15 Day China - Mountains and Cities - Includes Flights

Beijing

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off on an exciting excursion to the best-preserved section of the Great Wall of China. The Juyongguan section is the most-visited part of the wall and is the best representation of the former splendour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of unimaginable length, the wall can be seen from space. On the way, admire the countryside and stop at an impressive Jade exhibition, where you can learn about the historic significance of this precious stone. Arrive at the Great Wall where you have a minimum of two-hours to learn about the history of the wall and enjoy walking on this ancient relic of the past. Back to Beijing, stop at the  Olympic Park, where you can admire the beautifully architected Bird's Nest Stadium and Water Cube Aquatics Centre. Return to your hotel. We recommend an optional Golden Mask Show, a beautiful cultural performance.* Overnight stay in Beijing.

*Optional Golden Mask show: Set in the era of the Golden Mask Dynasty, a legendary age in China, the story tells the story of a queen, who wears a golden mask, and creates a splendid dynasty. It is a fabulous insight into China's history and arts. 

Important note: Visits may be rescheduled due to weather, operational or political events. We suggest you not to book tours with third parties in case of any penalty due to cancellation.

Beijing

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy a tour of the most important sights of Beijing including Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. This impressive palace complex was home to the former Imperial Chinese Palace for the years spanning from the Ming to the Qing dynasties. It is the world's most-visited attraction and showcases immaculate Chinese design and architecture. Afterwards, visit a traditional Chinese Medicine Centre for an insight into this ancient practice. Transfer to the hotel for a free afternoon. If you aren't sure what to do, we recommend a tour of the Summer Palace with an included Beijing-style dinner.* Overnight stay in Beijing.

*Optional Summer Palace tour & Peking Duck dinner: Visit the Summer Palace and its gardens, used for centuries as the royal family’s retreat outside the city to escape the summer heat. After the tour, enjoy a dinner of a famous local specialty: Peking Duck. Observe an expert chef slice the crispy skin, and learn the best way to eat this dish.

Please note: the Forbidden City is closed on Mondays, so the order of the itinerary may be changed to accommodate this closure.

Beijing

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day exploring Beijing at your leisure, visiting the sights or delving into the fabulous cuisine. Alternatively, we recommend an optional excursion to the Temple of Heaven and Hutong district.* Overnight stay in Beijing. 

*Optional excursion to the Temple of Heaven, Hutong & Lama temple: Enjoy a tour of the fantastic Temple of Heaven, a religious complex where you might have the opportunity to watch the locals practising Tai Chi in its tranquil surroundings. After that, hop on a rickshaw, the most popular form of transportation in the Hutong neighbourhood, and visit Bell Tower and Drum Tower from the outside before stepping into one of the local Siheyuan courtyard houses to learn about Chinese paper cutting. Enjoy a lunch of homemade Chinese food prepared by a local family. Finally, visit the Lama Temple, also known as the Yonghe Temple, which is considered one of the largest and best-preserved buddhist monasteries in modern China.

Xian

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the train station for an exciting bullet train journey to Xi'an. Arrive, transfer, and check-in to the hotel. Afterwards, enjoy free time to get to know your new surroundings. Try walking around the neighborhood, or join an optional night tour* to get a deeper view of the local highlights. Overnight stay in Xi'an.

*Optional night tour: Take an evening tour, beginning with the North Square of the Wild Goose Pagoda, then heading all the way to The Grand Tang Mall, also known as Datang Everbright City. This pedestrian-friendly park offers a captivating experience that transports you back to the Tang Dynasty with lights, statues, and stalls.

Important note: The bullet train journey Beijing - Xian takes around 4-5h. Your guide will escort you to the train platform in Beijing and the next guide will wait for you in Xian station. There will be no guide present on board of the train. In addition, there is no Wifi connection on the train. 

Xian

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, discover one of China's most iconic sights as you enjoy a visit to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. Approximately 8,000 sculpted figures were buried alongside Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, and today you can see this once in a lifetime sight for yourself. Each figure is impressively crafted and unique. Be blown away by the intricacy and the sheer number of the figures as you learn about their significance. Visit the terracotta workshop and get closer to the warriors while learning traditional crafting techniques. Next, dive to visit Great Mosque and Muslim Quarter, where you will challenge yourself to take a food adventure and enjoy your shopping time there. Spend the rest of the evening at your leisure. Why not enjoy a show that showcases the history of Xi'an* Overnight stay in Xi'an.

 *Optional Tang Dynasty show with dumpling banquet dinner: Enjoy the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show with fabulous music and dancing from the era of the Tang Dynasty, China's golden age. The show is a unique way to get to know the historical culture of the ancient city of Xi'an. Enjoy a dumpling banquet for dinner, included with this activity!

Xian

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy a free day to explore Xi'an at your own pace. Be sure to dive into the local food scene and sample the delights of one of Xi'an's street food markets. Alternatively, take part in a full day tour of Mt. Huashan.* Overnight stay in Xi'an.

*Optional Mt. Huashan daytrip with cable car: Known as one of China’s Five Sacred Taoist Mountains, Mt. Huashan has five main peaks and only one hiking trail that is 15 kilometres long from south to north. You will explore this mountain of great religious significance by cable car and then visit on foot the main area on the summit. Although Mt Huashan is famous for the dangerous cliffside plank trails, this tour only includes a visit to the safer accessible areas. These areas have wider trails but some parts might include stairs or some steep slope. 

Please note: This optional activity is not apt for people with vertigo, fear of heights, reduced mobility, etc.

Xian - Guilin - Yangshuo

Early breakfast at the hotel. Early in the morning, transfer to the airport for a flight to Guilin, located in the south of China and famous for its stunning limestone hills, or karsts, and dramatic natural landscapes. Upon arrival, head to the Yangshuo region and enjoy a boat cruise on the Li River to admire the landscape which unfolds itself like a scroll of Chinese ink painting. Afterwards, walk along West Street and enjoy the bustling atmosphere. Return to the hotel and, in the evening, we recommend an optional Liusanjie Impression Show, performed in the landscape of the Li River.* Overnight stay in Yangshuo.

*Optional Liusanjie impression show: Admire the unbelievable beauty of the Li River at night as it is lit up in an Impression Light Show. The waters of the Li River set the stage and a dozen beautifully lit rock formations form a natural backdrop. This is a unique show that blends the techniques brought by director Zhang Yimou, who organized the opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics, hundreds of local performers and Guilin's landscapes.

Yangshuo - Guilin

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, checkout from Yangshuo and transfer by bus back to Guilin (around 2-3h). On arrival, explore the unique Elephant Trunk Hill, a trunk shaped rock which extends into the river, and its surrounding park. Transfer to the hotel and free time for the rest of the day. We recommend an optional Four Lake Night Cruise with Cormorant Fishing Show.* Overnight stay in Guilin.

*Four Lake night cruise with Cormorant fishing exhibition: Downtown Guilin lights up at night, and the best way to enjoy its beauty is to take a night cruise around the city’s Four Lakes scenic area. Enjoy panoramic views of the city’s multicoloured nighttime skyline and enjoy a Cormorant Fishing exhibition.

Guilin

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure, exploring the landscapes and lakes by boat or visiting the various pagodas. Alternatively, take part in a full day tour of the Longji Terrace Fields*. Overnight stay in Guilin.

 *Optional full-day Longji Terrace Fields tour: Drive to Longsheng to visit the famous Longji Terrace Fields—rice terraces built into the hillsides, a true sight to be seen. Nicknamed "the Dragon's backbone" for its green undulating forms, what we see today was mostly constructed over 650 years ago. Next, pass through the Yao and Zhuang minority villages to get a closer look at the local culture that is still preserved in this region.

Guilin - Shanghai

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for a flight to Shanghai. Arrive in Shanghai, the global financial hub which sits on China's central coast. Transfer to the hotel and take a walking tour of Nanjing Road and the Bund to get to know Shanghai's diverse neighbourhoods. Return to the hotel and, in the evening, you have the option to enjoy a Huangpu River Cruise.* Overnight stay in Shanghai.

*Huangpu river cruise: View the Shanghai's city skyline from the comfort of the river cruiser as you enjoy an evening of spectacular views.

Shanghai

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, embark on a full-day visit of the highlights of Shanghai. Step back in time in the charming traditional Yu Garden, learn about the city's artistic and cultural history at the Shanghai Historical Museum, and explore the modern side of the city. Visit a Silk showroom to discover how this coveted fabric is manufactured. Return to the hotel. We recommend an optional Acrobatic show this evening.* Overnight stay in Shanghai.

* Optional Acrobatic Show: Experience one of the world's oldest performing arts as you are immersed in an evening of culture and entertainment. Note: This activity is only available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. 

Shanghai 

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, shopping, exploring the city's sights or simply relaxing in one of the city parks. We recommend an optional complete full-day tour of Shanghai*. Overnight stay in Shanghai.

*Optional Shanghai full-day city tour: The tour will start with a train ride on the Maglev, the first and only commercial rail line of its type in the world. The train is one of the fastest in the world and has the become the pride of Shanghai innovation and engineering. Then we will have an admission to the Observation Deck on the 88th Floor of Jinmao Tower where you will have the best view of the entire city of Shanghai. Next stop will be A.P Plaza. A.P. Plaza is Shanghai’s biggest market and is famous for “fake branded good”. Located underground, it has more than 1,000 stores where you can find purses, suitcases, watches, jewelries and much more. You will have 2 hours of shopping time to find many bargains you can ever imagine. Final stop will be Xintiandi Area. As a world-class restaurants, business, entertainment, culture, leisure walking Street, Shanghai Xintiandi in Shanghai is an historical and cultural character of the city.

Shanghai

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, searching for bargains or souvenirs in one of the many shopping centres, strolling around the colonial Bund or sampling the diverse street food. Otherwise, we recommend an optional tour of Suzhou Gardens.* Overnight stay in Shanghai.

*Optional Tour of Suzhou Gardens: Acquaint yourself with Suzhou, known as the ‘Venice of the East’ and one of the most historically significant cities of Southern China where you will first visit the Lingering Gardens. This imperial minister's ancient residence and UNESCO site showcases the beauty of Chinese traditional arquitecture and the importance of Feng Shui principles and natural harmony. You will next ride a boat ride through Pingjiang canal to make your way to the charming Old City and gaze at the Wumen brigde and Prince Zhonog's Mansion. Finally, visit the Suzhou museum and return to the hotel. 

Shanghai - Australia 

Breakfast* at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight back to Australia.** 

*Depending on your flight departure time you might not be able to enjoy the included breakfast.