China Highlights - Discovery Your Way! (Since 1959)

 

15 days Yangtze Memories Tour

Day 1

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

Day 2

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Great Wall at Mutianyu, Mutianyu Cable Car(round trip), Temple of Heaven
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner at Roasted Duck at Hepingmen

- Great Wall at Mutianyu: This less-crowded section of the Great Wall is a pleasant drive 90km NE of 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.
- Mutianyu Cable Car(round trip): It is a challenging climb up to the Mutianyu Great Wall for it is much steeper than Badaling section. Here you have the option of taking the Cable car to the highest point or down to the foot in a few minutes instead of climbing more than 1,400 steps, while you can also have a bird view of the wall.
- Temple of Heaven: One of the most famous sites in Beijing, this is Ming architecture at its best: beautiful, controlled, and highly symbolic. The surrounding gardens are full of interesting activity, particularly weekend mornings. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- Roasted Duck at Hepingmen: In the evening enjoy the Peking Roasted Duck which is renowned as the most delicious food of Beijing

Day 3

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: The Tian'anmen Square, The Forbidden City, Hall of Clocks and Watches
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- The Tian'anmen 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.
- Hall of Clocks and Watches: Hall of Clocks and Watches set in the Forbidden City,2208 square meters,show us the clock history of the past 200 years.

Day 4

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Summer Palace, Hutong Tours in Rickshaw
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- 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, including a 10 minute boat ride. 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.
- Hutong Tours in 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, Kindergarten, Tea House, and local people's houses. Your tour includes a visit with a local family.

Day 5

Place & Transport: Beijing to Xian, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Beijing), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Xian), Shaanxi Historical Museum, City Wall, Evening Show at Tang Yuegong
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Shaanxi Historical 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.
- City Wall: The walls, ramparts, gates and watchtowers form one of the oldest and most complete city defences still around. Built in the 13th century on the foundations of the original Tang Forbidden City surrounding the city centre you can walk, rent a bike or take an electric cart around the full 14km circuit, with great views of the city on either side.
- Evening Show at Tang Yuegong: The show that presents the palace dances and sings in the Tang Dynasty when Xian was the capital of ancient China.

Day 6

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Forest of Stone Steles Museum
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Terracotta Warriors: 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.
- Forest of Stone Steles Museum: A fascinating collection of inscribed stone tablets (steles), from very ancient to quite modern (Han-Qing Dynasties, 206BC-1911). All kinds of calligraphies and scripts tell stories, poems, classics, reports from around the Empire. Other exhibits include early sculptures and objects from Imperial tombs. This was once a Confucian temple, and the architecture and grounds are well worth a visit on their own account.

Day 7

Place & Transport: Xian to Chongqing to Yangtze, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Cruise pier Transfer (Chongqing), Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian), Airport to Cruise pier transfer (Chongqing), Goose Neck Park, Panda Room in Chongqing Zoo, Board the ship from 5:00pm to 8:00pm and departs Chongqing at 10:00pm.
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Goose Neck Park: Very popular with the locals who come here to enjoy the gardens, play Mahjohngg, make music or just relax. Nice views over the river and Chongqing, there are also a number of interesting buildings and former Embassies in the grounds, plus an enormous long painting of the Yangtze.
- Panda Room in Chongqing Zoo: Here you can see Giant pandas, Lesser pandas, Golden hair monkeys, South China Tigers and some other national protected animals.

Day 8

Place & Transport: Yangtze
Today's Activities:  Shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City (8:00-10:00am).

Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner

--Fengdu is where the devil lives, according to Chinese legend. They say that spirits go to heaven, and evil goes to Fengdu. The town is overlooked by Ming Shan Hill, home of Tianzi, the King of the Dead. The whole place has an eerie feel to it with deserted streets, tower blocks, empty shops and banks. The only people here are those who make a living from visiting cruise boats.

Day 9

Place & Transport: Yangtze
Today's Activities: Shore excursion to Shennong Stream(1:30pm-5:30pm).

Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner

--Shennong Stream is another tributary of the Yangtze River, and its fast-flowing, crystal clear water runs southwards through deep gorges. The stream races past large and small karst caves, flocks of swallows, sheer cliffs, deep gorges, waterfalls, three-colored springs, rapids, the ancient plank path, a suspended coffin in the cliff, groups of ancient tombs and marvelous karst formations.

Day 10

Place & Transport: Yangtze to Yichang to Shanghai, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Cruise pier Transfer (Yichang), Airport Transfer (Yichang), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Shanghai), Shore excursion to The Three Gorges Dam Site. Arrive in Yichang at 1:00pm.
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

--Three Gorges Dam, the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken by man and it has been a dream for several generations of Chinese people. The construction of the dam formally began in 1994. The body of the dam was completed in 2003, and the whole construction will be competed in 2009. It will be 2,335 meters long, 185 meters high, 18 meters wide on the top and 130 meters wide at the bottom.The tourists can get access to the top of the dam and enjoy different kinds of photo opportunities.

Day 11

Place & Transport: Shanghai
Today's Activities: Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Yuyuan Garden, The Bund
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- 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.
- Oriental Pearl TV Tower: One of the tallest TV towers in the world, known for its distinctive spheres, or 'pearls', it stands across the river from the Bund, among the exciting architecture of the east bank. On a rare clear day you can see to the mouth of the Yangtze, but even in normal conditions there are great views of Shanghai's dramatic cityscape.
- Yuyuan Garden: In the centre of Shanghai next to the Yuyuan Bazaar, this exquisite old 5-acre garden is famous for its design. The paths wander across bridges, past rockeries and miniature lakes, and through pretty halls and pavilions. The trees and shrubs are planted with an eye to providing charming views, and a sense of peace and harmony.
- 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!

Day 12

Place & Transport: Shanghai to Guilin, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Guilin), Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Reed Flute Cave: Known as 'the Palace of Natural Arts' this large and well-presented cave system has some remarkable formations. Make sure you have some small change for the children who sell flutes for as little as one yuan if you've got nothing less than a dollar you'll end up with their whole stock.
- Elephant Trunk Hill: At the confluence of Li River and Peach Blossom River in the southwest of Guilin city
It is a national 4A scenery spot. The Water Moon Cave is close to the river. The water flows through it and the cave looks like a moon floating in the water. The stone drooped into the water like an elephant drinking the water of the Li River.

Day 13

Place & Transport: Guilin to Hong Kong, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Airport Transfer (Guilin), Li River Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch

- Li River Cruise: A cruise along the Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo is an unforgettable experience. As you take in the stunning scenery there's something interesting to see at almost every bend in the river. Between spectacular limestone peaks you'll see graceful bamboo groves, farmers tending rice paddies, and lumbering water buffaloes pulling carts or cooling off in the river. You may see fishermen gliding along on their narrow bamboo rafts, and if you're very lucky you might see one of the famous fishing cormorants. Boats depart from various wharves, according to the height of the river at different times of the year.

Day 14

Place & Transport: Hong Kong
Today's Activities: HK Island Orientation Drive
Meals: Breakfast

--HK Island Orientation Drive: Pick up from hotel to traverse the World-renowned Victoria Harbor via the Cross-Harbor Tunnel. We then drive by Wanchai, the well-known R & R destination for sailors to reach Victoria Peak for a breath-taking 360-degree view of the bustling harbor, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon as far as the eye can see. From Victoria Peak, the tour continues to Aberdeen village to see the many fishing junks and floating restaurants moored there passing by the scenic resort areas of Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay. The tour will continue with a visit to HK's largest jewelry factory where artists are at work to create some of the best prize winning designs using semi precious stones.

Day 15

Place & Transport: Depart Hong Kong, Flight not included
Meals: Breakfast

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