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A Gastronomic Tour of China
13 days from £9,980 for 2024 per person
China is world renowned for its wide and varied cuisine with each province, and often each city, having its own flavour. This itinerary is designed for travellers who would like to witness the classic sites of China in the best hotels on offer, while savouring the diverse culinary specialities the country has to offer.
From the old, twisting 'hutong' neighbourhoods in Beijing and the life-size Terracotta Soldiers of Xi'an to the Giant Pandas in south western Sichuan and the towering skyscrapers (and construction cranes) of Shanghai, China's constant clash of history and hyper-modernity will be visible around every corner. Along the streets at every site, in every restaurant with every bite and among all the stories of the people we'll meet, we'll see just how far-reaching and multi-layered the influence of a history 5,000 years old actually is. You will want to be able to eat 5 meals a day.
Cooking classes with professional chefs can always be organised, who will take you on tours through the food markets to explain everything that is on display. Anything you wish to cook, learn about or experiment with can be organised; from dumpling making classes to preparing spicy boiled chicken feet.
This luxury holiday is purely a suggested itinerary; it can be booked as it is, or alternatively used as a starting point for creating your own ideal tailor-made trip to China. If you'd like to see similar itineraries, take a look at our Culinary Tour collection.
Itinerary details
13 days from £9,980 for 2024 per person
- Day 1 - Shangri-La Chengdu - Chengdu
Arrive in Chengdu and spend the evening at leisure. - Day 2 - Shangri-La Chengdu - Chengdu
Spend the morning at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research base. Visit the Maitreya Buddha of Leshan followed by an evening of Sichuanese Opera. - Day 3 - Hilton Xi'an - Xi'an
Take a stroll around the Muslim Quarter with your guide at sunset when it is most lively. At 1,300 years old, Xi'an's Muslim community is one of the world's oldest. - Day 4 - Hilton Xi'an - Xi'an
Walk along the ancient city wall. Afternoon at the Terracotta Warriors Army. - Day 5 - China World Summit Wing - Beijing
Morning at leisure. Fast train to Beijing. - Day 6 - China World Summit Wing - Beijing
Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Walk around the Hutong neighbourhoods. Afternoon Summer Palace visit. - Day 7 - China World Summit Wing - Beijing
Visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Take a toboggan ride downhill. Lunch at The Schoolhouse, an eco-friendly town house. - Day 8 - The Peninsula Shanghai - Shanghai
Morning Taiji at the Temple of Heaven. Fast train to Shanghai. Evening at leisure. - Day 9 - The Peninsula Shanghai - Shanghai
Guided walk along the French Concession. Lunch in a cafe of Xintiandi. Evening ERA acrobatic show. - Day 10 - The Peninsula Shanghai - Shanghai
Visit the canals of Zhujiajiao water town. Visit Yu garden. - Day 11 - Four Seasons Hangzhou - Hangzhou
High speed train to Hangzhou. Visit the Longjing ?Dragon Well? tea plantation. West Lake boat ride. - Day 12 - Four Seasons Hangzhou - Hangzhou
Day at leisure. - Day 13 - In transit.
Transfer to Shanghai for your flight home.
Places of Interest
AccommodationI can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.
Bill Bryson
