China Tour

China is “the Country of cyclists”. During the last decades, the bicycle was the most commonly used means of transportation in China. One can still see thousands of cyclists in the big cities, even though more and more people use cars and motorbikes today. In order to show you a real China on the bicycle, we have chosen five popular destinations for you: Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Yangshuo and Hangzhou. The best period for a bicycle tour in South China is from June to the end of November, since there may be rainstorms in the other months of the year.

Itinerary:

Arrival in Beijing Capital International Airport about noon. Greetings by your tour guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Afterwards, visit Beijing’s landmark - the Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan), where the Ming and Qing Emperors worshiped the heaven and prayed for good harvests. The complex of buildings is on the World Heritage List. It is a unique expression of the Chinese concept of the relationship between heaven and earth.

In the morning, go to the Tian'anmen Square (Tian’anmen Guangchang) by bike. Having cycled around the world-famous largest square within a city, let the bicycle stand at the Tian’anmen Square Gate and walk to the Palace of the Emperor (Gugong), which the Chinese officials call the Palace Museum (better known as the Forbidden City). This palace is of the Ming and Qing time and it is on the UNESCO's World Heritage List. It is a masterpiece of Chinese palace architecture and it demonstrates the integration of traditional architecture in ancient northern China into the art of palace building.Go by bike forward along the outer wall and the moat of the imperial city to the Dongcheng District, to the east of the Palace of the Emperor. Besides the traditional residential quarters (Hutongs) and the typical Chinese shopping streets are the Wangfujing DaJie, an ultra modern shopping street with large and select department stores, but as well small alleys, where snacks (xiao chi) from everywhere in the country are for sale.

In the morning, you drive by bus to the Badaling Great Wall. You can climb up to it through a scarped staircase and enjoy the scenery from above. Then you will visit the summer palace (Yi He Yuan) after lunch. It is one of the imperial gardens, where the Chinese gardening is perfectly reflected. That's why it is on the UNESCO's World Heritage List. If you like, we can organize a Peking Opera for you in the evening.

In the morning, go by bike to the Tibetan-Buddhist Lama Temple (Yonghegong), one of the biggest and most beautiful temples in Beijing. The former residence of the Prince Yong was transformed under the emperor Qianlong into a Tibetan monastary. This temple represents a successful mixture of Han, Man, Mongolian and Tibetan culture and architecture. Then pass the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower and reach the Lakes District. Qianhai (the front lake) and the Houhai (the back lake) are located in an urban area, which is still predominantly covered with traditional buildings – the so-called “Hutongs”. The famous Beijing Hutongs are streets and lanes lined with one-storied four-sides courtyards (siheyuan). They represent the traditional folk architecture of the past centuries. You will get a glimpse of the traditional lives of the Beijing inhabitants. Afterwards transfer to the train station and go to Xi’an by night train in a first-class sleeping wagon.

Arrival in Xi’an in the morning. Transfer to the hotel and have breakfast. Today you will make a trip to the Army of TerraCotta Warriors (Bing Ma Yong). The excavation site is a part of the Tomb of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang (BC 221-210). There are thousands of life-size Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses guarding the Tomb of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang (BC 221-210). Besides thousands of life-size Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses watching over the Tomb, you can see two bronze models of horse carriage and warrior (Tong Che Ma) from this epoch. They were found in ducts beside the burial mound. The TerraCotta Warriors, the bronze models and the tombs are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the afternoon, return to the city. Afterwards, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Da Yan Ta) in the Dacien temple built in 652 A.D., which is considered as Xi'an’s landmark.

In the morning, you will make a cycling tour along the well-preserved Xi’an City Walls (14 km), which dates back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) to circle around the Old Town one time and to look at it top down. Transfer to the airport and fly to Guilin in the afternoon.

Another bicycle tour awaits you today. At first, you will reach Guilin’s landmark, the Elephant Trunk Mountain (Xiangbi Shan) at the picturesque Li-River. Go forward along the river to the Fubo Hill, where you can view the panorama of the city. Afterwards go by bike to the Ming Tombs, which are located about 15 km outside the city. When the first Ming Emperor came to power, a binding design of the emperor tombs was created, which orientated itself at the older traditions. All of the successors on the throne, but as well more or less significant relatives and civil servants used this design until the end of the Qing Dynasty. Beside the burial mound, for example, there is an entrance hall for the Tomb Set, a honour archway, an Soul Alley, which is flanked by statues made out of stone, and a river.

Transfer to the wharf outside the city by car in the morning. Go for a cruise on the picturesque Li River through the bizarre karst hill landscape to Yangshuo. It lasts for about 4 hours. You will get the lunch aboard the ship. After the arrival in Yangshuo, go on foot within a few minutes to your hotel. The rest of the day is at you disposal. You can explore the impressing karst landscape by bicycle or make a round trip by electrical minibus through the villages, along rice fields and between the beautiful hills. Overnight stay in the West Street Guesthouse in Yangshuo.
A suggestion for the evening: Impression Liu Sanjie, directed by the famous Chinese film director Zhang Yimou. He will be the leading director of the opening and closing ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The evening performance is a wonderful presentation of local dance and singing.

Today, you will make a day tour in the surrounding area of Yangshuo. The landscape is composed of the peculiar karst cones, rice fields and Li River. Then you will go through small villages, which hardly changed for centuries and you can experience a part of Yangshuo, which stays concealed from most of the tourists.

The morning is at your own disposal. In the afternoon you will be transferred to Guilin airport to go to Hangzhou by plane. After arrival in Hangzhou you will be met by your guide and escorted to the hotel.

Today, you will make a bicycle tour again. In the morning, go a little along the well-known West Lake by bike. Afterwards, visit the Pagoda of the Six Harmonies, which was built in about 970 at the behest of the king of Wuyue in order to restrain the tide of the Qiantang River, a famous phenomenon, which you can see twice, only at the beginning and middle of every lunar month. The pagoda had not only sacral functions, but also functioned as a lighthouse. Afterwards, go forward to the Tea Plantations near Meijiawu by bike. There you will learn worth-knowing facts about the well-known Dragon Well Tea. Afterwards visit the Linyin Temple, which dates back to the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317 – 420 AD) and which is the foremost research centre relating to the Chinese Buddhism today. In the afternoon, go back to Hangzhou by bike.

In the morning, visit the legendary West Lake, a huge landscape garden, which is an exemplar of the Summer Palace in Beijing. There you can make a boat trip at the lake and visit numerous sights. This lake forms the cityscape of Hangzhou till today. Afterwards you can walk around the Old Town. There is the pharmacy museum, a very worth seeing building, which shows the differences and distinctions of the Chinese Medicine to you. Go to Shanghai by train at noon. After the arrival, transfer to the hotel.

There is often heavy traffic on the roads in Shanghai. Because of that you will see relatively few cyclists. We do not want to expose you to this safety hazards. Therefore, you will take the bus instead. You will go up the Jinmao Building, a 421 m high skyscraper, which is a wonderful blend of traditional Chinese style with gothic influence first. Enjoy a broad view from the highest observation deck of the world down to the fastest growing city of Asia. Afterwards, saunter through the Old Town of Shanghai with its labyrinth of narrow lanes and get a glimpse of the everyday life there. In the center of the Old Town, amidst a lake, the famous Tea House is located. In the afternoon, visit the shopping street - Nanjing Lu – the ideal place for window shopping and shopping.

Day 14: Shanghai                       B

Transfer to the airport after breakfast and fly back home. (You can spend approx. $7 to go to the airport by the Transrapid).

End of the travel.

B: Breakfast        L: Lunch       D: Dinner

Tour No.:BT Biking tour

For individual groups

Number of participants	Peak season	Single room extra charge	Shoulder season	Single room extra charge	book
2-5 Pers.	1415 USD	255 USD	1380 USD	245 USD

If you are a group with more than 5 persons, you can get more favourable prices. Please note that the prices may vary due to exchange rate fluctuations (RMB to USD) slightly. The prices above were computed by the rates as 1 USD= 7.9 RMB.

Peak season: April, May, September and October
Shoulder season: March, June, July, August, November

The hotels:
Beijing Harmony Hotel***
Xi'an City Hotel***
Guilin Jingxiu Hotel***
Yangshuo West Street Guesthouse**
Shanghai Jiulong Hotel***
Hangzhou Zhongshan Hotel***

Price includes:
-- All overnight accommodation in double rooms shared by two adults with    breakfast.
-- Meals as listed in the itinerary.
-- All transfers and entrance tickets as listed in the itinerary.
-- Inland flight tickets including all fees.
-- Local English-speaking tour guide.

Price does not include:
-- International flight tickets.
-- Visa for China
-- Personal expenditures, tips etc.

Note:
-- Children less than 12 years old can be given discounts.
-- The hotels, trains and flights listed in the itinerary may be changed into the    ones of similar category if necessary.
-- The prices do not apply to the Spring Festival, the Labors’ Day Holiday (30th     April. –7th May.), the National Day Holiday (30th Sep.–7th Oct.), and the     Formula 1 in Shanghai (25th Sep.–5th Oct. 2006).
-- If you need more information, please contact us.