Exclusive China

(15 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Beijing, Great Wall, Lijiang, Hangzhou, Xitang, Shanghai, Hong Kong

This ultimate luxury tour of China combines the most fascinating cities—imperial Beijing, stylish Shanghai and cosmopolitan Hong Kong—with stunning resorts in spectacular rural settings outside Hangzhou and Lijiang. During private touring, experience China’s highlights, including imperial palaces, ancient temples, colonial-era architecture, water gardens, rustic villages, local markets and stunning landscapes.

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 the Banyan Tree Lijiang, a luxury resort in Lijiang—one of China’s best-preserved traditional villages, 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.

Fly to serene Hangzhou and enjoy private touring around beautiful West Lake, local tea plantations, Buddhist caves and other cultural highlights.

Next, visit Shanghai, stopping en route in Xitang, a picture-perfect "water town" of narrow canals and traditional architecture. In Shanghai, tour the riverfront Bund, the chic French Concession, the excellent Shanghai Museum and Yu Yuan Garden, and the city's leading art and shopping districts.

Conclude in Hong Kong with private touring that emphasizes the best of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Explore traditional markets, dine at gourmet Colonial-era restaurants on the beach, ride a sampan (fishing boat) across Aberdeen harbor and a tram up Victoria Peak, and browse the boutiques in the fashionable Soho district. Also visit excellent museums, a tea house, and other favorite spots.