China Experience

The perfect introduction to China covering the most famous sights in three of China’s most interesting cities, including Beijing, the Terracotta Warriors and historic Shanghai. A less demanding itinerary than the longer tours.

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FEATURING

• Beijing (3nts) - Tiananmen Square. Forbidden City. Great Wall. Summer Palace
• Xian (2nts) - Terracotta Warriors
• Shanghai (2nts) - Nanjing Road. Temple of the Jade Buddha. The Bund

Full Itinerary

Day 1 - Heathrow/Beijing
Non-stop overnight flight on British Airways.

Day 2 - Beijing
Upon arrival at Beijing airport, you will be transferred to the Novotel Xinqiao, your hotel for the next 3 nights. After check-in, you will have some time at your own leisure, before departing the hotel for a welcome dinner in a local restaurant. (D)

Day 3 - Beijing
After breakfast in the hotel, depart for a full day sightseeing, including a walk through Tiananmen Square, one of the largest squares in the world, where you can see the Great Hall of the People and other historical monuments. You will then spend the rest of the morning in the Forbidden City, located directly behind the Tiananmen tower gate, and where the Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors and empresses lived and ruled from 1420 to 1924. After lunch, you will visit the Temple of Heaven, where the Emperors worshipped and prayed during the Ming and Qing Dynasties for a good harvest. Return to your hotel for a short rest before departing for dinner and the Peking Opera. (B,L,D)

Day 4 - Beijing
After breakfast in your hotel, depart for a full day of sightseeing including the Great Wall at Badaling, which lies 45 1miles northwest of Beijing. This provides a good opportunity to see the countryside surrounding Beijing. A stop at a Jade workshop is included. In the morning you will walk along the beautiful Sacred Way guarded by stone statues of the emperors’ officers and officials and stone animals, dating from the 15th century. After lunch, there will be a 20-minute drive to the Great Wall at Badaling. Approximately two hours will be spent at the Great Wall, along which you will be able to walk and climb or travel by cable car (optional, price not included). Peking duck dinner in a local restaurant (B,L,D)

Day 5 - Beijing / Xian
After breakfast and check-out, depart the hotel for the Summer Palace. After lunch, you will be transferred to Beijing airport for your flight to Xian (ticketed locally). Upon arrival in Xian you will be transferred to the Royal Xian Hotel for 2 nights. (B,L,D)

Day 6 - Xian
After breakfast in the hotel, a full day of sightseeing will start with a one-hour drive to the Terracotta Warrior Museum in the suburbs of Xian-Lintong. The visit to the Museum usually begins with a presentation film explaining the period of history during which the Terracotta Warriors were constructed. A visit of about two hours will be spent studying the thousands of Terracotta Warriors and their chariots. After lunch, visit the Wild Goose Pagoda and the City Wall. Dinner followed by the Tang Dynasty show in a local theatre. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - Xian / Shanghai
After breakfast in the hotel, your morning can be spent at leisure. After lunch, you will depart for the airport for your flight to Shanghai (ticketed locally), the largest city in China. Upon arrival in Shanghai you will be transferred to the Langsheng Hotel or New Century Hotel for 2 nights. (B,L,D)

Day 8 - Shanghai
After breakfast in the hotel, a full day sightseeing starts with a visit to the Yu Garden, with typical pagodas and classic architecture from the Qing Dynasty and, after lunch, the Jade Buddha Temple, a functional Buddhist temple. The rest of your time will be spent in Nanjing Road and the famous Bund. (B,L,D)

Day 9 - Shanghai / Heathrow
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Shanghai Airport for your British Airways flight to Heathrow, arriving same day.

Supplements: Single supplements available on request

What's Included:
English-speaking local guide • All entrance fees as appropriate • Air-conditioned transportation • Twin or double bed & private bathroom • Meals included as detailed: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D), No Meals (RO). Breakfast is usually a Western-style buffet in your hotel. Most other meals are taken in local restaurants.

Please Note:
Local conditions can and do change, sometimes at short notice and it is possible that we may be advised to change the programme or runnings of any excursions or tour, including accommodation, sometimes without prior notification.
Alternative but similar hotels may be used at certain times of the year. Local domestic airport taxes are not included and are payable locally (approx £10 each segment).