2007: The Year of China

Shrouded in mystery, China has held an exotic allure for British travellers throughout the ages. Marco Polo was captivated by the land of Cathay as far back as the 12th Century – and a visit here has been on ‘must-see’ lists ever since.

Travelsphere, UK operator of escorted tours to China, this year celebrates its 20th year of travel to the country. Back in 1987, it was one of the first operators to offer trips – now, there are more than ten value-packed packages, at prices lower than in the 1980’s, all of which include travel, meals and sightseeing, plus numerous add-on and extend your stay options from just £895.

Billie Austen, Product Director says: “When Travelsphere first started offering packages, China was still deeply Communist and wary of the Western world. A lot of negotiation and compromise had to go on behind the scenes just to get our first visitors out there. Our biggest challenges seem so simple today: finding a coach, arranging airport transfers – even booking a hotel. Our passion and commitment to the country saw us through and the Chinese government now considers us a favoured operator – they have even honoured our customers at a unique dinner held in the State banqueting room of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

“With the Olympics in Beijing just around the corner and the final touches on the Yangtze River Dam almost in place, interest in China is at an unprecedented level. The beauty of the Travelsphere packages is that there really is something for everyone – our traditional ten-day tour of Beijing, Chengde and Xian is a great introduction for first time visitors, but we also take customers down the mighty Yangtze Gorge, along the fabled Silk Route and inside Sichuan’s stunning Northern Province. ”

Ten days in China from £895
See the main sights of this fascinating country with time in Beijing, Xian and Chengde for just £895 including all travel, meals and sightseeing. This ten-day package includes visits to the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Tian an Men Square and Beijing Zoo to see the pandas. Departures throughout the year.

China’s Shangri-La from £1195
Bordered by Laos, Burma and Vietnam, the Yunnan Province in the far southwest of China, is a delight of snow-capped peaks, inspiring plateaux, stunning river valleys and ancient villages. Some 24 nationalities live here with their own lifestyles, costumes, religious customs and language in relative isolation. Travelsphere’s ten-day ‘China’s Shangri-la’ tour from £1195 explores the three minority towns of Dali, Lijiang and Zhongdian, together with the provincial capital of Kunming – known as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’. Highlights include an evening of music with the fabled Naxi Orchestra, the amazing Stone Forest at Shilin and the Three Pagodas of Dali which date their construction back to 850 AD. Departures throughout the year. Price includes all travel, meals and sightseeing.

China – Lakes, Mountains & Ming Townships
A year ago this tour would have been impossible, but the introduction of a new airport, road and hotel in Jiuzhaigou – a national nature reserve and World Heritage Site, has unveiled a stunning alpine region of dazzling lakes and mountains inside Sichuan’s Northern Province. The 13-day tour from £1595 features a visit to the Grand Buddha at Leshan – the world’s largest at over 210ft high, a visit to the Yellow Mountains which have been celebrated in Chinese art and poetry for centuries and the towns of the Anhui Province which have been declared, in their entirety, a World Heritage Site. Departures in April, May, August and September. Price includes all travel, meals and sightseeing.

China – The Silk Route from £1795
This fascinating 15-day tour from £1795 will take you on a remarkable journey through time, way back to the second century BC when General Qian first travelled the great east-west trade route to satisfy Imperial Rome’s appetite for silk. Along the way you will visit the site of the Terracotta Army in Xian, gaze in awe at 100ft sand dunes at Mingsha, take a fascinating trip by train to the Turpan – the 2nd lowest location on earth and visit Kashgar with up to 100,000 locals for the largest weekly market in the world. Departures throughout the year. Includes all travel, meals and sightseeing.

For more information and bookings, visit travelsphere.co.uk.