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An Educational Adventure: The Perfect Family Holiday to China

14 days from £8,750 for 2025 per person

Take your family on an authentic holiday of a lifetime to experience China’s classic sights in immersive and interactive ways. Hike along Beijing’s Great Wall; see the tomb of the First Emperor of China, Xi’an’s Terracotta Warriors; in Guilin, bike through breathtaking scenery straight out of a classical Chinese painting; and be awed by acrobats in China’s most modern city, Shanghai. You’ll witness some of China’s most historic sites and beautiful landscapes: the UNESCO-protected Longmen Grottoes, the Ancient Tea & Horse Caravan Trail and Yunnan’s rustic towns, ethnic minority villages, low-lying valleys and snow-capped mountains, which have long inspired poets and travellers.

Adding an educational dimension to a trip to China makes it more culturally enriching and exhilarating: make hand-pulled noodles from the experts and learn the martial art of gongfu (kung fu) from the monks at Shaolin Temples. Visit local homes and a countryside elementary school to get under the skin of the real China. This itinerary includes a mixture of hotel types: from family-friendly accommodations to exquisite luxury hotels like the The Peninsula Shanghai, which Ampersand’s MD, James Jayasundera feels is the best city hotel in Asia.

This trip is merely a suggested itinerary and can be altered to suit your individual requirements. The price of this tour includes all meals.

If you'd like to see similar itineraries, take a look at our family holiday and culinary tour collections.

Itinerary details

14 days from £8,750 for 2025 per person

Day 1 - The Peninsula Beijing - Beijing
Arrive in Beijing where you will be collected from the airport and transferred to your hotel. Spend the evening at your leisure.
Day 2 - The Peninsula Beijing - Beijing
Have a guided tour of the Forbidden City before lunch by Houlai Lake and a tour of Beijing’s hutong neighbourhoods. Try your hand at making dumplings in a local’s home and eat dinner in a Beijing roast duck restaurant.
Day 3 - The Peninsula Beijing - Beijing
Enjoy a privately guided tour of the Great Wall of China and an exhilarating toboggan ride downhill at the end of your hike. Back in the city, have a noodle-making lesson and lunch. In the evening enjoy a Legend of Kung Fu Show.
Day 4 - The Lee Royal Hotel - Luoyang
Have a private kung fu lesson with a master at the Temple of Heaven, followed by a tour of the Olympic Green to play badminton or ping pong. This evening take the overnight train to Luoyang in First Class.
Day 5 - The Lee Royal Hotel - Luoyang
You will be met off the train by your guide. Enjoy a tour of the Longmen Grottoes and the Baima Temple, reputedly the first Buddhist temple in China.
Day 6 - The Lee Royal Hotel - Luoyang
This morning take an hour-long transfer to Dengfeng to visit Shaolin Temple and take a kung fu martial arts class with Shaolin monks.
Day 7 - Hilton Xi'an - Xi'an
This morning catch the train to Xi’an. Have a privately guided tour of Xi’An to see the Ancient City Wall, the food stalls of the Xi’An Muslim Quarter – from Halal skewers, roast mutton and persimmon cakes – and enjoy a delicious dumpling dinner.
Day 8 - Banyan Tree Lijiang - Lijiang
Today you will visit Xi’an’s famous Terracotta Warriors Army. Have a lunch of hand-pulled noodles and traditional Shaanxi-style pork “hamburgers”. Afternoon flight to to Lijiang via Kunmin.
Day 9 - Banyan Tree Lijiang - Lijiang
Explore the antiquated lattice of paths and canals in Lijiang's Old Town before being doing an “Eye-Spy” treasure hunt game. After lunch, set out on foot or bike to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain or see the “Impression Lijiang” show. Have dinner in a local Naxi courtyard home.
Day 10 - The Linden Centre - Dali
This morning take a 5-6 hour transfer to Dali with a stop at Shaxi Old town. This afternoon tour Dali Old Town and then have dinner.
Day 11 - The Linden Centre - Dali
Have a guided shopping tour of a local food market, have a private cooking class and enjoy lunch. Take a bike-ride around Erhai Lake and the minority villages dotting the lakeside.
Day 12 - The Peninsula Shanghai - Shanghai
Fly to Shanghai and transfer to The Peninsula Shanghai. Day at leisure. After dinner see the ERA Acrobatics show, which fuses traditional Chinese arts and modern technologies.
Day 13 - The Peninsula Shanghai - Shanghai
Tour the pavilions and arched bridges of Yu Garden, and the Cheng Hung Miao Bazaar. After a lunch of xiao long bao (soup dumplings) see the panoramic Shanghai skyline from the top of a Pudong building, then take a walk through the French Concession area packed with old world charm. Enjoy a special Shanghainese farewell dinner.
Day 14 - In transit.
Take the 400km/h Maglev (the fastest train in China) to the airport for your departure flight home.

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When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.
Susan Heller

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Difficult to articulate just how good the service from you and your team really was. We know you will continue to do well and hope we have the chance to seek your assistance again before long.
- Mr & Mrs Manson, North India

I had a very lovely time and was looked after splendidly. My first visit to India could not have been better, save for being longer! But I shall return at some point and I shall look to you to make the arrangements.
- Matthew Nicklin, North India

I barely know where to begin... though a sincere 'thank you' would be the best. You have organised this trip perfectly. May was an inspiring and delightful companion in Myanmar – thoroughly professional and friendly at the same time. My accommodation throughout has been superb, especially The Governor's Residence and The Mandarin Oriental. The view from the cottage at Inle Lake was beautiful and I loved every moment of being there. And here I am now on the last leg of this extended holiday at my favourite place. I could stay here for ever, the peace, silence and surroundings all amazing, plus the people and the whole aura of Vana. Thank you for much, and I look forward to speaking to you on my return.
- Ms Margulies, Burma, India & Thailand

So many highlights to choose from! The hotels were amazing but Maya Villa was a highlight… I loved just hanging out in the hammock reading my book and watching the peacocks chase the cows!
- Krista Weir, Sri Lanka

Difficult to choose the highlight of the trip, can’t choose between… 1) Taj Mahal & Oberoi Amarvilas. 2) Ranthambore. 3) Lake Palace. We have to say a particular thank you for selecting Parmod as our driver. He is a delightful and kind man who took our holiday and our enjoyment as his responsibility. Thank you for putting together such an amazing trip for us. The balance of city and rural destinations was perfect for us and the variety of rooms and hotel types brilliant. Our driver and guides also added so much to the trip with their knowledge of India’s history and culture and their willingness to discuss it both from a professional and personal angle.
- Carruthers family, North India

Ballyfin was great - we loved it! Best things were the amount of space, it felt like you had the whole place to yourself, the history of the house, and the staff. We'd definitely recommend it. Thanks very much for all the help getting it booked!
- Mr Wyburd, Ireland

Ampersand’s preparation, attention to detail and interaction before and during our trip show exactly why good travel agents have a role in today’s internet booking age. They were a delight to deal with!
- Mr David Wallace, North India

Without question, you put together the best trip I have ever taken. We were shown around like visiting dignitaries, the hotels were fantastic and the itinerary was just right. Everybody I know will hear about how amazing Ampersand is!
- Leslie Siben, India

We had a wonderful holiday - everything was perfect. Thank you for helping us to make a thoughtful plan to enjoy and make most out of our trip. The places we visited, the guides, the transportation and driver, the hotels selected... Everything was great!
- Jaime Benitez, South India

Everything you did for us whilst we were away was hugely appreciated, and Ampersand has been exemplary in every way. I'll always recommend you!
- Mr Richard Stoughton, Sri Lanka

Getting to Amanpulo from Manila was very simple and the beach was the most beautiful I’d ever been on; pristine white sand, not a single piece of rubbish in sight. You get your own solar powered golf buggy to drive around resort (and a butler at request). The views from the Hillside Casita were spectacular!
- Mr Wyburd, Philippines

I would recommend Ampersand without any hesitation!!! The best travel agent that I’ve ever had. Everything – from the individual care and attention in planning the trip, through to the efficiency of the agents on the ground in India – was handled brilliantly. An absolutely first-class service all round!
- Matthew Annable, Rajasthan, India

I thought the Ampersand team was outstanding. We couldn’t have hoped for anything more.
- Mr Geoffrey Johnson, India

We really enjoyed the trip and were happy that we squeezed so much into a few short days. The Burmese people were lovely and the sites were fantastic. We really enjoyed the balloon ride and would highly suggest it to others in the future. The trip went super smoothly and a good time plus learning happened for all. Yangon was nice as the Strand was quite amazing and we of course loved the giant gold temple. Many thanks for all of your help and look forward to future travel with you.
- Wallace Family, Burma

Ampersand provided a bespoke and flexible holiday, tailored to my every whim. Their highly professional staff had only one goal which was to arrange an exceptional holiday and some unforgettable experiences in India. I have no hesitation in fully recommending them and they will be the first company I approach in the future - 10/10
- Anonymous, India

We have just returned back from a wonderful trip. Thank you very much for organising everything. The transfer was excellent – for once they had perfect car seats. The villa was lovely, just what we needed and the hotel had helpfully put us as far away as possible from everyone else. The breakfast buffet was the best I have ever seen – and I am slightly obsessive over breakfast!! There was an incredible choice, something for everyone and so beautifully presented. A real highlight of the trip. Thank you again for sorting everything - and at such short notice!
- Redmayne family, Phuket

An Educational Adventure: The Perfect Family Holiday to China

14 days from £8,750 for 2025 per person

Itinerary details

14 days from £8,750 for 2025 per person

Key

Client Testimonials

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