Day 1
Place & Transport: Arrive in Beijing, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing)
Day 2
Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: The Tian'anmen Square, The Forbidden City, Treasure Houses, Hutong Tours in Rickshaw
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.
- 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 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.
Day 3
Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Mutianyu Great Wall(with round way cable car), Temple of Heaven
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- Mutianyu Great Wall(with round way cable car): 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. Walk along the wall on your own interest and return by cable car. Wear good walking shoes and protection from the weather.
- 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.
Day 4
Place & Transport: Beijing to Hangzhou, Hainan Airlines HU7177 (Beijing Capital Airport - Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport) Dep 5:15PM - Arr 7:10PM
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Beijing), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Hangzhou), Summer Palace
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.
Day 5
Place & Transport: Hangzhou
Today's Activities: ancient village Wuzhen,
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- ancient village Wuzhen: Wuzhen lies in the far north-east of Zhejiang province, about 90 minutes by road from Shanghai. The name "water town" is especially apt; besides lying on the Grand Canal, the settlement is completely encircled by two rivers - the Dong Shi and a smaller tributary, which meet at a T-junction.
Day 6
Place & Transport: Hangzhou
Today's Activities: Cruise on the West Lake, Lingyin Temple/ Monastery of the Hidden Souls, Meijiawu Tea Plantation
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- Cruise on the West Lake: Lying on the west edge of Hangzhou city, West Lake is the symbol of Hangzhou as well as one of the most beautiful sights in China.
- Lingyin Temple/ Monastery of the Hidden Souls : Lingyin Temple is one of the ten most famous ancient Buddhist temples in China. It also houses various Buddhist literature and treasures situated in front of the Temple, and is famous for its more than 470 stone carvings of Buddhist figures, which dated from the 10th to 14th centuries.
- Meijiawu Tea Plantation: Tea village is seated at the hinterland of West Lake Park and it boasts the most important tea production basis. Here you are in an original natural environment, just relax your feelings and enjoy the special tea culture, taste the fragrant tea while appreciating the beautiful village scenery.
Day 7
Place & Transport: Hangzhou to Shanghai, Train No. D660 (Hangzhou Railway Station - Shanghai South Railway Station) Dep 11:32AM - Arr 12:50PM
Today's Activities: Hotel to Train station Transfer (Hangzhou), Train station to Hotel Transfer (Shanghai), Yuyuan Garden, Yuyuan Market
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- 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.
- Yuyuan Market : Located at a very busy marketplace in a complex of traditional-style buildings, backing onto Yuyuan Gardens.You can find everything there from popular local snacks and food, crafts, antiques and souvenirs to Starbucks, tea-houses and some great restaurants. There is a small (reconstructed) Temple (Chenhuang: Temple of the City Gods) in there as well.
Day 8
Place & Transport: Shanghai
Today's Activities: The Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, The Bund
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
- The Shanghai World Financial Center : The Shanghai World Financial Center is a supertall skyscraper under construction in Shanghai, China. It is a mixed use skyscraper which will consist of offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and shopping malls on the ground floors. The hotel component will open with 175 rooms and suites in mid-2008 as the Park Hyatt Shanghai. On September 14, 2007 the skyscraper was topped out at 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.
- 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 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 9
Place & Transport: Shanghai to Beijing, Hainan Airlines HU7606 (Shanghai Hongqiao Airport - Beijing Capital Airport) Dep 11:50AM - Arr 2:15PM
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai)
Meals: Breakfast