Eastern Elegance and Southwest City Life

Welcome to Shanghai, where the historic Bund and the Lujiazui skyline face each other across the Huangpu River. A quick note on your arrival airport: to enjoy the Maglev Train experience on Day 1, please book a flight into Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Your guide will meet you in the arrivals hall and ride the Maglev with you — one way — before accompanying you on to your hotel. Please send us your flight details in advance so we can arrange the pickup. If your flight lands at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport instead, our driver will take you straight to the hotel, and the Maglev ride will not be possible.

Begin at Yu Garden, where carefully arranged rocks, water and traditional buildings make an inviting introduction to Shanghai's cultural side. (Please note that Yuyuan Garden closes on Mondays, except for public holidays. Should the scheduled visit fall on its closing day, it will be replaced by the City God Temple. No extra refund or compensation will be provided for this itinerary adjustment.) Continue to the Bund, where the historic waterfront looks across the Huangpu River to the towers of Lujiazui, then rise to the observation deck of Shanghai Tower for views over the whole city. Finish with a stroll along Nanjing Road, then transfer to the railway station for the high-speed train to Hangzhou. The local team will meet you on arrival and take you on to your hotel.

Begin at West Lake, where waterside views introduce Hangzhou's gentle rhythm. Continue to Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak, moving between temple surroundings, wooded slopes and stone carvings. At Longjing Tea Village, enjoy the setting of the tea-growing countryside without rushing through its landscape. Finish at Qinghefang Ancient Street, where traditional-style shopfronts and lively lanes offer a different view of the city and time to enjoy its atmosphere.

Explore Xixi National Wetland Park before leaving Hangzhou, enjoying a change of pace among its waterways and green surroundings. Later, fly to Chongqing and transfer into the mountain city. In the evening, discover Chaotianmen and see Raffles City Chongqing, where striking architecture meets the riverside setting. Continue to Hongyadong, whose illuminated buildings and layered walkways create a memorable introduction to Chongqing after dark.

Discover Chongqing through a day of changing perspectives. Begin at Eling Park, then visit Liziba Station to experience the city's distinctive relationship between transport, buildings and steep terrain. Continue to Jiefangbei, where busy streets bring the modern city into focus. Explore Shibati and its hillside lanes, taking in the steps, changing levels and street scenes that make walking through Chongqing an experience in itself.

Spend the morning exploring Ciqikou Ancient Town, where narrow lanes and traditional-style buildings offer a slower-paced side of Chongqing. Enjoy the atmosphere as you walk through the old streets, with time to notice the details around you. Afterwards, transfer to the railway station for your high-speed train to Chengdu. On arrival, meet the local team and continue to your hotel, ready to explore the next city.

Travel beyond Chengdu to Mount Qingcheng, where green slopes and mountain surroundings bring a refreshing change from the city. Continue to the Dujiangyan Irrigation System to discover a landscape shaped by the relationship between flowing water and human ingenuity. Together, these two visits offer a rewarding contrast: the atmosphere of the mountains and the practical design of a water-management system. Return to Chengdu after the day's sightseeing.

Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to see the animals that make this city such a memorable stop. Continue to People's Park for a glimpse of everyday Chengdu, then explore Chunxi Road and its lively urban atmosphere. These contrasting visits bring together wildlife, local life and the modern city. Later, transfer to the airport and fly to Guangzhou, where the local team will take you to your hotel.

Discover Guangzhou's open spaces and riverside scenery, beginning at Huacheng Square. Its broad urban setting offers a sense of the city's contemporary character before you continue to Haixinsha Island. Then enjoy a walk beside the Pearl River, taking in the changing views along the waterfront. With time to appreciate the surroundings on foot, today's programme offers a relaxed introduction to Guangzhou and its connection with the river.

Explore Guangzhou's Lingnan character at Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, taking time to appreciate its decorative details and architectural setting. Continue to Yongqing Fang, where the neighbourhood's lanes provide a lively backdrop to the city's cultural life. Visit the Cantonese Opera Art Museum, then enjoy the surroundings of Lychee Bay Park. This sequence brings architecture, performing arts and neighbourhood scenery together before returning to your hotel for the evening.

Enjoy a relaxed final morning in Guangzhou, with any free time depending on your departure schedule. At the arranged time, transfer from your hotel to the airport for your onward flight, bringing your journey through China to a close. No overnight accommodation is included.