12 Days Imperial and Elegant China

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12 Days Imperial and Elegant China

Destination:

Beijing (3 Nights) ,Xi'an (2 Nights) ,Hangzhou (2 Nights) ,Suzhou (1 Nights) ,Shanghai (3 Nights)

Duration: 12 Days & 11 Nights
Tour Type: Multi-City Tour
Tour Code: CTP36

Summary:

You will enjoy different style cuisine such as Beijing roast duck, dumpling dinner in Xian and Shanghai style dimsum. Manificant shows and activities like kungfu show, Tang Dynasty show, Impression West Lake, Night cruise on Huangpu River, are also waiting for you to enjoy.

1Highlights & Map

Experience different Chinese culture and landscape Visit the legendary military defense work - Great Wall View the ancient Buddhism temple and Wild Goose Pagoda View the beautiful scenery while cruising on the West Lake and enjoy life at “the Paradise Under Heaven” View and feel the landscape and culture of gardens in Suzhou Visit Shanghai Museum to experience the changes of history

2Itinerary

Day 01Beijing

Destinations: Arrive in Beijing

Activities:

Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts - an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites and a bustling modern metropolis getting ready to host the 2008 Olympics. Upon your arrival in Beijing, our guide will meet you and transfer you to your Hotel. The guide will give you some tips on local restaurants that we recommend and you can do some shopping in streets nearby. The rest of the day is free to rest to recover from jetlag or to explore yourself.

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Beijing Temple of Heaven

36 Nanwei Road (Nanwei Lu) Beijing China Show Map

Reviews

Day 02Beijing

Destinations: Beijing

Activities:

After breakfast head out for Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest public square, which is closely linked to Mao Zedong, and the Forbidden City, from which the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed for over 500 years. Later you'll visit the Temple of Heaven, where the Emperors prayed for good harvests and rain, or gave thanks for the harvest.

Meals: lunch

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Beijing Temple of Heaven

36 Nanwei Road (Nanwei Lu) Beijing China Show Map

Reviews

Day 03Beijing

Destinations: Beijing

Activities:

Leave townin the morning for the drive (a bit under two hours) to the Badaling Section of The Great Wall, which stretches for over 6000 km, and was originally built to protect China from the barbarians. You can walk and climb at your own pace, or enjoy spectacular views from the cable car. Before returning to the city you'll enjoy visiting the Changling (one of the Ming tombs), and the attractive tree-lined Sacred Road, bordered by stone statues, along which the Emperors once trod to conduct their sacred ceremonies. During the day a visit to Jade Caving Factory or Cloisonne (enamelware) workshop is included. Dinner tonight is at Quanjude Restaurant, where you'll taste some of the best 'Peking Duck' in Beijing.

Meals: lunch

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Beijing Temple of Heaven

36 Nanwei Road (Nanwei Lu) Beijing China Show Map

Reviews

Day 04Beijing, Xi'an

Destinations: Beijing to Xi'an

Activities:

You will be free in the morning until being transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Xi'an which is of the oldest cities in China. Xi'an was the national capital for over 1,000 years and was also the starting point of the Silk Road. On arrival we will take a half-hour's hike along the Ancient City Wall to familiarize ourselves with this fascinating cross cultural city. For the energetic we recommend a ride bike along the top of the wall (Bikes can be rented for around 20 yuan/hour)

Meals: lunch

Hotel: Hotel Ibis Xian

No.59 Heping Road Bei Lin District Shaanxi Show Map

Reviews

Day 05Xi'an

Destinations: Xi'an

Activities:

Spend today visiting some marvelous historical sites in and around this most ancient city, which was the national capital for over 1,000 years, and the starting point of the Silk Road. Despite a lot of modern development Xi'an remains a charming city, and you'll enjoy visiting the Bell Tower, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Then out to see the incredible Terracotta Warriors. Tang Dynasty Show & Dinner: The fantastic show that presents the palace dances and sings in the Tang Dynasty when Xian was the capital of ancient China.

Meals: lunch

Hotel: Hotel Ibis Xian

No.59 Heping Road Bei Lin District Shaanxi Show Map

Reviews

Day 06Xi'an, Hangzhou

Destinations: Xi'an to Hangzhou

Activities:

The morning is free for you to explore more of this ancient city. After lunch our guide will escort you to the airport for your flight to Hangzhou, a city famous for its natural beauty and historical and cultural heritage. On arrival we visit to Lingyin Temple (Monastery of the Hidden Souls). It is one of the most famous ancient Buddhist temples in China and houses a variety of Buddhist literature and treasures. The next stop is the Meijiawu Tea Plantation you will experience the unique tea culture, taste the fragrant tea and appreciate the beautiful village scenery.

Hotel: Lily Hotel Hangzhou

No.45 Shuguang RoadShow Map

Reviews

Day 07Hangzhou

Destinations: Hangzhou

Activities:

We cruise on the lake this morning to enjoy the beauty both natural and man made. The afternoon is spent at the Huqingyu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum. The Museum of Chinese Traditional Herbal Medicine is a key cultural relics and historic site under the protection of the government. It is housed in the ancient buildings of a famous Hangzhou Chinese herbal medicine shop. The exhibition halls introduce the origin, development and application of traditional Chinese medicine and its role in the history of medicine. Impression West Lake---a unique metropolitan out-door performance on natural stage setting. Located in the scenic area of the Yue Lake of the West Lake in Hangzhou and in harmony with its world famous landscape, Impression West Lake is the most beautiful metropolitan theatre with natural mountains and waters as its backdrop.Tanks to the magic colours resulted from the clear climate changes in four seasons in Jiangnan every time when you watch the show,you get a wonderful different feeling.

Meals: lunch

Hotel: Lily Hotel Hangzhou

No.45 Shuguang RoadShow Map

Reviews

Day 08Hangzhou, Suzhou

Destinations: Hangzhou to Suzhou

Activities:

This morning you'll be transferred to Suzhou by train and arrive at 12:00pm. The Humble Administrator's Garden is the first stop in Suzhou. It is the best representation of a Chinese classical garden in China. Afterward we are head to the Grand Canal, the longest man-made waterway in the world. Cruising on the Canal, you can observe the lifestyle of local people. Suzhou is also famous for its silk production and the last item of the day of the day is a visit to the No.1 silk factory where you can see how the silk is processed from the silk worm to the final woven cloth.

Meals: lunch

Hotel: Gusu Hotel(Suzhou)

No.5 Xiangwang Road. Shiquan StreetShow Map

Reviews

Day 09Suzhou, Shanghai

Destinations: Suzhou to Shanghai

Activities:

Before transferring to Shanghai, we visit the ancient Zhou village where we will cruise the town many small streams and canals which surround the village. The waterways are criss-crossed with stone bridges and old residence with black tiles and white wells line the banks.

Meals: lunch

Hotel: New Asia Hotel Shanghai

No.422 Tian Tong Road, ShanghaiShow Map

Reviews

Day 10Shanghai

Destinations: Shanghai

Activities:

Morning sightseeing begins at Jade Buddha Temple and the Yuyuan Garden in the old town of Shanghai, which is based on the original walled city established in the 11th century. Afternoon to the Bund, the waterfront which shows Shanghai in early 1930s and then you can stroll or shop in the Nanjing Road. At night enjoy a wonderful Huangpu River Night Cruise. Huangpu River, is the name for grand Yangtze River Shanghai section where it joins in the East China Sea. It divides the Bund into two sections, Pu Dong and Pu Xi which means "east of river" and "west of river". Local people honor the Huangpu as their Mother River, and as you view the lights and spectacle from the deck during your cruise, you will understand why.

Meals: lunch

Hotel: New Asia Hotel Shanghai

No.422 Tian Tong Road, ShanghaiShow Map

Reviews

Day 11Shanghai

Destinations: Shanghai

Activities:

We start the day by visiting Shanghai Museum which is The biggest museum in China, with a collection of over 120,000 pieces of Chinese art & cultural relics. The museum is especially famous for its treasures of bronzes, ceramics, paintings, and calligraphy. Then we head to the famous Oriental TV Tower (also known as the Pearl Tower, for its distinctive shape). The second highest viewing platform provides wonderful views over Shanghai and the Huang Pu River, and those with a good head for heights can choose to buy a ticket to continue on to the very top. In the afternoon, we take a relaxing walk to the Old French concession region. This downtown area is banded by Ju Lu Lu in the north and Zhao Jia Bang Lu to the south and is well known for beautiful old homes and gardens. The area, which dates from the French Colonial period, is home to many of the city's best restaurants. Great area for a weekend stroll or to find a delicious food in the heart of downtown.

Meals: lunch

Hotel: New Asia Hotel Shanghai

No.422 Tian Tong Road, ShanghaiShow Map

Reviews

Day 12Shanghai

Destinations: Depart from Shanghai

Activities: Your time is your own, until you are ready to be transferred to the airport for your departure.

3Price Policy

Price Includes

  • Hotel accommodation in twin shared room with daily breakfast.
  • Meals as specified in the itinerary (B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner).
  • Domestic flights, trains or buses as specified in the itinerary
  • Airport tax and fuel fee.
  • Private car/coach for transfers service and sightseeing program as indicated in the itinerary.
  • Local English-speaking tour guide for transfers and sightseeing program as indicated in each city.
  • Entrance fees to scenic spots as indicated in the itinerary.
  • Service charge and government Taxes.

Price Excludes

  • Entry or exit China international airfare or train tickets.
  • Hotel room/cruise cabin single supplement.
  • Personal expenses such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone call, optional activities, etc.
  • Gratuities to the tour guide, driver and hotel bellboy.
  • Fees for entry visa to China.
  • Traveler insurance.
  • Services not mentioned in the itinerary.
Note: Tipping is now considered by many locals to be a part of their normal remuneration. However, this is a matter of personal discretion. You may use following as a reference.Suggested Tipping: for local guide: $8 to $10 per person(guest) per day, for driver: $4 to $5 per person(guest) per day.
Cancellation and Refund Policy for Tours Reservation
Cancellation in advance Cancellation penalty
More than 30 days No Cancellation Fee
30-10 days 50% of the full payment
9-0 days or no show 100% of the full payment

4Things to Do

Beijing Food & Restaurants

The best way to eat well and cheaply in Beijing is to enter one of the ubiquitous restaurants...

Beijing Accommodation

More than 1,000 hotels in China accommodate foreign visitors...

Beijing Transportation

Beijingis a well-known transportation hub in northern China with a well-developed transportation system...

5Reviews

Reviews (94% / overall satisfaction:)
would
recommend

Ms. Mr. Edison

(Canada)

Aug.31, 2012

Overall Satisfaction:
"the best choice"
This route is the best choice for those who wants to take a quick look at China, and wants to taste Chinese culture. It includes Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou. I will write a book about this trip, eh, actually, a novel which is set in China.
would
recommend

Ms. Ms Ben

(Hong Kong)

Aug.31, 2012

Overall Satisfaction:
"Humble Administrator's Garden"
My favorite site is the Humble Administrator's Garden, it is the first stop in Suzhou. It is the best representation of a Chinese classical garden in China. The guide told us lots of anecdotes and stories about the garden, but i was busy in taking photos...I think it is a good site for those who are interested in architecture or who wants to become an architect.
would
recommend

Ms. Ms Sara

(Iceland)

Aug.31, 2012

Overall Satisfaction:
"a mysterious country"
China is a mysterious country, I dont know how the ancient people could build such magnificent things! Another thing I want to say is that Beijing government should improve the protecting measures, there are too many people.

6Questions & Answers

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