Eleven day special tour designed to visit the highlights of China. Taking advantage of visa changes, Australians may now travel to China for 15 days, visa free:

• Today’s Capital Beijing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven, 798 Art Zone, the Great Wall, Summer Palace and Hutongs.
• Ancient Capital Xi’an: Terracotta Army, Wild Goose Pagoda, Muslim quarters visit the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, Bell Tower and Drum Tower. Ancient City Wall of Xian.
• War Capital Chongqing: Three Gorges’ Cruise on China’s biggest river Yangtze, to see the world’s largest Hydroelectric power station. “the Ghost City” –Fengdu.
• Commercial Capital Shanghai: The Bund is the famous waterfront to see newly-erected modern skyscrapers and heritage buildings, Yu Garden and the adjacent market. Shanghai Tower, the highest building in China.

You can taste Peking duck; Have a dumpling banquet. You may have a cup of coffee and enjoy the great view at its 239-metre high Observation Deck and experience a high speed bullet train.

Book early then arrange your flights which are most reasonable if booked early. You may consider to extend and enjoy other parts of China. For details:

Jan Everett: jan7777@bigpond.com; Roz Hanley: rozhanley@gmail.com or nationalacfs.com.au

Schedule:

Day 1 Apr-01 Tue Arrival in Beijing by flight

Arrive at the airport of Beijing. The guide will greet you at the exit of Arrival Hall, and transfer to your hotel. If time permits, you will visit the 798 Art Zone, a thriving artistic community housed at a complex with unique architectural style of the former decommissioned military factory buildings in Beijing.

Meal: D

Accommodation: Tianlun Sunworld Hotel or same class (4*, 3 nights)

Day 2 Apr-02 Wed Beijing City Tour to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven

In the morning, pay a visit to Temple of Heaven, a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design where the ancient emperors used to pray for the God’s blessing of the whole nation. You may see many local retirees doing morning exercises there. In the afternoon, go across the Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world. Then go to the Forbidden City, which is protected by high walls and a moat on all four sides and consists of dozens of halls and courtyards. Admire one of the world’s most legendary ancient royal palaces and the treasures kept on display.

Meal: B, D

Note: The Forbidden City is closed on Monday, and has a daily visitor limit. We might have to adjust the visit time based on the result of the reservation.

Day 3 Apr-03-Thu Explore the Great Wall, Summer Palace and Hutong

Excursion to the Great Wall at Juyongguan. The Great Wall is one of the great wonders in the world and the symbol of China. The section of the Great Wall built in Ming Dynasty was used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. Visit a Jade Factory to see how the precious stones are processed and turned into Chinese cherished treasures. Later, transfer to Beijing city, visit the Summer Palace, Qing’s Imperial rulers’ favorite summer residence. UNESCO inscribed Summer Palace a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1998. Then meander down to the Hutong area at Nanluoguxiang. Hutongs are a unique street design in ancient Beijing and regarded as a window into Beijing folk life. Enjoy a Peking duck dinner at night.

Meal: B, D

Day 4 Apr-04-Fri Bullet Train to Xian

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel, then drive to take a high speed train from Beijing to Xi’an. The train from Beijing to Xian takes 4.5hrs – 5.5hrs with highest speed at 300kmh (186mph). Arrive in Xian. Be met & transferred to your hotel.

Meal: B, D

Accommodation: Xian Grand Noble Hotel (4.5*, 2 nights)

Day 5 Apr-05-Sat Guided Xian Tour to Terracotta Army, Wild Goose Pagoda, Muslim quarters

Visit the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses Museum in the morning, which is one of the most important archaeological finds in the 20th century, and a UNESCO World Heritage. Drive back to downtown area and visit the Wild Goose Pagoda. It was first built in Tang Dynasty for the storage of Buddhist scriptures taken from India by Monk Xuanzang and has become the city emblem. Then have a stroll in the Muslim Quarter, which is close to where the Bell Tower and Drum Tower are located. You will have loads of chances to taste the local snacks. Have a dumping banquet at Defachang Restaurant.

Meal: B, D

Day 6 Apr-06-Sun Visit Xian Ancient City Wall, take bullet train to Chongqing

In the morning, visit to the Ancient City Wall of Xian, which was built under the rule of the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang as a military defense system. It exhibits the “complete features of the rampart architecture of feudal society”. It has been refurbished many times since it was built in the 14th century. Later, transfer to take bullet a train to Chongqing (6 hrs). After arrival in Chongqing, transfer to have dinner before boarding the cruise ship.

Meal: B, D

Accommodation: Victoria Cruises or Chinese Goddess Cruise (3 nights)

Note: The cruise itinerary is subject to alteration dependent on sailing conditions.

Day 7 Apr-07-Mon Three Gorges’ Cruise

Wake up in the intoxicating scenery and join the Taichi class on board. Enjoy shore excursion to “the Ghost City” –Fengdu (included). Attend captain’s welcome dinner party tonight. The cruise will also offer optional shore excursions during the trip. The tourists can decide whether to take them or not.

Meal: B, L, D

Day 8 Apr-08-Tue Three Gorges’ Cruise

Today you’ll get a close look of the enchanting landscape as you board a small boat and cruise along a tributary to the Yangtze to explore the exceptionally beautiful Lesser Three Gorges (included). Have fun and taste delicious foods at captain’s farewell party.

Meal: B, L, D

Day 9 Apr-09-Wed Disembark the cruise, the Three Gorge Dam, take a bullet train from Yichang to Shanghai

Shore excursion to the amazing Three Gorge Dam (included), which is the world’s largest power station in terms of installed capacity(22,500MW). Later, the guide and tourist bus will pick up the group after sightseeing and transfer to Yichang for lunch. Then take high speed train to Shanghai (6.5 hrs).

Meal: B, L

Accommodation: Central Hotel, Shanghai Located near the famous Nanjing shopping Street (4*, 2 nights)

Day 10 Apr-10-Thu Shanghai City Tour: Yu Garden, The Bund, the former French Concession

Visit the Yu Garden and the adjacent market, with 400 years’ history, this private garden features traditional architectural style of Yangtze Delta. Then, head for the Bund: The Bund is the famous waterfront to see newly-erected modern skyscrapers and heritage buildings of the colonial period.

Lastly, in the afternoon drive to Shanghai Tower, the highest building in China. And you will have a chance to visit the iconic Duoyun Bookstore in this building. And you can have a cup of coffee and enjoy the great view at its 239-metre-high Observation Deck.

Meal: B, D

Day 11 Apr-11-Fri Shanghai Departure by flight

If time permits, pay a visit to Egyptian Artefacts Exhibition at Shanghai Museum. Transfer to the airport for the flight home or to your next destination. Bon Voyage!

Meal: B, D

End of Service:

• The tour cost based on a twin share is AU$2815pp. for a group of 6-7 pax;
• The tour cost based on a twin share is AU$2710pp. for a group of 8-9 pax;
• The tour cost based on a twin share is AU$2520pp. for a group of 10 pax or more;
• Single supplement for hotels: AU$525.
• Single supplement for Yangtze cruise: AU$410.

Extra cost for Egyptian Exhibition in Shanghai: AU$50pp including transfer fee

Included services:

1. Private transfers airport/train station-hotel-airport/train station;
2. Private tour escorted by an English-speaking guide and private air-con tourist bus;
3. Accommodations: 4 star hotels or similar standard with daily breakfast;
4. Meals specified as B=breakfast, L=Lunch, and D=dinner;
5. Yangtze Cruises with all the meals (B, L, D) included on board, porter fee for one piece of baggage of each client at Chongqing and Yichang docks;
6. Domestic train (second class): Beijing-Xian, Xian-Chongqing and Yichang-Shanghai;
7. First entrance fees;
8. Tips to guides and drivers.
9. The service on Yangtze cruise.

Non-included Services:

1. International flights and visa arrangement;
2. Excess baggage charge;
3. Optional tours & Personal expenses;
4. Medical insurance and emergency evacuation insurance.

Tour begins Beijing on the 1^st April-11^th April 2025