China: Town & Country

(11 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Beijing, Lijiang, Shanghai

This tour is perfect for any visitor to China who wants to focus on two of China’s greatest cities— Beijing and Shanghai—plus a few days in one of the most interesting and beautiful rural destinations—Lijiang, in Yunnan province. Spend each day with your own private guide and driver, touring important museums and Imperial buildings, visiting traditional villages, exploring sophisticated shopping, art and dining districts, and enjoying China’s best luxury hotels.

Begin in Beijing, China’s centuries-old capital. With your private guide and driver, tour imperial masterpieces such as the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. Travel by rickshaw down the narrow hutongs (lanes) of a traditional residential neighborhood. See lesser-known temples, and venture to a little-visited hilltop for panoramic views over the rooftops of the Forbidden City. Dine on traditional specialties at favorite family-run restaurants, and enjoy reservations at private clubs and Beijing’s most acclaimed restaurants. Visit markets specializing in pearls, silk, food and furniture, and, if desired, explore new art gallery districts that showcase the city’s burgeoning contemporary art scene. One day, take an excursion to the Great Wall of China. While there, you may wish to have lunch at Commune by the Great Wall to see the “villas” designed by twelve of Asia’s leading modernist architects.

Continue to China’s rural, southwestern Yunnan Province. Spend several nights at a luxury resort in Lijiang—one of China’s best-preserved traditional towns, located in the foothills of the Himalayas. Tour the cultural and scenic highlights of the region: visit hilltribe villages, see ancient Buddhist frescoes, attend a Naxi musical concert, browse the shops and charming streets lining canals in town, visit monasteries and beautiful parks at the base of the mountains.

Next, fly to Shanghai and experience the unbridled energy of China’s most stylish and modern city. During private touring, learn about Shanghai’s history through the architecture of the Bund, the French Concession, Pudong and other districts. Tour some of China’s best museums, explore Shanghai’s old town and its traditional shops and restaurants, and visit up-and-coming neighborhoods filled with art galleries, design shops and stylish new restaurants.