12 Day China Brilliant Tour 2009
Tour Code: CHTGP-16
Destinations: Beijing - Xian - Chongqing - Yangtze - Yichang -
Shanghai
Itinerary:
Day 1
Place & Transport:
Arrive in Beijing.
Today's Activities:
Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing)
Detailed Itinerary:
You'll be met on arrival in Beijing. On the way to your Hotel,
your guide will explain tomorrow's arrangements. Spend the rest
of the day exploring the nearby streets, or resting and catching
up on your jetlag. Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts - an
ancient capital with some incredible historical sites, and a bustling
modern metropolis getting ready to host the 2008 Olympics.
Day 2
Place & Transport:
Beijing
Today's Activities:
The Tian'anmen Square, The Forbidden City, Hall of Clocks and
Watches, Summer Palace
Meals:
Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary:
This exciting day starts by visiting Tian'an men Square, the biggest
square in the world that lies in the center of the city. It's
the symbol of Beijing and ranked No. 1 in the 16 new scenic highlights
of Beijing. If you like, we can stop and let you have a walk on
the square. Then you will have the privilege to experience ancient
emperor's daily life. We will visit the Forbidden City, from which
the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed for over
500 years. It is the essence and a must for sightseeing in Beijing,
the magnificent and solemn palaces arouse your imagination of
the life of Chinese emperors. Hall of Clocks and Watches set in
the Forbidden City; we will drop on it to learn the clock history
of the past 200 years. In the afternoon, we arrange a visit to
the Summer Palace, which is equally famous as the Forbidden City.
It is up to now the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens
in China. You may regret it if you come to Beijing without visiting
this grand imperial garden.
Day 3
Place & Transport:
Beijing
Today's Activities:
Great Wall at Mutianyu, Cloisonne Factory
Meals:
Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner at Roasted Duck at Fangzhuang
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast,
our guide will accompany you to visit the Great Wall -Mutianyu
Section which owns some unique characteristics among all the sections.
Wonderful surrounded landscape, rarely seen structure formed by
three connected watch towers, all these make it outstanding from
the others. Hiking by yourself or taking the comfortable and safe
round trip cable car is up to you. Dinner is at Quanjude, where
serves the world known Beijing roasted duck.
Day 4
Place & Transport:
Beijing to Xian, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities:
Hotel to airport Transfer (Beijing), Airport to Hotel Transfer
(Xian), Hutong Tours in Rickshaw, Temple of Heaven
Meals:
Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary:
It is a great chance to be a truly Chinese people today from the
beginning of practicing Taiji with local people at the Temple
of Heaven in the early morning, or you can enjoy watching as they
sing to each other. Afterwards we head off to take a rickshaw
ride to Hutong to have a unique experience of living a common
life in Beijing. Viewing the local flea market, appreciating the
most typical architecture this region owns, you may lucky to find
some interesting things and learn how to bargain there. You can
also have a rest in the house of Hutong and talk to the family
members to gain a true understanding of life in this region. We
can guarantee you will have impressive stories to tell your friends
after this. Later you will be transferred to the airport in time
for your flight to Xi'an, one of the most ancient cities in China,
which was the national capital for over 1,000 years, and the starting
point of the Silk Road. Despite a lot of modern development Xi'an
remains a charming city. You'll have the evening to yourself.
Day 5
Place & Transport:
Xian
Today's Activities:
Terracotta Warriors, Xian City Wall, Great Mosque, Xi'an art ceramic/
furniture factory
Meals:
Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary:
After breakfast in the hotel, you will set off for one of today's
highlights - the incredible 2000 year-old Terra cotta warriors.
Each one is part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. Well
over 7000 figures were drawn up in full battle array in several
large pits. Many of the figures, including soldiers, archers,
horses and chariots, have been restored, and the repairs and excavations
continue at the site where you can see both repaired and broken
warriors in a truly impressive display. There is also an excellent
museum, including bronze chariots unearthed nearby, and a film
about the history and discovery of the tomb. From parking place
to the entrance, it will take you bout 15 minutes on foot, so
China Highlights serves you the golf car. Later, you will like
a half-hour's cycling along the Ancient City Wall. It is a major
landmark, and the best preserved, as well as the oldest and largest
city defense systems in China. The last stop we arrange today
is to visit the Grand Mosque which is one of the four grand Islamic
mosques in China and has a history of more than 1,200 years. The
mosque's architecture combines traditional Muslim and Chinese
styles.
Day 6
Place & Transport:
Xian
Today's Activities:
Shaanxi Historical Museum, Forest of Stone Steles Museum, Gao's
Courtyard(includes Shadow Play)
Meals:
Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary:
Spend the morning at one of the best museums in China, the Shaanxi
Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures
from many of the Dynasties, including some magnificent bronzes
and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display
before. In the afternoon, we step onto the Xi'an Stele Forest
Museum which has 900 years of history, holding a large collection
of the earliest stone steles of different periods, from the Han
Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. This evening we go to the Gao's Courtyard,
a famous house which has won the Prize of Cultural Heritage Protection
in Asian-pacific Area of UNESCO in 2002. The courtyard owner Gao
Yuesong was a high ranking official in Ming Dynasty 300 years
ago. His building is nice with interlinked courtyards and Xi'an
typical architectures. A shadow play performed by folk artists
awaits you at the end of the day.
Day 7
Place & Transport:
Xian to Chongqing to Yangtze, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities:
Cruise pier Transfer (Yangtze), Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian),
Airport to Cruise pier transfer (Chongqing), Board the ship from
5:00pm to 8:00pm and departs Chongqing at 10:00pm.(Dinner is not
included), Ciqikou Old Town, Panda Room in Chongqing Zoo, One
day tour in Chongqing
Meals:
Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary:
On arrival our guide will accompany you to have sightseeing in
Chongqing proper and the Panda Room in Chongqing Zoo. Here you
can see Giant pandas, Lesser pandas, Golden hair monkeys, South
China Tigers and some other national protected animals. In the
afternoon, you will be delighted by taking a walk to Ciqikou Old
Town where you can see local shops, old wooden houses, old pier,
tea houses, and local Sichuan street performance and so on. After
dinner you’ll be transferred to the pier to board your Yangtze
River cruise ship, ready for your cruise along the mighty Yangtze,
said to be the cradle of Chinese civilization.
Day 8
Place & Transport:
Yangtze
Today's Activities:
Cruise pier Transfer (Yangtze), Shore excursion to Fengdu Ghost
City (8:00-10:00am).
Meals:
Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner
Detailed Itinerary:
After spending the last night on the boat, we arrange a shore
excursion to Fengdu Ghost City this morning. Fengdu is where the
devil lives, according to Chinese legend. They say that spirits
go to heaven, and evil goes to Fengdu. The town is overlooked
by Ming Shan Hill, home of Tianzi, the King of the Dead. The whole
place has an eerie feel to it with deserted streets, tower blocks,
empty shops and banks. The only people here are those who make
a living from visiting cruise boats. The rest of the day you can
enjoy the beautiful scenery along the river.
Day 9
Place & Transport:
Yangtze
Today's Activities:
Cruise pier Transfer (Yangtze), Shore excursion to Shennong Stream(1:30pm-5:30pm).
Meals:
Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner
Detailed Itinerary:
This afternoon we will reach Shennong Stream, a tributary of Yangtze
River. Its fast-flowing, crystal clear water runs southwards through
deep gorges. The stream races past large and small karst caves,
flocks of swallows, sheer cliffs, deep gorges, waterfalls, three-colored
springs, rapids, the ancient plank path, a suspended coffin in
the cliff, groups of ancient tombs and marvelous karst formations.
About 4 hours should be needed here.
Day 10
Place & Transport:
Yangtze to Yichang to Shanghai, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities:
Cruise pier Transfer (Yichang), Airport Transfer (Yichang), Airport
to Hotel Transfer (Shanghai), Shore excursion to The Three Gorges
Dam Site. Arrive in Yichang at 1:00pm.
Meals:
Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary:
After an early breakfast the shore excursion to the Three Gorges
Dam site, the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken
by man. It has been a dream for several generations of Chinese
people. You can get access to the top of the dam and enjoy different
kinds of photo opportunities. After a lunch in Yichang our local
guide will meet you and escort you to the airport for your flight
to Shanghai, the biggest city in China. Its phenomenal mixture
of space-age buildings, gorgeous shops, and the remnants of the
old Concession areas allures many tourists from home and abroad.
Day 11
Place & Transport:
Shanghai
Today's Activities:
Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Market, Oriental Pearl
TV Tower, Jiangnan Silk Museum
Meals:
Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary:
We start the day by visiting the famous Oriental TV Tower (also
known as the Pearl Tower, for its distinctive shape). The second-highest
platform provides wonderful views over Shanghai and the Huang
Pu River, and those with a good head for heights can choose to
buy a ticket to continue on to the very top. Turning to next highlight,
the Jade Buddha Temple, you can watch the monks serving ceremony
in a side room if you're lucky. In the afternoon, we visit the
lovely old Yuyuan Garden, the most famous garden in Shanghai,
which is decorated by beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges
and rock formations. It is also a shopper's paradise for there
are many small shops carrying everything from furniture to porcelain.
Then we step onto Yu Market, which is a busy market today, specializing
in traditional arts and crafts. Outside, however, it still looks
like a temple. A saying goes like this: One can't boast that he
had been to Shanghai if he did not pay a visit to Chenghuang Temple.
We will stop for a while to give you time to browse the stalls.
Day 12
Place & Transport:
Depart Shanghai, Flight not included
Today's Activities:
Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai)
Meals:
Breakfast
Detailed Itinerary:
Your time is your own, until you are ready to be transferred to
the airport for your departure.
Note: If you choose to stay on in Shanghai for
a few extra days, or arrive a few days early in Beijing, please
let us know, and we'd be happy to extend your hotel bookings,
or arrange additional tours for you
Price (International Flights Not Included) :
Note: Our airline ticketing department will help you find low
fare international flights. We issue group airtickets and air
consolidator's low fare tickets for your travel. Please send us
an email for low
airfares.
| Dep. Date |
Return Date |
Single
Room |
Land Only |
| Mar 16,30 |
Mar 27, Apr 10 |
US$333 |
US$1626 |
| Apr 13, 27 |
Apr 24, May 8 |
US$394 |
US$1718 |
| May 11, 25 |
May 22, June 5 |
US$394 |
US$1718 |
June 8, 22
|
June 19, July 3 |
US$333 |
US$1626 |
| July 6, 20 |
July 17, 31 |
US$333 |
US$1626 |
| Aug 3, 17, 31 |
Aug 14,28 Spet 11 |
US$333 |
US$1626 |
| Sept 14, 28 |
Sept 25, Oct 10 |
US$394 |
US$1718 |
| Oct 12, 26 |
Oct 23, Nov 6 |
US$394 |
US$1718 |
| Nov 9 |
Nov 20 |
US$333 |
US$1626 |
Money Exchange:
Regarding currency exchange rates, we ask that you refer to
the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com
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Price includes:
Entrance Fees:
To scenic spots as listed in the itinerary.
Meals:
All meals as specified in the itinerary.
If the restaurant indicated is not available on the day, your
guide will arrange another restaurant from our list of approved
restaurants. Breakfast is usually a western style buffet. We endeavor
to ensure that a choice of western and Chinese breakfasts is supplied,
however there may be occasions when only a Chinese breakfast is
available in some remote locations.
Transfers:
Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing
in Beijing, Xian, Shanghai by shared coach with a driver and English-speaking
guide (as listed above). Your comfort is our priority!
Guide:
As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver
will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout
your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet
you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local
knowledge available.
Hotels:
Hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with twin
beds.
All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western
or Chinese breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private
facilities unless specified.
Yangtze River Cruises:
The price quoted for a Yangtze River Cruise includes all meals
onboard, and all land excursions including the smaller cruise
fee to Lesser Three Gorges or Shennong Stream. (Optional land
excursions are available for a few ships which will be specially
noted.) The price does not include any incidental charges, including
room service, mini bar, laundry, and drinks and bar charges, tipping,
etc.
The Pre-boarding Fee includes overnight accommodations on the
ship the night before departure and breakfast in the morning.
Transportation:
Beijing To Xian Transfer via: Flight, TBA (Our arrangements)
Xian To Chongqing Transfer via: Flight, TBA (Our arrangements)
Yichang To Shanghai Transfer via: Flight, TBA (Our arrangements)
Luggage Transfers:
Between airports and hotels.
Arrangements:
The tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication
charges.
Price does NOT include: International
Airfare or Train Tickets to enter or leave China.
Our air tickets department will help you book international flights
from CANADA/USA to CHINA roundtrip "Flights
Booking" We are a low fare specialist
China Entry Visa Fees.
Our Visa service department will help you apply China entry visa
Island
China Visa Center
Insurance
The insurance is AIG Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance.
Click here
to learn more about the insurance coverage and the sum insured.
Excess Baggage Charges.
Passengers holding an adult fare or half fare ticket are entitled
to two free baggages allowance of 23kg, for economy class. Total
weight of carryon baggage for each passenger may not exceed 5kg.
The size may not exceed 20x40x 55cm. More
Personal Expenses:
Expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax,
telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which
are not included in the tour itinerary.
Meals:
Any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary.
Single Room Supplement.
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