Tibet by horseback, Terracotta Army by motorbike, cruising up the Yangtze river, bullet trains and a stay in Raffles – there’s no need to take a traditional approach to seeing China.
On horseback in Tibet
Chinese cowboys, anyone? This summer, equestrian travel expert In The Saddle offers a new 14-night expedition-style trip through the Tibetan Plateau, visiting nomads and remote Buddhist monasteries. The tour will be led by Amchok Choetar, who grew up in this part of the country. He will be helped by his family and local horsemen.
Chris Day, who led an exploratory ride through this region of Tibet, says: ‘The Tibetan Plateau retains the beliefs and traditions of the Tibetan nomads. These welcoming people live their lives much as their forefathers did and it is a privilege to meet and ride with them.’
Tours start on July 7 and 28. From £1,790pp, excluding flights.www.inthesaddle.com
Up the Yangtze
The best way to get a handle on the size and beauty of China is to cruise the Yangtze, the longest river in Asia and third longest in the world.
You can stop off at the former imperial capital of Nanjing one day and sail through the dramatic Three Gorges the next. The river also passes Mount Jiuhua, one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism, known for its photogenic ridges, peaks, winding paths, waterfalls, streams and temples.
Wendy Wu’s 15-day Yangtze Splendour tour, including Shanghai and Beijing, departs on September 9. From £3,190pp including flights.www.wendywutours.co.uk
Motorbike and sidecar in Xi’an
The legendary Terracotta Warriors in the city of Xi’an feature on most China travel itineraries but Asia specialist Backyard Travel has jazzed up its tour with some unusual transport options. This year, travellers can see Xi’an from aboard a 1960s-style jeep or, even better, as a passenger in a vintage motorbike and sidecar.
As well as visiting the Unesco-listed army of statues, participants will spend the night at a rock cave dwelling with a local family. After a home-made dinner, the residents will escort guests around their unusual dwellings, sharing insights from local folklore.
This busy two-day tour also includes the scenic Loess Plateau, a vineyard and a blacksmith who still uses ancient techniques to produce weapons and tools.
From £380pp. www.backyardtravel.com
Chinese bullet-train adventure
The Japanese-style bullet trains in China are replacing domestic flights on some routes and slicing travel times in half. Before their introduction, those travelling between Beijing and Xi’an had the choice of an uncomfortable 11-hour overnight train ride or a domestic flight to an airport outside the city. The journey by high-speed train takes just four and a half hours.
For visitors – and locals – the most important high-speed development is the 1,320km Beijing-Shanghai line. Running at speeds of more than 300km/h, the new train takes less than five hours.
British-based TravelLocal offers a new 11-night itinerary through China that exclusively uses high-speed trains. The journey takes visitors from Beijing to Xi’an, Luoyang in central China and the scenic southern city of Guilin.
Bespoke train trips cost from £1,400pp, excluding flights.www.travellocal.com
A classy Beijing stay
Raffles, the Asian hospitality brand best known for its revered Singaporean hotel, also has a charming Beijing outpost. Positioned beside the Forbidden City, it is within walking distance of Tiananmen Square and the shopping district of Wangfujing.
After ticking off a few local sights, pop into the wooden-floored Writer’s Bar to order afternoon tea. Forget the English and go for the Chinese choice, which includes egg tarts, crispy baked crab claw and green tea.
The huge, quiet guest rooms – decorated with silky flourishes and absurdly comfy beds – are perfect to retreat to after pounding the streets of the hectic capital. Best of all, though, is the service, which is disarmingly friendly and old-school.
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