Imperial China

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Overview

Experience China's most treasured highlights on this 13-day adventure: Beijing’s Forbidden City, the mind-blowing Great Wall, Xi’an’s Terracotta Army, Chengdu’s giant pandas, a Yangtze River cruise through the Three Gorges, and the vibrant blend of old and new in Shanghai.

Travel with no more than 24 guests for a more intimate and personalised experience.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Beijing

Welcome to China’s capital city, Beijing. On arrival, be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

This evening meet your fellow travellers and enjoy an Insider Experience.

Insider Experience – Authentic Peking Duck Dinner

Peking Duck, also known as Peking Roast Duck, is a world-renowned dish that hails from Beijing. Celebrated for its thin, crispy skin and tender, flavourful meat, it is traditionally served in a delicate handmade pancake with hoisin sauce, cucumber, and spring onion. Once a staple of imperial court banquets, the dish’s meticulous preparation and refined presentation reflect its noble origins.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Two nights, Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing or similar

Day 2: Beijing

Embark on a guided journey through Beijing’s imperial treasures. Begin at Tiananmen Square before passing through the imposing gates of the Forbidden City where a vast labyrinth of courtyards and alleys offer a glimpse into a world long hidden from outside eyes. Later, an Insider Experience awaits, before enjoying an afternoon at leisure. Perhaps join an optional excursion to the Temple of Heaven (additional expense).

Insider Experience – Lunch in Hutong Home

Be welcomed into a traditional hutong family home for a home-cooked lunch. “Hutong” refers to the narrow alleys once common in central Beijing, now increasingly rare among modern high-rises. Meet your hosts, learn to make traditional dumplings, and enjoy an authentic meal together. Afterwards, take a guided walk through the remaining hutongs to discover the fading charm and enduring traditions of old Beijing.

Enhance Your Journey – Temple of Heaven

Visit the Temple of Heaven, an architectural gem located in the southeastern part of central Beijing. Built in the early 15th century during the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1889 after fire damage, the stunning three-storey, circular timber complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is constructed entirely without the use of nails.

Enhance Your Journey – Beijing Acrobatic Show

Be mesmerised by the skill and artistry of the acrobats as they juggle delicate objects with their feet, contort their bodies into unrecognisable shapes and ride a bicycle while balancing more than a dozen people.

Enhance Your Journey – Traditional Beijing Opera Performance

Marvel at the colourful costumes and intricate makeup at a performance of traditional Beijing Opera, the most dominant form of opera in China, which combines instrumental music, vocal performance, mime, martial arts, dance and acrobatics.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Beijing, Xian

Visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China and enjoy a scenic cable car ride offering sweeping views across the surrounding mountains. Take time to explore the ancient watchtowers at your own pace, soaking up the history and breathtaking scenery of this iconic landmark. Afterwards, sit down to enjoy a delicious local lunch before transferring to the railway station to board a high-speed train to Xi’an.

Arrive in Xi’an later in the day, with the evening free at leisure to relax or begin discovering the city at your own pace.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Two nights, Xi’an, Eastern House or similar

Day 4: Xi'an

This morning, travel from downtown Xi’an to visit the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, one of China’s most remarkable archaeological discoveries. Marvel at thousands of life-sized figures — each uniquely carved — standing guard over Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb. Afterwards, enjoy a local farmer’s lunch before returning to the city centre for free time.

Insider Experience – Learn Chinese Painting at Gao Family Mansion

In the afternoon, enjoy a tour to Gao Family Mansion, one of the finest examples of a grand, traditional family home built during the Ming dynasty. Located in the Muslim Quarter of Xi’an, Gao Family Mansion is decorated with antique furniture, traditional lanterns and paintings. Under the guidance of a local artist, you’ll learn to write a few simple Chinese characters and create a traditional painting.

Enhance your journey – Tang Dynasty Show

After dinner, you have the option to watch a Tang Dynasty Show, a dazzling performance of music, dance and acrobatics (additional expense).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Xian, Chengdu

After breakfast, transfer to the train station to board your bullet train to Chengdu. Upon arrival, enjoy a walking tour of People’s Park. As Chengdu’s first public park, People’s Park is a favourite gathering place for locals. Nestled within the park, surrounded by a serene lake and beautifully landscaped gardens, an authentic Chinese teahouse awaits.

Continue to Kuanzhai Alley, a historic district of three parallel alleys lined with heritage buildings. Explore teahouses, handicraft shops, and art galleries, soaking up the area’s vibrant atmosphere. In the evening, savour Chengdu’s famous Sichuan hotpot at a local restaurant, known for its bold, spicy flavours.

Insider Experience – Sip tea at a lakeside teahouse

Located inside People’s Park, surrounded by a tranquil lake and beautifully landscaped gardens, your authentic Chinese teahouse awaits. Enjoy a cup of freshly brewed Chinese tea and experience an authentic slice of local Chengdu life.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Two nights, Chengdu, Tinafu Sunshine Hotel or similar

Day 6: Chengdu

Today’s excursion is a highlight for many visitors to China — a visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a research facility dedicated to the conservation and research of China’s unique giant pandas. Home to over 100 giant pandas, the institution is one of the best places in the world to see these adorable creatures up close. The centre is also home to red pandas and other vulnerable and endangered species.

Enjoy some free time this afternoon, before rejoining your fellow travellers for this evening’s Insider Experience.

Insider experience – Sichuan Opera Show

Sichuan Opera is one of China’s oldest and most popular opera forms. Originating at the end of the Ming and beginning of the Qing dynasties, the performances offer a dynamic mix drama, comedy, puppetry, music and fire breathing. A signature element of the opera is Face Changing, where performers rapidly flick their heads up and down, changing the thin painted masks over their face instantly.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Chengdu, Yichang, Embark Ship

Board a high-speed train to Yichang and enjoy a delicious, packed lunch on board. Arrive in the afternoon and savour an early dinner at a local restaurant.

Afterwards, transfer to the pier to embark the Victoria Sabrina. Settle into your cabin and relax as you begin your journey along the mighty Yangtze River, marking the start of an unforgettable river cruise experience.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: 3 nights, Yangtze River, Victoria Sabrina

Day 8: Scenic Cruising, Yangtze River

After a buffet breakfast on board, choose an optional shore excursion to visit either the Tribe of the Three Gorges or the Hometown of Qu Yuan. Return to the ship for lunch, then take a sightseeing ferry to witness the impressive Three Gorges Dam ship lift. Disembark for a guided tour of the dam site and discover one of the world’s largest engineering marvels. Tonight, enjoy the Captain’s Welcome Reception and a colourful Minorities and Dynasty Costumes Show.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Scenic Cruising, Yangtze River

Set out on a captivating shore excursion to Shennong Stream, where you’ll enjoy a scenic journey along the clear waters, surrounded by towering cliffs and lush greenery. Return to the ship for a leisurely lunch as you cruise through the dramatic Wu Gorge and Qutang Gorge, marvelling at the sheer cliffs and misty landscapes.
In the afternoon, you have the option to visit the historic White Emperor City, exploring its ancient temples and learning about the legends of China’s Three Kingdoms. This evening, enjoy dinner and a Cabaret Show on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Scenic Cruising, Yangtze River

Today, you’ll disembark for a fascinating shore excursion to Fengdu’s Snow Jade Cave, renowned for its impressive karst formations and shimmering mineral deposits. Alternatively, guests may choose to explore Xiao Guan Shan Folk Culture Park, where traditional architecture and local customs offer a glimpse into the region’s rich cultural heritage. An additional optional tour is available to the legendary Fengdu Ghost City, famous for its intricate temples and folklore surrounding the afterlife. Following your morning adventures, return to the ship for lunch and a leisurely afternoon watching the river scenery slip by. This evening, savour the Captain’s Farewell Dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Disembark Ship, Chongqing, Shanghai

After breakfast, bid farewell to your vessel and disembark, then transfer to Chongqing Airport for your flight to Shanghai. Arrive in Shanghai in the afternoon, with the remainder of the day at leisure to relax or begin exploring the city at your own pace.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Two nights, Shanghai, Golden Tulip New Asia

Day 12: Shanghai

Begin your day with a visit to Yuyuan Garden, a classical Ming Dynasty garden featuring ponds, rockeries, pavilions, halls, and intricate carvings.

After free time for lunch, take a leisurely walking tour along Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s bustling shopping hub, lined with department stores, boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Continue to the Bund, a historic waterfront district along the Huangpu River. To the east, admire the iconic Oriental Pearl TV Tower, while the west showcases over 50 gothic and baroque-style buildings, once home to Shanghai’s financial institutions — a lasting reminder of the city’s colonial past.

This evening, enjoy a sumptuous dinner at a local restaurant before your Insider Experience.

Insider Experience – Huangpu River Cruise

As you glide along the river, take in the stunning night views of Shanghai and delight in its unmistakable sights such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, Old Harbour and commercial centre.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 13: Depart Shanghai

Farewell your fellow travellers and transfer to Pudong Airport for your onward journey.

Meals: Breakfast

12 May 2026 01 Sep 2026 13 Oct 2026 03 Nov 2026

Room Type:

Twin Share

Solo (Own Room)

Tuesday

12 May 2026

Beijing

Sunday

24 May 2026

Shanghai

Our Price

AUD $7,195

Twin Share (Per Person)

Sold Out
Tuesday

01 Sep 2026

Beijing

Sunday

13 Sep 2026

Shanghai

Our Price

AUD $6,495

Twin Share (Per Person)

Enquire
Tuesday

13 Oct 2026

Beijing

Sunday

25 Oct 2026

Shanghai

Our Price

AUD $7,195

Twin Share (Per Person)

Enquire
Tuesday

03 Nov 2026

Beijing

Sunday

15 Nov 2026

Shanghai

Our Price

AUD $6,495

Twin Share (Per Person)

Enquire