China Holidays

Originally a series of smaller walls insulating various independent Chinese states, the Great Wall of China was connected more than 2000 years ago by the Emperor Qin to defend the first unified kingdom of China. Further extensions and restorations performed by the later Chinese dynasties developed the wall into the world famous feat of engineering that its known as today. On our trips to China, we’ll have the opportunity to see sections of the Great Wall and hear about its incredible history from our expert guide.

Once a vital stop on the Silk Road, Xi’an is one of the oldest and most interesting cities in China. The city is enclosed by an ancient wall which was re-constructed in the 14th century and visitors to the city can still stroll or bike along the fortification today. On our holidays to Xi’an, we’ll also get to explore the Wild Goose Pagoda, a Buddhist temple built in the 7th century, and the world-famous Terracotta Army. As always, an expert guide will be on hand to give us the history of the city and offer recommendations for what to do during our free time in Xi’an.

As the capital of China, Beijing is full to the brim with must-see attractions. On our trips to China, we’ll visit Tiananmen Square, one of the largest squares in the world, and The Forbidden City, which served as the political centre of Chinese government for almost 500 years. We’ll be able to visit the attached Palace Museum, where we can learn about the many Emperors of China through a large collection of art, precious metals and sculptures. While in Beijing, we’ll also have time to stroll down the famous Qianmen Street, one of the oldest and most beautiful pedestrian streets in China.

When we think of modern China, the glittering skyline of Shanghai is probably one of the first images that comes to mind. On our guided holidays to China, we’ll get to see this incredible city up close. From a trip to the top of the futuristic-looking Oriental Pearl Tower to a tour of floating Yu Garden, our expert guide will show us the highlights of this iconic city. As always, our tours allow for plenty of free time for us to savour the local culture, we recommend trying Shanghai’s most famous cuisine, Peking Duck!

These life-sized terracotta figures of warriors and horses were discovered in 1974 by farmers digging for a well near the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. The figures were buried with the emperor Qin Shi Huang in 210–209 BC and were thought to protect him in his afterlife. So far over 7,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots, and weapons have been unearthed, and work on the site continues today. On our holidays, we’ll visit this UNESCO World Heritage site to see the remarkable collection arranged in battle formations.