Highlights of China 2013

Day 1: UK/Shanghai
Depart on your scheduled flight to Shanghai today.

Day 2: Shanghai
You will arrive in Shanghai today, where you will be met by your Local Guide and transferred to your hotel, where a three-night stay has been arranged. Please note that due to the different arrival times of our groups into Shanghai dinner will be your first included meal today.

Day 3: Shanghai
Shanghai is a vibrant and exciting city and we include a guided tour here today. Highlights will be the thronging shopping thoroughfare of Nanjing Road, the traditional Old Town, with its ancient Wu Xing Ting Teahouse, and the classic Yu Yuan Gardens. You will also visit the beautiful Jade Buddha Temple and stroll along the Bund, the city’s famous riverside boulevard, which is lined with magnificent former colonial buildings. This evening we include a visit to an acrobatic show.

Day 4: Suzhou
After breakfast today join our included full-day tour of Suzhou, which is situated on China’s historic Grand Canal. This beautiful 2,500-year-old city is famous for its landscaped gardens, narrow channels and traditional Chinese architecture. Many of the sites of the famous gardens of Suzhou, which date back as far as the 10th century, are still intact and some have been restored to their former glory, with a few listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. As you wander around, you’ll see narrow canals with cobblestone walks where rickety wooden houses lean against each other. Further highlights include the Lingering Garden, the Humble Administrator’s Garden, visits to the Institute of Silk Embroidery (Suzhou has been famous for its silk products since the days of Marco Polo), plus a canal cruise.

Day 5: Xian
Leaving Shanghai behind today you’ll transfer to the airport for your flight to Xian. Upon arrival, visit Han Tombs and experience a welcoming ceremony at the City Walls before you transfer to your hotel, where you will stay for two nights. Enjoy this evening at leisure exploring Xian at your own pace.

Day 6: Xian
Xian, the ‘City of Eternal Peace’, was once the flourishing capital of China and the most important city in Asia. During today’s included excursion you will see quite simply one of the world’s most remarkable sights, the Terracotta Army at Li Shan Mountain. 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 200 BC with the first Qin emperor. They are grouped in battle order, rank by rank, some mounted on horse-drawn chariots, others armed with spears, swords and crossbows in a dazzling display of Chinese military power. This evening you may choose to join our optional excursion to a Tang Dynasty folklore show.

Day 7: Chengdu
Today you will visit the nearby Small Wild Goose Pagoda before transferring to the airport for your flight to Chengdu. On arrival, we include a short sightseeing tour of the city before transferring you to your hotel for a two-night stay.

Day 8: Chengdu
This morning you will visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Centre, where you can view these endearing and endangered creatures. In the afternoon, you can explore bustling Jinli Street, where you can sample local delicacies and visit traditional tea houses and silk workshops.

Day 9: Yangtze cruise
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before you transfer by train to Chongqing, a modern city perched beside the Yangtze River. We include a tour of the city before you board your cruise ship and set sail on a three-night Yangtze cruise.

Days 10 – 11: Yangtze cruise
Your ship is one of the American Victoria Fleet of luxurious 5-star vessels which offer a stylish and comfortable cruising experience. You will cruise to the Three Gorges Dam, where you will pass through the locks. Your ship will then proceed downstream through Xiling Gorge, before continuing through the Wuxia and Qutang Gorges. A stop will also be made to take a side trip up the Shennong Stream.

Day 12: Beijing
You will arrive in Yichang early this afternoon for your journey to Wuhan for your evening flight to Beijing. You will stay in this extraordinary city for four nights.

Day 13: Beijing
Daily life in Beijing, a city of bustling street markets and food stalls, horses and carts, crowded buses and friendly people, is a truly spellbinding sight to the first-time visitor. You’ll see ancient temples and exquisite palaces standing proudly beside the vast 20th century civic buildings created by Chairman Mao and his people. The most modern architecture can be seen with the iconic Olympic buildings – these include the National Aquatics Centre, better known as the Water Cube and the National Stadium, or the Bird’s Nest.

Today we include a visit to Tiananmen Square, 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, to admire the magnificent buildings that house the Imperial Palace. After lunch you’ll visit the Temple of Heaven, where the Emperor would pray for a good harvest. You can round off your day with an optional Kong Fu show this evening.

Day 14: The Great Wall
This morning we include a visit to the Great Wall, which passes within 40 miles of Beijing at Badaling, where it is wide enough to let five horsemen ride abreast. Here you will have plenty of time to both admire this amazing structure as well as take a walk along the historic ramparts. Lunch 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.

This evening we invite you to join us on an included excursion to Donghuamen Night Market. Located in the heart of Beijing, you’ll find all sorts of culinary delicacies at this famous market. Whether you want to be adventurous and try some of the more exotic snacks, such as silk worms or scorpions, or you’d prefer to play it safe with dumplings or noodles, there’s certainly plenty of choice here if you’re still feeling peckish after dinner.

Day 15: Beijing
Spend a relaxing day today, which begins with an included morning excursion to the magnificent Summer Palace, the largest and best preserved imperial garden in China. This afternoon is free for you to spend at leisure.

Day 16: Beijing/UK
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. As you are flying westwards your arrival in the UK 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
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 Shanghai Hotel in Shanghai
4-star King Dynasty in Xian
4-star Chengdu Tianfu Sunshine in Chengdu
4-star Chang An Grand in Beijing.
All guest rooms feature en suite facilities, air-conditioning or heating as required, TV and telephone.

Your ship

You will cruise aboard one of the American Victoria Fleet, luxurious 5-star vessels boasting beautifully furnished cabins – all of them outside and all feature private balconies and en suite facilities. Ships are air conditioned and feature a restaurant, bar, reading room, gift shop, beauty salon and viewing deck.

All hotels will be confirmed in your final documentation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

Shanghai tour (full day)
Shanghai Acrobats Show
Suzhou tour (full day)
Xian Han Tombs & City Walls for Welcome Ceremony
Xian Terracotta Army (half day)
Xian visit to Small Wild Goose Pagoda
Chengdu sightseeing tour
Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Centre (half day)
Three-night Yangtze Gorges Cruise
Beijing – City tour, visit to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven (full day)
Great Wall of China & Avenue of Statues (full day)
Donghuamen Night Market
Summer Palace (half day)

Optional excursions

Tang Dynasty folklore show
Kong Fu show

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights, internal flights, overseas transfers & other transportation
14 nights’ accommodation
All meals – (excluding 2 lunches)
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guide
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.”