The Mandarin's Path Tour, China

The “Parcours du mandarin” tour at a glance

Parcours du mandarin (The Mandarin's Route) is a 12-day, 11-night Club Med Discovery tour of China, in the Cultural Treasures theme, starting in Beijing and ending in Shanghai. Along the way, you walk the Great Wall at Jinshanling, visit the imperial resort of Chengde, stand before the Terracotta Army in Xi'an and sail down the Li River to Yangshuo. The final days lead to the gardens of Suzhou and the canals of Tongli. Nights are spent in 4-star and 5-star hotels. The package includes the three domestic flights, full board with one local drink and tea at every meal, sightseeing, porterage and a Club Med tour leader from 10 participants. A 2-day extension to Hong Kong lengthens the trip.

What do you see in the first five days, from Beijing to Chengde?

The first day in Beijing starts in the 798 art district, then in the hutongs, the old lanes around the Bell Tower. The next day is devoted to the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen Square, and the evening ends with an acrobatics show. The third day leads to the Ming Tombs along the Spirit Way, lined with statues, then to the Summer Palace, with a stop at a jade workshop. On day four, you walk the Great Wall at Jinshanling before driving to Chengde and the Puning Temple. On day five, you discover the emperors' mountain resort, the Temple of Happiness and the Little Potala, then return to Beijing for a Peking duck dinner.

How does the rest of the tour unfold, from Xi'an to Shanghai?

A flight takes you to Xi'an on day six: a visit to the Yangling tomb, then a dinner show inspired by the Tang dynasty. On day seven, you explore the Forest of Stone Steles, the city walls and the Terracotta Army. On day eight, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the museum and the Great Mosque come before the flight to Guilin. Day nine is the Li River cruise, with lunch on board, to the Yangshuo market, before a flight to Shanghai. There you visit the museum, Yu Garden, the Bund and the French Concession, and dinner is served high above Pudong. Day eleven is set aside for Suzhou and Tongli: the Tuisi Garden, a walk along the canals and a silk workshop. The tour ends on day twelve at the Jade Buddha Temple.

What does the Hong Kong extension include?

The extension adds 2 days and brings the trip to 14 days. The flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong is included. There, you cross the harbour aboard the Star Ferry, ride up to Victoria Peak for the view over the skyscrapers, visit Tai Kwun, the former police compound turned cultural centre, and ride the historic tram. A dim sum meal completes the programme. Nights are spent at the Kowloon Shangri-La, a 5-star hotel.

Which hotels do you stay in during the tour?

The programme lists the Hilton Beijing, a 5-star hotel, then the Chengde Jiahe International, a 4-star hotel, for the night near the imperial resort. In Xi'an, you stay at the Sheraton North City, a 5-star hotel, and in Guilin at the Sheraton, a 4-star hotel. In Shanghai, the Grand Central, a 5-star hotel, is the base for the last three nights. Your advisor confirms the exact list when you book, as an equivalent hotel may replace the one announced.

What is included and what is paid separately?

The package includes domestic flights from Beijing to Xi'an, Xi'an to Guilin and Guilin to Shanghai, with their taxes, as well as road travel in an air-conditioned vehicle. Full board runs from lunch on day one to lunch on day twelve, with one local drink and tea at every meal. Sightseeing, porterage and local taxes are also included. International flights, transfers between the airport and the hotel, additional drinks, tips, personal expenses, the Club Med annual membership fee and optional insurance are paid separately. Your advisor books all of this with the tour so you have a single file.

Who accompanies the group during the trip?

From 10 participants, a Club Med tour leader stays with the group from start to finish, assisted by French-speaking local guides. With 7 to 9 participants, a French-speaking local guide accompanies the group. With fewer than 7 people, French-speaking local guides take care of you at each stage. In every case, departures are guaranteed from the first booking, and assistance is available 24 hours a day. The group stays small, which makes visits smoother at busy sites like the Forbidden City.

What is the best season for this tour?

The published programme is the winter season one, and your advisor tells you which departures are offered. As for the climate, spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons to link Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin and Shanghai, with mild days for walking. Winter brings dry, cold air in the north and far fewer people on the Great Wall. Summer is hot and humid in the south, where the Li River landscapes are then very green. Bring good shoes: much of the sightseeing is done on foot.

How do you get to Beijing from Quebec?

You fly from Montreal to Beijing, with or without a connection depending on the season, and return from Shanghai, or from Hong Kong if you take the extension. Your advisor books these two international flights together with the tour and adds the arrival and departure transfers. They often suggest arriving the day before, so you start the hutong visit rested. For your Canadian passport and visa, your advisor checks the requirements when you book. See also our travel to China page to plan the rest of your stay.

Which Club Med resort can you combine with the tour?

Club Med offers a beach extension at its resorts in Sanya, on Hainan Island, or in Bali. Club Med Bali, in Nusa Dua, has a long beach where you can rest after twelve days of sightseeing. To stay in China, Club Med Guilin sits in the karst mountains of the region you travel through, and Club Med Lijiang opens onto Yunnan. Your advisor compares the options and builds the complete trip with the flights between stages. See all the Club Med resorts in Asia and the Indian Ocean.

Who is the Parcours du mandarin tour for?

This tour is designed for curious travellers who want to see imperial China and today's China in a single trip, without organizing anything themselves. The pace is brisk, with three domestic flights and long days of sightseeing, and it suits fit people who like to walk. It makes a good first trip to China: meals, transport and guides are all arranged ahead of time. If Japan or Korea also tempt you, compare with Les voies du Tokaido and Songe coréen.

Why book this tour with AquaTerra?

Voyages Synergia received the Club Med Excellence Award 2025, and our advisors know the Club Med Discovery tours. We help you choose between this tour and the other Club Med tours in Asia and the Indian Ocean, decide whether the Hong Kong extension is worth it for you, and build the flights so you arrive in Beijing rested and leave Shanghai without stress.

Call 1-866-628-6241. You will reach someone who knows this tour and has time for you. We look together at what is available on your dates, we choose the right departure, and we stay on the line throughout your trip. That is the difference between booking alone in front of a screen and travelling with someone behind you.

Meet our Club Med Specialists who can help you plan your trips to any of the Club Med destinations.

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