Day 1 - 2 Arrive Beijing
Your China escorted tour starts in Beijing. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. The next day, you will be met by your personal English-speaking tour guide to begin your journey. You will start with a visit to the Temple of Heaven, where you can see local people practising Tai Chi, as well as singing and calligraphy in the neighbouring park. Next, take a leisurely walk through Tiananmen Square to the Forbidden City, and on to Jing-shan Hill to enjoy the panoramic view of the Forbidden City. In the evening, you’ll have the opportunity to sample one of China’s most famous dishes of all - a Peking Duck Dinner before you marvel at a fantastic Kung Fu show, featuring a fusion of modern dance with Chinese traditional arts – simply mesmerising! (1B/1D)
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Day 3 - 4 Beijing
Today you will step back in time to ancient China with a walk on the Great Wall at Mutianyu section, one way cable car up to the watchtower and then walk down. En route visit a Cloisonné workshop to learn how the Chinese ancient technique of Cloisonné is used to make beautiful fine handcrafts. The next morning, enjoy the ride on a traditional rickshaw through the zigzag alleyways called Hutong to catch a glimpse into local Chinese life before heading off to the Summer Palace, where you will relax on a dragon boat ride across the Kunming Lake. Your Beijing tour ends with a transfer to the airport for a flight to Xian. Having arrived for your Xian tour, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. (2B/1D)
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Day 5 Xi'an
Visit the historically significant and the amazing Terracotta Warriors - where 7000 individually-crafted clay soldiers stand on guard. Learn how to make these warriors at a workshop, afternoon stroll (or even cycle!) on the original City Wall, and explore the Old Muslim Quarter and Old Mosque. Tonight enjoy the local speciality ‘dumpling dinner’ before the fabulous Tang Dynasty culture show. (1B/1D)
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Day 6 - 7 Lhasa
Fly to Lhasa, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The next day you will visit the world-famous architectural wonder – the Potala Palace, which towers over the entire mountain. The lake below the palace is simply gorgeous. This is where the Dalai Lama spent his winters. And then explore some of the largest and most impressive monasteries of Tibet – Sera and Drepung, and have the opportunity to watch the monks debating. You will also stop at Norbulingka Park, the site of the Dalai Lama’s Summer Palace, sampling a Tibetan specialty dinner. (2B/1D)
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Day 8 Lhasa / Chongqing
Today starts with a visit to the Jokhang Temple, which is known as the most sacred place in Tibet – thousands of Pilgrims from all over Tibet come here to pay homage every year, and then enjoy a walking tour down the back-streets through the Tibetan Quarter and drive to the hill top at Pawang Ka for a breathtaking view over the Lhasa Valley. This afternoon fly to Chongqing for your Yangtze River cruise. (1B)
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Day 9- 10 Yangtze River Cruise
2 days Yangtze River cruise sail through Xiling Gorge, Wu Gorge and Qutang Gorge. Now is the time to relax and enjoy magnificent views of various shapes of peaks, rolling hills and small towns along the river or you could participate in many of the Chinese cultural activities on board – such as Chinese Brush-painting shows, Chinese silk embroidery lessons and Tai Chi morning exercise classes. As part of your Yangtze Cruise tour, you will get to go ashore, visiting the Ghost City of Fengdu, taking a Sampan (wooden boat) tour to one of the Yangtze’s tributaries, and visiting the Three Gorges Dam project. While on board, your cruise ship will also pass through the world’s biggest five level ship lock. (2B/2L/2D)
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Day 11 - 14 Shanghai
Natural wonders come to an end when you depart your Yangtze River cruise at Yichang but are soon replaced with man-made ones after your flight to Shanghai. During the next two days, stroll along the historic riverfront Bund, where you see 52 magnificent colonial buildings. Along the Huangpu River, you can see the contrasting view of “old and modern” Shanghai. Then enjoy the underwater tram through the ‘sight-seeing tunnel’. The tunnel features a light show and music and travels from the Bund to the Pudong New Areas, reach the top of Jin Mao Building, one of world’s tallest buildings to enjoy a panoramic view of Shanghai. Head down to Yu Garden, an exquisite Ming Dynasty style Garden, and wander through the Old Quarter and neighbouring Yu Bazaar. Sample a local special dinner before a witnessing the awe-inspiring Acrobatic show. Observe locals morning life at the People’s Square, visit one of China’s best museum – Shanghai Museum to see a large collection of Chinese antiques and fine arts, followed by a visit to Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, where you will be amazed by a giant walk around model of the city modern. You will have a contrasting experience of Old and New at Xintiandi, a restored area of traditional residential houses, where modern villas and cafes sit next to ancient neighbourhood blocks, sit back to have a cup of coffee or explore boutique shops. Your Shanghai tour ends with a trip on the High speed Maglev train to the International Airport on day 14. (3B/1D)
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