Odyssey in China: Beijing, Chengdu & Hong Kong

Odyssey in China: Beijing, Chengdu & Hong Kong

Spend three nights in both Beijing and Chengdu, and two nights each in Xi’an, Yangshuo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, where travels take you from the Great Wall to the dynamic cities that define China today. Visit a breeding facility for giant pandas… enjoy a private talk with a conservation expert at Xi’an’s Terra Cotta Warriors Museum… go on a private tour, a rickshaw ride, and a visit with a family inside one of Beijing’s disappearing hutongs… and attend a magical “face-changing” Sichuan Opera performance. Featuring stays at world-class hotels throughout, Odyssey in China: Beijing, Chengdu and Hong Kong includes three nights in Beijing for a guided walk along the Great Wall and visits to the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, and the mausoleum of Mao Zedong; Xi’an, with visits to Han Yang Ling Underground Mausoleum, the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum, and Shaanxi Museum as well as a dim sum lunch; Yangshuo, where a traditional boat cruise takes you along the tranquil Li River and you attend an interactive cooking demonstration; Chengdu, for a visit to Chengdu Panda Base; a hot pot lunch; and an excursion to Leshan to see the 233 ft.-tall Giant Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Shanghai, where you’ll visit Yu Gardens, the Urban Planning Center, and Shanghai Museum; take a walk to see historic shikumen homes; and view an acrobatic performance; and marvelous Hong Kong for rides on the Star Ferry, a private double-decker bus, and a funicular tram to the top of Victoria Peak.

Only With Tauck

Private talk with a conservation expert at the Terra Cotta Warriors museum in Xi’an.

Tour prices are per person. All hotel and riverboat accommodations, entertainment, special dinners, motor coach transportation, sightseeing, porterage, admissions, the services of Tauck Directors, ship crew, local guides and drivers are included. Transportation from Beijing Capital International Airport to The Waldorf Astoria Beijing is included provided you furnish us with accurate flight arrival information at least three weeks prior to the start of the tour. Transportation from the InterContinental Ritz Carlton Hong Kong to Hong Kong (Chek Lap Kok) International Airport is also included when you check out of the hotel. Transportation to and from airports and train stations may be shared with other Tauck guests.

Rates and schedules are not guaranteed until booked and will vary based on departure date.

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Waldorf Astoria Beijing. A transfer is included upon your arrival from Beijing Capital International Airport to the Waldorf Astoria Beijing in the heart of the city, where a taste of local specialties awaits at tonight’s welcome reception followed by dinner.

Meals – Dinner

Besides being the only man-made structure visible from space, the Great Wall of China tops most travelers’ lists of the Earth’s must-visit places. Take a walk atop the highest point of its Badaling section, then walk down to the bottom along an ancient stone path where you’ll travel a short distance for lunch at the Commune by the Great Wall – enjoy the views of this architectural wonder surrounding you. This afternoon, gain some insights on the city’s centuries-old hutongs – unique traditional neighborhoods threatened by ongoing urban development – when you take a private tour of a hutong – ride a rickshaw and visit a local family in their home. Dinner is on your own tonight in Beijing.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch

In bygone days, the emperor and his retinue would process from the Forbidden City to the Temple of Heaven to pray for a bountiful harvest; today you’ll make your own way to the gilded temple, where you might see the locals playing chess, dancing, and exercising. A private Tai Chi demonstration and lesson in one of the temple’s parks gets you moving! After lunch at a local restaurant, discover the legendary Forbidden City itself, where China’s emperors lived for centuries; tour the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Middle Harmony, the Hall of Preserved Harmony, the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and the Imperial Garden. Not far from the Forbidden City, step forward into modern Chinese history at Tiananmen Square, home to Mao Zedong’s mausoleum; his portrait hangs above the Gate of Heavenly Peace. Have dinner at your choice of fine restaurants in your hotel.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A morning flight takes you to the city of Xi’an at one end of the ancient Silk Road, the conduit along which for centuries the Chinese exported luxury goods including teas, salt, sugar, porcelain, spices, and, of course, silk. In Xi’an visit the Han Yang Ling Underground Mausoleum, an excavation site where the cultural relics will give you a sense of life during the Western Han Dynasty. Enjoy dinner at your hotel this evening.

Meals – Breakfast, Dinner

Lodging – Hyatt Regency Xi’an

Eight thousand life-size terra cotta warrior statues stood guard at the tomb of China’s first emperor for more than 2,000 years. Your visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site today includes a Tauck Exclusive insider talk by a museum conservationist and a tour; you’ll see that each warrior has his own distinctive expression and features. After a dumpling lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Shaanxi History Museum, filled with artifacts that tell the story of ancient Imperial China. Dine this evening in your hotel.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging – Hyatt Regency Xi’an

Take a high-speed train in First Class this morning from Xi’an to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. After lunch at your hotel in Chengdu, visit the ancient Buddhist Wenshu Temple to see its revered artworks, examples of calligraphy, and gardens. The temple is home to some 300 Buddha statues! Stroll down narrow Jinli Street, lined with tea houses and artisan shops, to get the feel of traditional provincial life. Dinner is served this evening at your hotel.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today enjoy a special experience learning about China’s iconic Giant Pandas – and observing them in a natural setting. During a visit to the Chengdu Panda Base, discover them living their lives in a quiet outdoor sanctuary, and hear about the breeding and conservation issues of this vulnerable species. Their home is a park-like landscape that simulates their natural environment – with wild bamboo, green lawns, rivers, lakes, rocky outcroppings, caves, and dens. Keep your eyes open for swans, peacocks, and butterflies as well. A hot pot lunch at a local restaurant is followed by tea tasting at People’s Park. This evening discover one of China’s oldest and most popular art forms, Sichuan Opera. The highlight of the performance is a magical skill called “face changing” that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch

Prepare to see what’s likely to be the largest buddha you’ve ever encountered this morning. Head to Leshan for a brief boat ride along a river to the foot of the ancient Giant Buddha – an inspiring approach to a truly monumental sacred sculpture. The buddha is surprisingly detailed; there are more than 1,000 buns in its coiled hair! After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy some free time in Chengdu.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch

AflighttakesyoutoGuilinandyourresorthotelinYangshuo, nestledinapicturesquelandscapeoflimestonemountainsand rice fields. Go for a walk with a local guide in Yangshuo Town on the Li River. Enjoy dinner at your resort hotel tonight.

Meals – Breakfast, Dinner

Lodging – Banyan Tree Yangshuo Resort

Spend the morning on a private Tauck cruise along the Li River, passing limestone peaks, bamboo groves, locals working in rice paddies, and water buffalo patrolling the fields. You’ll see fishermen float by on bamboo rafts and get a glimpse of traditional village life. Afterward, a local chef gives a cooking lesson, and you can enjoy a lunch you help to make. Dinner is served at your resort hotel this evening.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging – Banyan Tree Yangshuo Resort

Fly to Shanghai this morning, where you’ll have some free time to discover fashionable Xintiandi. This sought-after historic neighborhood is good for walking and has been preserved intact with its characteristic 19th-century shikumen, traditional stone- gated homes, along narrow lanes. Dine at your hotel this evening.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch

The Bund on the waterfront in Shanghai is famous for its stretch of historic buildings in international architectural styles built as the headquarters of the western banks, hotels, clubs, businesses, and other organizations that thrived in China before the revolution. A guided visit along the Bund shows you both Shanghai past and present. Step further back in history, to the 16th century, in Yu Gardens, where pathways wind through rock gardens and bamboo stands, and stone bridges cross pools filled with carp ;yu means”peace and health. “Have lunch a a local restaurant. This evening enjoy premium seating at an acrobatic performance by Shanghai’s acclaimed ERA troupe.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch

At the Shanghai Urban Planning Center, housed in a dramatic glass building, learn about the future development of the city through detailed models and multimedia displays. Explore the center’s exhibits about this historic port city’s past, present and future, including a mock-up of 1930s Shanghai; a huge model of what the city might look like in 2020; a 360-degree, 3-D film, and more. Then you’re off to the Shanghai Museum, filled with ancient Chinese art, for a guided tour. Your afternoon is free, followed by a special dinner at the restaurant Jean Georges Shanghai, known for its cuisine and views.

Meals – Breakfast, Dinner

A morning flight brings you to Hong Kong, where you’ll have a chance to explore the city as you please from your world-class hotel – The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong – located high (over a hundred stories up) in the International Commerce Centre overlooking Victoria Harbour in the Kowloon neighborhood. From your hotel, the views of the city are stunning.

Meals – Breakfast

Lodging – The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

Discover the city with a local guide today by ferry and double-decker bus. A funicular tram ride takes you up the mountain known as Victoria Peak, where the views are as impressive as the high-end residential properties! Have lunch at a local dim sum restaurant, followed by a guided visit to the Hong Kong Museum of History or free time. Your hotel is in the heart of the city, within easy reach of cultural sites and shopping of all kinds, from luxury stores to little shops selling everything from sneakers to silk. Join us at our farewell reception and dinner this evening in your hotel, overlooking Kowloon and Victoria Harbour.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging – The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

Tour ends: Hong Kong. Fly home anytime. A transfer to Hong Kong International Airport from The Ritz-Carlton, Hong

Kong is included. You should allow three hours for flight check-in.

Meals -Breakfast

What's Included

  • On-Tour Air (5 flights)
  • Visit to the Chengdu Panda Base, a conservation and breeding center for the vulnerable Giant Panda
  • Insider experience in one of Beijing’s traditional hutong neighborhoods, including a rickshaw ride and a visit with a local family
  • Ancient “face-changing” Sichuan Opera performance in Chengdu and an excursion to the Giant Buddha of Leshan Visits to the Han Yang Ling Underground Museum and the Shaanxi History Museum
  • Traditional boat cruise along the Li River and an interactive cooking demonstration
  • Introduction to Shanghai at the Shanghai Urban Planning Center
  • Authentic dining experiences at local restaurants
  • Performance of Shanghai's daring, hi-tech ERA acrobatic show
  • Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
  • 34 meals; gratuities to local guides, taxes, service charges, and admission fees

Nights 1-3 Beijing, China

Waldorf Astoria Beijing

Experience a signature blend of contemporary elegance, personalized service and contemporary amenities at the Waldorf Astoria Beijing in the heart of iconic Wangfujing. Luxuriate in spacious and superbly appointed guest rooms featuring plush pillow-top beds dressed with fine linens, expansive work area, flat-panel HDTV, alarm clock with CD and MP3 player, minibar, coffee and tea facilities including in-room expresso machine, safe, iron/ironing board, and a lavish bath with granite countertops, twin vanity, exquisite amenities, bathrobe and slippers, and hair dryer. The hotel’s sophisticated Chinese Restaurant offers the finest Cantonese and Beijing delicacies and a choice of elegant settings. Inspired by its namesake at the Waldorf Astoria New York, Oscar’s Brasserie offers an ambience of relaxed, contemporary luxury and a choice of both buffet and a la carte dining options. And the stylish and sophisticated Peacock Lounge provides the ideal setting for a relaxed light lunch, an informal business meeting or bespoke cocktails before dinner.

Nights 4-5 Xi’an, China

Hyatt Regency Xi’an

Hyatt Regency Xi’an offers guests a luxurious five-star experience on the banks of idyllic Qujiang Lake. The hotel is conveniently located about 45 minutes away from Xi’an Xianyang International Airport and 15 minutes from the city center, offering easy access to main historical sites like the Wild Goose Pagoda and the Qujiang Pool Relics Park. Energizing guest rooms are outfitted with oak floors and marble surfaces in designs that reflect the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. Each features a large walk-in closet and a spacious work area with an ergonomic chair; over half of the hotel’s guest rooms feature views of Qujiang Lake. The hotel’s onsite dining options include international cuisine at the Market Café; The Lounge, reflecting Xi’an’s rich history with a range of authentic cuisines from along the Silk Road; and Chinese northern fare and traditional Shaanxi dishes at Hu Pan. Hyatt Regency Xi’an also features a FLO SPA and a 24-hour fitness center with Life Fitness equipment.

Nights 6-8 Chengdu, China

The St Regis Chengdu

The St. Regis Chengdu sets the standard for service, contemporary elegance, and sophistication in Southwest China. Timeless guest rooms are fitted out with one king-sized bed or two twin beds dressed in crisp white linens. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, a mini bar, and a Nespresso coffeemaker. Bathrooms feature marble tiles, a soaking tub, and a rainforest shower. There are six dining possibilities in the hotel, from Yan Ting restaurant where you can feast on Sichuan and other Chinese cuisines to the more casual Social restaurant, featuring both regional and international cuisines. Sip something refreshing at the rooftop bar-lounge-restaurant as you enjoy views of the city, or as you relax in Decanter, a stylish bar showcasing original artwork inspired by ancient and modern Chengdu – and a wide selection of European wines and cocktails. Enjoy the indoor and outdoor pools with city views, the St. Regis Athletic Club, and the Iridium Spa.

Tauck Guests enjoy complimentary Internet access in guest rooms!

Nights 9 – 10 Guilin, China

Banyan Tree Yangshuo Resort

Against the stunning karst landscapes of the limestone mountains of Yangshuo – a truly breathtaking sight to behold – Banyan Tree has built a picturesque mountain resort with access to all that nearby Guilin City and Yangshuo County have to offer, including the Li river, caves, rice fields, and activities including rock climbing and more. Banyan Tree Yangshuo Resort’s luxurious villas and suites, many featuring views of the Li River, are equipped with queen or king-sized beds with duvets, allergy- free bedding and a pillow menu; IDD telephone; CD & DVD player; international TV channels; coffee & tea making facilities; electric kettle; hair dryer; in-room safe; alarm clock; bathrobes & slippers; bath amenities and more. The resort offers two restaurants for all-day and specialty dining – Baiyun for classic Cantonese dishes, and Ming Yue for international favorites – two lounges, and a full-service spa offering an exotic blend of ancient health and beauty practices amidst a backdrop of natural beauty.

Tauck Guests enjoy complimentary Internet access in guest rooms!

Nights 11 – 13 Shanghai, China

Fairmont Peace Hotel

One of the most famous hotels in all of China, the Fairmont Peace Hotel, called the “Mansion in the East” by many and today combines East and West with ancient and modern, first opened its doors as the Cathay Hotel in 1929 and welcomed illustrious guests such as Charlie Chaplin, Bernard Shaw, General George Marshall and Noel Coward, who completed his play “Private Lives” here. Recently renovated guest rooms provide such appreciated amenities as premium Egyptian cotton linens, central air conditioning, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, MP3 docking station and CD player, in-room laptop-compatible safe and a minibar. After a busy day, take advantage of the Spa Fitness Centre facilities, including state-of-the-art exercise equipment and a swimming pool or indulge yourself at the Willow Stream Spa. The Peace Gallery, which houses a collection of memorabilia showcasing the hotel’s history and heritage, is a quiet haven to discuss the collection with the curators or just sit and read. The Cathay Room, featuring elegantly presented European home-style cuisine overlooking the Bund was, and still is, a favorite dining venue for Shanghai society and visitors. Enjoy Shanghainese and Cantonese favorites in an ambiance of classical luxury at the Dragon Phoenix or have a more casual meal at Victor’s, an art deco deli with a French café menu. The Jazz Bar is a trip back in time to the private clubs of the 20s and 30s, with suitable entertainment by the Old Jazz Band whose six musicians have an average age of 77 and who have played for the likes of former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, while the Jasmine Lounge is an elegant venue for afternoon tea and evening cocktails.

Nights 14 – 15 Hong Kong, China

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

Located on floors 102-118 in the International Commerce Centre overlooking Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, The Ritz- Carlton, Hong Kong and the hotel’s 360-degree panoramic views offer a virtual map of the city – where guests can see a destination full of unlimited possibilities. The thrilling ride to the 102nd floor lobby heralds what is to come when you arrive… for as the doors open and your eyes alight on “Horse Galloping Across the Sky,” a stunning ceiling mural, it is clear that staying at one of the most luxurious hotels in the Tsim Sha Tsui area of Hong Kong will be a truly transformative experience. The 360- degree views alone will take your breath away. All of the hotel’s guest rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows with magnificent city or harbor views. Each is equipped with plush carpeting, 400-thread count bed linens, down feather pillows and throws, 42- inch flat screen LCD TV, Blu-ray DVD player, 160GB Classic iPod and iPod docking station, Nespresso coffee and tea making machines, in-room safe and phone charger, and minibar. Full marble-floored bathrooms feature a separate bathtub and shower with rainforest shower head, double sink, 17-inch LCD TV, lighted shaving/make-up mirror, plush terry robes and exclusive Asprey bath amenities. The hotel’s fine dining venues are as diverse as the world-savvy guests who frequent them – an impressive global culinary repertoire that ranges from Michelin Star restaurants to a sleek futuristic lounge providing a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. Savor authentic Cantonese and Italian fine dining at the Michelin star Tin Lung Heen and Tosca. Or, for a more relaxed affair, enjoy a casual or business lunch, dinner, or Afternoon Tea at Café 103. High up on the 118th floor of the hotel, OZONE invites you to indulge in signature cocktails and exotic selection of Asian tapas, while enjoying DJ beats and the captivating vistas of the city and Victoria Harbour at the highest bar in the world.

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

Odyssey in China: Beijing, Chengdu & Hong Kong