13D12N GRAND TOUR CHINA

Arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport. Upon arrival, a representative will be waiting to greet you at the airport and accompany you on the transfer to the city. The private transfer will take you directly to your hotel in Beijing. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure in the city. Take the opportunity to rest and recover after the flight or head out into the city for your first glimpse of life in China’s sprawling capital city.

After breakfast at the hotel, prepare for pick-up at 8:00 for a visit to the site that witnessed the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Tiananmen Square. This is one of the most impressive public plazas in the world and it is located right in the centre of Beijing. After visiting Tiananmen Square, take a leisurely stroll to the Forbidden City, the largest ancient palatial structure in the world and the best-preserved imperial palace in China. Spend around 1.5 hours exploring the halls and gardens of the complex and observe the traditional palatial architecture that has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and beyond (entrance to exhibitions not included). Drive to a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, visit the Temple of Heaven, an imperial complex of religious buildings in the styles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Spend 1.5 hours appreciating the temple, before enjoying a tea ceremony experience in a tea house next to the Temple of Heaven. Transfer back to the hotel around 17:00. Enjoy the evening at your leisure in Beijing.

Start the day with breakfast at the hotel, then be ready for pick-up at 8:00 for a visit to the picturesque Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Take a cable car up and spend around 2 hours exploring one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken. With sections dating back 2,000 years, the Great Wall is a testament to Chinese engineering, a monument to human endeavour set against a backdrop of stunning scenery. After the Great Wall, transfer to the Beijing Cloisonné Factory to see how China’s famous traditional enamelware is produced. This factory was established in 1956 and it is the largest in China. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, visit the Summer Palace, the former summer retreat of the imperial family. The natural landscape of these royal gardens and the open water of Kumming Lake provide stunning views. Spend around 1.5 hours wandering around the pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges that are all beautifully decorated and charged with historical context (entrance fees for the boat, theatre and Longevity Hill are not included). Transfer back to the hotel around 18:00.

This morning will begin with an early pick up at 5:30. Your guide will provide you with a packed breakfast to enjoy en route. Transfer to Beijing West Railway Station and take the high-speed train to Xi’an (departure at approximately 7:00 am). Upon arrival in Xi’an, you will be greeted by a local guide at the railway station and transferred to downtown Xi’an. Visit the Fortifications of Xi’an. Built by Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming dynasty, the 600-year-old wall is now one of the oldest, largest and best preserved of Chinese city walls. Then drive to Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter, a bustling section of the city where the majority of Xi’an’s Muslim population live and work. There are several mosques here and several lively market streets. Wander around the market and soak up the bright colourful atmosphere. Take the opportunity to sample a variety of local foods and snacks from the market sellers. Transfer to the hotel at around 18:00 for check-in and enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel. You will be collected at 8:00 for a visit to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. Praised as the eighth wonder of the world, this collection of terracotta warriors, horses, chariots and weapons unearthed at the site of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor provides a fascinating insight into ancient China. Around 2,000 warriors have been excavated since their chance discover in 1974, but it is estimated that there may be up to an impressive 8,000 in total. This silent army are a fascinating highlight to any tour. Afterwards, visit a terracotta figure factory and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This well-preserved ancient Buddhist pagoda was built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty and it is one of the oldest surviving structures of its kind in China. Spend around an hour exploring the site (entrance to climb the tower is not included). Transfer back to the hotel at approximately 17:00 and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, then be ready for pick-up at around 7:30 in the morning. Transfer to the railway station to catch the high-speed train (departing at about 9:30-10:00 am) to Chengdu. Lunch today will be on board the train (not included.) Upon arrival in Chengdu, you will be greeted by your local guide at the railway station. Visit Chengdu People’s Park, a large scenic park covering an area of over 112,000 square metres where both locals and tourists gather to take in the scenery, sail on the lake, drink tea in a teahouse and generally enjoy a more peaceful pace of life. You will be allowed time to enjoy the park at your leisure. After the People’s Park, visit Wide and Narrow Alley, an area of the city with three parallel ancient alleys and 45 courtyards. This area is a microcosm of the history and culture of Chengdu. See ancient teahouses, residences, traditional shops, snack bars, street entertainers and many other attractions and exhibitions of local life. Transfer to the hotel for check-in at around 18:00 and spend the evening at your leisure.

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, be ready for a transfer at 7:30 to the Dujiangyan Giant Panda Base, a conservation and research centre dedicated to giant panda disease prevention and control, wild rescue, international cooperation and public education. Spend 1.5 hours at the centre learning about this beautiful but endangered species. Watch the pandas as they eat their bamboo, play and sleep. After visiting the base, drive to a local restaurant for lunch. Then, transfer to the Chengdu Railway Station to catch the high-speed train (departing at approximately 15:30) to Chongqing. Upon arrival in Chongqing, you will be greeted by your local guide at the railway station and transferred to the port ready for your river cruise to Yichang. This leisurely 3-night journey by boat will take you through the stunning scenery of the Yangtze river, the third longest river in the world and China’s lifeline with tributaries running through 18 provinces and cities. There are dinner options on board the cruise (dinner not included).

Start the day with a morning coffee or tea aboard the boat followed by Tai Chi exercises and a buffet breakfast. Continue your cruise along the mighty Yangtze River with a stop at either Ghost City Fengdu or the Shibaozhai Pagoda. Where the cruise ship will stop will depend on water levels and other climatic conditions. You will be provided with further information upon boarding the vessel. Ghost City Fengdu is an area of local legend, striking scenic beauty and a large complex of shrines, temples and monasteries dedicated to the afterlife (entrance not included, payable at the spot). Shibaozhai Pagoda is a Qing dynasty wooden masterpiece built into the side of a steep 200-metre rocky outcrop surrounded by stunning scenery on the banks of the river. The evening provides an opportunity to attend an information session on board the ship about the river and local famous sites. Lunch and dinner will be served on board the boat.

Wake up to your morning coffee or tea followed by Tai Chi exercises and a buffet breakfast. Today we will enter the Three Gorges section of the Yangtze, the most scenic and navigable sections of the river. First, we will pass through Qutang Gorge, the most dramatic of the gorges, where the river travels through a narrow sluice between sheer limestone cliffs. Continue on to Wu Gorge, which is known as the ‘witches gorge’ because of its depth and twisting nature. It is bordered by agricultural land that overhangs at almost impossible angles. Disembark the boat for a visit to the White Emperor City (entrance not included, payable on the spot), followed by an excursion to Shennong Stream (included). You have the opportunity to stretch your legs as you wander along this small tributary surrounded by picturesque scenery. Back on board, head towards the western section of Xiling Gorge, a famous shipping thoroughfare that has been used for centuries, before passing the impressive ship locks and sailing towards the majestic Three Gorges Dam, China’s largest engineering feat since the Great Wall. Lunch and dinner will be served on board.

This morning will begin with breakfast on board the boat followed by an on-land excursion of the Three Gorges Dam. You will disembark the cruise ship and be collected at approximately 8:00. Drive for around 30 minutes to reach the starting point of the dam tour. The Three Gorges Dam is the largest hydroelectric power station in the world, it has 22,500 megawatts of installed capacity, it stretches for over 2 kilometres and has a height of 181 metres. The tour of the facility will last for one hour. Return to the boat for the remainder of the morning. Disembark the boat and transfer to Yichang Train Station where we will catch the high-speed train to Shanghai (departure at approximately 14:00, journey duration 8 hours). A packed lunch will be provided. Upon arrival in Shanghai, you will be greeted by your local guide at the railway station and transferred to the hotel for check-in. Expect to arrive at the hotel at approximately 22:00.

After breakfast at the hotel, prepare for a full day tour of Shanghai starting at around 8:30. Constructed 400 years ago during the Ming Dynasty, the colossal modern city of Shanghai has respectfully sprung up around the remains of its older relative, providing a fascinating window into the past. Visit the sublime Yu Garden, a wonderful example of classical design in the old city centre. Then, visit the Jade Buddha Temple, celebrated for its two magnificent white jade Burmese Buddha statues. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, drive to Nanjing Road, a well-known shopping boulevard with all the energy, bright lights and spectacle of Shanghai condensed into one location. Stroll along the seafront in The Bund and witness the world-famous Shanghai skyline first-hand. The Pudong area boasts a striking blend of ultra-modern architecture and ornate colonial buildings. Visit the former French Concession and stroll around the leafy boulevards discovering the quaint architecture. The last stop of the day is the Silk Factory, where we will admire this fine handicraft before heading back to the hotel for the evening at around 19:00.

Wake up to breakfast at your hotel. Today has been left free to allow you a day at your leisure exploring this international metropolis at your own pace. Shanghai is home to the world’s second-tallest tower and a whole range of other skyscrapers, but there’s a lot more to the city than the modern image of the city typified by Pudong. Visit different areas of the city and you will encounter many different architectural styles from art deco buildings to Jesuit cathedrals, Jewish synagogues, Buddhist temples and Shanghai’s own architectural styles, longtang and shikumen, that combine both Western and Chinese elements. Also known as the ‘Paris of the East’, Shanghai is a shopper’s heaven and there is an extensive selection of luxury malls and shopping districts here. After sampling the best of the city, why not sample Shanghai’s restaurant scene? With everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to traditional cuisine, the city has something for everyone.

Start the day with breakfast at your hotel. Then, prepare to check out of your hotel room at the scheduled time and transfer to Shanghai Airport for your onward or return flight. Although this is the last day of your 13-day tour through some of the most fascinating cultural, architectural and natural wonders of China, we are sure that your memories of this fascinating country will last you a lifetime.