Once known as the Pearl of the Orient and the colonial connection between East and West, today Shanghai is truly one of Asia’s most important modern cities. We explore the exciting rand historical riverfront area known as the Bund. We take a short walking tour of the Bund and marvel at the ceaseless river traffic: thousands of oceangoing boats, freighters, sampans and steamers pass through Shanghai every year. We take a trip on Shanghai’s ‘techno’ Bund Tourist Tunnel that runs underneath the Huangpu River across to Pudong. From here it’s only a short walk to one of the modern landmarks of the city – the striking Oriental TV Tower – which offers the best views of this amazing skyline. An exciting Chinese Acrobats Show is an evening highlight, and we have plenty of time to indulge in the city’s amazing shopping, tasty delicacies, walk along beautiful leafy streets, teeming hutongs and megaplexes, and spend quality time together as a family. If time allows, book an additional day trip to the traditional canal town of Zhujiajiao on the outskirts of Shanghai – contact us for details.

Beijing is an amazing city that is sure to captivate the imagination. We spend time exploring vast Tiananmen Square, the Gate of Heavenly Peace and the splendid Forbidden City. This ancient city was the sacred heart of the empire for over 500 years, and home to the Ming and Qing Dynasty imperial courts. We also hop on rickshaws and head into one of Beijing’s few remaining hutongs in the backstreets of the city for some close-up glimpses of local life before seeing one of the city’s icons, the Temple of Heaven. We head to Beijing Zoo for a peek at one of China’s most famous animals – the Giant Panda – and visit the Aquarium, too (the largest inland aquarium in the world) and enjoy the whales, dolphins and lively aquatic animal displays. A visit to the Great Wall at Mutianyu is spectacular – walk to the top and take a fun toboggan ride to the bottom! A dramatic performance of Chinese martial arts at an exciting Kung Fu Show marks a fantastic night, and we also have plenty of time to enjoy the city’s markets, cuisine and parks.

Hong Kong is an ideal destination for travellers of all ages –with family favourites such as Disneyland to uniquely Asian experiences on the Star Ferry and at the Goldfish Markets, this two-day adventure is perfect for those looking to enjoy a light-hearted, yet educational, visit to Hong Kong. Not only the perfect introduction to Asia, this is an ideal stopover idea for families travelling on to other parts of Asia, Europe or further afield.