China Spectacular

A unique experience is guaranteed during this 13 nights, 14 days tour to Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, Yangtze River Cruises, Yichang and Shanghai, from $3,280 (Tour Code: EC)

Day 01 Australia/Beijing

Fly from Australia to Beijing, the dynamic capital of the People’s Republic of China. Once the imperial city of Mongol, Ming and Manchu emperors, Beijing today is still extraordinarily rich in historical sites and cultural relics. After clearing airport formalities, meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel.

Day 02 Beijing (B/L/D)

Tour the Tian’anmen Square, the biggest public square in the world. If permitted, we visit Mao’s Mausoleum. After lunch, visit Forbidden City, the vast complex of palaces, which was the home to successive emperors for more than 500 years. Included is admission to the living quarters, museum and jewellery sections. Tonight you will experience the famous Beijing Duck Banquet for your welcome dinner.

Day 03 Beijing (B/L/D)

Morning tour to the Great Wall, stretching almost 4,000 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the sands of Central Asia and befittingly crowned one of the ten wonders of the world. Along the way, you will stop at a jade carving factory where you can watch artisans at work. Continue to the Summer Palace, the largest and the best preserved of all imperial palace gardens, which boasts such delights as the famous Marble Boat and the ornately painted ‘Long Corridor’, and take a boat ride on its Lake Kunming if the weather permits. After dinner, you will witness the amazing Beijing Acrobatic Show.

Day 04 Beijing (B/L)

In the morning, enjoy a pedicab tour of the Hutong – the ‘old city’ with neighbourhoods of narrow alleyways and courtyard gardens. Here you will experience local life on a family visit and a kindergarten school. After our special lunch in a local family home, tour to the Temple of Heaven, the 500 year old Temple houses altars on which sacrifices and offerings were laid to the gods in a glorious setting of gardens, trees and sculptures. Visit a local market if time permits. Evening at leisure.

Day 05 Beijing/Xian (B/D)

Morning, transfer to the airport for a flight to Xian. Upon arrival, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Today you will sample the Xian dumpling dinner. Afterwords, you will see the traditional Tang Dynasty Show.

Day 06 Xian (B/L/D)

Morning tour to the greatest archaeological discovery of the century, the 2,000 year-old Terracotta Warriors interred with the Emperor Qin Shi Huang. In the afternoon, we will visit the Great Mosque, the best-preserved Islamic mosque in China and focus for the 30,000 Chinese Muslims of Xian.

Day 07 Xian (B)

Today is a free day for you to explore this city at your own pace.

Day 08 Xian/Chongqing (B/L/D)

Transfer to the airport and fly to Chongqing, which is a port city with the largest municipal area and population in China. It is situated in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers in southwest China. We will visit the old town area of Ciqikou upon arrival. The Ancient Ciqikou Village is famous for its handicrafts and souvenirs.

Day 09 Chongqing (B/D)

Today you are free at leisure for you to further explore this city or you can take an optional side trip to Dazu before pre-boarding your cruise ship (M.S. Yangtze No.1) to start your spectacular cruise along the mighty Yangtze River in the evening. The Dazu Rock Carvings was built from 650 in the Tang Dynasty and continued to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911). It is as famous as the Mogao Cave in Dunhuang, Gansu Province. The rock carvings in these places are very distinguished both at home and abroad. Among the rock carvings, there are more than 5,000 statues and over 100,000 Chinese characters of inscriptions and epigraphs. The Buddhist statues dominate in this rock-carving group, and the Taoist and the Confucian stone figures can also be seen.

Day 10-11 Yangtze River Cruise (B/L/D)

Relax on deck or in the lounge, while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the magnificent Three Gorges. Sailing downstream, view the Qutang, Wu and Xiling Gorges, and enjoy a side trip up Shennong Stream. Shore excursions include Fengdu, the “Ghost City” and Three Gorges Dam site. (please refer to P41)

Day 12 Yichang/Shanghai (B/L/D)

Disembark at Yichang. Transfer to airport for your flight to Shanghai. Check into your hotel.

Day 13 Shanghai (B/L)

In the morning tour we will visit the Bund, a popular promenade along the Huangpu River, where the old meets the modern in Shanghai. You may see the local people performing Tai Chi during your stroll along the bund. Afterwards, we will visit the Old Town with its winding alleyways, lined with shops, teahouses and restaurants, and then to the elegant and tranquil Yu Garden. Afternoon tour the Shanghai Xintiandi, which is a new tourist attraction in downtown Shanghai, featuring the city’s unique “Shikumen” houses and a maze of narrow alleys, which have been converted into cafes, restaurants, bars, art retail shops. Dinner will be on your own arrangement.

Day 14 Shanghai/Australia (B)

Today you are free for some last minute shopping before being transferred to the airport for your flight back home.

Day 15 Australia

Arrival in Australia.