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China Discovery (11-days)
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Please note that this
itinerary is our suggestion only- all our tours are custom
made to your requirements!
The route of the tour
Forbidden City
The Summer Palace, Beijing
Terracotta Army at Xi'an
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Guilin
Yangshuo
Shanghai Skyline
The Bund
Your tour price includes:
International and internal flights
Hotel accommodation with meals as indicated in the programme.
Transfers, tours with English speaking guide.
All entrance fees and boat fees.
Service charges, rooms tax and handling fees.
Your tour price does not include:
Personal expenses and other services which are not mentioned
in the program.
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Beijing-Xi An-Guilin-Yangshuo-Guilin-Shanghai
Day 1. Arrive Beijing
Arrive at Beijing airport, our China representative will be at the airport to
welcome you and transfer to your Hotel. This afternoon you will visit the
favourite haunt of the Dowager Empress, the Summer Palace. Walking in this
veritable museum of classical Chinese garden architecture where the royal
family could relax away from the formal ceremony of the court is a very
pleasant experience. There are a number of pavilions as well as the Long
Corridor that is now a popular place for people to spend the day.
Day 2. Beijing
Todays tour includes Tian'anmen Square, the largest public square in the world.
Dominating the north side of the square is the massive red Tian'anmen Gate
through which you will pass into the fabled Forbidden City and another age,
where you will be shown the home to the members of the royal family and
their court in China's Ming and Qing Dynasties. After lunch you will visit
the imposing Temple of Heaven where the Emperor came each year to intercede
with the Gods for a good and plentiful harvest. Tonight you will have
Beijing Duck Dinner. (L+D)
Day 3. Beijing
Today visit to the Badaling Great Wall where you will have the opportunity
to not only see one of the most impressive sections of the Great Wall of China
but you will be able to take a walk along it. After lunch, on the way back to Beijing
you will visit the Sacred Way with
its fabulous stone animals. It leads you to the Ming Tombs in the shadow
of Longevity Mountain. A visit to the Underground Palace of Dingling,
will allow you to see imperial coffins, burial artifacts and treasures.
Dinner at hotel or local restaurant & followed by the fascinating Peking
Opera performance. (B+L)
Day 4. Beijing - Xi'an
Transfer to airport for your flight to the ancient former capital city of
Xi'an. Pick up & transfer to your hotel. Today we visit the ancient Xi'an
City Wall from the 14th century, one of the most important city walls in
China. We also visit The Muslim Street & The Great Mosque & the Forest
of Stone Tablets Museum. To celebrate your arrival in Xi'an you will
enjoy a local speciality, the Dumpling Dinner, the popular food in the
Chinese Lunar New Year. (B+L+D)
Day 5: Xi’an
Today is another highlight of your tour, the Terracotta Warriors Museum.
The thousands of life size soldiers and horses were created to guard the tomb of
Qin Shi Huangdi, the first Emperor to unite China under his firm rule. The royal
tomb itself has yet to be opened but the rank upon rank of Warriors is a sight
that is unrivalled anywhere in the world. After lunch, you will visit the
Provincial History Museum with its richest collection of artifacts in China.
Your last visit for the afternoon will be to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
The square, seven-storey pagoda was built in 652 AD and is a fine example of
Tang Dynasty Buddhist architecture. Tonight, you will attend the deluxe
Tang Dynasty Dinner Show at the famous Tang Dynasty Palace where fine food
and spectacular entertainment bring another outstanding day to a close. (B+L+D)
Day 6 Xi’an
To start your morning, you will have a unique chance to approach the mysterious
and ancient art of Tai Chi Chuan, a 300-year old traditional Chinese martial art,
also known as shadow or Chinese Tai Chi Boxing. Now it is a popular exercise
for Chinese people. Gain the real experience of doing Tai Chi with
local Chinese before your exploration of some of the sights. Freshly stimulated
in body and mind, drive 70 miles west of Xi'an to visit Qianling,
the joint mausoleum of Emperor Gaozong and Wu Zetian, the only woman to rule
China in her own right and Qianling Museum. While the main tomb has never
been excavated, the tomb of Princess Yongtai, granddaughter of Empress Wu,
has been opened and is of great interest. As a contrast you visit the farmers'
caves before you move on to Xianyang Terracotta Museum. Situated on the site
of the capital of the Qin Dynasty that unified China in 221 BC, the exhibits
include a model of the first emperor's palace as well as other artifacts from
the site. Then you are transferred back to Xi'an. (B+L)
Day 7: Xi’an - Guilin
Transfer to airport for your flight to Guilin, pick up & transfer to hotel.
Today we visit the Reed Flute Cave, named after the reeds used in the
manufacture of flutes that grow near it. The cave system has a stunning
array of natural limestone formations that are made all the more impressive
by the clever use of coloured lighting. Then you go to the delightful Seven
Star Park before you visit one of the many unusual rock formations
that have been carved out by water erosion over thousands of years,
Elephant Trunk Hill, as its name implies is quite a remarkable example
of the hand of nature upon the landscape. (B+L)
Day 8: Guilin - Yangshuo
After breakfast, take a short drive to join a cruise that will take you on a
voyage of discovery along the Li River. The river wends its way through the
unique scenery of Karsts (limestone mountains) that have strange and fabulous
shapes. Admire the shapes and try to guess their names - Crown Rock, Conch Hill,
Jade Lotus Peak and Snow Lion Peak are just a few while enjoying lunch on board.
Finally arrive at Yangshuo and check in the best hotel in town named Yangshuo
Paradise Resort for one night. This afternoon, we start cycling into rural
China! Our guide will accompany you to go to Licun Village by bicycle to
experience the peasants' life there. You enjoy the sunset behind the farm
fields along the winding Li River with the cooking smoke rising over the
local village while riding in the countryside road. (B+L)
Day 9: Yangshuo - Guilin
This morning we visit Green Lotus Peak, Mountain Water Garden, Yangshuo Park
etc. After lunch we drive back to Guilin & transfer to hotel. (B+L)
Day 10: Guilin - Shanghai
Following breakfast you will fly to Shanghai, pick up and transfer to hotel.
Shanghai is a city that must be seen to be appreciated. You will see something
of its history at the Shanghai Museum on People's Square with its fine
collection of cultural relics. Then you go to the Yuyuan Garden. Laid
out in the 16th century by a Ming official, this small (2 hectares) garden
is a delight of pools, pavilions and rock gardens. Strolling through the
bazaar surrounding the garden, you will find lines of stores that sells
traditional Chinese arts and crafts. Next comes The Bund, one of the most
famous thoroughfares in China and here you will see a collection of
buildings dating from the 1930's displaying their western influence and
fulfilling the role of the commercial heart of Shanghai. Leaving the
ancient for the modern you visit the TV Tower of the Oriental Pearl
situated in the thriving Pudong area of the city dominated by the 88-storey
Jin Mao building. This evening you will mark the end of your tour with a
Farewell Dinner at the famous Seagull Palace, which allows you to enjoy
gourmet food while appreciating the fascinating view of both the old Bund
and the new Shanghai. (B+L+D)
Day 11: Departure
Transfer to airport for your homeward flight. (B)
Please note that, whilst every effort will
be made to carry out the programme shown above, small changes may sometimes be necessary.
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