General

DAY 1 – Depart for China

Depart from London Heathrow Airport on your scheduled flight to Beijing. Your flight includes meals, drinks and in-flight entertainment for your journey.

DAY 2 – Arrive Beijing

Welcome to China. Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be greeted at the airport by our English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to recover from jet lag and get ready for the adventures awaiting you! (China is 8 hours ahead of UK GMT). In the evening dinner at an Indian Restaurant.

Meals: Dinner                                                                                       Overnight: Beijing

DAY 3 – Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Imperial Summer Palace

Today, enjoy a full day city tour to soak up the atmosphere of Beijing. This includes visiting must-see historical sites such as the Tiananmen Square, one of the largest public spaces in the world; we then visit the Forbidden City, an awe-inspiring palace complex that was the home to 24 Chinese Emperors over the course of almost 500 years.

In the afternoon visit to the fresh water Pearl Centre, and learn about the different varieties of these underwater gems. We continue the tour to the enchanting Imperial Summer Palace on Kunming Lake and the Garden of Harmony considered a masterpiece of Chinese landscape design and one of UNESCO’S heritage sites. One way boat trip on the lake is included.

Optional Evening Entertainment:- The Golden Mask Dynasty

Cost:– £xx per person

This theatre was specially designed for the large-scale show. Set in the Golden Mask Dynasty, a legendary age in China, the story tells how a queen who wears a golden mask creates a splendid dynasty through wisdom, tolerance, trust and boundless love. In eight acts it tells stories of war, bountiful pastures, the forging of metal, ceremonies, the moon, floods, fetes and illusions. They even produce an amazing real flood on the stage! In the evening dinner at an Indian Restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner                                                      Overnight: Beijing

 DAY 4 – Great Wall of China & Bird’s Nest Olympics Stadium

Today you will enjoy another fabulous highlight, a visit to the Great Wall of China. This iconic structure is some 3,800 miles long and at least 2,600 years old. The Great Wall winds through the hills of northern China and passes within 40 miles of Beijing at Badaling, where it is wide enough to allow five horsemen to ride abreast.

Here you will have plenty of time to walk along the historic ramparts and marvel at its size and enjoy the unforgettable views.

On your way back to Beijing, our memorable day continues where we visit the excitement of the 2008 Summer Olympics when you view Olympic Park, the Water Cube (exteriors only)  and the famous Bird’s Nest Stadium. In the evening dinner at an Indian Restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner                                                                    Overnight: Beijing

DAY 5 – Temple of Heaven – Rickshaw Tour – Hutong & Lama temple

This morning, visit the Temple of Heaven where the emperor came twice each year to thank the gods for a bountiful harvest and to pray for the new season. Learn tai chi amidst the locals doing their morning exercises. Soak in the culture of this communal space while other citizens of the city play cards or board games nearby.

Afterwards, experience and enjoy a rickshaw tour through its narrow streets and alleys of Hutong. Visit one of the local Hutong home and with the help from an interpreter, you will learn about a local family’s history and way of daily life.

This afternoon visit Yonghegong Lamsery, and marvel at the intricate design of the world famous renowned huge Lama Temple, one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. In the evening dinner at an Indian Restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner                                                                  Overnight: Beijing

DAY 6 – Flight to Xian

In the afternoon, we take a flight to Xian, the former capital of China and starting point of the ancient Silk Road.

We visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built as a Buddhist Monastery during the Tang Dynasty. We enjoy the jovial atmosphere around the beautiful Pagoda and picturesque boulevards, where Xian residents come to socialise & relax. In the evening dinner at an Indian Restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner                                                                     Overnight: Xian

DAY 7 – Terracotta Warriors

This morning, after breakfast you will have the opportunity to visit Xingqing Park. Filled with culture, this local park is a hub of activity in the morning. You may witness and have the chance to participate in morning exercise, singing, and dancing. Later this morning visit to a local Lacquer Furniture Shop. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before a tour of Xian’s antiquities.

Your tour includes visiting the site at the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (259-210 B.C.) and the Archaeological Museum where more than 8,000 finely sculpted, life-size Terracotta Warriors and horses were discovered by local farmers in 1974. This vast clay army, 8,000 strong, was created to guard China’s first emperor in the afterlife. You’ll be amazed at the detail – each soldier has a different face. In the evening dinner at an Indian Restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner                                                               Overnight: Xian

Optional Tour:- Entertainment:– Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show

Cost:– £xx per person

The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show, a wonderful performance of the ancient music and dance, is a must when you visit Xian. The city, which was formerly known as Chang’an has a very long history, and was the imperial capital during 13 dynastic periods. Of these, the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907) was the most prosperous and glorious of all. The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show is an outstanding exponent of this ancient stable and prosperous society, keeping alive its splendid culture and providing an insight into the peaceful life style of the period.

DAY 8 – Bell Tower & Drum Tower, Flight Xian to Shanghai

After breakfast we explore Xian’s historic Muslim Quarter, home to a large Chinese Muslim community who have lived in the city since the silk road was first established.

Enjoy walking through Muslim Square, along narrow winding streets crammed with shop stalls selling an array of interesting handcrafts and local food specialities. We also have opportunity to visit Xian’s Wooden Mosque. Afterwards we walk to the majestic Bell Tower (exterior only) for a great photo opportunity. On the opposite side of the square we visit the famous Drum Tower, which provides fantastic views across the city.

In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely walk along the ancient City Walls. The smooth & well preserved walls provide an ideal and safe walking route around the entire historic city centre. This is a charming way to enjoy the local lifestyle of Xian.

Late afternoon take a flight to Shanghai, the exciting cosmopolitan city of China. Your tour begins in booming Shanghai, the economic capital of the People’s Republic of China. This bustling city’s futuristic skyline will leave you speechless.

We marvel at the futuristic landscape and magnificent towers on the famous promenade along the Huangpu River, the Bund and Nanjing Road. This evening view the city by night from the Huangpu River on a panoramic cruise. In the evening dinner at an Indian Restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner                                     Overnight: Shanghai

DAY 9 – Maglev train, Jade Buddha Temple & Yuyuan Garden

Our sightseeing city tour includes:

1. Travel to Maglev train station in Shanghai to board the world’s fastest train, the Maglev, for return journey to Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport with a top speed of 267mph.
2. Visiting the Jade Buddha Temple which is the most famous and one of the most active Buddhist temples in Shanghai. It was built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty to enshrine two beautiful jade Buddha statues that were brought from Burma.
3. After lunch visit the beautiful and world famous Yuyuan Garden (Mandarin’s Garden) featuring pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters.

If time permits visit Xintiandi Fashion Zone and shopping at Nanjing Road.

Optional Tour:- Entertainment:– Shanghai Acrobatic show

Cost:– £XX per person

Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe Performance Shanghai Centre is situated within the large Shanghai Centre and it is a popular venue with the tourists because it guarantees professional and varied performances. This international venue hosts the home stage for the local acrobatic troupe, The famous Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe has performed around the globe and is a wonderful night out for visitors to Shanghai. In the evening dinner at an Indian Restaurant.

Our last night in China, share wonderful memories of our journey at our Farewell Dinner with your fellow travellers tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner                                         Overnight: Shanghai

DAY 10 – Depart Shanghai – London

Today, you will be transferred to Shanghai Pudong International Airport to board your flight for London Heathrow Airport. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey.

Meals: Breakfast

DAY 11 – Arrival London

On arrival at London Heathrow Airport, follow signs for arrival/baggage claim, clear immigration, collect baggage and follow sign for exit.

Note:

• Return flight – If your flight departs in the morning, you will arrive in U.K. on the same day.
• Return flight – If your flight departs in the afternoon / evening, you will arrive in U.K. on the next day.

** Your tour ends, leaving you with many pleasant memories of a wonderful holiday. **