Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive in Beijing, meet our local guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Free day for recovering for jet-leg or half-day city tour to the local markets and typical Peking duck for the welcome dinner.
Day 2: Beijing, Relive China’s political history with a tour through Tiananmen Square, a site of many of China’s key political events in modern history. Step into the daily life of Imperial China’s rulers, accompanied by a knowledgeable scholar. Forbidden City plus private section visit; Hutong Tours with special visit the local people’s house, cooking class, Chinese traditional handicrafts learning.
Day 3: Beijing, Day excursion to the Great Wall, Bewilder at the monumental undertaking that led to the Great Wall of China, and follow its steep snaking path through the scenic country side. For hiking enthusiasts, a challenging 4 hour trek through Jinshanling (10.2km), the most battle-hardened part of the wall, will prove most rewarding, with its views of crumbling, original sections of the Wall snaking over precipitous mountain ridges in the far distance. For those preferring to sit back and enjoy the ride, a shorter, easier excursion through Mutianyu will be just as exciting.
Day 4: Beijing, morning visit Temple of Heaven which is the most holy of Beijing's Imperial temples. This is where the Emperor came every winter solstice to worship heaven and to solemnly pray for a good harvest. Optional programs like Taichi lesson or Chinese Martial Art learning can be taken here. In the afternoon, move to Summer Palace that is the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China where we take a boat tour in the Kunming Lake. Acrobatic show watching in the evening.
Day 5: Beijing to Xi’an, Fly to Xi’an in the morning. Witness the confluence of ancient Central Asia and China in the 1300 years old Muslim Quarter and its Great Mosque. Built in 742 A.D., the Great Mosque is China’s largest and best preserved early mosque, representing a synthesis of Chinese, Islamic and 15th century Buddhist architecture elements.
Day 6: Xi’an, Marvel at the grandiosity of the Terracotta Army, built by the first Qin Emperor to help him rule in his afterlife. Considered one of the 20th century’s most remarkable archaeological discoveries, the collection includes 8,099 life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses, constructed by an estimated 700,000 craftsmen over a period of 38 years. The craftsmen were sealed alive inside the tomb to prevent the divulging of any secrets about the tomb’s entrance and riches.Learn about Xi’an’s former status as ancient capital of China by studying bronze, underground murals and other artifacts (dating back to the millennium) at the Shaanxi History Museum.
Day 7: Drive to Chen Lu Town an ancient porcelain town famous for its tradition dating back 1400 years, and practice pottery making with a local craftsman there. Observe how local folk customs are closely connected to its pottery and porcelain heritage, as civil houses, art, and murals brim rich with pottery cultural connotation. Residents in Cheng Lu still greet each other as tongzhi (comrade). Alternatively, we can also choose to learn about village life in Huxian (2hrs drive from Xi’an). Discover Huxian’s culture and lifestyle through their distinct paintings at the Huxian County Peasant’s Painting Association. Afternoon flight to Hangzhou. Famed for its natural scenery, Hangzhou and its West Lake have been immortalized by countless poets and artists. It is one of the most important cultural centers of China.
Day 8: Hangzhou to Tunxi (Yellow Mountain or Mt. Huangshan), drive to Tunxi in the morning. Head to the Hongcun Village (1.5 hour drive), a UNESCO World Heritage Site housing typical South Anhui architecture, namely, one of the most photogenic villages in China. Optional programs are provided: local handicraft making and private work shop visit to gain a unique people to people experience.
Day 9: Mt. Huangshan, we have an excursion to Mt. Huangshan, probably the most famous mountain in China. Mt. Huangshan can boast not only of its magnificence but also its abundant resources and great variety of zoological species, for which it has been listed as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site.
Day 10: Tunxi to Shanghai: morning fly to Shanghai, Immerse ourselves in the glory and wealth of Shanghai’s culture and history at the Shanghai History Museum, one of the top museums in China. And Travel back to the 1930’s at the Bund, where great foreign commercial houses, lucrative banks, and graceful colonial buildings create an atmosphere similar to New York’s 5th Avenue. Evening take a cruise on the Huangpu River to see the night life in Shanghai.
Day 11: Shanghai: Morning walking tour with expert through the Linong and French Concession, one of several settlements set aside for British, French and American traders following the Treaty of Nanking of 1842. Afternoon visit Duoluo Street where the dynamic 1920’s and 30’s Chinese literary community lives on.
Day 12: Fly back home, trip ends.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included:
* All hotel accommodation on twin-sharing basis as indicated in the itinerary
* All land transfer mentioned in the itinerary
* All domestic airfare as indicated in the itinerary
* Service of local English speaking guide
* Admission charges to all places and activities mentioned in the itinerary
* All meals as indicated as B (Breakfast), L (lunch), D (dinner), highlighting the local cuisine
* Drinking water and snacks on coach
The current price quotation is based on the present exchange rate of RMB ¥7.15 to US $1.00. In the event of change of exchange rate of 2% or more, we reserve the right to adjust this quotation in a fair and reasonable manner.
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
China
Cultural Journey
National Parks
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