China Brilliant Tour 2009

Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in Beijing, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing)
Detailed Itinerary: You'll be met on arrival in Beijing. On the way to your Hotel, your guide will explain tomorrow's arrangements. Spend the rest of the day exploring the nearby streets, or resting and catching up on your jetlag. Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts - an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites, and a bustling modern metropolis. Moreover, Beijing has successfully hosted the 2008 Olympics.

Day 2

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: The Tian'anmen Square, Hall of Clocks and Watches, The Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: This exciting day starts by visiting Tian'an men Square, the biggest square in the world that lies in the center of the city. It's the symbol of Beijing and ranked No. 1 in the 16 new scenic highlights of Beijing. If you like, we can stop and let you have a walk on the square. Then you will have the privilege to experience ancient emperor's daily life. We will visit the Forbidden City, from which the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed for over 500 years. It is the essence and a must for sightseeing in Beijing, the magnificent and solemn palaces arouse your imagination of the life of Chinese emperors. Hall of Clocks and Watches set in the Forbidden City; we will drop on it to learn the clock history of the past 200 years. In the afternoon, we arrange a visit to the Temple of Heaven. 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. You may see some interesting activities in the surrounding gardens, particularly weekend mornings.

Day 3

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Great Wall at Mutianyu, Mutianyu Cable Car(round trip)
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner at Roasted Duck at Fangzhuang
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast, our guide will accompany you to visit the Great Wall -Mutianyu Section which owns some unique characteristics among all the sections. Wonderful surrounded landscape, rarely seen structure formed by three connected watch towers, all these make it outstanding from the others. Hiking by yourself or taking the comfortable and safe round trip cable car is up to you. Dinner is at Quanjude, where serves the world known Beijing roasted duck.

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, Beijing Olympic Green
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Today we will first visit the Summer Palace, which is equally famous as the Forbidden City. It is up to now the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China. You may regret it if you come to Beijing without visiting this grand imperial garden. Then we step onto Beijing Olympic Green. It is a newborn green park with a massive 1,135 hectares along the historic north-south central axis of Beijing, including the stunning Olympic Stadium and National Swim Center. It also includes the 680 hectares of park, and will be integrated into Beijing residents’ daily life and tourists post-games. It is a new urban district and a multi-function complex deducing the balance of East with West, the ancient with the contemporary, development with nature, which highly expresses the logos of “technology, green, humanity”. Later you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Xi'an, one of the most ancient cities in China, which was the national capital for over 1,000 years, and the starting point of the Silk Road. Despite a lot of modern development Xi'an remains a charming city. You’ll have the evening to yourself.

Day 5

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarters of Xi'an, City Wall, Great Mosque
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast in the hotel, you will set off for one of today's highlights - the incredible 2000 year-old Terra cotta warriors. Each one is part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. Well over 7000 figures were drawn up in full battle array in several large pits. Later, you will like a half-hour's cycling along the Ancient City Wall. It is a major landmark, and the best preserved, as well as the oldest and largest city defense systems in China. If you like, you can make an option to experience a City Wall biking, but the extra fee is needed. Afterwards we will visit the Great Mosque. It is one of the largest Islamic mosques in China. The pavilions, halls and gateways are wonderfully decorated, and this is an active place of worship for the Hui descendants of Silk Road traders and travelers. The last stop we arrange today is the Muslim Quarters of Xi’an. The Muslim quarters lies 100 meters west of the Bell tower in downtown Xi’an. The 500 meters long avenue paved by bluestones are dotted with many unique stall, souvenir shop, café and bars which are mostly run by Muslim people. Tourists, especially from overseas come and shop here.

Day 6

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: Shaanxi Historical Museum, Forest of Stone Steles Museum, Gao's Courtyard(includes Shadow Play)
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Spend the morning at one of the best museums in China, the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many of the Dynasties, including some magnificent bronzes and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display before. In the afternoon, we step onto the Xi'an Stele Forest Museum which has 900 years of history, holding a large collection of the earliest stone steles of different periods, from the Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. This evening we go to the Gao's Courtyard, a famous house which has won the Prize of Cultural Heritage Protection in Asian-pacific Area of UNESCO in 2002. The courtyard owner Gao Yuesong was a high ranking official in Ming Dynasty 300 years ago. His building is nice with interlinked courtyards and Xi'an typical architectures. A shadow play performed by folk artists awaits you at the end of the day.

Day 7

Place & Transport: Xian to Chongqing to Yangtze, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Cruise pier Transfer (Yangtze), Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian), Airport to Cruise pier transfer (Chongqing), Board the ship from 5:00pm to 8:00pm and departs Chongqing at 10:00pm.(Dinner is not included), Ciqikou Old Town, Panda Room in Chongqing Zoo, One day tour in Chongqing
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: On arrival our guide will accompany you to have sightseeing in Chongqing proper and the 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. In the afternoon, you will be delighted by taking a walk to Ciqikou Old Town where you can see local shops, old wooden houses, old pier, tea houses, and local Sichuan street performance and so on. After dinner you’ll be transferred to the pier to board your Yangtze River cruise ship, ready for your cruise along the mighty Yangtze, said to be the cradle of Chinese civilization.

Day 8

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

Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner
Detailed Itinerary: After spending the last night on the boat, we arrange a shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost City this morning. 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. The rest of the day you can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the river.

Day 9

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

Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner
Detailed Itinerary: This afternoon we will reach Shennong Stream, a tributary of Yangtze River. 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. About 4 hours should be needed here.

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
Detailed Itinerary: After an early breakfast the shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam site, the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken by man. It has been a dream for several generations of Chinese people. You can get access to the top of the dam and enjoy different kinds of photo opportunities. After a lunch in Yichang our local guide will meet you and escort you to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, the biggest city in China. Its phenomenal mixture of space-age buildings, gorgeous shops, and the remnants of the old Concession areas allures many tourists from home and abroad.

Day 11

Place & Transport: Shanghai
Today's Activities: Yuyuan Market, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, The Bund
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: We start the day by visiting the lovely old Yuyuan Garden, the most famous garden in Shanghai, which is decorated by beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges and rock formations. It is also a shopper's paradise for there are many small shops carrying everything from furniture to porcelain. Then we step onto Yu Market, which is a busy market today, specializing in traditional arts and crafts. Outside, however, it still looks like a temple. We will stop here for a while to give you time to browse the stalls. After that, you will pay a visit to Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. This is a fascinating insight into Shanghai’s future. The 2nd floor has a giant walk around model of the city, and other floors have great displays, interactive exhibitions and walkthroughs of aspects such as the ports, greening, leisure etc. The last stop is the Bund. It was once the home of the foreign traders and major banks, with futuristic old European-style buildings, chic restaurants, top end shops and bars offer plenty to see and do – and by night it's magic!

Day 12

Place & Transport: Depart Shanghai, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai)
Meals: Breakfast
Detailed Itinerary: our time is your own, until you are ready to be transferred to the airport for your departure.

Note: If you choose to stay on in Shanghai for a few extra days, or arrive a few days early in Beijing, please let us know, and we'd be happy to extend your hotel bookings, or arrange additional tours for you.