This magical tour enables you to see so much of the richness of the Chinese panorama. Over 20 days you travel between two great cities from Beijing to Shanghai, both wonders within themselves, traversing vast regions and seeing marvels of historical, archaeological, geographical, and cultural significance from old and new China. You will cruise the mighty Yangtze River relaxing and viewing the marvels along its banks. You will feel the magic of the landscape around Guilin. You will be fascinated by the ethnic cultures of the minority peoples around Lijiang. You will remember this experience as the tour of a lifetime.
You transfer to your hotel.
After breakfast you will visit Tiananmen Square, look across the vast space to the Great Hall of the People and stand before the massive Tiananmen (Heavenly Peace) Gate bearing a huge portrait of Mao Zedong, where he proclaimed the establishment of the People’s Republic on 1 October 1949. Lying behind is the Forbidden City, as the former imperial palace is called, where the magnificent marble courtyards, huge halls, gilded temples and ornate pavilions, the residence of the emperors and their families, are now open to your wonderment. After lunch there will be a rickshaw tour of Beijing’s old Hutong district, a fascinating maze of narrow alleys, old houses and hidden courtyards dating from Yuan Dynasty times (14th Century) where people who live and work here welcome you into their homes. (B/L)
You will be taken north today to pace the ramparts of China’s famed Great Wall, originally constructed over 2000 years ago to keep the northern invaders at bay. Later there is a visit to the picturesque Shisanling Valley to see the Ming Tombs, where the evocative ‘spirit way’ is lined with pairs of stone statues of officials, warriors and animals which stand guard over the resting places of 13 emperors and their families. This evening a traditional Peking Duck dinner completes a very special day. (B/L/D)
Today you will visit the Summer Palace, the famed pleasure garden of the Qing emperors. Beautiful ornamental plantings, languid willows and painted pavilions surround a scenic lake, across which are enchanting views to the pagoda-capped Jade Spring Hill and the mountains beyond. Finally you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where the emperors, for the good of the empire, carried out the most important sacrifices and ceremonies of the year. Set in a huge park planted with conifers, the beautiful blue-tiled buildings represent the epitome of Ming architecture. (B/L)
Today you fly to Xian. Over 1,000 years ago, Xian was the capital city of the Tang Dynasty and then the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the world. This afternoon walk along the top of the Xian City Wall which of old encircles the inner city and this evening you will enjoy the lavish spectacle of the Tang Dynasty Dinner and Show (B/L/D)
This morning you visit the remarkable archaeological site where the Terracotta Warriors and Horses who guarded the tomb of China’s great unifier and first emperor Qingshihuang who died in 210 BC, were discovered. View 6000 life-size terracotta warriors and their horses made and buried, lined up facing east in battle array. (B/L)
Today you fly to Yichang and board your luxurious Yangtze River cruise ship. (B/D)
You cruise the famous Yangtze River in a superbly appointed cruise ship as it winds its way through the spectacular scenery of the Three Gorges. For many people, a cruise along this famous river is a lifelong dream. At 6300km, the Yangtze is the third longest river in the world, made famous today by its spectacular Three Gorges and the controversial Three Gorges Dam. The Three Gorges stretch for 193km, along which are many historic sites such as Baidi City, cliff inscriptions, suspended coffins of the Bai Tribe, tombs of the Han Dynasty (prior to 220 AD), and battlefields of the Three Kingdoms period. Where the river widens, terraced fields spread out up mountain slopes, interspersed with orange orchards and tea gardens. The mist-shrouded landscape of the Yangtze Gorges is as lovely as a traditional Chinese painting. Along the way you stop and visit interesting places. (All meals on board)
Disembark at Chongqing, an enormous modern city which is now the industrial and commercial hub of an independent municipality with a population of over 30 million. After check in at the hotel you will travel to Dazu, a small town 160km north-west of Chongqing to view some of the finest Buddhist rock carvings in China (B/L)
You transfer to the station for your fast train to Chengdu. Endowed with highly fertile land, Chengdu’s nickname is “China’s breadbasket”. You will stroll in People’ Park and watch countless Tea Houses and observe local people’s customs and life. Tonight you will enjoy the famous and colourful Sichuan Opera with unique “changing faces” (B/L)
Today you will experience one of the most unique and special moments on this trip – a visit to see the pandas. Sichuan Province is home to China’s most celebrated animal. After lunch, you transfer to the airport for your flight to Lijiang via Kunming, an 800-year-old city lyin
g at 2400m at the foot of the imposing Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
On arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. (B/L)
Today you drive north along the eastern flank of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and take the chairlift to 3200m, descending again after a short walk around an alpine meadow. Later you will visit the Black Dragon Pool Park with its interesting plants, architectural features and stunning mountain back drop, and go on to tour around the small town of Baisha, 8km north of Lijiang. Here there are several buildings with fascinating murals depicting Buddhist and Daoist scenes painted in the 15th and 16th centuries in a style incorporating Tibetan, Naxi and mainstream Chinese elements. You will also visit Yuhu, a minority village to see examples of authentic ethnic cultures. (B)
This morning you will visit Mu’s Mansion in Lijiang. Terraced on the side of Lion Hill this interesting palace, is where the Naxi Mu Clan ruled over the town for over 400 years. Six main halls are separated by courtyards, mirroring the architectural layout of the Forbidden City. It’s an impressive palace, and worth exploration. The afternoon will be free at leisure. (B)
You fly to Guilin. Your tour of this beautiful city will include a visit to magnificent Reed Flute Cave. Afterwards you will take the chairlift up Yaoshan Mountain to enjoy the spectacular limestone hills and peaks of this beautiful city. (B/L)
This morning, you embark upon an enchanting cruise from Guilin down the Li River (famed in Chinese painting for millennia), the 83 kilometre waterway connecting Guilin and Yangshuo, a cruise during which fascinating scenes appear one after another. The river banks are lined with extraordinary limestone peaks shaped like animals and mythological characters. Also to be seen are bamboo forests, chestnut orchards and picturesque little fishing villages. (B/L)
You transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai where you will be transferred to your hotel. Dominating the Yangtze Delta, Shanghai is the pulsating commercial heart of China. Walk along the famous Bund past the facades of the colonial buildings lining the Huangpu River and look across to the fantastic skyscrapers of the Pudong district on the opposite side. After lunch you will visit the beautifully maintained Yu Garden, an outstanding example of a classical garden dating from the 16th century, now surrounded by a bustling market area. Later you will ascend the Shanghai World Financial Centre Observatory Tower, one of the world’s tallest buildings, for an astonishing view over the whole city. This evening you will be entertained by one of Shanghai’s famous acrobatic troupes. (B/L)
After breakfast you visit the beautiful restored Yu Garden an outstanding example of a classical garden dating from the 16th century, now surrounded by the bustling Yu Garden Market. You will round off an exciting day with a Huangpu River Harbour Cruise at dusk. (B/L)
You transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)
| Daily Departure | **** | ***** | ||
| Twin Share | Single Supplement | Twin Share | Single Supplement | |
| Apr, Nov 11 | $5110 | $1190 | $6045 | $2075 |
| May, Sep-Oct 11 | $5390 | $1375 | $6495 | $2410 |
| Jun-Aug 11 | $5110 | $1190 | $6045 | $2075 |
| Dec 11, Jan-Feb 12 | $4830 | $998 | $5750 | $1870 |
The prices of above tour are based on the basis of a minimum of 2 persons travelling together.
For more details on what is included in this tour please click here