Discover China 2013

Day 1: UK/Beijing
You’ll depart on your scheduled flight to Beijing today, arriving on day 2.

Day 2: Beijing
Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be met by your Local Guide and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon and evening are free for you to spend at leisure.

Day 3: Beijing
Beijing is an extraordinary city where ancient temples and ornate palaces stand beside the vast 20th century civic buildings created by Chairman Mao and his people. Daily life in Beijing is a truly spellbinding sight. It is a city of bustling street markets, crowded buses and, above all, friendly people who are eager to welcome visitors.

On today’s included city tour you will see Chang An Avenue and the strikingly beautiful Temple of Heaven. You then visit the heart of Beijing – Tiananmen Square. It is the largest public square in the world, bordered by the Qianmen Gate, the Great Hall of the People and the Gate of Heavenly Peace. You will go through the gate, which forms the entrance to the incredible Forbidden City, where you’ll see the buildings that house the Imperial Palace from which China was ruled by the imperial dynasties for hundreds of years.

Day 4: Beijing
This morning you will visit the Great Wall on our included excursion. This man-made wonder is some 3,800 miles long and at least 2,600 years old. It 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. Lunch today is followed by a visit to the Sacred Way (Avenue of Statues) – also known as the Divine Road. The path, which is slightly curved to fool evil spirits, is lined on either side with willows and remarkable carved stone statues.

Day 5: Xian
Today you’ll transfer to the airport for your early-morning flight to Xian, once the flourishing capital of China. On arrival you’ll experience the city wall welcoming ceremony before transferring to your hotel, where you’ll stay for two nights.

Day 6: Xian
Quite simply one of the world’s most remarkable sights, you’ll see the Terracotta Army at Li Shan Mountain on today’s included excursion. Discovered in the 1970s by farmers digging a well, this staggering collection of at least 6,000 life-size terracotta figures representing the individuals of the Imperial Guard were interred in 200BC with the first Qin emperor. They are grouped in battle order, some mounted on horse-drawn chariots and others armed with spears, swords and crossbows. You will also visit the nearby Small Wild Goose Pagoda before returning to your hotel. Later this evening there will be the opportunity to attend a Tang Dynasty folklore show.

Day 7: Shanghai
En route to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, you will visit the Han Tombs. You’ll stay in Shanghai for two nights.

Day 8: Shanghai
Today’s included tour shows you the best of Shanghai – a vibrant and exciting seaport. Highlights include the thronging shopping thoroughfare of Nanjing Road, the traditional Old Town, with its ancient Wu Xing Ting Teahouse, and the Yu Yuan Gardens, a classic Chinese garden. You will also visit the beautiful Jade Buddha Temple and have time to stroll along the Bund, the city’s famous boulevard which winds along the west bank of the Huangpu River. This evening there is an included visit to an Acrobatic Show.

Day 9: Suzhou
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel before this afternoon’s train journey to Suzhou, which is situated on China’s 6th century Grand Canal and famous for its landscaped gardens, narrow canals and traditional Chinese architecture. You stay in Suzhou for two nights.

Day 10: Suzhou
You’ll get to know beautiful Suzhou on today’s included tour. You’ll visit the Lingering Garden and the Humble Administrator’s Garden as well as a silk and embroidery factory. There will also be time to view the local markets and stroll through the quaint, narrow streets. Peek into the whitewashed cottages as you walk by and you’ll probably catch a glimpse of family life Suzhou style.

Day 11: Nanjing
Spend your morning at leisure, or why not join our optional excursion to a Tongli Water Village. This afternoon you’ll transfer to Nanjing for a two-night stay.

Day 12: Nanjing
Nanjing, which has been the national capital several times during the history of China, is situated on the River Yangtze. It is a delightful city of tree-lined boulevards, lively markets and ancient fortifications. A full-day sightseeing tour is included today, during which you will see the magnificent Sun Yat Sen Mausoleum with its remarkable stairway, the Confucius Temple area and the Yangtze River Bridge.

Day 13: Beijing
Transfer to the airport today for your return flight to Beijing, where you will stay for two nights. You might like to take an optional rickshaw ride along Beijing’s iconic Hutongs (ancient alleys lined with siheyuan, or traditional courtyard residences) to catch a fascinating glimpse of traditional life here.

Day 14: Beijing
A short visit will be made today to the world-famous Beijing Zoo, where you will see one of China’s most famous and endearing inhabitants, the panda. Continue to the outskirts of Beijing where you’ll visit the Summer Palace, the largest and best preserved of all imperial palace gardens. Here you can admire the famous Marble Boat, the ornately painted ‘long corridor’ and take a last, lingering look at the traditional Chinese landscape which surrounds the various towers, gardens and pavilions. Your final afternoon in Beijing is free for you to shop or sightsee at your own pace.

Day 15: Beijing/UK
After breakfast you’ll transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. As you will be flying westwards, arrival is later the same day.

Please note
We want you to get the most from your holiday with us so please be advised that this tour is not suitable for anyone with limited mobility.

To introduce you to China’s many extraordinary sights, our itineraries are very busy with some early starts and long days, but they are also extremely rewarding.

Your meals
All your meals are included whilst in China. Breakfast is Western continental style, followed by Chinese lunch and dinner, each consisting of a variety of local dishes.

Accommodation throughout is in hotels of a comfortable standard, typical of the hotels you will stay in are:

4-star Chang An Grand Hotel in Beijing
4-star King Dynasty in Xian
4-star Greenland Jiulong in Shanghai
4-star Castle in Suzhou
4-star Mandarin Garden in Nanjing
All rooms are comfortably furnished and feature en suite facilities and air-conditioning.

All hotels will be confirmed in your final documentation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

Beijing tour including Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven (full day)
Great Wall of China (half day)
Avenue of Statues
Terracotta Army (half day)
Xian Small Wild Goose Pagoda
Han Tombs
Shanghai tour including acrobatic show (full day)
Suzhou tour
Nanjing tour
Beijing Summer Palace and Beijing Zoo (half day)

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights, internal flights, overseas transfers & other transportation
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guides
13 nights’ accommodation
All meals
Hotel porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
“Travelsphere are one of the biggest names in the Escorted Tour market. Finely tuned over the last 50 years their tours have been tried, tested and refined by thousands of customers.”