• Escorted Small Groups
• Private / Tailor-made Packages
• Business Travel
• School & Social Clubs

• Escorted Small Groups
• Private / Tailor-made Packages

Ancient Villages, Gardens, Tea Planation & World Heritages

This program is specially designed for photographers, painters and those who wish to have a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, art, architectural heritage and garden landscape. We will show you to places that are rarely touched by western travellers, introduce you to our artist, gardeners and skilled craftsmen friends, and allow extra time on each visit to enable you plenty of time to appreciate the great treasures.

Tour Itinerery

Day 1: UK - Shanghai

Journey begins as we board our non-stop China Eastern at London Heathrow to Shanghai. (Regional departures available - please ask for details).
* For the 1st time traveller to China, we offer an optional 5 days Beijing & Xian extension.

Day 2: Shanghai

Afternoon arrival in Shanghai, you will be greeted by Oriental's Tour Manager. Chauffeur to our hotel in downtown. After time to relax and settle in, in the late afternoon, we will take a leisurely walk along the colonial riverside The Bund before enjoying our welcome dinner.
Accommodation: 4*+ Four Points by Sheraton or Rendezvous Hotel

Day 3: Shanghai

Once home to gangsters & opium dens Shanghai Old Quarter still retains an authentic feel with its tiny lanes and petite houses. At its heart lies the Yuyuan Garden with its host of shops, cafes and tea house for you to explore and both a bric a brac. After a leisurely morning here we continue onto the Jade Buddha Temple and Old French Concessionary which has now been converted into trendy cafes, bars and restaurants, before finishing off the day with a marvellous acrobatic show.

Day 4: Suzhou

Depart for an hour coach journey to Suzhou. Historically the cultural capital of China, Suzhou is famous for fine gardens, canals & silk. Over the centuries it has been a haven to high ranking officials, scholars & rich merchants all competing to create the most lavish & original Chinese gardens imaginable, many of which still remain to this day.

After freshen up in our heritage boutique hotel, we will navigate the city's oldest water canal with a relaxing boat trip to the exquisite Humble Administrator Garden, the retired home of an imperial court official.

Adjoins the garden lies the recently built Suzhou Museum designed by the internationally acclaimed architect I.M. Pei. The museum itself is a piece of art. Architecture and landscape become interrelated as a series of gardens and courts flow in and from the building itself. On display are a rich treasure of ancient Chinese art, ancient Chinese paintings, calligraphies, and hand-made crafts.
Accommodation: Pingjiang Lodge - Oriental's Special Collection, a 200 years heritage garden mansion converted into boutique hotel beautifully furnished with period furniture

Day 5: Suzhou

We spend a leisurely morning walking through the traditional quarter surrounding our hotel, Pingjiang, with its cobbled lanes and glazed ceramic tiles rooftop. The impressive 7 storey, 1,200 year old leaning pagoda on top of Tiger Hill, is quite remarkable...after all, are buildings really supposed to lean that much? The explanation is enthralling and the photos iconic. We shall also visit to a local silk workshop to discover the fascinating world of the silk worm and perhaps even indulge yourself in the factory shop! Transfer for an evening flight to Huangshan and check into our hotel at the foot of the mountain.

Day 6: Mountain Huangshan

Huangshan, translates into Chinese "Yellow Mountain", is a World Heritage Site and renowned for its magnificent scenery and the source of many great Chinese poems, paintings and tales steeped in mythology. Spectacular granite peaks and rock formations emerging out of oceans of clouds, along with the historic temples along the trail, this is a paradise for photographers as well as those who love the nature, Chinese paintings & literature.

After breakfast we take a scenery cable car ride up the mountain. Those with the energy can climb up the thousands of steps leading up to the Peak (approx. 2 hours) for the best scenery.
Accommodation: 4* Tangkou Hotel

Day 7: Ancient Villages of Hongcun & Lucun

Today we journey out to the ancient villages of Hongcun & Lucun, another UNESCO sites. Covering an area of 28 hectares and set against the backdrop of green hills, these poetic villages are made up of over a hundred of well preserved Ming & Qing houses connected by a series of water streams and wells. We will spend a leisurely morning studying the art and splendid wood carvings of these houses. There are countless scenic spots in the villages for a good shot on photo or painting.

Here we have the pleasure to introduce you to our friend Mr Wang, a retired scholar full of ancient wisdom, who will invite us to his private house and talk about it's Fengshui architecture and the art of Chinese porcelain. After lunch with local delicacies such as home grown chicken soup and fried wild green vegetables & mushrooms, we will visit a private museum off limit to the public where you can further appreciate the folk art of this part of China at your own pace. Hongcun is also famous for having the most skilled wood and stone craftsmen & artists in the country. So we will take you to a workshop run by our another artist friend who spent half of his life dedicated on wood and stone carvings.

Later in the afternoon we drive through the gorgeous countryside for a 3 hours journey to Hangzhou and check into our hotel. A sumptuous buffet dinner will be served upon our arrival.
Accommodation: 5* Zheijiang Narada Grand Hotel

Day 8: Hangzhou

Hangzhou is a beautiful city blessed with an eye-popping kaleidoscope of visionary delights. Our days begins with a relaxing boat trip on the famed West Lake, before discovering the Buddhist treasure arts at the Lingyin Temple and admiring the stunning architecture of Six Harmonies Pagoda. Ever wondered what true Chinese tea really tastes like, smells like and of how one tea's taste compares to another? Then enter tea heaven as you will learn all about the Chinese tea culture at the best Tea Museum in the country. Head to the lush greenery hill of tea plantation and sip down the "Longjing" tea and feel the fragrance travel through your nose...

Day 9: Hangzhou to Xiamen

After a leisurely breakfast and morning in Hangzhou, we take a short flight to Xiamen, a small island on the east coast of China. After freshen up in our deluxe class hotel overlooking the harbour, we will take a walk on the Gulangyu islet and visit the Music Square.
Accommodation: 5* International Seaside Hotel

Day 10: Xiamen - Hakka Earthen Castles

Journey by coach (3 hours) to the Hakkaland to personally inspect their dinstinctive houses. Still inhabited by the Hakka these days as it has been over hundreds of years since their ancestors (a Han Chinese tribe originating in the Yellow River plains) fled to the fertile south to escape war and famine during the medieval times, these walled communal residences are unique in anywhere of China, and built by using a mix of raw earth, sand, lime, glutinous rice & brown sugar, then reinforced with bamboo and wood.

There are hundreds of them scattered throughout hundreds of villages in the province, arranged in harmony among green hills, water, bamboo, water mill and fields, composing a colourful and brilliant picture! Many of these castle like houses are now UNSECO listed and, surprisingly, have received little notice from both domestic & overseas outsiders until very recently.

Day 11: Xiamen to Shanghai

This morning and afternoon will be left free at leisure. Xiamen is blessed with spring like weather year round. Some of you may wish to enjoy warm sunshine on the beach at the doorsteps of our hotel or pamper yourself with a traditional massage while others may want to further explore the city's other cultural relics. As always your tour manager will be on hand to assist and offer suggestions. Later in the afternoon, catch a short flight back to Shanghai and stay overnight.

Day 12: Shanghai to UK

Today bid a fond farewell to China as we board our return flight home. Arrival is scheduled for the same afternoon.

Popular Extension Options
Beijing & Xian 5 days/4 nights - add £499 per person
Hong Kong 3 days/2 nights - add £195 per person

Tour Price includes:

• Escorted holiday with English speaking guides (plus Tour Manager throughout for size above 12)
• Return international flight with China Eastern Airline
• 10 nights hotel accommodation as listed above
• Daily buffet breakfast and most lunches & dinners - 10 breakfast, 8 lunch/refreshment, 7 dinner
• Tour programs as mentioned including entrance fee
• Domestic flights and land transportation
• Airport taxes and service charges

Tour Price exclude:

- Chinese visa fee (we can arrange this for you)
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities to tour manager/guide

Extension Options

Dates	Price (per person)	Availability
May 22	£1,740	Booked out
October 23	£1,740	Good	Book