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Depart
Sydney aboard China Southern Airlines flight. Set
down at Guangzhou before continuing journey onto Beijing.
On arrival, your National Tour Guide will greet you
and organise the transfer to accommodation.
In the morning 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. Visit Hongquao free markets and test your
bargaining skills with the stallholders. In the evening
be entertained by the amazing Beijing Acrobatic Troupe.
All day tour to the 6 500 kms long, 2 000
year old 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.
In the morning visit the magnificent Summer
Palace resort where the imperial court spent the summer
months escaping the hot weather in Beijing. In the
afternoon enjoy a pedicab tour of the Hutongs. Inspect
the architecture and gardens of Prince Gongwong¡¯s
Palace to participate in a tea ceremony. Later stroll
through the department stores on Wang Fu Jing street.
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.
Depart Beijing in the morning and fly to Urumqi the
capital of Xinjiang province.. On arrival after 3.75
hour flight transfer to accommodation. In the afternoon
tour the city sights and visit the Museum of National
Minorities and History. Evening free.
Morning cruise on scenic Tianchi Lake. The
deep blue lake is surrounded by the snow capped pine
covered Tianshan Mountain. Drive through the green
pine forests and visit a Kazakh yurt site and enjoy
a performance of folk songs and dance before returning
to Urumqi. Evening free.
Depart Urumqi on a 143 kms 4 hrs coach trip to Turpan.
The journey crosses desert country where small communities
survive at oasis irrigated from underground water
supplies. Enroute visit the Astana Tombs, the ancient
city of Gaochang, the fertile river valley in the
Flaming Mountains, and the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha
Caves. On arrival in Turpan transfer to accommodation.
In the evening enjoy a performance of the Uygur Dance
Troupe.
Turpan is famous for its production of melons
and grapes. In the morning visit a farm, the ruined
city of Jiaohe and the fine Emin Minaret. In the afternoon
tour the District Museum that houses an excellent
collection of the areas historical artefacts. In the
evening relax in the comfort of a soft sleeper berth
aboard the overnight train journey to Dunhuang, a
former strategic staging post on the famous Silk Road.
After morning arrival in Dunhuang transfer to accommodation.
Later take an amazinging tour to the Mogao Grottoes.
The site popularly known as the ¡°Thousand Buddha Caves¡±
containins the world¡¯s greatest display of Buddhist
art. It was granted UNESCO World Heritage listing
in 1991. The frescoes, murals, scriptures and sculptures
dating back to 366 AD remain in an excellent state
of preservation. When the coach stops at Mingsha Dunes,
also known as the ¡°Singing Sands¡±, accept the challenge
to climb the high and steep sand dunes. You¡¯ll be
rewarded with a magnificent view of Crescent Moon
Lake. Enjoy a restful night.
Depart Dunhuang on a coach for the 6 hour, 390 km
overland journey to Jiayuguan, the city that marks
the most western point of the Great Wall. On arrival
transfer to accommodation and enjoy a relaxing evening.
¡¡
Spend the day exploring such monuments as
Jiayuguan Pass the impenetrable Jiayu Fort, the Great
Wall Museum, the underground gallery in the tombs
from the Wei and Jin periods (220-240AD) and shopping
at the markets. In the evening board the overnight
train, snuggle down in a soft sleeper berth and journey
to Lanzhou.
Arrive Lanzhou, the biggest city in northwest China
and capital of Gansu Province. Transfer to accommodation
and have a relaxing morning. In the afternoon visit
Five Springs Park, White Pagoda Hill and the Gansu
Provincial Museum. In the evening stroll through the
free markets.
Take a memorable day cruise on a tributary
of the Huanghe (Yellow) River at the Liujiaxia Dam.
The ferry takes you past stunning scenery and onto
the Binglingsi Thousand Buddha Caves. Late afternoon
return to Langzhou. In the evening depart Langzhou
in a soft sleeper berth on a passenger train bound
for Xian.
Morning arrival at Xian, transfer to accommodation
and relax. Afternoon touring the City Wall and Drum
Tower, Shaanxi History Museum, one of the finest in
China, and cloisonn¨¦ / jade craft centres. In the
evening enjoy 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. Relax and enjoy a free evening with
hotel in house activities.
Depart Xian and on 1.5 hour flight to Guangzhou. On
arrival transfer to accommodation. In the afternoon
tour the city visiting The Six Banyan Monastery, Sun
Yatsen,s Memorial Hall, and Shamian Island. In the
evening enjoy a Cultural Performance.
Take a short coach tour into the country
side to Foshan to observe rural life in China. Visit
pottery and porcelain factories. Return to Guangzhou
for a Pearl River cruise, end of tour banquet and
disco.
Tour the famous Qingping Markets and department
stores for final shopping for souvenirs and presents.
Evening departure from Guangzhou and China aboard
the 8.5 hour overnight China Southern Airlines flight
back to Australia.
Morning arrival in Sydney.
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