Essential China - OLD Itinerary

Day 1  Depart Australia
Depart Australia for Beijing.

Day 2  Arrive in Beijing
Upon arrival we are welcomed to China by our local guide who will transfer us to our hotel.  The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax and unwind before tonight’s welcome Peking Duck banquet. [D]

Day 3  Beijing
An action-packed day as we explore Beijing. Our tour includes the enormous Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven. As well as the unforgettable Forbidden City, built from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 surviving buildings and covers 720,000 square metres. This evening an optional excursion to the sensational Peking Opera can be arranged. [B,L]

Day 4  Beijing
Get your cameras ready because today you will be walking on the Great Wall! The entire Great Wall, with all of its branches, stretches for 8,851.8 km. We also visit the Ming Tombs (the underground tombs of the Ming Dynasty emperors) and the Sacred Road which is guarded on both sides by large stone statues. [B,L]

Day 5  Beijing
This morning we travel by rickshaw through the hutongs, the narrow streets that once covered most of Beijing. Other highlights today include a visit to the Bell and Drum Towers and a local tea house. Then it’s time to test our bargaining skills with local sellers at the busy markets of Xiushui Street. [B,L]

Day 6  Depart Beijing
This morning is at leisure to explore the city further, or simply relax. This afternoon we visit the Summer Palace which has the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China. This evening we enjoy dinner before travelling by overnight train to Xi’an. [B,D]

Day 7  Arrive in Xi’an
After a morning arrival in Xi’an, we enjoy breakfast. Today’s city tour includes the ancient City Wall, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty, and the excellent Shaanxi History Museum which houses more than 300,000 artefacts. [B,L]

Day 8  Xi’an
Today we visit the exquisite Terracotta Warriors and Horses, considered the greatest archaeological discovery of the last century! The figures vary in height (182cm to 195cm), according to their role; the tallest are the generals. The figures include strong warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there are more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pit. This afternoon we also visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Bell Tower. [B,L]

Day 9  Xi’an - Shanghai
This morning we visit the fascinating Hanyang Tomb, know as an ' underground treasure house of cultural relics'. We then fly to Shanghai, truly one of the most exciting cities in the world! Here we tour the historic heart of the city - the Bund - then visit the adjacent Nanjing Road; this bustling thoroughfare is the busiest shopping street in all of China! [B,L]

Day 10  Shanghai
Today we explore the Shanghai Museum which houses an incredible 120,000 pieces of Chinese art and cultural relics. Then it’s off to the famous Yu Yuan Market and beautifully ornate Yu Garden, a former private garden with 400 years of history. This evening we experience an incredible acrobatic show. [B,L]

Day 11  Shanghai
We begin with a cruise on the Huangpu River; from the water we have a magnificent vista of this megacity’s skyline.  Then it’s off to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the highest tower in Asia, and a powerful symbol of Shanghai’s phenomenal growth. We continue on to the Shanghai Children’s Palace, a special place of learning for gifted children. This evening we share a farewell dinner with the group. [B,L,D]

Day 12  Shanghai
Our final day is at leisure to soak up the atmosphere and do some last-minute 
shopping. [B]

Day 13  Depart Shanghai
We farewell this city with a journey on the futuristic Maglev Train to the airport where we begin our journey home. [B]

Day 14  Arrive in Australia
 

Essential China - OLD

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