Southern China: Lingnan Heritage and Karst Landscapes

Make your own way from Guangzhou Airport to the hotel using the address supplied in advance; online guidance is available during the journey. Arrival through Shenzhen is also possible, with a longer onward trip to Guangzhou. Check-in normally begins at 2:00 pm, subject to room readiness. Meet the group at the hotel, then rest or explore the surrounding shopping centres, cafés, restaurants and pedestrian streets independently.

Begin in Baomo Garden among Lingnan-style pavilions, bridges, ponds and sculpted details. Continue to Shawan Ancient Town, founded in the Southern Song period, and walk through old lanes where selected walls preserve the regional technique of building with oyster shells. Discover the town's ginger milk pudding tradition, then return to modern Guangzhou and ascend Canton Tower for evening views over illuminated bridges and towers. A Cantonese welcome dinner completes the day.

Travel to Kaiping and explore its UNESCO-listed diaolou and villages. These fortified multi-storey houses combine Chinese planning with architectural forms brought home through overseas connections. Continue to Chikan Ancient Town, where long qilou arcades, restored façades and waterfront streets recall the commercial world of early-twentieth-century southern China. After the walk, check in at the Kaiping hotel and keep the evening free.

Return to Guangzhou, check in and shape the rest of the day around your interests. Optional choices include Chimelong Safari Park, the acrobatics and stagecraft of Chimelong International Circus, or Lotus Hill. The latter combines walking trails with the historic Lotus Pagoda, seventeenth-century Lotus City and a 40.88-metre Guanyin statue. Each option is visited independently and ticketed separately, leaving time to choose city energy, performance or a quieter landscape.

Take the high-speed train towards Guilin and continue to Xingping. Board a boat on the Li River and move through the tower-karst landscape that defines this part of Guangxi. Pause for the scenery associated with the image on China's 20-yuan banknote, then return to land for a walk along Xingping's old street, passing traditional façades, small shops and teahouses. Check in locally after the full programme.

Ride the cableway at Ruyi Peak for elevated views across Yangshuo's clustered karst hills and green valleys. Walk through the summit area and cross the suspension bridge, using the viewpoints for a changing perspective on the landscape. After returning, keep time free for rest. In the evening, an optional outdoor show may incorporate mountains, water, choreography and night lighting into the stage; admission is paid separately.

Choose the departure route that best suits your onward flight. Travellers leaving from Guangzhou return together by high-speed train and can continue to the airport after arrival. Those flying from Guilin receive a private airport transfer at the required time. The group programme concludes with the selected transfer, giving each traveller a practical finish to the week.