CHINA IN DEPTH

Day 1: Arrive Shanghai
Transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Shanghai
A day at leisure in Shanghai.

Day 3: Shanghai-Hangzhou
This morning 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. You will be transferred to the station for the latest bullet train to Hangzhou. Arrive Hanzghou, transferred to the hotel. Afternoon you will visit half day tour to Sunquan’s Hometown, one of the famous Chinese generals from the Period of the Three Kingdom. Dinner at the hotel (B L D)

Day 4: Hangzhou
This morning you will cruise on the West Lake to the island Xiaoying Zhou, where another of the famous prospects, Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, can be seen. We move on to the Thunder Peak Pagoda, the site of yet another of the prospects, for a view over the lake before going on to the 4th century Lingyin Temple where, as well as interesting buildings and plantings, there is the most important group of Buddhist rock carvings south of the Yangtze. In the afternoon we will take a sampan cruise to the Island of Little Ocean. You will also visit Hefang Street and China Silk Town (B/L)

Day 5: Hangzhou- Nanjing
Transfer to the station for train to Nanjing. Transfer to the hotel. Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, has been a city of some importance for at least 2000 years, having been the capital of several regimes including the early period of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1420) and, more recently, that of Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist government. Many relics of the Ming period remain and the fine avenues lined with plane trees are a reminder of the development the city underwent during Chiang Kai-shek’s time. This afternoon, you will visit one of the great sights of Nanjing is the 4500m road and rail bridge spanning the Yangtze which opened in 1968. It is a major engineering feat and, high above the river, the views from it are impressive. (B/L/D)

Day 6: Nanjing- Beijing
This morning you will visit Sun-Yat Sen’s Mausoleum Sun Yat-sen is regarded as the father of modern China. When he died in 1925 a competition was held to design an appropriate mausoleum and construction of the winning design began within a year. In a style borrowing from the nearby Ming tomb, this mausoleum lies at the top of an enormous stone stairway 323m long and 70m wide and to visit it is something of a pilgrimage for many Chinese. Fly to Beijing. On arrival you will be transferred to the hotel. (B/L)

Day 7: Beijing
A day at leisure. (B)

Day 8: Beijing-Datong
This morning we take the train to Datong and will arrive in the afternoon around 4.41pm. This evening we will have time to relax in our hotel and enjoy a leisurely dinner. (B/L/D)

Day 9: Datong
One of the most interesting sights we will visit today, about 80km from Datong, is the gravity defying Hanging Monastery which is built on the extremely sheer cliffs of Mt.Hengshan above, Jinlong Canyon. The Hanging Temple is the most amazing sight on the Hengshan mountain, and you will truly be awed by its magnificence. Located in Yingxian County, and about 70 kilometres south of Datong, you will visit the Wooden Pagoda, the oldest and highest wooden structure in China. It is regarded as the “First Pagoda in the World” and a gem in the architectural field. You will also visit the cave houses and meet some of the locals. (B/L/D)

Day 10: Datong-Pingyao
This morning we will visit one of the most spectacular holy sites in China, the Yungang Grottos. From thumb sized figurines to a 17 metre colossus, the Buddhist carvings at Yungang are simply amazing. The carvings took almost half a century and 40,000 labourers to complete, and the few hours we have exploring these majestic caves will be time well-spent. Once we have finished exploring this treasure of China, we will take our coach onto Pingayao, the Walled City of Antiquity. (B/L/D)

Day 11: Pinyao
The past is alive in Pingyao. As the morning sun bathes it grey city walls in warm tones, you will find yourself flung back in time, as your eyes behold a Ming dynasty fortress in all its imposing glory. Watchtowers, cast iron cannons, intimidating wooden gates and sturdy walls render an impenetrable feel. Narrow alleys that coil around time-honored courtyard homes fill up with its 480,000 denizens. Shops reveal modern cashier equipment perched on antique tabletops. Locals are bustling about on bicycles, rickshaws and scooters. Here in Pingyao, modernity lives with centuries old relics. The old walled city is an architectural treasure trove. In 1986, Pingyao was declared a national historical city, which protects it from every being demolished. Shanxi Cuisine dinner (B/D)

Day 12: Pinyao-Taiyuan-Chengdu
This morning we will visit the Qiao Family House, home to a powerful trading family. It was in this mansion that awarding-winning Chinese director ZhangYimou set interior scenes for his film Raise the Red Lantern. This afternoon you will fly to Chengdu. (B/L)

Day 13: Chengdu
Endowed with fertile land, Chengdu’s nickname is China’s breadbasket. There is more than 40 ethnic minorities living in the province. This morning you will visit the Panda Research Institute. The Visit provides an opportunity to see a large number of the endangered giant pandas, both adults and cubs. This afternoon you will stroll in People’ Park and watch countless tea houses and observe local people’s life. Tonight you will enjoy the colourful Sichuan Opera, with high–pitch voices and unique “changing faces” (B/L)

Day 14: Depart Chengdu
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight home. (B)

COST PER PERSON – Land Only

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