Diverse China

China’s secret southern region comes to life on this 13-day journey. Diverse landscapes, cultures, and experiences are all on the menu as you venture into the rich history of local peoples, starting and ending with the more modern hubs of Beijing and Shanghai.

Suggested Itinerary-at-a-glance:

• Day 1:

  Arrive Beijing / The Opposite House

• Day 2:

  Beijing / The Opposite House(B,L)

• Day 3:

  Beijing / The Opposite House (B,L)

• Day 4:

  Guiyang / Sheraton Guiyang (B,L)

• Day 5:

  Guiyang / Sheraton Guiyang (B,L)

• Day 6:

  Guiyang / Sheraton Guiyang (B,L)

• Day 7:

  Guilin / Shangri-La Hotel Guilin (B,L)

• Day 8:

  Guilin / Shangri-La Hotel Guilin (B,L)

• Day 9:

  Guilin / Shangri-La Hotel Guilin (B,L)

• Day 10:

  Shanghai / The Peninsula Shanghai (B)

• Day 11:

  Shanghai / The Peninsula Shanghai (B,L)

• Day 12:

  Shanghai / The Peninsula Shanghai (B,L)

• Day 13:

  Departure (B)

Itinerary Description:

Begin in Beijing and the modern confines of The Opposite House - a bright throwback to the traditional courtyard home design. From this comfortable base you set out to discover several sites in and around the capital. See Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, plus gain exclusive private access to Shu Fang Zhai, a leisure space used by Emperor Qianlong. Visits to the Poly Art Museum, the Temple of Heaven, and a full day out at the Great Wall round out your Beijing explorations.

Step back in time as you head south to Guiyang, where a more provincial life is the norm. Stay in the Sheraton Guiyang and venture into the countryside to interact with local cultures who have inhabited the region since the Ming Dynasty. Across two days you will enjoy a Ground Opera performance from the Old Han people, visit the Shuitou Bouyei village to see their unique traditional handicrafts and performance art, and learn calligraphy in the home of a Wangche Bouyei family.

The incredible landscape surrounding the Li River and the city of Guilin are next on the journey. Stay on the river at the glittering Shangri-La Hotel Guilin, and leave the city to explore the amazing natural beauty of this region over two full days. Discover an endless green scene of terraced rice paddies at the Dragon's Backbone, and cruise the Li River to see the famed karst formations while visiting tiny fishing villages.

Conclude your journey in Shanghai, back to the pulse of modern city life. From the glorious Peninsula hotel you will explore the city's areas both old and new, taking a day trip to the water village of Suzhou for moments of reflection within the sprawling traditional Chinese gardens.

Share