CHINA HIGHLIGHTS

ITINERARY

DAY 1: ARRIVE SHANGHAI

Transfer to the hotel upon arrival

DAY 2: SHANGHAI

Today you will take a walk along the famous Bund past the facades of the colonial buildings lining the Huangpu River and look across to the soaring TV tower and fantastic skyscrapers of the Pudong district on the opposite side. Following is a visit to the beautifully maintained Yu Garden, an outstanding example of a classical garden dating from the 16th century. Then comes the renowned Shanghai Museum, which is famous for its collection of paintings, sculptures, porcelain, costumes, ancient bronzes and other artifacts. Later take a cruise across the Huangpu River to ascend the Grand Hyatt tower, one of the world’s tallest buildings, for an astonishing view over the whole city. (B/L)

DAY 3: SHANGHAI – GUILIN

Fly to Guilin. Your tour of this beautiful city will include a visit to magnificent Reed Flute Cave, where local people used to collect reeds with which they made their unique flutes. Afterwards you will take the chairlift up Yaoshan Mountain to enjoy spectacular views of the limestone hills and peaks of this beautiful city.(B/L)

DAY 4: GUILIN

This morning, embark upon an enchanting cruise down the Lijiang River, the 83 kilometre waterway connecting Guilin and Yangshuo. The banks are lined with extraordinary peaks shaped like animals and mythological characters, bamboo forests and picturesque little fishing villages. Tonight you will be entertained by a cultural performance. (B/L)

DAY 5: GUILIN – XIAN

You will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Xian

After checking in at the hotel you will visit the ancient City Wall. The rectangular old part of Xian remains completely surrounded by this magnificent wall, complete with impressive gates and towers, built during the reign of the first Ming emperor in the late 14th century. Tonight you will enjoy the spectacular Tang Dynasty Show. (B/L/D)

DAY 6: XIAN

Today you will visit the army of some 6000 life-size terracotta warriors and their horses made and buried, lined up facing east in battle array, over 2000 years ago to guard the tomb of the first emperor Qin Shihuangdi, who died in 210 BC. Although the presence of the enormous mound under which the emperor lies buried has long been recognized, the buried terracotta army nearby was not discovered until 1976, since when excavation and restoration work has continued to be carried out. The warriors are quite remarkable since their heads in particular were individually modeled and exhibit a considerable range of facial expressions, hairstyles and head dresses. Also on exhibition at the site is a pair of magnificent bronze chariots and horses unearthed not far away in 1980. (B/L)

DAY 7: XIAN – BEIJING

This morning you will visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which stands in the grounds of a temple built by the Tang emperor Gaozang in 684 AD. After lunch you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Beijing, where your first visit will be to Tiananmen Square. Here you will look across this 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, who stood here to proclaim the People’s Republic on 1 October 1949. (B/L)

DAY 8: BEIJING

Today you will visit Forbidden City, as the former imperial palace is called, where the magnificent marble courtyards, huge halls, gilded temples and ornate pavilions frequented by the emperors and their families are now open to your gaze. This is followed by a rickshaw tour of Beijing’s old Hutong District, a fascinating maze of narrow alleys, with old houses and hidden courtyards, where people who live and work here welcome you into their homes. (B/L)

DAY 9: BEIJING

You will be taken north today to pace the ramparts of China’s famed Great Wall, originally constructed over 2000 years ago to keep invaders from the north at bay. Returning to the city you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where the emperors carried out the most important sacrifices and ceremonies of the year. Set in a huge park planted with conifers, the buildings here represent the epitome of Ming architecture. (B/L)

DAY 10: BEIJING

Today you will visit the wonderfully preserved and restored Summer Palace, the famed pleasure garden of the Qing Emperors. Beautiful ornamental plantings, languid willows, and painted pavilions surrounding a scenic lake recreate the atmosphere of bygone centuries. (B/L)

DAY 11: DEPART BEIJING

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)

The prices of above tour are quoted on the basis of a minimum of 2 persons travelling together.