China - Woks & Chopsticks (15 days)
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China - Woks & Chopsticks (15 days)

The fantastic food is just one of the highlights of every trip to China.
China is a vast area, and its diversity is fully reflected by its range of cultures and
food. Chinese cuisine varies greatly depending on the area where it originated.

The
country can be divided into four different regions, and on this trip we visit them all,
to savour the famous dishes and even learn to prepare some delicacies ourselves.

  • Day 1 & 2: BEIJING - Arrival, then Great Wall. We take a day trip out to the Great Wall, and hike on one of the less visited sections. In the evening, there is the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Peking duck dinner, consisting of delicious slices of roast duck wrapped in thin pancakes with sliced cucumber, shallots and a sauce made of soy.
  • Day 3: BEIJING - SHANGHAI - Morning excursion to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. In the afternoon we have a demonstration of the various different ways of making Shanxi style noodles. Later, we board our overnight train to Shanghai.
  • Day 4: SHANGHAI - Today is free to explore this dynamic city. This evening, after a typical Shanghai
seafood dinner we watch a thrilling performance by the city's famous acrobats.
  • Day 5: SHANGHAI - XI'AN - A day tour of the Bund, the Yuyuan gardens and some of the many other famous sites of Shanghai. Later, we take the overnight train to Xi'an.
  • Day 6: XI'AN - This morning, we have a guided tour of the Terracotta Warriors. In the afternoon we watch a demonstration of the art of making the dumplings (jiaozi), for which Xi'an is famous. There is a chance to join in, before enjoying a dumpling banquet for dinner.
  • Day 7: XI'AN - A full free day to explore Xi'an, visit the Great Mosque and markets in the Muslim quarter and sample some lamb kebabs or other local favourites.
  • Day 8: XI'AN - CHENGDU - We fly to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. In the evening we enjoy a
traditional hotpot dinner, which is typical of this region, before watching a Sichuan
variety performance.
  • Day 9 CHENGDU - A visit to the Giant Panda Research Centre to see the beautiful but endangered Giant Pandas. After a vegetarian lunch at Wenshu Temple the afternoon is free to explore.
  • Day 10: CHENGDU - LONGSHENG - Fly to Guilin and drive into the mountains to see the spectacular scenery of the 'Dragon's Backbone' rice terraces.
  • Day 11: LONGSHENG - YANGSHUO - In the morning, there is time to wander amongst the rice terraces. Later we transfer to Yangshuo, located in the midst of some of China's most spectacular scenery. Early in the evening there is the chance to take part in a short Chinese tea ceremony.
  • Day 12: YANGSHUO - We tour the local market before our cooking class, where we learn how to prepare some local specialties.
  • Day 13: YANGSHUO - GUANGZHOU - Today those who wish to further improve their culinary skills can take an optional second cooking class. Later we transfer to Guilin for the overnight train to Guangzhou.
  • Day 14 & 15: GUANGZHOU - The chance to tour a fascinating local market before enjoying a dim sum banquet for lunch.

Operated by Imaginative Traveller (ASWC)

Departures: March, May to July & September to October

  • Contact us for more information, current costs and to make a booking on this small group adventure