at your Feature Stay accommodation – this hotel was converted from the mansion of a famous Ming Dynasty poet. Traditional 17th-century Hui design is paired with 21st-century conveniences, and the hotel’s tranquil gardens will make you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time.

Enjoy some free time in Huizhou today. Maybe wander the village’s narrow lanes and admire the local gardens. In the afternoon, return to Shanghai by high-speed train. This evening, head to a rooftop bar with your group and see the city’s cloud-piercing buildings and glittering neon lights from a different point of view.

Today you have a final morning to soak up the magic of Shanghai, then you’ll catch a midday flight to Guilin. From here, transfer to Yangshuo, where karst mountains sprout like domes around the waters of the Li River. The countryside around Yangshuo is immortalised in many traditional Chinese paintings and it’s easy to see why. When you arrive, check into your accommodation for the next two nights – a modern hotel tucked away among the karst hills and rivers of Yangshuo. You have a free evening to take in the natural setting – you may like to go for a walk in the surrounding area or spend some time relaxing.

After breakfast, head out to one of the largest tea plantations in Yangshuo, where you’ll learn about China’s most beloved beverage, from picking the leaves, to processing and brewing the perfect cup. Enjoy a cup of fragrant green tea to energise you for a short but steep climb up Xianggong Hill. From here, you’ll get an amazing bird’s-eye view of the Li River and the karst landscape. Wander through the local villages, where if you’re lucky, you may be invited into some old houses to get a glimpse at countryside life in China. Take some time out for lunch in a local village, then head into Yangshuo town, where your leader will regale you with the history of the area as you explore. Wander up the busy West shopping street, then enjoy some time to browse the stores or relax in a cafe. Later in the afternoon, return to the countryside and visit a local cooking school, where you’ll learn how to craft traditional Chinese dishes. Tonight’s dinner will be the tasty dishes you’ve whipped up during the class.

Enjoy a peaceful morning at your accommodation then catch a midday flight to Xi’an. Once the imperial centre of China for 2000 years, Xi’an is now a vibrant, modern city dotted with many historical sites. Arrive in the late afternoon and settle into your hotel before setting off for a walking tour. Your leader will unpack the layers of Xi’an’s rich history as you walk past the Bell and Drum tower, continuing to the buzzing Muslim quarter. Wander the narrow streets and find shops, markets and groups of white-bearded men in skull caps sipping tea in cafes. Xi’an is a food lover’s paradise, and tonight you’ll get a chance to sample the flavoursome regional cuisine during an included dinner at a local restaurant – and, yes, delicious dumplings are on the menu!