China Discovery

15 days - from $1411

This trip has just about everything that you could wish for from a tour in China. Stay at the guesthouse of a delightful Zhuang minority family, cycle around beautiful Yangshuo, relax on a Yangtse cruise, marvel at the 2000 year old Terracotta Warriors AND hike along the spectacular Great Wall. All in just two weeks!

Itinerary:

Day 1,HONG KONG Arrival day. Day 2,HONG KONG - GUILIN Free morning in Hong Kong before a short afternoon train ride to Shenzhen. Overnight train to Guilin. Day 3,YANGSHUO Morning arrival in Guilin and transfer to Yangshuo. Explore the beautiful countryside on foot or by bike. In the afternoon we have a Chinese lesson to get you ready for the trip ahead. Day 4,YANGSHUO A free day to explore on foot or by bike (US$2 bicycle hire). Pass through beautiful rural scenery with lovely old stone buildings and farmers working in the paddies. You may also want to learn some of the local culture by taking a lesson in Chinese cooking (US$11/14), Tai Chi or calligraphy (US$5.5 per hour). Day 5,YANGSHUO - LONGSHENG Transfer to Longsheng. Late afternoon is a great time to take walks in the rice paddies with spectacular views of the terraces. Day 6,LONGSHENG – CHONGQING A free morning for further exploration before we return to Guilin for the overnight train to Chongqing. Day 7,CHONGQING Arrive in Chongqing where we board our cruise boat. Day 8 to Day 9,YANGTSE RIVER CRUISE We cruise down the Yangtse River, passing through the spectacular Three Gorges. along the way we stop for various excursions to places of interest. (BLD) Day 10,YICHANG – XI’AN We disembark in Yichang and take the overnight train to Xi'an (B). Day 11,XI’AN Morning arrival in Xi'an and guided tour of the Terracotta Warriors. A free afternoon to wander through the markets, haggling over souvenirs or try some of the delicious northern Chinese cuisine with a bowl of steaming dumplings or noodles. Day 12,XI’AN – BEIJING The day is free for you to explore this ancient city and its many amazing sites. In the evening we catch the overnight train to Beijing. Day 13,BEIJING Morning arrival in Beijing. We visit Tiananmen Square before free time to visit the magnificent Forbidden City and any other sites you wish to see. Day 14,BEIJING - GREAT WALL A day at the Great Wall. We have the option of hiking along one of the less-visited but most beautiful sections. Day 15,BEIJING Tour ends.

Included

Group Size Max 18
Activities Extensive walking at sights, optional hiking in Longsheng and along the Great Wall, optional bike riding in Yangshuo
Accommodation 6 nights simple hotels, 1 night guesthouse, 3 nights cruise boat, 4 nights sleeper train
Transport Public and private bus, airconditioned Yangtse cruise boat, train & taxi
Fully Escorted By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides in Xi’an and on cruise boat excursions

Excluded

Local Payment: Must be paid in cash on day 1 of your tour
Airport Transfer: Not included
Meals: Not included except on cruise boat. Allow US$8 per day
Entrance Fees: Not included. Allow US$40 for all sites listed as part of the itinerary
Visa costs: Not included
Border Taxes: Not included
Drinks, tips, laundry and other items of a personal nature.: Not included
International flights: Not included
Departure transfers: Not included
Meals other than those listed: Not included
Single supplement does not include nights on the sleeper trains.: Not included

WINTER ITINERARY: For winter departures, the China Discovery tour will follow an amended itinerary from Days 6 to 10, as follows:
Day 6, LONGSHENG -: Today we trek along the ridge to another picturesque village, and after lunch take a bus back to the guesthouse.
Day 7, SHANGHAI: - We transfer to Guilin and fly to Shanghai. Free afternoon to explore or take a river cruise.
Shanghai
One of the great cities of the world, Shanghai is currently undergoing a major face-lift. Historically renowned as the seat of colonial power in the east, with all the resulting decadence, excitement and vices, Shanghai entered a period of stagnation when the communists came to power. Now it is being redeveloped, and part of the city has become a Special Economic Zone, its streets full of gleaming new office buildings and crowned by the space-age Pearl TV Tower. The rest of the city is also undergoing huge change, with much of the old being pulled down to make way for the new. It is an exciting and vibrant place which embodies the astonishing development which China has been experiencing in recent years, and exemplifies the economic powerhouse that China has become. Despite the frantic construction, the colonial legacy lives on in the form of beautiful neo-classical buildings which housed the major trading corporations of the east, most notably along the Bund, the road running along the waterfront.
A highlight of any visit to Shanghai are the astonishingly dextrous Shanghai Acrobats, who put on an incredible performance which inevitably leaves you rather humbled.
Day 8, SHANGHAI: - A full free day to explore the bustling city. In the evening we see the famous Shanghai acrobats.
Day 9, SHANGHAI - CHENGDU -: We fly to Chengdu. This evening there's a chance to see the fascinating Sichuan variety performance and try a traditional hotpot dinner, typical for this region.
Chengdu
 

Trip Reference: AACD