Arrive into Hong Kong airport where you will be met and transferred to the luxurious five-star Harbour Plaza hotel (or similar) for a one-night stay. We will enjoy a Welcome Dinner at our hotel, giving you the opportunity to meet your fellow travellers.

This morning you are free to explore this vibrant and extraordinary city before joining a high speed train to Guangzhou, a journey which takes two hours.  We then transfer to our private train, the Shangri-La Express.  There is plenty of time to settle into your comfortable cabin before enjoying a Welcome Dinner onboard.

The haunting beauty of Guilin is legendary. Our entire day is devoted to exploring some of the finest scenery in the world along the Li River.  Our unforgettable day features a delightful cruise on the river amongst the strange karst rock formations that give this area its distinctive appearance.  We also visit the 600,000 year old Yudi Lan (Reed Flute) Cave on the outskirts of the city.

Today we visit Kunming’s Golden Temple, the largest copper temple in China.  This elaborate and magnificent structure is a testament to the aesthetic and architectural excellence of the Ming Dynasty.  At lunchtime, we commence our journey over one of the world’s most spectacular railway lines completed in the 1970s.  The line to Chengdu tortuously passes over many precarious bridge and traverses deep tumbling ravines, through areas of unsurpassed natural beauty.     

Today we can relax onboard as the Shangri-La Express continues its journey to Chengdu where we arrive early afternoon. Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province is the centre for traditional Chinese medicine.  This area is also home to the Giant Panda, an incredibly rare and enchanting creature which we can see at close quarters at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Institute.

Chongqing is situated in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.  We have a full day to explore the labyrinthine streets of this bustling city, perhaps most famous for its hot Sichuan cuisine and world famous hotpot dishes.  As we enter the old part of this city we will come across street vendors and restaurants where we can experience these exciting and spicy delicacies.  Late afternoon sees us transferring to a five-star Victoria Cruises river boat for our three-night Yangtze River cruise through the dramatic scenery of the Three Gorges.

This morning we take an off board excursion to the Fengdu Ghost City situated on Ming Mountain. Its 75 temples and numerous sculptures tell the story of ‘sinners’ who were forced to live out their own personal hell for eternity.  Alternatively, we may visit Shibaozhai, perched precariously against a rectangular cliff, where we will see the stunning twelve-storey Quing Dynasty wooden temple. In the afternoon we sail through the Three Gorges region enjoying the stunning natural scenery.

First we enter the shortest but most dramatic of the three gorges, Qutang Gorge with steep, imposing mountains crowding the perimeter of the 5 mile (8km) stretch. Then we travel through the deep 27 mile (44km) Wu Xia Gorge from where we make a short trip to the shallow, clear waters of the Shennong Stream. We then continue along the western stretch of the Xiling Gorge, with its strong currents and rocky outcrops. At 43 miles (70km) this is the longest and deepest gorge and perilous peaks tower towards the sky reaching heights of over 4,000 ft (1,500m).

Today we cruise along the eastern stretch of the Xiling Gorge and visit the Three Gorges Dam project before our lunchtime disembarkation in Yichang and rejoin the waiting Shangri-La Express to continue our journey towards Lhasa.

Our fascinating journey of discovery takes us to Xian, the former Imperial Capital of China.  Here we will explore the ancient city walls and Great Mosque, one of the oldest and largest in China.  If there is time, we will take a stroll through the historic Muslim quarter with its quaintly winding lanes.  We dedicate several hours to visiting the world famous Terracotta Warriors, discovered by peasants only 30 years ago.  The 6,000 terracotta figures and their horses, buried with the First Emperor of Xin in 210BC, are one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th Century.  This evening we enjoy the Tang Dynasty Dinner, Music and Dance Show, a wonderful performance of ancient music and dance.

Today our tour takes us to the amazing Maijishan Grottoes, an extensive complex of caves that house thousands of ancient Buddhist sculptures that chart the evolution of this fascinating religion.  Our train then takes us on to Lanzhou which used to be an important trading post on the ancient Silk Route with a rich history dating back some 2,000 years.