Day 1: Depart Sydney
Airfare includes fare only. Depart Sydney with Singapore Airlines mid evening and fly overnight.
Day 2: Arrive Beijing
Arrive into Singapore for short stopover before continuing onto Beijing. On arrival in one of the most amazing cities on earth, you will be met by your local Tour Escort and transferred to your hotel where you will spend the next three nights. After a light lunch, an air conditioned motor coach will take you on a tour of this great city. Let the mystery and majesty of Beijing wash over you as you discover her secrets and beauty. The tour visitst the Lama Temple, also known as the Palace of Peace which features five large halls and courtyards with beautifully decorative archways, upturned eaves and carved details. It houses a treasury of Buddhist art, including sculptured images of gods, demons and Buddhas, as well as Tibetan-style murals. Tonight you will savour Beijings' greatest gift to the culinary world - Peking Duck!
Beijing Grand Gongda Jianguo Hotel
The hotel occupies a total floor area of about 40,000 square metres and is located east of East Third Ring Huawei Bridge which is near the CBD. Close to Beijing Yansha Outlets, Panjiayuan Antique Market and Happy Valley Amusement Park. Local attractions also include Yintai Centre and China World Trade Center. (L,D)
Stay: Three nights at Beijing Grand Gongda Jianguo Hotel (4* or similar)
Day 3: Beijing
After breakfast we continue to tour the city with our first stop Tiananmen Square, where you will have the chance to visit the site of Chairman Mao's last resting place. In the crypt of the mausoleum, you can find Mao's body lying in state in a crystalline sarcophagus. Crossing the square and passing the Monument of the People's Heroes and the Great Hall of the People, we come to the former Imperial Palace which is better known as The Forbidden City. (B,L)
Day 4: Beijing
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a full day tour of the greatest construction on earth - The Great Wall of China. The Great Wall stretches approximately 6,500 km from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. At its peak, the Ming Wall was guarded by more than one million men. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Beijing - Xi'An
After breakfast, today's activities commence with your final city tour, beginning with The Temple of Heaven. The Temple covers almost three kilometres of exquisite parkland and comprises of three main groups of constructions dedicated to prayer and worship, all built according to strict philosophical requirements. Before lunch, you will explore the traditional hutongs (neighbourhoods) of Old Beijing. Hutongs are alleys formed by lines of original Chinese style courtyards, where family, neighbours and friends lived as one. Over the past few decades, many hutongs have been demolished to make way for New Beijing. More recently, some hutongs have been designated as protected areas in an attempt to preserve this aspect of Chinese cultural history. Enjoy a local lunch before free time for some last minute shopping or simply wandering this great city and enjoying the sights and sounds of her people. Early this evening there will be dinner at a local restaurant before boarding the overnight train to Xi'An. Check in at the train station early evening for a 9pm departure. For your comfort, we have pre-booked 4 berth cabins for every couple or single traveller so there is a maximum of two per cabin. (B,L,D)
Stay: Overnight Train
Day 6: Xi'An
Arrive in the early morning and be transferred straight to your hotel to enjoy breakfast before a city tour of the Old City, Great Mosque and Historic museum. Xi'An City was the capital of China during thirteen dynasties which in total lasted over 1,100 years. Consequently, this incredible city to some degree is the home of the ancient history of China. The Historic Museum proudly showcases this history and her ancient civilization. The Great Mosque in Xi'An is the largest, oldest and best preserved Islamic mosque in China.
This afternoon explore the alleys and department stores of Xi'an and climb the Bell Tower for a view of the inner city or walk around the shopping alleys behind the Drum Tower. Tonight it is time to experience a Tang dynasty Singing and Dancing Show with Dumpling Dinner. The show is one of the best in China. Situated in the city centre, your hotel is close to Great Mosque of Xi'an, Drum Tower, and Bell Tower. Also nearby are Northwest University and Northwestern Polytechnical University. (B,L,D)
Day 7: Xi'an
One of the greatest archeological finds of all time is just one way to describe the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Xi'’An which is where your first stop is today after breakfast. The army of some 6,000 life size warriors and their horses was uncovered in 1974 after being buried for over 2,000 years, guarding the tomb of the first Emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, who died in 210BC. It is believed that the warriors were based on real people as no two are alike and it also said that construction would have taken 700,000 workers and craftsmen 36 years to complete! After you have taken in the enormity and importance of this find, you will enjoy lunch before an afternoon city tour to visit Xi'An City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The wall completely surrounds the rectangular old part of Xi'An, with impressive gates and towers. It was built during the reign of the first Ming Emperor in the late 14th century. Big Wild Goose Pagoda may have an odd name but it represents the old line of Xi'An and is a very holy place for Buddhists. Dinner will be at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)
Stay: Overnight at Xi'an Titan Times Hotel or similar
Day 8: Xi'an - Wuhan - Yichang
Morning flight to Wuhan. Transfer to Yichang and en route visit Jingzhou Museum. Board the Victoria Anna after dinner. At 9 pm depart Yichang.
The Victoria Anna has the most suites of any ship on the Yangtze River, and all cabins have private balconies. Facilities include two restaurants (a single-seating main dining room, and an a la carte restaurant on the top deck), two elevators, a three-story atrium lobby, two lounges, three bars, a gym, lecture room, library, beauty salon, massage room, and gift shop. (B,L,D)
Stay: Four nights on the Victoria Anna (5* or similar)
Day 9: Yangtze River Cruise
Morning visit the Three Gorges Dam site. Sail through the Three Gorges dam ship locks and Xiling Gorge. (B,L,D)
Day 10: Yangtze River Cruise
Excursion to Daning River Small Gorges or Shennong Stream, pass through Wu Gorge/Qutang Gorge. Optional Excursion to White Emperor City (river conditions permitting). (B,L,D)
Day 11: Yangtze River Cruise
Shore excursion to Fengdu, Shibaozhai or Wanzhou. (B,L,D)
Day 12: Chongqing - Chengdu
Disembark in Chongqing in the morning. After brief city tour and lunch take the bullet train to Chengdu. Transfer to Chengdu Yinhe Dynasty Hotel which is in the middle of Chengdu's business and entertainment centre. It rises 26 floors around a distinctive 5-storey Atrium, overlooking Shudu Street and Tianfu Square. The Hotel combines international standards of comfort, service and business support with the best of local hospitality. (B,L,D)
Stay: Overnight at Chengdu Yinhe Dynasty Hotel (3.5* or similar)
Day 13: Chengdu - Guilin
Visit Panda Breeding and Research Centre in the morning followed by the Jinsha Ruins Museum and the ancient town of Jinli. Evening flight to Guilin. The Fortune Condominium Hotel is located only few minutes away from the business centre and entertainment in Guilin. Taxis are available for any destination throughout the city. (B,L,D)
Stay: Two nights at Fortune Condominium Hotel (3.5* or similar)
Day 14: Guilin
Today you will travel by air conditioned motor coach to Longsheng where you will meet a colourful mixture of four different ethnic minorities,. Visit their traditional wooden houses and marvel at their feats in the rice terraces which are the most famous in China. You will have the opportunity to see firsthand the rich variety of customs in this district with the most visible cultural difference being the costumes worn by the local women. See the embroidered pink costumes, heavy silver earrings and extremely long hair of the Yao women in contrast to the white shirts, black pants and brightly coloured towels on the heads of the Zhuang ladies. As you look out at the vast panoramas, it is a real spectacle to see women dressed in such finery working in the fields. Tonight enjoy a traditional Cormorant Fishing Show prior to dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 15: Guilin - Yangshuo
After breakfast, we travel to Yangshuo on a river cruise. The Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is the centrepiece of any trip to the northeastern Guangxi Province. Gorgeous Karst peaks above the clear, serene river under a 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 life far removed from the concrete metropolis, the experience along the Li River will stay with you forever. Enjoy a wonderful lunch on the boat and tonight after you arrive in Yangshuo and check into your hotel, stroll in the market and have your own dinner at a local restaurant or just relax at the hotel. The Yangshou Lotus Hotel is adjacent to the ancient Li River Fu'an Wharf so you can walk on the bank of Li River without leaving the hotel. In addition, it is close to the renowned Yangshuo West Street. (B,L)
Stay: Overnight at Yangshou Lotus Hotel (3.5* or similar)
Day 16: Yangshou - Guilin - Shanghai
This morning relax at the hotel or take a stroll through the town. In the afternoon you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. On arrival into Shanghai, you will be taken to your hotel where you will stay for the following three nights. The hotel is located within walking distance to the Shanghai Railway Station and Metro line 1,3,4 and a stroll away from the city centre. It's close to M50 Arts Community, Jing An Temple and Jade Buddha Temple and nearby are People's Square and Nanjing Road Shopping District. (B,L,D)
Stay: Three nights at Shanghai Courtyard by Marriott Puxi (4* or similar)
Day 17: Shanghai
Shanghai is hailed as the Paris of the Orient and a true shopping paradise! Originally a fishing town, Shanghai became China's most important city by the twentieth century and was the centre of popular culture, intellectual discourse and political struggle during the time of the Republic of China. In the modern era, it relishes in its great past and combines it with skyscrapers and a modern lifestyle to represent China's recent economic development. This combination allows you to enjoy both the old and the new of China and her people. Today's tour includes the Shanghai Museum, the Yu Garden with old Chinese quarters and Jade Buddha Temple. Then to the famous Bund area where you will enjoy lunch at a nearby local restaurant. The Shanghai Museum will astound you with the scope, depth and quality of its collections and the building's striking architecture and modern technology. The Bund will completely entertain you as you delight in the Shanghai specialties while people watching! Tonight is yours at leisure to explore. (B,L)
Day 18: Shanghai
The highlights today are Zhujiajio and the Children's Palaces. The historic town of Zhujiajio is in the south of the Yangtze River and came into existence during the Ming Dynasty. It is surrounded by rivers and has been called the Venice of China. Nine streets extend along its many rivers and thirty-six archaic stone bridges crisscross the rivulets inside the village. Narrow streets and alleyways coupled with ancient architecture and unusual bridges lend a charming atmosphere to this historic town. After lunch, you will visit one of China's most interesting by-products of the Cultural Revolution - The Children's Palaces. After the Revolution, these Palaces were created all over China as after care facilities for children of working parents to study and practice the arts. Today, gifted children attend and learn to dance and sing whether it be folk or Western music, Wushu or ballet. Of course in this new age, computer science is also part of the curriculum. This evening you will discover the delights and skills of some of Shanghai's famous acrobats and we enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)
Day 19: Shanghai - Sydney
After breakfast and a last bit of shopping land only Members will make their own way to the airport for their onward journey. Air and Land Members will be transferred to the airport for their flight home to Sydney with Singapore Airlines. (B)
Day 20: Sydney
Arrive early morning.
