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Grand Tour of China
| Resort: | China |
| Operator: | Wendy Wu Tours |
| Destination: | China |
| Price From: | £5090.00 |
OverviewThis wide-ranging tour has Chinas top destinations covered, with time to soak up the sights. Whether you are looking for history, character and culture, the modern and marvellous, or a straight-up combination of the two, then this is the itinerary for you.
26-Day Grand Tour of China Tour ItineraryDAYS 1-2: FLY OVERNIGHT TO BEIJING
Fly overnight to Beijing, Chinas historical capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
DAYS 3-4: THE GREAT WALL
Visit Tiananmen Square and discover the sprawling magnificence of the Forbidden City before exploring Beijings old hutongs where you can meet a local family and visit their home. This evening, eat traditional Peking duck. The next day, spend the morning taking a walk on the Great Wall and in the afternoon, enjoy a stroll through the idyllic gardens of the Summer Palace.
DAY 5: TEMPLE OF HEAVEN
In the morning, soak up the harmonious ambience of the Temple of Heaven, an orderly oasis in a bustling urban landscape and wander through the park, where you can mingle with the locals and watch or participate in Tai Chi or play cards. Later, take a bullet train to Xian.
DAYS 6-7: TERRACOTTA WARRIORS
Visit the Little Wild Goose Pagoda before wandering around the narrow alleys of the Muslim Quarter. Tonight, feast on traditional Shui Jiao dumplings before a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing. The next day, view the enigmatic ranks of warriors that make up the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Later, stroll on Xians beautifully preserved 14th-century city walls.
DAY 8: BOARD YOUR CRUISE
Fly to Yichang and then travel by road to Maoping Dock to board your Yangtze River cruise vessel.
DAYS 9-11: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE
The Three Gorges Dam may be an impressive feat of engineering but as you cruise upstream nature takes over, revealing some of the worlds most dramatic scenery including the Three Gorges themselves. Over the next three days prepare for one breathtaking panorama after another. Take a side trip to the attractive Goddess or Shennong Stream and enjoy various shore excursions.
DAY 12: OLD CIQIKOU
Disembark in Chongqing then explore old Ciqikou, whose narrow streets are perfect for a stroll to admire the traditional architecture. Transfer to Chengdu where tonight you will be served a traditional Sichuanese dinner with the option to watch a Sichuan Opera performance.
DAY 13: GIANT PANDAS
Visit Chengdus famous Panda Conservation Centre to see and learn about these celebrated bears up close in surroundings that mirror their natural habitat. Later, fly to the charming city of Dali.
DAYS 14-15: ENCHANTING DALI
Dali offers a peek of the China of times-goneby. Over the next two days, travel to Xizhou village to browse around the local market, see the Yan Family House, cruise on Erhai Lake, explore Dalis ancient quarter and visit the Three Pagodas. Transfer to Kunming.
DAY 16: STONE FOREST
Explore the fascinating limestone formations of the picturesque Stone Forest and tuck in to local delicacy, Across the Bridge Noodles, for dinner tonight.
DAY 17: FLY TO GUILIN
Fly to the beautiful city of Guilin.
DAY 18: LI RIVER
Take a relaxed cruise along the Li River to charming Yangshuo. Around every river bend is a view to take your breath away as jagged karst peaks loom over rural scenes of lush greenery and grazing buffalo.
DAY 19: YANGSHUO COUNTRYSIDE
Begin with a relaxing and invigorating session of Tai Chi, taking a class with a master to learn this ancient martial art. Explore the countryside and stop on the banks of the Li River for a photo opportunity with a cormorant fisherman. Enjoy time at leisure or choose one of the many optional activities available.
DAY 20: GUILIN
Return to Guilin and visit a pearl factory and Reed Flute Cave. Also stroll around Ronghu Lake and admire the Sun and Moon pagodas two towering examples of traditional Chinese-Buddhist architecture.
DAYS 21-22: DISCOVER HANGZHOU
Fly to Hangzhou and visit the Temple of Inspired Seclusion and the tea plantations of Meijiawu. The next day, enjoy a cruise on West Lake and visit Xihutiandi before continuing to Suzhou.
DAY 23: SUZHOU
Suzhous centre has managed to retain a sense of quaint charm. Renowned for its elegant gardens, visit one of the finest, the Humble Administrators Garden typical of the Chinese appreciation of balance and harmony. Also cruise on the Grand Canal.
DAY 24: SHANGHAI
Travel to the exuberant and cosmopolitan city of Shanghai, also known as the Paris of the East. Visit Matchmakers Corner, where parents search for worthy suitors for their children, the Shanghai Museum and Peoples Square. Later, enjoy a view of the glittering city from the Huangpu River on a panoramic cruise. This evening, dine on a delicious meal of Shanghainese cuisine.
DAY 25: EXPLORE SHANGHAI
Shanghai is Chinas great metropolis, where east and west collide on streets lined with futuristic skyscrapers and 10th-century temples. Visit Yu Garden, the old town, a silk factory and stroll along the Bund. End the evening with the ERA acrobatic show.
DAY 26: FLY SHANGHAI TO UK
Fly to the UK, arriving home the same or following day.
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