China Tour

China is a vast country. The geography differs from north to south and from east to west. On this tour you will get to know the impressing ethnic and cultural diversity of this country and the most beautiful sights. Highlights of this tour are not only the Forbidden City in the unique former imperial city Beijing, the world-famous Terrakotta Warriors in Xi’an, but also a river cruise through the incomparable karst landscape in Guilin. You will visit Hangzhou and the legendary West Lake. Take a rest in Xitang,a quiet little town. At last, visit the lively metropolis - Shanghai.

Itinerary:

Arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport. Greetings by your guide and
transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at your disposal.

In the morning, take a walk at the historic Tian'anmen Square (Tian’anmen Guangchang), the world-famous largest square in Beijing. Walk through the Tian’anmen Square Gate 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. Afterwards visit another landmark of Beijing, the Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan), where the Ming and Qing Emperors worshiped the heaven and prayed for good harvests. It is also on the World Heritage List, because it is a unique expression of the Chinese concept of the relationship between heaven and earth.

Visit the Badaling Great Wall in the morning. You can climb up to the wall through a scarped staircase and enjoy the scenery from above. After lunch, go to the Summer Palace (Yi He Yuan) by bus. It is one of the imperial gardens, where the Chinese gardening is perfectly reflected. It is on the UNESCO's World Heritage List.

In the morning, visit 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, Manchurian, Mongolian and Tibetan culture and architecture. Afterwards visit the Hutong near the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. 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. In the late afternoon, transfer to the train station and go to Xi’an by train in a firstclass sleeping wagon.

Arrival in Xi’an in the morning and transfer to the hotel. After breakfast, go to the excavation sites and visit the Army of TerraCotta Warriors (Bing Ma Yong), which is a part of the grave of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang (221-210 BC). The grave, including the TerraCotta Warriors is on the UNESCO's world heritage list. Besides thousands of life-size TerraCotta Warriors and Horses guarding the Tomb of the first emperor of China, you can see two bronze models of horse carriage and warrior. They were found in ducts beside the burial mound. Return to Xi’an after lunch. 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, visit the Bell and Drum Tower square (Zhong-Gu Lou) and the Muslim Old Town with its numerous small shops and restaurants. There you will visit the Great Mosque (Qingzhen Si; or Hua Jue Si), which is built in the typical Chinese temple architectural style. Afterwards visit the Shaanxi History Museum (Shaanxi Lishi Bowuguan), one of the most beautiful museums in China. You will get the best overview of Chinese history, starting from Palaeolithic era to the end of the emperor era. Fly to Guilin in the afternoon. Greetings by the tour guide and transfer to the hotel.

Transfer to the wharf outside the city by minibus in the morning. Go for a cruise on the picturesque Li River through the bizarre karst landscape to Yangshuo. It lasts for about 4 hours. You will have lunch on the ship. After the arrival in Yangshuo, walk to your hotel in a few minutes. The rest of the day is at your disposal. You can explore the impressing karst landscape by bicycle or make a round trip by electrical minibus through the villages, rice fields and mountains. Stay at 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.

The day is at your disposal. Enjoy a beautiful and relaxing day that few travelers can experience. Wander through the narrow lanes and saunter at the market. Explore the impressing karst landscape by bike or tricycle. Hike in the mountains, through rice fields and the villages along the Li-River and the Yulong River, where life has hardly changed for centuries. You can visit the lanes and courtyards by yourself.

In the morning return to Guilin by bus and visit the famous Reed Flute Cave (Ludiyan) with its impressing stalactites, stalagmites, stone pillars and rock formations. Afterwards transfer to the airport and fly to Hangzhou. As an old Chinese saying goes, “In heaven there is paradise, on earth Hangzhou”.

Go to the legendary West Lake by minibus in the morning. It is 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. In the afternoon, visit one of the tea plantations in Hangzhou.

Visit the Pagode of the Six Harmonies in the morning. It was built in 970 at the behest of the king of Wuyue in order to restrain the tidal 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. Then go to the picturesque village Xitang from Shanghai. Its townscape has scarcely changed over centuries. The city has numerous canals and even more bridges. This city imparts you with an impressing picture of the old China – similar to what the first Europeans, who came to China, have found. Eminent attractions are the roofed streets and lanes, which meander along the canals. Overnight stay in Xitang.

This morning is at your disposal. Stroll along the old streets and lanes. You will be charmed by the different atmosphere there. Go to the world metropolis Shanghai by bus after lunch. After the arrival in Shanghai, you will visit the 421 m high Jinmao Building, which is a wonderful combination of traditional Chinese elements and gothic influence. You can enjoy a breath-taking view from the presently highest observation deck down to the fastest developing city of Asia.

In the morning, experience the religious life in the Jade Buddha Temple (Yo Fo Si), where a 2 m Buddha statue made of one single piece of rare white Burmese jade is housed. Then go to the Old Town with the famous Tea House in the center of a lake. Take a walk to the Bund, the legendary street along the Huangpu River with its European colonial architecture of the 1930's. There you can get a beautiful view of the modern Pudong district at the other side of the river. In the end, stroll up Nanjing Road, the main shopping street of Shanghai.

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.: CH China Highlights

For individual groups

Number of participants	Peak season	Single room extra charge	Shoulder season	Single room extra charge	book
2-5 pers.	1515 USD	345 USD	1470 USD	320 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: May, September and October
Shoulder season: March, April, June, July, August, November

The hotels:
Beijing Best Western****
Xi'an Jianguo Hotel****
Guilin Park Hotel ****
Yangshuo West Street Guesthouse **
Hangzhou Best Western ****
Xitang Kaixun Guesthouse
Shanghai Ocean 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 May Day Holiday (30th April.
   –7th May.), the National Day Holiday (30th Sep.–7th Oct.), and during the    Formula 1 racings  in Shanghai (25th Sep.–5th Oct. 2006).
-- If you need more information, please contact us.