China Tours & Holidays 2023/2024

Join us on a holiday to China

A mesmerising mix of man-made sights and astounding natural wonders, where skyscrapers rub shoulders with temples and gardens, China is as diverse as it is fascinating. Captivating, mysterious and wholly a world away from the West, tours of China are a joy to experience.

Walk with the ghosts of emperors on the Great Wall and gaze through time at some of the best historical remains of China in Beijing. The home of world-famous sites including the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, only a few places on earth can match the remarkable historic treasures of Beijing, although China’s past remains ever-present in its progressive and futuristic present.

Explore the streets of Shanghai’s glass and steel razzmatazz and take in the sounds of the bustling bazaars and street markets. Stroll along the promenade beneath the buildings of the ancient Bund, and admire the glitzy skyline of towering skyscrapers including the iconic, rocket-shaped TV Tower. Catch your breath in Shanghai's Old City as you stroll around the tranquil pools of the Yu Garden.

Take a cruise on the ageless Yangtze river, witnessing the spectacular Three Gorges Dam - an engineering marvel - and discover a land rich in myth, legend and stunning scenery.

Travel with Newmarket Holidays and sample rural Chinese life as you visit one the country’s most beautiful cities, Guilin, surrounded by brilliant green mountain landscapes.

Wherever you holiday in China, from cities and temples to rivers and hills, our friendly, experienced Tour Managers are there to guide you along the way. Savour the pleasures of observing a totally different way of life with Newmarket Holidays and create memories from the Far East that will remain with you for many years to come.

Things to do in China

China is a country of numberless options, with a population accounting for around a sixth of the world’s seven billion-plus people, a history of kingdom and empire, and some of the world’s most enthralling landscapes and fascinating wildlife. If you’re planning a tour to China, here are some ‘must-do’ sights and experiences:

A marvel to behold, the Great Wall of China is truly one of the world’s most awe-inspiring sights. Travel out to a restored section on Newmarket Holidays’ ‘China – Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall’ tour.

Beijing has seen the rise and fall of dynasties, brutal wars and attempted invasion – and has survived remarkably intact. Step back through time as you enter the Forbidden City, and take in Beijing’s modern wonders.

Unearthed by a farmer digging a well, the 6,000-plus lifelike warriors, chariots and horses, buried alongside First Emperor Qin Shi Huang, are amongst the world’s greatest wonders. Don’t miss Xi’an’s ancient Ming walls and Han and Tang Dynasty treasures.

In the heart of their Sichuan province homeland, the endangered much-loved bears can be seen at play and rest in a naturalised environment at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Chengdu is famous for authentic Sichuan cuisine and its ancient teahouses

Time-worn limestone hills, ancient rice paddies and the languid river, with its cormorant fishermen, await visitors to medieval Guilin. Visit the hill of Fubo Shan, with its views of both city and river.

Things to see in China

China tour highlights

Things to see and places to visit on your escorted tour of China

Great Wall of China

Weaving its way through China’s mountains, deserts, and grasslands, the Great Wall is an engineering marvel that must be seen to be believed.

Food and drink in China

From snacks bought from street vendors, to full-blown banquets in noisy, formal restaurant, food plays a vital part in Chinese social life.

Although it is possible in all but the most remote locations to find a full range of western and international, as well as ‘westernised’ Chinese dishes, one of the great pleasures of holidays to China is the discovery of authentic Chinese cuisine.

Contrasts of colour, texture and taste, as well as several distinct regional cuisines, enliven mealtimes throughout any tour of China. Rice and noodles, steamed vegetables, meat – especially duck and pork – and soya bean curd (tofu) are all staples, with specialities like ‘bao’ buns, bamboo shoots, ‘jiaozi’ dumplings and breakfast ‘dim sum’ also widely served.

Traditional dishes such as the authentic ‘Peking Duck’ in Beijing, spicy Sichuan hotpots, ‘sweet and sour’, fish and seafood delicacies on the east coast, a wide variety of vegetables, and with dishes influenced by China’s neighbours and ancient trading partners, all ensure that your holiday to China is a feast for the senses as well as the eyes.