Where to Stay
Every captivating tailor-made itinerary needs a perfect base. Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any adventure.
Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou
A city of contrasts, Shanghai has two distinctly different faces, one old and one new, and is evolving at a rapid pace. It is a dynamic place with an extremely exhilarating pace and lifestyle.
Appearing to have leapt straight from its 19th-century splendour of merchant’s offices, banks and hotels that were built along the famous Bund, to the glass skyscrapers now appearing on the newly reclaimed land of Pudong on the opposite river bank.
Old Shanghai
The old parts of the city are worth a visit where beautifully designed hidden gardens such as the Yu garden, a typical Chinese courtyard style garden, are tucked away down the many side alleys and traditional street markets still occur where locals trade fresh produce and handicrafts among other more tourist orientated items.
Old and new seem to blend effortlessly in Shanghai, and a day’s travel can include sampling traditional Chinese dumplings from a small street stall to gazing at one of the many magnificent skyscrapers from an opulent restaurant.
What's nearby?
Shanghai is a vibrant city with a fabulous museum, ancient temples and gardens, good nightlife and international cuisine including Shanghai’s own famed seafood making the city a firm favourite for all who visit. Shanghai is a city that never sleeps.
Close by and easily visited for the day are numerous pretty water towns, crisscrossed with intricate canals and attractive stone bridges. Suzhou is famed for its silk weaving trade and is also home to a number of beautiful traditional gardens. Other water towns include Hangzhou with its tranquil west lake and lavish temples, Zhouzhuang, one of the oldest in the country and Luzhi, often less visited and home to around 41 well preserved ancient stone bridges of different style and size.
The newly introduced Shanghai – Kumming High-Speed railway has been newly introduced since 2017. A total journey time of 12 hours, passing through four provincial capitals.
Take a side trip to Huang Shan
Reached by air and rail from Shanghai or overland from Hangzhou, Huang Shan or Yellow Mountain is well worth a visit. The Huang Shan mountain range is made up of 72 peaks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pine trees jut from unusually shaped granite rocks and towering mountains rise above seas of cloud giving the whole area a truly ethereal feel. There are some wonderful walking trails or cable cars ascending the mountains. Hot springs are also abundant in the region and nearby traditional villages give a taste of rural Chinese life.
Experiences
What do you really love doing? We curate your itinerary especially for you.
China
Amanfayun
Hidden in a picturesque valley, a short drive from Hangzhou, Amanfayun is surrounded by tea fields, natural forest, quaint villages and a pilgrimage circuit of five significant Buddhist temples. Many of the 47 rooms, suites, and…
China
Banyan Tree Hangzhou
Banyan Tree Hangzhou sits within China’s first wetland reserve, home to a wealth of plant and bird life. The 72 rooms and villas are designed like a Jiangnan-style town, with slate grey tiled roofs and are…
China
Alila Anji
Alila Anji is tucked away in a little know area of China, south west of the buzzing city of Shanghai. The peaceful lakeside setting, surrounded by mountains, tea plantations and bamboo forests is an area dedicated…
China
Ahn Luh Zhujiajiao
This renovated building houses a 600-year-old Ming Dynasty courthouse as the hotel lobby and a theatre from the Qing Dynasty at the heart of the building. Ahn Luh Zhujiajiao is certainly not lacking in history or…
Idea
China
China – Highlights of Yunnan
Travel from Kunming to Dali and Lijiang to Shangri-La experiencing fascinating cultures and beautiful scenery en route. Yunnan is one of China’s most diverse and naturally beautiful provinces with terrain ranging from snow-capped and alpine mountains to tropical rainforests.
Idea
China
China – Shangri-La and Beyond
Exploring the far north western region of Yunnan, this holiday to Shangri-La is ideal for travellers wishing to experience remote, wild and scenically beautiful parts of China. Immerse yourself in local communities by staying in peaceful Tibetan villages surrounded by spectacular scenery.
Idea
China
Highlights of China including Yangtze Cruise
Travel by air, train and boat on this classic holiday encompassing many of the highlights China has to offer, including Beijing and Xian as well as a Yangtze cruise and the beautiful karst limestone peaks of Guilin. A great first holiday to…
Idea
China
China – Highlights of Yunnan
Travel from Kunming to Dali and Lijiang to Shangri-La experiencing fascinating cultures and beautiful scenery en route. Yunnan is one of China’s most diverse and naturally beautiful provinces with terrain ranging from snow-capped and alpine mountains to tropical rainforests.
Idea
China
China – Shangri-La and Beyond
Exploring the far north western region of Yunnan, this holiday to Shangri-La is ideal for travellers wishing to experience remote, wild and scenically beautiful parts of China. Immerse yourself in local communities by staying in peaceful Tibetan villages surrounded by…
Idea
China
Highlights of China including Yangtze Cruise
Travel by air, train and boat on this classic holiday encompassing many of the highlights China has to offer, including Beijing and Xian as well as a Yangtze cruise and the beautiful karst limestone peaks of Guilin. A great first…
Meet our experts
A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.
Paul Craven
Paul is the Conde Nast Traveller chosen Specialist for Central Asia and the Silk Route.
I first travelled to Vietnam in 1988, when tourism was barely a concept, and have been visiting Central Asia since it was still behind the Iron Curtain. Such first-hand experience makes all the difference when talking to clients. I know the importance of asking questions, not taking the first answer as gospel, and matching the right destination to the right person.
Talk with our experts
- 1(800)272-4163
Clare Wiggins
My love for Asia began with living there. Based in Vietnam and then Malaysia, I also explored the surrounding regions before eventually finding my way back home via China and the Trans-Siberian railway. At Steppes Travel, I get to share that love for Asia every day, helping clients experience the places I know best as if they were locals themselves.
Talk with our experts
- 1(800)272-4163
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Why Choose Steppes?
Our knowledge, curiosity and expertise set us apart, driving us to create remarkable holidays and Beautiful Adventures tailored perfectly to you, carefully curated to help protect and conserve our planet.
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