ESSENTIAL CHINA PACKAGE in English: 21-day tour from Beijing to Hong Kong

TOUR ITINERARY

Tour code:
P-BHK011

Day 1 : arrival in Beijing (D)

Upon arrival at the Beijing airport, you will be me by your local English-speaking guide, and he/she will take you to your hotel to freshen up. After unpacking you will be treated to delectable dinner of Peking Duck, Beijing’s signature culinary dish.

Day 2-4 : Beijing-Shanghai (by overnight train) (2B, 2D)

Over the next three days you will see all of Beijing's greatest sites. You'll visit the Great Wall at Mutianyu, which is about 70km from downtown Beijing, and is located in the district of Huairou. As one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. First built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, Mutianyu Great Wall is older than the Badaling section of the Great Wall. We will have a picnic lunch on the wall.

Other sights will include Tian�anmen Square. The largest public square in the world, Tian'anmen Square is seen as China�s political center. After walking across the square we will enter the Forbidden City (known in Chinese as Gu Gong), the largest surviving palace complex and the former home of the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasty. The Forbidden City is one of the greatest attractions in the world. Built by the third Ming emperor between 1406-1422, the Forbidden City served as the official residence to the Emperor of China until the last emperor, Puyi, was forced to evacuate in 1924. The Forbidden City is divided into two parts. The southern section, or the Outer Court was where the emperor exercised his supreme power over the nation. The northern section, or the Inner Court was where he lived with his royal family. Consisting of 980 buildings and with 8,707 bays of rooms, the Forbidden City is the greatest example of classical Chinese architecture anywhere in the world.

In addition to the sights, you will also be treated to a performance of Chinese acrobatics.

Lastly we will explore the Temple of Heaven park. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. The Temple of Heaven park is best known for the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, an iconic building famed for its magnificent triple-gabled circular roof. You will also have an opportunity to walk the same imperial walkway that the same emperors walked hundreds of years ago in their holy rites. You will also see Beijing�s senior citizens using the park grounds for everything from tai chi and ballroom dancing to bullwhip practice!

You will then be taken to the train station, and you will take an overnight sleeper train to Shanghai, China's largest and most cosmopolitan city. Your travel guide will be waiting for you at the Shanghai train station.

Day 5-7 : Shanghai-Xian (by air)

These three days will consist of a full city tour of Shanghai.. You will visit the Shanghai Museum, a large museum of ancient Chinese art. The museum style and presentation surrounds visitors with artifacts demonstrating ancient wisdom and philosophy. The museum is divided into eleven galleries and three exhibition halls. The eleven Galleries cover most of the major categories of Chinese art: Ancient Bronze, Ancient Ceramics, Paintings, Calligraphy, Ancient Sculpture, Ancient Jade, Coins, Ming and Qing Furniture, Seals, and Minority Nationalities. The museum is a wonderful primer on ancient Chinese culture, and is a must-see when coming to Shanghai.

Nearby is Yuyuan Garden, which we will also go to. Yuyuan Garden is a famed classical garden, and even though it may be small, it contains numerous pavilions, halls, rockeries, ponds and cloisters, and all have unique characteristics. There are six main scenic areas in the garden: Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall, Yuhua Hall and the Inner Garden. Each area features several scenic spots within its borders.

We will take a time machine from old Shanghai into the city�s glittering present and future, which the Jin Mao Tower is a prime example. Being the fourth tallest building of the world and the second tallest building in China, Jin Mao Tower is located in the center of Lujiazui Finance and Trade Districts in Pudong. The architect, Adrian D. Smith, of this skyscraper ingeniously combined the elements of traditional Chinese culture with the newest architectural styles of the time, which makes Jin Mao Tower one of the best-constructed buildings in China. The tower�s observation decks give you an almost bird�s eye view of the city�s rapidly rising skyline.

We'll walk down Nanjing Road, Shanghai�s premier shopping street. Open-air bars, abstract sculptures, and lingering sounds from street musicians enhance evening strolls. A trackless sightseeing train provides a comfortable tour of the pedestrian street. Then we�ll go to the most recognizable landmark of Shanghai, the Bund. The Bund is a waterfront embankment and has been regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. It affords marvelous views across the river of the Pudong district and its numerous towers. The most famous and attractive sight which is at the west side of the Bund are the 52 various buildings of different architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and the Renaissance.

During your time in Shanghai you will also have the option to see a performance of Chinese acrobatics, an art form that the Chinese have long excelled in. From Shanghai you will be taken to the airport and you will make the short flight to Xian, China's ancient capital city and home of the incredible Terracotta Warriors.

Day 8-9 : Xian-Chengdu (by air)

These two days will consist of seeing Xian's grand and historic attractions. You'll be taken to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a pagoda surrounded by a still functioning Buddhist temple (named Da Ci’en Temple). The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is one of the most famous Buddhist pagodas in China. The Pagoda was built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) for the study of Buddhist scriptures. Although it has been attacked by centuries of weather, war and seismic activity, which destroyed most of the original material of the structure, a pagoda by this name and style still exists on the site.

We'll drive an hour outside the city to see Xian�s greatest attraction, and one of the greatest sites in all of China, the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum is the result of the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum. Upon ascending the throne at the age of 13 (in 246 BC), Qin Shi Huang, later the first Emperor of all China, had begun to work for his mausoleum. It took 11 years to finish. It is speculated that many buried treasures and sacrificial objects had accompanied the emperor in his after life. A group of peasants uncovered some pottery while digging for a well nearby the royal tomb in 1974. Life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations are the star features at the museum. They are replicas of what the imperial guard should look like in those days of pomp and vigor.

When we drive back to Xian you will have the option to take a bike ride around Xian's still functioning city wall. On the second day you'll be taken to the airport where you will fly down to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province and home to the Giant Panda.

Day 10-11 : Chengdu and Leshan-Chongqing (by air)

Sichuan is home to the world’s cutest and most beloved endangered animal, the Panda, and no trip to Chengdu is complete without seeing these national treasures. After an early morning start, we will visit the Bifeng Gorge Panda Reserve. In the May 12th 2008 the Wenchuan Earthquake dealt the pandas a crushing blow and over fifty giant pandas living in captivity became completely homeless. In order to save these national treasures, the Wolong National Natural Reserve has, since May 15th, carried out an evacuation plan. Twenty-seven giant pandas were transferred in batches to Chengdu, Fuzhou and Beijing, and the rest were moved to Bifeng Gorge Base of China Panda Protection and Research Center, located in the northern suburbs of Chengdu.

The pandas are assured of healthy growth in their new home, and good news continually flows from Bifeng Gorge Base. In the morning on July 6th, 2008, the panda "Guo Guo" gave birth to the first twin cubs in the base. Guo Guo, the great panda mother, came to the base on June 24th when she was 119 days pregnant. She was really strong and brave to have these baby pandas after surviving the big earthquake, overcoming the difficulties of bumping and shaking on the long journey, and adjusting herself to the new environment. The center is divided into the giant panda breeding zone, baby giant panda care zone, research center, bamboo woods and office area.

We will also set out for the Leshan Buddha. The largest representation of the Buddha in the world, the statue is of Maitreya (a Bodhisattva usually represented as a very stout monk with a broad smile on his face and with his naked breast and paunch exposed to view) in sitting posture. The statue makes itself the most renowned scenic spot in Leshan City. In December, 1996, the location of the Buddha was included by UNESCO on the list of the World Heritage sites. Begun in the year 713 in the Tang Dynasty, and finished in the year 803, the statue took people more than 90 years to carve. During these years, thousands of workers had expended their efforts and wisdom on the project. As the biggest carved stone Buddha in the world, Leshan Giant Buddha is featured in poetry, song and story. Our visit to the Leshan Buddha will be complete with a river cruise, giving you a glorious vantage point (and photo op!) of which to view the Buddha.

On your second day in Chengdu you will fly on to nearby Chongqing, the departure point for your upcoming Yangtze River cruise.

Day 12-14 : Yangtze River cruise-Wuhan (by train)

The Yangtze River is the longest river in China and the third longest in the world after the Amazon and Nile. The Yangtze River along with the Yellow River is renowned as the "Mother Rivers of China" as it has nourished China's long and splendid culture. The evidence is seen in the varied cultural heritage along the river. Taking a Yangtze cruise is a popular way to discover China. There is an old saying: "on a slow boat to China". Well, why not relax on a slow boat in China, on the beautiful Yangtze River. A Yangtze River Cruise will take you through the center of China, while giving you the opportunity to see some of the most spectacular scenery imaginable.

The cruise will conclude with the enormous Three Gorges Dam. Construction was begun in the 80's, and was completed in 2008. It backs up the Yangtze River for 550km, making it the world's largest dam. Due to the fact that the water rises to a level of 185m behind the dam, millions of people have had to be resettled, bridges moved and historical relicts secured. The energy production capabilities of the dam are estimated at 84.7 billion kilowatts, equivalent to 18 nuclear reactors. The three single stage locks guarantee that ship traffic is not delayed.

Following your cruise you will be taken to the train station and you will go on to Wuhan, the next point on your tour.

Day 15-16 : Yichang and Wuhan-Guilin (by train)

Wuhan is an interesting large city in the inland central area of China that somehow feels less modernized than China’s coastal cities or Beijing. It is divided into three parts by the Yangtze River and Han River. The Wuchang district is the education center with many universities and research centers, the Hankou area is the financial and business district, and the Hanyang district is the industrial center.

Over the next two days we'll get to see the intricate and fascinating bridges that criss-cross over the Yangtze. These bridges serve as the lifeline of Wuhan's industry and are a vital component to China's commerce.

We'll also get to see the Yellow Crane Tower, which is Wuhan's most famous attraction. A tower called the Yellow Crane Tower was built about 1,800 years ago. It was a famous building in China. An ancient poem named "The Yellow Crane Tower" was written by Cui Hao, and many Chinese can recite it. The tower is part of a small park area on the hill called Snake Hill Park, and there are some other buildings there you can visit such as one that has inscriptions of poems that were written by Chairman Mao. There is a teahouse where you can buy refreshments and listen to performances of traditional Chinese music.

In addition to Wuhan we'll also take some time to visit the nearby city of Yichang. It is an ancient city and its history can be traced back for 4,000 years. Mountains, waterfalls, caves, stone forests and pools form picturesque scenes. There are many natural reserves in or around the city, including Chaibuxi National Forest Park and Houhe Natural Reserve. As an ancient city, Yichang is the site of some important historical relics such as Qu Yuan Hometown, Zhaojun Residence and Ancient Battle Relics of Three Kingdom Period.

After your time in Wuhan you will be taken to the train station and travel on to Guilin, which is located in Guangxi province. You will be met at the train station by your travel guide.

Day 17-19 : Guilin-Yangshuo-Hong Kong (by air)

On your first day in Guilin you'll cruise down one of the world’s most stunning rivers, the Li. Gorgeous karst peaks give you surprises at each bend of the limpid river under the blue sky. Water buffalo patrol the fields, peasants reap rice paddies, school kids and fisherman float by on bamboo rafts. With its breathtaking scenery and taste of a life far removed from the concrete metropolis, the scenery along the Li River become one of China's top tourist destinations. The cruise down the Li River offers a fascinating insight into the lives of the local population here.

Our cruise will terminate at Yangshuo, a lush and exotic county that includes minority groups from all over Asia. We we will rent bikes and ride onto the country roads, lanes, and tracks, through the paddy fields orchards that surround the misty mountains. To cool off after our ride, we will float on bamboo rafts down the Yulong River. The languid river is surrounded by a primitive, but pure, natural landscape, along with green bamboo forests and rolling hills. Visitors to the area will delight in the picturesque scenes of simple rural life: bamboo waterwheels irrigating the paddy fields; village girls hand washing clothes outside of their cottages with smoke curling upward from the chimneys; old men fishing in the river; flocks of ducks swimming in the pond.

You will be treated to a performance of the� Impression on Sanjie Liu�. Sanjie Liu is a fairy singer in the myths and legends of the Zhuang ethnic minority. She is incomparably beautiful, and has voice to match her beauty. In the 'Impression on Sanjie Liu', what you can see are the impressions derived from the daily life of the people living around the Li River, rather than the specific details of the stories. From these impressions, you will gain a realistic impression on the background of Sanjie's birthplace and understand the beauty of the folk songs' hometown. Additionally, there are in excess of 600 performers, all of whom are local people of the Li River. They present the reality of life for the people in Sanjie's hometown through their primitive and wonderful performances. You will be driven back to Guilin and from there you will fly to Hong Kong.

Day 20 : Hong Kong

Known as the �Pearl of the Orient�, Hong Kong was a British colony until it was handed over back to China in 1997. Long a hub of international hub and business, Hong Kong is also an acclaimed center of shopping and tourism. In Hong Kong you will take in all the premier shopping outlets, along with trying the local cuisine. You'll visit the Avenue of Stars, which is the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Hong Kong's long flourishing film industry. And of course, you'll pay a visit to Mickey Mouse at Hong Kong Disney, which is China's first Disney park (a second will be opening in Shanghai within a few years).

Day 21 : Hong Kong-departure (B)

You will be taken to the Hong Kong airport, and from there you will fly on to your next destination, ending your China tour.

21-day Tour Package from Beijing to Hong Kong

TOUR ITINERARY