Holiday in China (13 Days)

Destinations: Beijing – Xian – Chongqing – Yangtze River Cruise – Zhangjiajie  – Shanghai

Day 1: Beijing Arrival

On arrival at the airport in Beijing Capital, you will be met by our tour guide outside the baggage claim area. On the way to your hotel, your guide will point out the highlights and history of Beijing. Spend the rest of the day exploring this incredible city.

Day 2: Beijing (B, L)

After breakfast, you will explore Beijing with your guide who will collect you from the hotel. Visit the world’s largest city square, Tiananmen Square. Make your way across the road to the magnificent Forbidden City, a culturally historic landmark in China, which was the former residence of Chinese royalty for five centuries. After the Forbidden City tour, exploration continues with a visit to the Summer Palace. Appreciate the beautiful gardens and imagine the lifestyle of royalty  and courtiers who enjoyed this summer resort during imperial times. A stopover at Beijing’s stadium and pool – the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube – built for the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics – provides a modern contrast to China’s ancient history. Return to the hotel.

Day 3: Beijing (B, L)

Before heading to the Mutianyu Great Wall, sample the famous local food market Sanyuanli where you can stock up on fruit and snacks for today’s trip. Continue on and enjoy the drive to explore the Mutianyu Great Wall, a less frequented part of China’s 1,400-year-old iconic landmark, located approximately 70 kilometres from Beijing. Take a pleasant and comfortable round-trip cable car transfer over the picturesque scenery, then walk the wall to take in the Ming dynasty guard towers and sensational views. On return to the city in the afternoon, exploration continues with a visit to the Confucius Temple and Imperial College Museum. Stroll through Wudaoying Hutong and experience local life as you wander through quaint shops, enjoy a coffee, and gain an insider’s view of a real Beijing community.

Day 4: Beijing – Xian (B)

Start today with a visit to the remarkable Temple of Heaven, where emperors from the Ming and Qing Dynasties performed ceremonies and rituals to pray for good harvests and blessings for the country. Transfer to the Beijing West railway station and be checked in by your guide to travel by high speed rail train to Xian. Approximately a five hour trip, travelling at 300 kilometres per hour, you can relax and absorb the diverse landscape along the way. On arrival at the Xian North Station, your local tour guide will meet and escort you to your hotel for check-in.

Day 5: Xian (B, L)

Today’s tour highlight is the world-renowned Terracotta Army. Recognized as the largest underground military base in the world, take in this extraordinary archeological discovery, which houses thousands of unique life-sized figures. Return to the city and explore Xian’s ancient City Wall, currently the largest and best-preserved wall of its type in China. Enclosing China’s former capital city and almost 14 kilometres long, enjoy your free time by exploring on foot or bicycle. For a change of pace, take in the quiet of Xian’s Great Mosque, located in the middle of the city’s old block. Built mid seventh century, the Great Mosque is the oldest and largest Islamic mosque in China. Mix with locals and find food of every flavor in Muslim Quarter, which is bustling with authentic eateries and travel souvenirs. Today’s final destination is Xian’s famous Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square. Return to your hotel for a relaxed evening or book a dinner, show, or both for an evening of entertainment.

Day 6: Xian – Chongqing (B)   

After breakfast, our tour guide will take you to Shaanxi History Museum where you’ll discover over 370,000 relics of Chinese history. Take in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of two iconic Buddhist pagodas in Xian. There may be an opportunity to explore the top of the pagoda and look out over Xian’s 1,400 years of history, before enjoying a contemplative walk through the temple and gardens. Following on from the morning’s activities, you’ll be driven to the airport for your flight to Chongqing. Upon arrival in Chongqing, your local guide will meet you and take you through the Ciqikou Old Town if the travel schedule permits. You’ll then be escorted to embark your Yangtze River cruise ship, which finally weighs anchor at 9:30 pm. Watch the spectacular Chongqing city lights go by from the deck as you cruise on by.

Day 7: Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)   

Sail along the Yangtze today and soak in the relaxing pace of traveling this magnificent river, which has inspired poets and peasants alike. Go ashore for an excursion to the Fengdu Ghost City or Shibaozhai (will depend on water level and cruise company). Join the crew at the Captain’s Welcome Party held in the evening. Sit back and enjoy the Chinese folk dancing and music performance – or get up and be part of it!

Day 8: Yangtze River Cruise (B, L, D)   

Continue sailing past the beautiful river scenery and admire the impressive view of the Qutang Gorgeand Wu Gorge. Following this stretch of the river, take an excursion to Badong and experience a small wooden boat trip on the magnificent Shennong Stream or Goddess Stream (Shennv Stream). Return to the ship and enter the western section of the Xiling Gorge. Enjoy a relaxing evening on board the river boat by taking advantage of the entertainment or enjoy the view from the deck.

Day 9: Yichang – Zhangjiajie (B)   

After breakfast, disembark from the cruise boat at Maoping Pier in Yichang. Board a bus and drive to the largest hydroelectric project in the world, the Three Gorges Dam where you’ll take a tour to learn how the dam was designed, built, and how it now serves the local people and region. After the tour, you’ll met by your guide who will escort you to the railway station to board the train for Zhangjiajie. On arrival in Zhangjiajie, your local guide will meet you and transfer you to the hotel.

Day 10: Zhangjiajie (B)   

After breakfast, begin your exploration of this gorgeous region in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Take the world’s highest and fastest elevator, the Bailong Elevator to reach the Yuanjiajie Scenic Area, located in the northwest of Zhangjiajie. Be inspired by the highlights to be found there, including the No. 1 Natural Bridge under Heaven, used for the design of Hallelujah Mountains in the famous film Avatar, and other iconic karst landscapes. Afterwards, ride the public shuttle bus to the Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve and appreciate  more of the region’s exquisite scenery, including Helong Park, Xihai Stone Forest, Fairy Offering Flowers, and the Imperial Brush Peak. Head down the mountain by taking a two kilometer journey on the Tianzi Mountain Cable Car. (If the cable car is not available, the Bailong Elevator will be taken). Finish the day with a small train trip where you can view the misty karst landscape of the Ten-mile Gallery in the Suoxigu Valley. Following this full day of activities, return to your hotel.

Day 11: Zhangjiajie – Shanghai (B)   

Today’s sightseeing commences with a tour to the precipice of Tianmen Mountain. Prepare yourself for the breathtaking view as you ride the world’s longest cable car to the mountaintop and walking on the glass Sky Walk perched at 1430 meters above the ground. Take the escalator through the mountain to Tianmen Cave, a huge naturally formed hole crossing the cliff of the mountain. It’s the perfect location for capturing photos of the stunning natural landscape and the 999 steps leading to the foot of the Cave. Ride the escalator down to the resting area and finish the Tianmen Mountain trip with a shuttle bus ride to the parking lot. Following the morning’s activities, you will be transferred to the airport for your fight to Shanghai. In Shanghai, your local guide will meet and transfer you to the hotel pointing out this bustling city’s local landmarks along the way.

Day 12: Shanghai (B, L)

Commence your tour of Shanghai with a visit to the Shanghai Museum, a massive museum housing over 140,000 artifacts, presenting the full history and culture of this cosmopolitan city. Enjoy a walk along the Bund, iconic and prestigious, one of the most well-preserved examples of old Shanghai glamour. Walk Nanjing Road, the busiest shopping precinct in China. Change tempo and visit Yuyuan Garden, where you can marvel at the artistically designed traditional Chinese gardens; then stroll around the nearby Chenghuangmiao bazaars and make a worthwhile detour and visit the Shikumen Museum in New Spot (XinTianDi) for a true taste of old world Shanghai. Make the most of your afternoon by wandering the quieter streets of Dongping Road or Sinan Road in the Former French Concession, where you will find the essence of classic Shanghai.

Day 13: Shanghai – Departure (B) 

Free at leisure for explore more the city until transfer to the airport for your own departure flight home.

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Inclusions: Hotel & overnight cruise accommodation as mentioned; Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner; Domestic flights: Xian – Chongqin, Zhangjiajie – Shanghai; High-speed train Beijing –  Xian; Transport by private with AC; English speaking guide (Other languages on request); Boat trips; All entrance and sightseeing fees; Mineral water and wet towel; All taxes and service charges.

Exclusions: International flights to/from China; Visa fees; Early check-in & Late check-out at all hotels; Insurance; Personal expenses; Tipping/Gratuities; Other drinks; Surcharge on special days; Any other services not clearly mentioned above.