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China Panorama

This is a comprehensive journey through China, taking in most of China's majestic splendour during a 20 nights, 21 days tour to Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Longsheng, Yangshuo, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Chongqing, Yangtze River, Yichang and Shanghai, from $5,090 (Tour Code: EF)
Guaranteed departure with minimum two passengers!

Day 01 Australia/Beijing Saturday

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 CTS guide and transfer to your hotel.

Day 02 Beijing (B/L/D)

Tour the Tian’anmen Square, the biggest public square in the world. You will also be able to have a photo stop at The National Centre for the Performing Arts, formerly known as the National Grand Theatre, and colloquially described as The Egg. The Centre, an ellipsoid dome of titanium and glass surrounded by an artificial lake, seats 6,500 people in the three halls and is 200,000 m2 in size. Afterwards, visit Forbidden City, the vast complex of palaces, which was home to successive Emperors for more than 500 years. Included is admission to the living quarters, museum and jewelry 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 at Juyongguan section, 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 stopover at China National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) and China National Aquatics Centre (Water Cube) for taking photos, then 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 pedi-cab tour of Hutong – the ‘old city’ neighbourhoods of narrow alleyways and courtyard gardens, experience local life on a family visit and kindergarten if opens. After lunch, 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, tress and sculptures. Then, we tour to the brand new Qianmen Street, which is also called the Heaven Street, because there were 23 emperors during China’s Ming and Qing dynasties walking through this street to pray and make sacrifice at the Temple of Heaven. Centuries ago, Qianmen Street had become a commercial and amusement center due to its convenient location connecting the Forbidden City and communities in ancient Beijing. Also visit a local market if time permits. Evening at leisure

Day 05 Beijing/Xi’an (B/D)

Morning, transfer to the airport for a flight to Xi’an. Upon arrival, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Today you will sample the Xi’an dumpling dinner. Afterwards, you will see the Tang Dynasty Show.

Day 06 Xi’an (B/L/D)

Morning tour to the greatest archaeological discovery of the century, more than 2,000 year-old Terracotta Warriors interred with the Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Included are the Circle Vision Movie and Bronze Chariot. On the way to the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, we visit Xi’an Art Ceramic and Lacquer Ware Factory, which focus on the reproductions of terra-cotta warriors and horses and lacquer ware products. The craftsman in the factory, with professional knowledge, have made the replica of terra-cotta warriors and horses that popularly accepted as souvenirs and gifts by both Chinese and foreign visitors. In the afternoon, we walk through the lively Muslim Quarter and market, visit to the Great Mosque, a best-preserved Islamic mosque in China and focus for the 30,000 Chinese Muslims of Xi’an.

Day 07 Xi’an/Guilin (B/L)

Morning is free at leisure until lunchtime. After lunch, we visit Shaanxi History Museum, which is one of the best museums in China prior to your transfer to the airport for your flight to Guilin. Upon arrival, transferred to the hotel.

Day 08 Guilin-Longshen-Guilin (B/L)

Today, we take a full day excursion to Longsheng, located in the mountainous region on the northeastern part of Guilin. The natural beauty and the colorful ethnic Chinese cultures and customs attract people from all over the world. After 2.5 hours drive (115KM beautiful mountain road) you will get to the Longji area, Heping Township of Longsheng County. Visit Zhuang and Yao Minority tribes’ villages and some families. You will see the beautiful terraced rice fields after arriving at the summit of Longji (Dragon’s backbone). The terraced rice fields were first built in the Yuan Dynasty (about 800 years ago) and completed in the Qing dynasty. The terraced fields are built along the slope winding from the riverside up to the mountaintop, which looks like a giant snail from afar. On the way back, we visit to Reed Flute Cave, a site of wonderful limestone caves, showcasing a dazzling variety of stalactite and stalagmite stone formations.

Day 09 Guilin-Yangshuo (B/L)

The Highlight of the trip to Guilin is a spectacular cruise down the meandering and picturesque Li River. The scenery is breathtaking as jagged mist-covered mountains; quaint villages dot the riverbanks, drift past humped limestone peaks, fishermen aboard bamboo rafts and grazing water buffalo. You will also have a chance to roam Yangshuo’s local market in the evening. The well-known West Street in Yangshuo also called Foreigner Street, which the history has 1400 years.

Day 10 Yangshuo-Guilin/Kunming (B/D)

In the morning, free at leisure. You may rent a bike to further explore the stunning karst landscapes of Yangshuo on your own pace. Fly to Kunming in the evening, the capital of Yunnan Province is called ‘City of Perpetual Spring’ with beautiful sceneries and historical sites. Check in your hotel.

Day 11 Kunming (B/L/D)

Visit the Stone Forest, known as ‘No.1 wonder under heaven’, is the highest karst terrain in the world. Here the scenery is dominated by natural limestone, which forms a large forest. Visit Western Hills and Dragon Gate in the afternoon.

Day 12 Kunming/Dali (B/L/D)

Morning flight from Kunming to Dali. Standing against the Cangshan Mountains in the west and adjoining the Erhai Lake in the east, embraced by undulating hills around, Dali was the capital of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdom as early as 1,300 years ago. It is home to Bai minority. Upon arrival in Dali, proceed to visit the Bai village Xizhou or Zhoucheng, photo stop at the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, and visit the old town of Dali, known as ‘state of literature’, which has a long history and splendid culture.

Day 13 Dali-Lijiang (B/L/D)

Coach journey to Lijiang. On the way, you will see the natural countryside scenery. Upon arrival, visit Black Dragon Pool Park. Then you will visit Dongba Culture Museum, where you will learn about the well-preserved Naxi minority’s people’s culture, which is one of very few ancient photographic scripts in the world still in use. Dayan Town has been on the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites since 1997.

Day 14 Lijiang (B/L)

In the morning, you will visit the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain National Park, which is situated 3000m above sea level. You will catch a chairlift to explore Yak Meadow section, where you will see some yaks grazing in the lush surroundings. Afterwards, you will take a short tour of the Baisha Village to see the ancient Fresco. Return back to your hotel, here you will have some free time to explore the old town of Lijiang.

Day 15 Lijiang/Kunming/Chongqing Saturday (B/D)

In the morning, we fly back to Kunming. Then, catch our connecting flight to Chongqing. Upon arrival, we visit the old town area of Ciqikou if time permits, then board your cruiser ship (MV Century Diamond) for Yangtze River cruise tour after dinner.

Day 16 Yangtze River Cruise Sunday (B/L/D)

Start your spectacular cruise along the mighty Yangtze River. Relax on deck or in the lounge, 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”.

Day 17 Yangtze River Cruise Monday (B/L/D)

Enjoy your cruise along the river today.

Day 18 Yichang/Shanghai Tuesday (B/L/D)

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

Day 19 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. In the afternoon we will visit 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 20 Shanghai (B)

A free day to shop till you drop or to explore this booming city on your own path.
From 01 May to 31 October 2010, World Expo 2010 Shanghai might be the important event. The theme of Expo 2010 is “Better City, Better Life,” representing the common wish of the whole humankind for a better living in future urban environments. The quest for a better life has run through the urban history of mankind. Through different sub-themes, Expo 2010 will create blueprints for future cities and harmonious urban life styles, providing an extraordinary educational and entertaining platform for visitors of all nations.
The Expo Site covers a total area of 5.28 square kilometers, including the enclosed area and outside areas of support facilities. The Expo Site spans both sides of the Huangpu River, with 3.93 sq km in Pudong and 1.35 sq km in Puxi. The enclosed area measures 3.28 sq km. There are 12 pavilion groups, eight in the Pudong Section and four in Puxi, each with an average area of 10–15 hectares.
CTS Australia can only provide you a standard one-day World Expo ticket on complementary basis. The transfers will be on your own arrangement.

Day 21 Shanghai/Australia (B)

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

Day 22 Australia

Arrive in Australia.