Day
01
Day 02
Day 03
Day 04
Day 05
Day 06
Day 07-
Day 10
Day
11
Day 12
Day 13
Day
14
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Day 21
Day 22
Day 23
Day 24
Day 25
|
Depart
Sydney aboard China Southern Airlines flight. Arrive
Guangzhou and transfer to accommodation.
Early morning visit to Qingping Markets,
then onto The Six Banyan Monastery, Sun Yatsen¡¯s Memorial
Hall, and Shamian Island. In the evening enjoy a Cultural
Perfomance.
Take a short coach tour into the country
side to Foshan to observe the rural life in China.
Visit pottery and porcelain factories. Return to Guangzhou
for an evening cruise and dinner on the Pearl River.
Depart Guangzhou for a 1 hour flight to Guilin,
one of China¡¯s greener and most scenic cities. Transfer
to accommodation and relax. In the afternoon visit
the Reed Flute Caves, where the guide, innovative
lighting and your imagination will conjure up images
for the shapes of the limestone formations. Visit
Elephant Rock, climb the 152m Solitary Beauty Peak
and meander through Seven Star Park. Photograph the
amazing landscape created by the projecting karst
formations. In the evening stroll through the markets
for souvenirs and gifts¡¯
Enjoy a fascinating cruise on the Li River.
On the 5 hour, 83 km journey the ferry glides past
towering peaks, isolated farming communities, and
cormorant fishermen before disembarking at Yangshuo.
Stroll through the free markets before making the
1 hour return coach journey to Guilin. Enjoy a relaxing
evening reflecting on the highlights of an unforgettable
day.
In the
morning depart Guilin and after a 1 hour flight arrive
in Wuhan. On arrival have a brief tour of the city
sights and transfer to the deluxe Yangtze River cruise
ship. Depart Wuhan at 8.00pm for 5 nights and 4 days
of spectacular sailing.
As the cruise ship noses its way 1 300 kms
upstream against the strong current of China¡¯s largest
river, the passengers accumulate a wealth of memorable
experiences. Be sure to have your video and or camera
with ample supplies of film. Frequent shore excursions
promote contact with the charm, culture, customs and
commerce of isolated communities. Sampans convey groups
through stunning scenery along the waterways of the
Lesser Three Gorges. There is the opportunity to inspct
the building of The Three Gorges Project. The largest
dam construction ever attempted is due to be completed
in 2009. Marvel at the magnificence and sheer beauty
of the premier cruise attractions the Xiling, Wu and
Qutang Gorges.
Arrive
9.00am at Chongqing and disembark. Have a brief tour
of the city sights before catching the afternoon flight
to Xian. On arrival transfer to accommodation and
enjoy a relaxing evening.
In the morning tour the City Wall and Drum Tower,
Shaanxi History Museum (one of the finest in China),
and cloisonn¨¦ / jade craft centres. In the evening
enjoy a banquet and performance at the Tang Dynasty
Cultural Show.
Spend day touring amazing archaeological wonders.
See the 6 000 figures of the Terracotta Army that
protect the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shihuang (259
BC ¨C 210 BC), the first emperor of united China. Stroll
through Huaqing Pool where the emperors and concubines
of the Tang Dynasty bathed in the hot spring pools.
Inspect the excavations and relics of Banpo Neolithic
Village that date back to the period 4 500 BC ¨C 3
750 BC). Late afternoon departure from Xian aboard
a soft sleeper passenger train for a 14 hour 1 165
kms overnight journey to Beijing.
Early morning arrival at West
Beijing Railway Station and transfer to accommodation.
Visit Tiannamen Square and tour the Forbidden City,
the imperial palace of the emperors for more than
500 years. In the afternoon tour to the majestic Temple
of Heaven where emperors prayed for good harvests
and the welfare of their subjects. Evening free but
options such as attending Beijing Opera or visiting
a foot massage parlour or relaxing at the hotel karaoke
bar or recreational centre can be arranged.
All day tour to the 6 500 kms long Great Wall of China,
built as a barricade against the marauding northern
neighbours, and the Ming Tombs in Shisanling Forest
where 13 of the 16 emperors from the Ming Dynasty
are buried. In the evening enjoy a Peking Duck banquet.
Morning visit to Fragrant Hills Park. Stroll through
beautiful parkland, ride on the chairlift to the peak
for a fine view and tour the 1366 built Azure Clouds
Temple containing 500 Buddha statues. In the afternoon
visit the magnificent Summer Palace resort where the
imperial court spent the summer months escaping the
heat in Beijing. In the evening be entertained by
the amazing Beijing Acrobatic Troupe.
In the morning enjoy a pedicab tour of the Hutongs
and inspect the architecture and gardens of Prince
Gongwong¡¯s Palace to participate in a tea ceremony.
In the afternoon go shopping at a department store
in Wang Fu Jing street or test your bargaining skills
with the stallholders in the free market at ¡°Silk
Alley¡±. Late afternoon, depart Beijing aboard a soft
sleeper passenger train for overnight journey to Nanjing.
Morning arrival in
Nanjing, one of the seven ancient capitals of China.
Transfer to accommodation and relax. In the afternoon
tour to tranquil Purple Mountain to visit the Sun
Yatsen Mausoleum, resting place for the pioneer hero
(1886 ¨C 1925) of the Chinese revolution in 1911, visit
Linggu Temple Park and Linggu Pagoda. In the evening
stroll through Nanjing commercial centre to soak up
the atmosphere and shop for souvenirs and presents.
In the morning view the majestic Yangtze River Bridge.
This impressive 4 500m long engineering structure,
completed in 1968, carries a roadway on the top deck
and rail tracks on the lower deck and provides a major
transport link between the north and south of China.
Visit the bazaars of Fuzimiao, the old city quarters
on the Qinghai River. During the afternoon visit Nanjing
History Museum and later tour the relics surrounding
the Tomb of Hong Wu (1327 ¨C 91), the first emperor
of the Ming Dynasty. Spend the evening relaxing in
the hotel entertainment centre¡¯s games room or karaoke
bar. Pack luggage for early morning start.
Depart Nanjing by
coach for the 200km journey through the fertile farmlands
of the lower Yangtze. Pass by scenic Taihu Lake and
historic Wuxi before arriving at Suzhou, the beautiful
city the famous 13th century Italian traveller Marco
Polo referred to as ¡°Venice of the East¡±. On arrival
transfer to accommodation.
In the morning take a Dragon Boat cruise of the famous
Suzhou canals. In the afternoon stroll through the
beautiful Humble Administrators Garden and visit the
Silk and Embroidery Institute. In the evening depart
Suzhou and journey 100kms onto Shanghai. Transfer
to accommodation.
In the morning visit
the Jade Buddha Temple and Yuyuan Gardens, the old
city quarters of Shanghai. In the afternoon stroll
down the pre World War ll waterfront commercial promenade
of the Bund, the free markets of Nanjing Road and
be entertained during a visit to a Children¡¯s Palace.
Enjoy a free evening. Optional visits to a cultural
show, Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe, Peace Hotel Jazz
Band, or Shanghai commercial centre can be arranged.
In the morning visit the busy special economic
centre of the Pudong and relax with a cruise on the
Huangpu River. In the afternoon visit the Shanghai
Institute of Arts and Crafts to watch demonstrations
in the crafts of paper cutting, embroidery, painting,
calligraphy, jade carving, miniature sculpturing and
pottery or a famous Shanghai Museum of your interest.
Evening free to enjoy hotel in house activities or
pursue own options.
Morning
departure from Shanghai for a 180km, 2 hour coach
journey to one of China¡¯s most famous tourist cities
the beautiful Hangzhou. Arrive Hangzhou and transfer
to accommodation. In the afternoon visit Dragon Well
Tea Plantation to witness the art of growing and refining
tea and Lingyin Temple. This monument first built
in 326AD has been destroyed and rebuilt no fewer than
16 times and houses the ¡°laughing buddha¡± and the
20 m high camphor wood statue of the master. In the
evening go shopping for gifts an souvenirs in the
Wushan Road Silk and Antique markets.
On the morning cruise on the 9 sq km West Lake enjoy
the sights of ¡°Broken Bridge¡±, the ¡°Three Pools mirroring
the Moon¡±, the goldfish in West Lake Garden, and Hangzhou
Botanical Gardens. Pass under arched bridges that
carry the causeways to link many of the islands. In
the evening visit the banquet at the Southern Soong
Dynasty Theme Park.
|
