Celebrate the year of the rat with Travelsphere

February 7 2008 marks the start of the Chinese New Year of the Rat. Legend has it that the Jade Emperor invited numerous animals to his party. The first 12 to arrive were the Rat, followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and lastly, the Pig.

Worldwide tour operator, Travelsphere, was one of the first UK operators to offer tours to china back in 1987.

In celebration of the Chinese New Year, the company has launched a new dedicated brochure to the country which features over ten value-packed packages, all of which include travel, meals and sightseeing (excluding Hong Kong), plus numerous add-on and extend your stay options from just £899.

New ideas include a 10-day tour of Shanghai, Xian and Beijing from £995.
There is also a once in a lifetime opportunity to view the August Solar Eclipse from the heart of China’s Silk Route on a memorable 20-day tour from £2499. The tour features stays in Beijing, Xian, Dunhuang, Hami, Chengde, Wolong and Shanghai. Highlights include an evening camping under the stars in readiness for the solar eclipse, a visit to the Wolong Nature Reserve to see the Pandas and a three night cruise up the mighty Yangtze Gorge. Departs Thursday July 24th.

The Rooftop of the World – 20 days from £2499. Departures from May to October.
Take a fascinating journey by train along the world’s highest and most spectacular railway line - the first to link Tibet with the rest of China on an inspiring adventure across the Himalayan plains and souring mountains from Lhasa to Xining. The 20-day tour from £2,499 also includes three nights’ each in the vibrant cities of Shanghai and Beijing, a cruise up the Yangtze River and visit to the Terracotta Warriors in Xian.

China – The Silk Route. 15-days from £2049. Departures in September & October.
This enthralling 15-day tour from £2049 takes guests 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. Highlights include a fascinating trip by train to the Turpan – the 2nd lowest location on earth, the incredible sand dunes at Mingsha and a visit to Kashgar with up to 100,000 locals for the largest weekly market in the world.

China’s Shangri-La from £1399. Departs May, September, October & November.
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. The 10-day tour from £1399 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.

Ancient Water Towns & Shanghai. 10-days from £899. Departs March to November.
This charming 10-day tour from just £899 features the delightful waterside villages of the Shanghai province with their ancient canals, classical gardens and pagodas. Highlights include a visit to the town of Zhujiajiao which boasts 36 ornate bridges which date back nearly 1700 years to the Ming and Qing dynasties, ancient Suzhou famed for its classic landscaped gardens, a cruise along the Grand Canal and Hangzhou – described by Marco Polo as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

For more information, visit Travelsphere.co.uk.