22 nights from £2295
China's conundrum is that while parts of the country are rushing ahead into the 21st century never far away are areas which have remained unchanged for centuries. This will soon become evident to the traveller who embarks on this journey which encompasses China's four corners. In Beijing you may be surprised by the traffic, shopping malls and neon signs, but for the majority the bicycle is still the cheapest and most efficient mode of transport. The imposing grandeur of the Forbidden City and Summer Palace and the mystical symmetry of the Temple of Heaven remain unassailed by modernity whilst Shanghai's racy image stems from the 1930s and 40s and the impressive buildings of the Bund and is now expanding at an astounding pace.
A feature of the itinerary is the cruise through the famous Three Gorges on the Yangtse River. Following the completion in 2003 of the second phase of the Yangtse Dam project the higher water levels afford a new perspective and navigation is made easier. Nonetheless the change is less than expected and the natural symmetry of the gorges is retained. A contrast to these natural phenomena is provided by the passage through the 5-stage ship lock of the world's largest dam, one of the most spectacular feats of engineering undertaken in modern times.
The waterways of Eastern China also feature in the arrangement as south of Nanjing we travel through the fertile land of 'fish and rice' along the ancient Grand Canal to Suzhou. Whilst Suzhou is renowned for its canals, water gardens and silk production, the West Lake of Hangzhou with its landscaped island, temples and pavilions is one of China's best known beauty spots.We also visit the ancient capital Xian to view the Terracotta warriors and the pastoral river landscapes around Guilin before concluding the tour in 'One country, Two systems' Hong Kong.
