China Highlights - Discovery Your Way! (Since 1959)

  • Tour Code: CHT-1
  • Duration: 8 days
  • Departure Date: You Choose!
  • Tour Type: Land tour + well selected hotel + Your own English speaking guide (otherwise specified), your own driver at your own pace and schedule.
From only $1269 View Price Detail

China is a time capsule: ancient cultures and modern miracles in eight short days. The mysteries of The Great Wall, The Forbidden City and the Entombed Warriors are there to be discovered along side the amazing New China in Shanghai and Beijing.

 

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in Beijing, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing)

top

Day 2

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, Treasure Houses, Hutong Tours in a Rickshaw, Lizexiang Pearl Store
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Courtyard 7 Restaurant

- Tiananmen Square: The world's largest city square and enduring symbol of China's national pride, surrounded by many imposing buildings including the Heavenly Gate (entry to the Forbidden City), Museums, government buildings and Chairman Mao's Mausoleum.
- The Forbidden City: The Imperial Palace, home to 24 Emperors between 1420 and 1911. Great squares, halls and gates contrast with the intricate networks of side halls, gardens, courtyards and quarters for those who lived in this 'city within a city'. The exhibitions, both permanent and temporary, are also absolutely fascinating. Expect to spend at least 2-3 hours, wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- Treasure Houses: Treasure house has undergone 4 time renovations, the present one takes up almost 220 square metres, more than 440 treasures on display belonged to Qing dynasty royalty, half of which have not never been on display in the old one. It's worthy of visiting.
- Hutong Tours in a Rickshaw: A maze of historic alleyways and old single storey traditional courtyard houses, now fast disappearing. Dotted around the hutong are the Drum and Bell Towers, Tea House, and local people's houses. Your tour includes a visit with a local family.
- Courtyard 7 Restaurant: Courtyard 7 is located in central area of Nan Luo Guo. Its well designed Chinese style modeling,the layout makes it antiquity and rusticity. Its special featured restaurant provides new modern French dishes. Seating in Courtyard 7, you may see the fusion of eastern and western culture, and smell apart of old and new fashion air. Here, you can not only taste delicious gourmet food, but also can enjoy a piece of pure land and haven in such a busy city. Courtyard 7 welcomes you stay and enjoy.
- Lizexiang Pearl Store : China's freshwater pearls are celebrated throughout the world. See how they are produced including some of the latest technology, and learn how to spot a fake. The outlet also offers a range of items produced from pearls and pearl oysters which goes far wider than jewellery.
Tel: 13801387486
Address: No.7.Changqing Yuan,Congwen district,Beijign City.

top

Steps
Steps
The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City

Day 3

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall(with round way cable car), Cloisonne Factory
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Xin Shuang Quan Restaurant, Chinese Dinner at Roasted Duck at Fangzhuang

- Temple of Heaven: Situated in the southern part of the city, the temple of heaven covers the total area of 2,700,000 square meters. The temple was built in 1420A.D. It is the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would offer sacrifice to heaven and pray for good harvests. The main buildings of the temple including the Circular Mound Altar, Imperial Vault of Heaven and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest.The surrounding gardens are full of interesting activities, particularly weekend mornings.
- Mutianyu Great Wall(with round way cable car): This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is a about 2.5 hours' drive from downtown Beijing. A cable car takes you to a good section (avoiding a very steep climb), where you can walk along the wall, through the watch towers and enjoy superb views as it snakes across the hills and mountains. You can return by cable car, walk down or walk along the wall for about an hour to descend by chairlift. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- Roasted Duck at Fangzhuang: Quanjude Restaurant enjoys a high reputation among domestic and overseas customers for its Beijing roast duck. They have developed their own technique and are famous for outstanding quality. Fangzhuang branch is located beside the Temple of Heaven.The Wangfujing branch was established in 1959.The well-known All-Duck Banquet is headed by QUANJUDE roast duck and supported by over 400 dishes with QUANJUDE characteristic flavor.
- Xin Shuang Quan Restaurant: Xin Shuang Quan Restaurant is near Great Wall of Mutianyu section. This garden style restaurant serves farmhouse dishes, specializing in rainbow trout, sturgeon and salmon. Its use of natural ingredients and fabulous taste will leave you with great memories.
- Cloisonne Factory: Cloisonne is an intricate and detailed process, dating back over 700 years, to produce fine enamel on a copper base. You can watch the workers at all stages of the process to see how these beautiful objects are produced. There’s a showroom attached for those who would like a souvenir of the visit, big or small, and all objects are guaranteed.
Tel: 010-69620914
Address: No.488, Wujia villege, Huanrou town, Beijing City

top

The Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven
The Beamless Hall
The Beamless Hall

Day 4

Place & Transport: Beijing to Xian, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Beijing), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Xian), Summer Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Guohua Restaurant

- Summer Palace: Much-loved summer retreat of the Imperial families, the lovely landscaped gardens, halls, pavilions and corridors are set around the lake and rivers in natural harmony. You can expect to spend 2-3 hours here. Renovations (complete in 2010) mean that an individual section or building may be closed at any one time, but this is a huge site. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- Guohua Restaurant: Located near Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the restaurant serves Cantonese food and is famous for its sea food. The restaurant is nicely decorated, and is a long established restaurant popular with the locals.

top

Long Corridor
Long Corridor
The Old Summer Palace
The Old Summer Palace

Day 5

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: The Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Chongde Handmade Pottery Factory
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at A Wa Shan Zhai Restaurant(Qinling Branch)

- The Terracotta Warriors and Horses: Discovered accidentally in 1974, this incredible army of over 7000 soldiers, archers, horses and chariots in full battle array has guarded Emperor Qin's tomb since 210BC. Each figure is unique, and the painstaking repair and excavation continues in 3 pits which are protected inside huge hangars. 1.5 hours from Xian, there is also an excellent museum and film about the history of the vaults. Photos (no flash) are allowed. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda: A major Buddhist site, the simple, elegant brick Pagoda stands in the grounds of the attractive Da Ci'en Temple. The Pagoda was built in the 7th century to house the Buddhist materials that Xuanzang (Tripitaka) brought back from his epic journey to India. The Temple complex has several large halls with some great Buddhist statues and murals.
- A Wa Shan Zhai Restaurant(Qinling Branch): A Wa Village Restaurant was established in 2004, mainly specializes in Hunan and Sichuan cuisine. It provides delicacy by using the material from xancin, obtaining a nationwide reputation from customers. It would be a nice choice to dine while traveling the nearby Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses.
- Chongde Handmade Pottery Factory: Chongde Handmade Pottery Factory manufactures the copies of terra-cotta warriors and horses of Jing De porcelain. It has become a popular spot for foreign tourists looking for special, quality souvenirs.For the clients coming from China Highlights, you will have the chance to see the making process and have a try on your own hands. This only happens in Xian with China Highlights. Do not miss it!
Tel: 029-83577031
Address: No.2 East Chanhe bridge, Hua Qing Rd., Xian.

top

The Big Wild Goose Pagoda
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda
The Statue of Xuanzang
The Statue of Xuanzang

Day 6

Place & Transport: Xian to Shanghai, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Shanghai), Shaanxi Provincial Museum, Xian City Wall with Bicycle, Forest of Stele Museum
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Qianzhou Restaurant(Xiao Yanta Branch)

- Shaanxi Provincial Museum: The history of Shaanxi is said to be the history of China, and this museum is quite simply one of the nation's best. Four major galleries in large, Tang-style buildings house a vast and impressive collection, beautifully displayed. Most of the item labels are in English, although some other information on the exhibitions is not, but your guide can help here. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- Xian City Wall with Bicycle: The walls, ramparts, gates and watchtowers form one of the oldest and most complete city defenses still around. Built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City surrounding the city centre, it is a major landmark, and the best preserved, as well as the oldest and largest of the city defense systems in China. We operate this with bicycle. If the weather is not good for biking on the city wall, we will substitute a visit to the Bell Tower. Your guide will be very glad to take you the Bell Tower after you have been to look at the city wall.
- Forest of Stele Museum: Forest of Steles in Xi'an was originally built in Northern Song Dynasty (1090 A.D.) when a large Confucian collection of steles cut in A.D. 837 - the oldest existing texts of the Confucian classics - was moved to it for safekeeping. All kinds of calligraphy and scripts tell stories, poems and reports from around the Empire. Other exhibits include early sculptures and objects from Imperial tombs.
- Qianzhou Restaurant(Xiao Yanta Branch): Qianzhou Restaurant is well-known for its local flavors and ingredients originating from Qian County. The style, Qianzhou Four Treasures is considered to be famous nationally. The specialties are of ancient origin from the Tang Dynasty and leave customers with great culinary memories.

top

Shaaxi History Museum
Shaaxi History Museum
Forest of Stele Museum
Forest of Stele Museum

Day 7

Place & Transport: Shanghai
Today's Activities: Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, The Shanghai World Financial Center, Yuyuan Market, Yuyuan Garden, The Bund, Shanghai Hua Ling Silk Exhibition Hall
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Lv Bo Lang Restaurant

- Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall: A short walk across Renmin Square from the Shanghai Museum, this is a fascinating insight into Shanghai's future. The 2nd floor has a giant walkaround model of the city, and other floors have great displays, interactive exhibitions and walkthroughs of aspects such as the ports, greening, leisure etc.
- The Shanghai World Financial Center : The Shanghai World Financial Center is a super tall skyscraper. It is a mixed use skyscraper, which will consist of offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and shopping malls on the lower floors. The hotel component has 175 rooms and suites and goes by the name: The Park Hyatt, Shanghai. On September 14, 2007, the skyscraper reached 492.3 meters (1,615.2 ft) and became the tallest structure on mainland China, including Hong Kong, as well as the world's third tallest building (including unfinished ones), after the Burj Dubai and Taipei 101.
- Yuyuan Market : Located next to the Yuyuan Garden and also known today as the City God Temple, it was built in the fifteenth century during the Ming Dynasty. The City God Temple is a Taoist temple which is composed of many halls such as the Grand Hall, Middle Hall, Bedroom Palace, Star Gods Hall and etc. The City God Temple has a great influence on the residents of Shanghai. The religious festivals of the temple are considered to be the festivals for all Shanghai people.
- Yuyuan Garden: Located at a very busy marketplace in a complex of traditional-style buildings, backing onto Yu Gardens, you can find everything there from popular local snacks and food, crafts, antiques and souvenirs to Starbucks, teahouses and some great restaurants. There is a small (reconstructed) Temple (Chenghuang: Temple of the City Gods) in there as well.
- The Bund: Once the home of the foreign traders and major banks, the embankment has taken on a new vitality; lovely old European-style buildings mix with futuristic developments, chic restaurants, top end shops and bars offer plenty to see and do – and by night it's magic!
- Lv Bo Lang Restaurant: Lv Bo Lang Restaurant is located near the Yuyuan Garden and specializes in 4 types of Shanghai-style food, Shanghai-style snacks, shark's fin dishes and crab feasts. The restaurant has hosted heads of state from more than 40 foreign countries including President Clinton.
- Shanghai Hua Ling Silk Exhibition Hall: Shanghai Hua Ling Silk City is a multi-function shopping mall containing silk traders, restaurants and heath care. It showcases Chinese silk products of all types including silk bedding and silk clothing. It has become a popular spot for foreign tourists looking for authentic quality products.
Tel: 021-54247618
Address: No.191, Songyuan Road, Shanghai

top

Yuyuan Garden
Yuyuan Garden
Yuyuan Garden
Yuyuan Garden

Day 8

Place & Transport: Depart Shanghai, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai)
Meals: Breakfast

top

 

 

  • Apr. 01 - Nov. 31
    High Season
  • Dec. 01 - Mar. 31
    Low Season(2010)
Your Group Size Tour Class Tour Price Single Room Supplement Inquiry
1 Person Superior Class $3341 $0 Inquiry
Deluxe Class $2237 $0 Inquiry
Tourist Class $1992 $0 Inquiry
2-5 Person Superior Class $1672 $871 Inquiry
Deluxe Class $1418 $389 Inquiry
Tourist Class $1295 $267 Inquiry
6-9 Person Superior Class $1776 $871 Inquiry
Deluxe Class $1215 $389 Inquiry
Tourist Class $1092 $267 Inquiry

 

 

Hotels

City Superior Class Deluxe Class Tourist Class
Beijing Crowne Plaza Beijing Sunworld Hotel Beijing Days Inn Forbidden City Beijing
Xian Sofitel on Renmin Square Xian Bell Tower Hotel Xian Xian Skyview Hotel
Shanghai Radisson Shanghai New World The Bund Hotel Shanghai HengSheng Peninsula International Hotel Shanghai

* Price is in US dollars, for one person. Price is for references only, may vary according to your travel time Please inquire for more details. Click here to change prices to your Currency

* Better discount is available when travel in low season from Nov to March or when travel in a large group. Please Contact Us for more details.

* If only one person is traveling then the single room supplement is not required. If, for example, three people book a hotel, with two in one room and one in another room, the single room supplement must be paid.

Price Inclusions and Exclusions

Price Inclusions:

  • Entrance Fees:
    To scenic spots as listed in the itinerary.
  • Meals:
    All meals as specified in the itinerary.
    If the restaurant indicated is not available on the day, your guide will arrange another restaurant from our list of approved restaurants. Breakfast is usually a western style buffet. We endeavor to ensure that a choice of western and Chinese breakfasts is supplied, however there may be occasions when only a Chinese breakfast is available in some remote locations.
  • Private Transfers:
    Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing in Beijing, Xian, Shanghai by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver and English-speaking guide (as listed above).
    Your comfort is our priority! Click here to get a description of the vehicles that we use for our tours.
  • Guide:
    As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available.
  • Hotels:
    Hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with twin beds.
    All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities unless specified.
  • Transportation:
    Beijing To Xian Transfer via: Flight, TBA (Our arrangements)
    Xian To Shanghai Transfer via: Flight, TBA (Our arrangements)

  • Airport Tax for Domestic Flights
    Airport Tax and Fuel Fee for Flights if applicable
  • Service Charge & Government Taxes:
  • Insurance
    The insurance is China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance.
    Click here to learn more about the insurance coverage and the sum insured.
  • Luggage Transfers:
    Between airports and hotels.
  • Arrangements:
    The tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

Price Exclusions:

  • International Airfare or Train Tickets to enter or leave China.
    USA-CHINA/CHINA-USA: China Highlights has negotiated special discount fares (restrictions apply) for selected flights operated by Air China from major US and China gateways. We are able to offer these special deals to confirmed customers. Discount US to China Flights
  • China Entry Visa Fees.
  • Excess Baggage Charges.
    Passengers holding an adult fare or half fare ticket are entitled to a free baggage allowance of 20kg, for economy class. Total weight of carryon baggage for each passenger may not exceed 5kg. The size may not exceed 20x40x 55cm. More
  • Personal Expenses:
    Expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary.
  • Meals:
    Any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary.
  • Single Room Supplement.

 

Tailor Made You China Tours

Got a question? Ask us here

We will reply to you within one working day.

Why Book with Us?
  1. You Will Have an Authentic China Experience
  2. Tours Giving You Freedom & Flexibility
  3. Commitment to Customer Service through Team
  4. Commitment to Quality
  5. Integrity and Honesty - First and Foremost
  6. Memberships and Partnerships

more reasons »

Call us