Your holiday itinerary:

Day 1:   Make your own way to the airport for the overnight flight to Beijing/Peking.

Day 2:  Upon arrival, we will transfer you to a local restaurant for an included lunch. This afternoon we include a tour to the stunning Temple of Heaven, before transferring you to our centrally located 4: hotel in Peking for a five-night stay.

Day 3:  A fascinating full day tour of Peking. We will take you first to breathtaking Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square covering over 100 acres, bordered by the Qianmen Gate, Great Hall of the People and Gate of Heavenly Peace.

Also included is a visit to the 800-year old Summer Palace, the largest and best preserved of all imperial palace gardens. Then it’s on to admire the ancient Forbidden City, a vast complex of palaces and pavilions that is a real architectural masterpiece. Another highlight today is an included visit to Peking Zoo where you can see many wild and rare animals including pandas and the Golden Monkey.

Day 4:  Today, we include a full day tour which will take you first to the Great Wall at Badaling, that follows the contours of the land for some 3000 miles across China. Originally designed to keep out invaders from the north, it is one of mankind’s greatest achievements and the only man-made structure visible from space.

We also visit the Ming Tombs, the burial place of thirteen emperors. The tombs, which were designed by the emperors before they died, are dotted around a valley and are reached by a ‘sacred’ road guarded by massive stone statues of animals and warriors.

This evening, join our optional excursion to the “Peking Opera”, regarded by many as a national treasure, with an impressive history of over 200 years.

Days 5 & 6:   These days are at leisure for you to enjoy more of Peking and savour the amazing mixture of exotic sights, sounds and smells, and the truly unforgettable atmosphere.

Day 7:   Return flight to the UK.

A European-style buffet breakfast will be served at your centrally located 4* hotel each morning. Lunch and dinner are included on three days and will generally be served in a local Chinese restaurant.