Discover China with Hong Kong add-on

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 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. Your tour then continues to the Olympic Village where you’ll see iconic buildings such as the Bird’s Nest and the National Aquatics Centre, also known as the Water Cube. Later you’ll have the chance to sample some local delicacies at a night food market.

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: Hangzhou
Leaving Xian today you’ll visit the Han Tombs on your way to the airport. On arrival in Hangzhou, check into your hotel for a two-night stay.

Day 8: Hangzhou
Hangzhou is an enchanting city with an abundance of natural beauty and you’ll spend today exploring. Highlights of our included tour will be a visit to the beautiful traditional Guo Zhang Garden, a cruise through the scenic beauty of West Lake and a visit to Xiaoyingzhou Island. You’ll also see where one of China’s most popular teas, Longjing green tea, is grown. This evening you can opt to join us to see a performance of the West Lake Impression Show, which is staged on the lake and directed by Mr Zhang Yimouwho played a key part in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics.

Day 9: Wuzhen
Your tour continues to Wuzhen today, stopping en route at the famous Lingying Buddhism temple. On arrival in Wuzhen enjoy an included sightseeing tour with highlights including rice wine and indigo workshops. You’ll stay overnight in Wuzhen.

Day 10: Suzhou
This morning enjoy a walk around Wuzhen Water Town, where waterways thread their way through flagstone streets and beneath stone bridges. Later you’ll transfer by coach to Suzhou. On arrival in Suzhou, where you stay overnight, enjoy lunch before an included sightseeing tour which includes the Lingering Garden and the Embroidery Institute, where you can see expert craftsmen at work stitching elegant patterns in silk. Later, why not join our optional excursion, a night tour of the Garden of the Fish Master including a folk show.

Day 11: Shanghai
This morning join your Tour Manager and watch the locals as they practise Tai chi. Later we include a visit to the Humble Administrator’s Garden and after lunch you can take a calligraphy lesson. Your tour then continues with a coach journey to Shanghai. Later this evening there will be the opportunity to join our optional excursion to experience this vibrant seaport by night.

Day 12: Shanghai
Today’s included tour shows you the best of Shanghai including Yu Yuan Gardens and the beautiful Jade Buddha Temple. Take a stroll through the thronging shopping thoroughfare of Nanjing Road and along the Bund, the city’s famous boulevard which winds along the west bank of the Huangpu River. We offer an optional acrobatic show this evening.

Day 13: Beijing
This morning you may wish to choose to join a tour of the bustling new district of Pudong, where you will see the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the third tallest in the world. Later, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Beijing, where you will stay for two nights.

Day 14: Beijing
A 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 Summer Palace, the largest and best preserved of all imperial palace gardens. Here you can 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. Why not opt to take a Hutong rickshaw ride around the old town. Your holiday comes to an end with a farewell Beijing duck dinner – more often known as Peking duck in the West.

Day 15: Beijing/Hong Kong
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hong Kong, where you will stay for the next four nights. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon and this evening at leisure.

Day 16: Hong Kong
Join this morning’s included sightseeing tour of Hong Kong Island. Your first stop will be the top of Victoria Peak for the best view in town. Your tour then introduces you to such sights as Repulse Bay, and the fishing village of Aberdeen, famous for its floating community.

Days 17 – 18: Hong Kong
Many fascinating optional excursions will be available to you (at extra cost). You can take a day trip across the Pearl River to the former Portuguese colony of Macau, which reverted back to Chinese rule in December 1999, take a harbour cruise or sail along the coast to Aberdeen for a fabulous seafood lunch. A ride on the Star Ferry is an absolute must – for just a few pence you can see the whole city from a spectacular vantage point.

Alternatively, explore at your own pace. You can stroll through the busy streets, shop for bargains and soak up the unique atmosphere of one of the world’s greatest cities.

Day 19: Hong Kong/UK
Today you’ll transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK, arriving 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.
Itinerary shown is for 2014 tour dates.

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 Best Western in Hangzhou
4-star Waterside Hotel in Wuzhen
4-star Castle Hotel in Suzhou
4-star Greenland Jiulong in Shanghai
All rooms are comfortably furnished and feature en suite facilities and air-conditioning.

In Hong Kong You will stay at the:

4-star or Cityview hotel
This comfortable hotel features a restaurant and bar. Guest rooms are equipped with en suite facilities, air-conditioning, safe, mini-bar, TV, telephone, tea and coffee-making facilities.

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
Xian City Wall welcome ceremony
Terracotta Army (half day)
Xian Small Wild Goose Pagoda
Han Tombs
Hangzhou tour (full day)
Lingying Buddhism temple
Wuzhen sightseeing tour
Suzhou sightseeing tour
Humble Administrator’s Garden
Shanghai tour
Beijing Summer Palace and Beijing Zoo (half day)
Hong Kong Island tour

Optional excursions

Macau
Harbour cruise to Aberdeen
Star Ferry trip
Kongfu show
Tang Dynasty show
West Lake Impression show
Garden of the Fish Master night tour
Shanghai by Night
Evening acrobatic show
Hutong rickshaw ride

Your holiday includes

Overseas transfers and other transportation
Scheduled flights and internal flights as described
17 nights’ hotel accommodation
Full sightseeing on the main tour
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guides
The services of a Local Representative for your Hong Kong add-on
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.”