Travel Dates 2020 (arrival at Beijing Capital Intl Airport on Wednesday):
- April 15*, 22
- May 13, 20
- June 3, 10
- July 8*
- August 5
- September 9*,16*
- October 14, 21
- November 4, 11
* peak season surcharge applies
Includes:
- Return international airfares
- Hotel accommodation
- Meals listed on the itinerary
- High-speed bullet train/Flight Beijing – Nanjing
- Air-conditioned coach transportation
- English-speaking tour guide
- All sightseeing and entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary
- Service fee
Excludes:
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Expenses
- Anything not mentioned or ‘optional’ in the itinerary
- Sightseeing, meal or other travel services which are NOT specified in the itinerary
- Single room supplement
- Peak season surcharge
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Arrival at Beijing
Meet local tour guide upon arrival at Beijing airport. A comfortable transfer will take you to hotel. Free for the rest of the day/
Note: Some flights may depart the night before.
Day 2 Beijing (B/L)
Start your day off with a visit to Tiannamen Square, one of the most spectacular public plazas in the world. Continue to the Forbidden City, a 15th-century palace complex which now houses a museum full of collections from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Then you will be free for the rest of the day, or choose to join optional tour as follows (multiple choice is possible).
Optional Tour (at own expense):
- Take a rickshaw ride along Beijing Hutongs and visit a local family AU$30 pp
- Visit Temple of Heaven and learn how to practice Tai Chi boxing AU$60 pp
- Dinner of Peking Duck AU$30 pp
- Night performance: Kung Fu Legend AU$60 pp
Day 3 Beijing (B/L)
After enjoying your breakfast, head north of the city to visit the famous Juyong Pass segment of the Great Wall of China. Surrounded by beautiful rugged mountains, this part of the wall stands out for its stunning Cloud Platform gate – a white marble fortification standing at 9.5 metres tall. Make a stop at the largest Jade carving factory in Beijing to learn how Jade was used to create finest ornaments for Chinese imperial dynasties. Visit the site of the 2008 Olympic Games and marvel at structures such as the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, then unwind with a stop at a traditional Chinese medicine centre.
Optional Tour (at own expense):
- Visit Summer Palace and scenic Houhai area AU$60 pp
- Hot pot dinner AU$30 pp
Day 4 Beijing-Yichang (B)
Take bullet train/flight (subjected to the availability) from Shanghai to Yichang. Get transfer from train station to port to board the cruise for four nights. Free for the rest of the day.
Day 5 Yangtze River Cruise (B/L/D)
Enjoy an early bird coffee and tea before practising Tai Chi. You'll then enjoy a bufft breakfast before having the chance to enjoy an additional shore excursion - Tribe of The Three Gorges OR Hometown of Qu Yuan (additional charges apply). Next, you'll have lunch before you have the chance to enjoy additional shore excursions - board sightseeing-ferry sailing through TGP Ship's elevator ( addtional charges apply) and the Three Gorges Dam Site. You'' then return to the cruise for the Captain's Welcome Reception before a buffet and a Minorities and Dynasty Costumes Show.
Day 6 Yangtze River Cruise (B/L/D)
Enjoy an early bird coffee and tea before practising Tai Chi. You'll then enjoy a buffet breakfast before viewing the Shennong Stream. After lunch, you will head on a scenic cruise to the Wu and Qutang Gorge. Visting the White Emperor City is then offered as an additional excursion (addtional fee apply). After a buffet dinner, a stunning cabaret show will start.
Day 7 Yangtze River Cruise (B/L/D)
After a morning of early bird coffee and tea, Tai Chi, and a delicious buffet breakfast, you'' enjoy some activities with the group and lunch. Next, get ready for some more exciting activities and Fengdu the "Jade Emperor". Next, you'll have the opportunity to see the Fengdu "Ghost City” (additional fees apply). For dinner tonight there is the Captain's Farewell Banquet.
Day 8 Chongqing Disembarkation (B)
The cruise would arrive at Chongqing at 9.00am (estimated). Disembark and transfer to your hotel. Free for the rest of the day or you may choose to join an optional tour.
Optional Tour (at own expense):
- Chongqing Zoo (including Giant Panda Hall) w/Lunch: AU$55 pp
Day 9 Chongqing-Xian (B)
Take bullet train/flight (subjected to the availability) from Beijing to Xian. Meet local guide upon arrival and check in your Xian hotel. Tonight spend some leisure time on Muslim Street. In early days of Tang Dynasty(618-907), many Arabian merchants traveled along Silk Road and stopped to settle down in Xian, the by-then capital city. Xian's Muslim community got to expand much since then. Muslim Street is now the hub of Muslim community in Xian and also an ideal place for visitors in search of local mouth-watering food and characteristic souvenirs. Dinner would be on your own exploration of cuisine in the street.
Day 10 Xian (B/L)
Visit Terracotta Warriors and Horses this morning. It is deemed as the eighth wonder of the world. Lunch will be typical Xian dishes and you would also see how the most famous Biang Biang Noodles are made.
After lunch, take a stroll along Xian City Wall, the world’s most well-preserved city wall and and also one of the most magnificent ancient military defense systems. A terracotta sculpture shop is also on today’s visiting list.
Optional Tour (at own expense):
- Tang Dynasty Music & Dance Show w/Dumpling Banquet (min. 4pp) AU$68 pp
Day 11 Xian-Nanjing (B/L)
Leave Xian for Nanjing (bullet train/flight, subjected to the availability). Get pick-up upon arrival and then get driven to must-visit of Nanjing. It is Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-sun, who is revered as father of the Republic of China, the first democratic regime of China. Visit a local jade shop and see the different jade-carving workmanship between Beijing and Nanjing.
Optional Tour (at own expense):
- Visit Confucius Temple & Qinhuai River boat ride AU$65 pp
Day 12 Nanjing-Suzhou(B/L)
This morning, take a tour of Grand Bao’en Temple, the second oldest temple in China with a history of over 1500 years, also used to be the largest and the most significant Buddhist temple in China. Visit a crystal artifacts shop and learn how Feng Shui culture is embedded into these exquisite artifacts. Transfer from Nanjing to Suzhou. Dubbed as Oriental Venice, Suzhou is famous for its extraordinary silk products and classic gardens. This afternoon, you will visit Lion Grove Garden, one of Suzhou’s Great Four Classic Gardens.
Optional Tour (at own expense):
- Grand Canal Cruise AU$45 pp
Day 13 Suzhou-Hangzhou (B/L)
This morning, you will visit the largest silk factory in Suzhou and see how fabulous silk products are made. Proceed to Hangzhou. Marco Polo praised it as “the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world”. Take a boat ride on the picturesque West Lake, the most scenic region of Hangzhou.
Optional Tour (at own expense):
- Impression of West Lake AU$110 pp
Day 14 Hangzhou-Shanghai (B/L)
Hangzhou’s mild climate makes it an ideal place for tea-planting. This morning, you will visit a famed tea plantation where you could try tea-picking and learn about how tea is processed. Drive to Shanghai and take stroll along the Bund area.
Optional Tour (at own expense):
- Huangpu River Cruise $45 pp
Day 15 Shanghai (B)
The day is yours to discover exciting Shanghai as you wish or you may choose to join the optional tours.
Optional Tour (at own expense):
- Half-day tour of Zhujiajiao Water Town w/lunch AU$110 pp (min. 4pp)
- Jinmao Tower & Asia-Pacific Plaza AU$110 pp
Day 16 Shanghai-NZ (B)
Conclude your memorable tour with a transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Accommodation:
Beijing
- 4-Star: Holiday Inn Express Beijing Airport Zone or similar
- 5-Star: Wyndham Beijing North or similar
Chongqing
- 4-Star: Holiday Inn Express Chongqing Jiuxiucheng or similar
- 5-Star: Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Huayu Chongqing or similar
Xian
- 4-Star: Holiday Inn Express Xi'an North or similar
- 5-Star: Hilton Xi'an High-tech Zone or similar
Nanjing
- 4-Star: Holiday Inn Express Nanjing Dongshan or similar
- 5-StarCrowne Plaza Nanjing Jiangning or similar
Suzhou
- 4-Star: Jiasheng Palace Hotel or similar
- 5-Star: Wyndham Garden Suzhou or similar
Hangzhou
- 4-Star: Mingkeming Hotel or similar
- 5-Star: New Century Grand Hotel Hangzhou or similar
Shanghai
- 4-Star: Borrman Hotel Shanghai Pudong International Airport or similar
- 5-Star: Pullman Shanghai Qingpu Excellence or similar
