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Beijing to Shanghai Package |
Forbidden City, Beijing
Jiuzhaigou
Giant Panda Breeding Center
Shanghai
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China's Splendor: 14-day tour from Beijing to Shanghai
including Beijing, Xian, Chengdu,
Leshan, Chongqing, Yangtze River,
and Shanghai
Marvel at the giant carved Buddha at Leshan and stare down the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an.
Follow ancient footsteps along the Great Wall, wall the futuristic streets of Shanghai and cruise the Yangtze Rive to the Tree Gorges. Travel like an emperor as you encounter the treasures of China on this comfortable two-week journey. Travel days are well paced and domestic flights to remote attractions minimize travel time so you can maximize time exploring and domestic flights to remote attractions minimize travel time so you can maximize time exploring this region’s treasures yourself in the best of China.
Highlights:
This tour will take you through the three most famed cities of China: Beijing, China’s cultural and political center, Xian, China’s ancient capital, and Shanghai, China’s biggest and most cosmopolitan city
You will get to visit the best attractions in China, such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Warriors, and the Bund, among many others you will get to see
Youll experience the Yangtze River, Chinas longest river and home to the Three Gorges Dam, the worlds largest dam. You'll also get cute and cuddly with Pandas in Chengdu, which is the best place in the world in which to view Pandas.
Standard
Tour and Luxury Tour Packages Available.
B=breakfast;
L=lunch; D=dinner Departure:
Upon booking |
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TOUR ITINERARY |
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Tour
code:
P-BSH011 |
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Day 1 : Welcome
to Beijing (D)
Upon arrival at the Beijing airport, you will be me by your local English-speaking guide, and he/she will take you to your hotel to freshen up. After unpacking you will be treated to delectable dinner of Peking Duck, Beijing’s signature culinary dish. |
Day 2-4 : Beijing (3B, 3D)
Over the next three days you will visit the
Great Wall at Mutianyu, which is about 70km from
downtown Beijing, and is located in the district of
Huairou. As one of the best-preserved parts of the
Great Wall, the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall
used to serve as the northern barrier defending the
capital and the imperial tombs. First built in the
mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, Mutianyu
Great Wall is older than the Badaling section of the
Great Wall. We will have a picnic lunch on the wall.
Other sights will include Tiananmen Square. The
largest public square in the world, Tian'anmen
Square is seen as Chinas political center. After
walking across the square we will enter the
Forbidden City (known in Chinese as Gu Gong), the
largest surviving palace complex and the former home
of the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasty. The
Forbidden City is one of the greatest attractions in
the world. Built by the third Ming emperor between
1406-1422, the Forbidden City served as the official
residence to the Emperor of China until the last
emperor, Puyi, was forced to evacuate in 1924. The
Forbidden City is divided into two parts. The
southern section, or the Outer Court was where the
emperor exercised his supreme power over the nation.
The northern section, or the Inner Court was where
he lived with his royal family. Consisting of 980
buildings and with 8,707 bays of rooms, the
Forbidden City is the greatest example of classical
Chinese architecture anywhere in the world.
After exploring the Forbidden City we will conclude
the first day of your tour with a visit to the
Summer Palace. Having the largest royal park and
being well preserved, the Summer Palace is ranked
amongst the most noted and classical gardens of the
world. In 1998, UNESCO listed it as one of the World
Heritage Sites.
Youll also have the chance to visit Temple of
Heaven. This complex was visited by the Emperors of
the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of
prayer to Heaven for good harvest. The Temple of
Heaven park is best known for the Hall of Prayer for
Good Harvests, an iconic building famed for its
magnificent triple-gabled circular roof. You will
also have an opportunity to walk the same imperial
walkway that the same emperors walked hundreds of
years ago in their holy rites. You will also see
Beijings senior citizens using the park grounds for
everything from tai chi and ballroom dancing to
bullwhip practice!
After touring the
Temple of Heaven we will embark to the
Lhama Temple.
Other than the temples in Tibet this is the best
Buddhist temple in China. Work on the Lhama Temple
originally began in 1694 during the Qing dynasty. It
served as an official residence for court eunuchs.
It was then converted into the home of the Prince
Yong, a son of the Kangxi Emperor and himself the
future Yongzheng Emperor. It was converted into a
lamasery after his ascension to the throne in 1722.
Today the Lhama Temple still functions as a
monastery and temple of the Geluk School of Tibetan
Buddhism. You will see many active Tibetan monks and
Buddhists at the temple today. Walking through the
temple your senses will be enveloped by the incenses
and the chanting of the visiting monks and other
followers. The rear Pavilion of Ten Thousand
Happinesses features a 26m tall statue of the
Maitreya Buddha cared from a single piece of white
sandalwood. It is one of three artworks in the Lhama
Temple that were included in the Guinness Book of
World Records, and it is not to be missed on your
visit.
After a filling lunch we will conclude your tour
with us by going on a hutong tour of old Beijing.
You will go on this tour by rickshaw. Hutongs are
courtyard homes grouped together around narrow
alleys, and served as the lifeline and center of
everyday life in old Beijing. The hutongs were a
critical component in the development and evolution
of Beijing folklore and culture. While there are
still hutong houses in the city, they are quickly
disappearing due to the demands of a rapidly
modernizing Beijing, so see the hutongs while you
still can.
In addition to the sights, you will also be treated
to a performance of Chinese acrobatics.
You will then be taken to the train station, and you
will take an overnight sleeper (shared cabin of four
passengers inside) train to Xian, China's ancient
capital and home to
the Terracotta Warriors. |
Day 5 : Xian (B)
Today will consist of a full city tour of
Xian. Our first stop will be at the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda, a pagoda surrounded by a still functioning
Buddhist temple (named Da Cien Temple). The Big
Wild Goose Pagoda is one of the most famous Buddhist
pagodas in China. The Pagoda was built in the Tang
Dynasty (618-907) for the study of Buddhist
scriptures. Although it has been attacked by
centuries of weather, war and seismic activity,
which destroyed most of the original material of the
structure, a pagoda by this name and style still
exists on the site.
Youll also visit
Xian ancient City Wall, the best City Wall
preserved in China. We'll then drive an hour outside
the city to see Xians greatest attraction, and one
of the greatest sites in all of China, the
Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. The Terra
Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum is the result of
the most significant archeological excavations of
the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this site,
which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin
Shi Huang's Mausoleum. Upon ascending the throne at
the age of 13 (in 246 BC), Qin Shi Huang, later the
first Emperor of all China, had begun to work for
his mausoleum. It took 11 years to finish. It is
speculated that many buried treasures and
sacrificial objects had accompanied the emperor in
his after life. A group of peasants uncovered some
pottery while digging for a well nearby the royal
tomb in 1974. Life size terracotta figures of
warriors and horses arranged in battle formations
are the star features at the museum. They are
replicas of what the imperial guard should look like
in those days of pomp and vigor.
For dinner we will have traditional Xian fare and
after that, if time permits, well take you to a
Great Tang Dynasty Dance and Music Opera (optional).
Well transfer you to your hotel after that. |
Day 6-7 : Chengdu-Leshan (2B)
You will be taken to the Xian airport and from there
you will make the short flight to Chengdu, the
capital of Sichuan province. You will be met at the
airport by your travel guide and taken to your
hotel. Sichuan is home to the worlds cutest and
most beloved endangered animal, the Panda, and no
trip to Chengdu is complete without seeing these
national treasures. After an early morning start, we
will visit the Bifeng Gorge Panda Reserve. In the
May 12th 2008 the Wenchuan Earthquake dealt the
pandas a crushing blow and over fifty giant pandas
living in captivity became completely homeless. In
order to save these national treasures, the Wolong
National Natural Reserve has, since May 15th,
carried out an evacuation plan. Twenty-seven giant
pandas were transferred in batches to Chengdu,
Fuzhou and Beijing, and the rest were moved to
Bifeng Gorge Base of China Panda Protection and
Research Center, located in the northern suburbs of
Chengdu.
The pandas are assured of healthy growth in their
new home, and good news continually flows from
Bifeng Gorge Base. In the morning on July 6th, 2008,
the panda "Guo Guo" gave birth to the first twin
cubs in the base. Guo Guo, the great panda mother,
came to the base on June 24th when she was 119 days
pregnant. She was really strong and brave to have
these baby pandas after surviving the big
earthquake, overcoming the difficulties of bumping
and shaking on the long journey, and adjusting
herself to the new environment. The center is
divided into the giant panda breeding zone, baby
giant panda care zone, research center, bamboo woods
and office area.
We will also set out for the Leshan Buddha. The
largest representation of the Buddha in the world,
the statue is of Maitreya (a Bodhisattva usually
represented as a very stout monk with a broad smile
on his face and with his naked breast and paunch
exposed to view) in sitting posture. The statue
makes itself the most renowned scenic spot in Leshan
City. In December, 1996, the location of the Buddha
was included by UNESCO on the list of the World
Heritage sites. Begun in the year 713 in the Tang
Dynasty, and finished in the year 803, the statue
took people more than 90 years to carve. During
these years, thousands of workers had expended their
efforts and wisdom on the project. As the biggest
carved stone Buddha in the world, Leshan Giant
Buddha is featured in poetry, song and story. Our
visit to the Leshan Buddha will be complete with a
river cruise, giving you a glorious vantage point
(and photo op!) of which to view the Buddha. |
Day 8 : Chongqing(B)
Following breakfast in your hotel you will be taking
Chinas bullet train (First-class seat) to
Chongqing, one the world's fastest growing cities.
Serving as the departure point for your Yangtze
River cruise, you will also have the chance to visit Luohan Temple, an ancient Buddhist temple that is
still an active monastery. Youll board the cruise
in the afternoon to commence your Three Gorges tour.
Youll be checking in a single room with private
bathroom on a three-star ship. Meals are not
included on the boat as it is a tradition to give
customers their own freedom to choose what they want
to have on the boat. |
Day 9-10 : Yangtze River cruise (2B, 2L, 2D)
The Yangtze River is the longest river in China and the third longest in the world after the Amazon and Nile. The Yangtze River along with the Yellow River is renowned as the "Mother Rivers of China" as it has nourished China's long and splendid culture. The evidence is seen in the varied cultural heritage along the river. Taking a Yangtze cruise is a popular way to discover China. There is an old saying: "on a slow boat to China". Well, why not relax on a slow boat in China, on the beautiful Yangtze River. A Yangtze River Cruise will take you through the center of China, while giving you the opportunity to see some of the most spectacular scenery imaginable.
The cruise will conclude with the enormous Three Gorges Dam. Construction was begun in the 80's, and was completed in 2008. It backs up the Yangtze River for 550km, making it the world's largest dam. Due to the fact that the water rises to a level of 185m behind the dam, millions of people have had to be resettled, bridges moved and historical relicts secured. The energy production capabilities of the dam are estimated at 84.7 billion kilowatts, equivalent to 18 nuclear reactors. The three single stage locks guarantee that ship traffic is not delayed.
Youll finally arrive in Yichang City, the end of
the cruise. Youll be transferred to the airport and
take an afternoon or evening flight to Shanghai,
your final destination. Youll be met by your tour
guide in Shanghai and transferred to your hotel.
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Day 11-13 :
Shanghai (with Zhujiajiao excursion) (3B, D)
These three days will consist of a full city tour of
Shanghai, China's largest city and metropolis. You
will visit the Shanghai Museum, a large museum of
ancient Chinese art. The museum style and
presentation surrounds visitors with artifacts
demonstrating ancient wisdom and philosophy. The
museum is divided into eleven galleries and three
exhibition halls. The eleven Galleries cover most of
the major categories of Chinese art: Ancient Bronze,
Ancient Ceramics, Paintings, Calligraphy, Ancient
Sculpture, Ancient Jade, Coins, Ming and Qing
Furniture, Seals, and Minority Nationalities. The
museum is a wonderful primer on ancient Chinese
culture, and is a must-see when coming to Shanghai.
Nearby is Yuyuan Garden. Yuyuan Garden is a famed
classical garden, and even though it may be small,
it contains numerous pavilions, halls, rockeries,
ponds and cloisters, and all have unique
characteristics. There are six main scenic areas in
the garden: Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun
Hall, Huijing Hall, Yuhua Hall and the Inner Garden.
Each area features several scenic spots within its
borders.
We will take a time machine from old Shanghai into
the citys glittering present and future, which the
Jin Mao Tower is a prime example. Being the fourth
tallest building of the world and the second tallest
building in China, Jin Mao Tower is located in the
center of Lujiazui Finance and Trade Districts in
Pudong. The architect, Adrian D. Smith, of this
skyscraper ingeniously combined the elements of
traditional Chinese culture with the newest
architectural styles of the time, which makes Jin
Mao Tower one of the best-constructed buildings in
China. The towers observation decks give you an
almost birds eye view of the citys rapidly rising
skyline.
We'll walk down Nanjing Road, Shanghais premier
shopping street. Open-air bars, abstract sculptures,
and lingering sounds from street musicians enhance
evening strolls. A trackless sightseeing train
provides a comfortable tour of the pedestrian
street. Then well go to the most recognizable
landmark of Shanghai, the Bund. The Bund is a
waterfront embankment and has been regarded as the
symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. It affords
marvelous views across the river of the Pudong
district and its numerous towers. The most famous
and attractive sight which is at the west side of
the Bund are the 52 various buildings of different
architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque,
Romanesque, Classicism and the Renaissance.
We will also make time to visit the nearby town of
Zhujiajiao. Located in the suburbs of Shanghai,
Zhujiajiao occupies an area of over 47 square
kilometers (18 square miles), making it China's
largest water town. The town of Zhujiajiao is laid
out like a traditional Chinese fan, and is
surrounded by lakes and mountains making it one of
the most picturesque towns in China. The majority of
the buildings in Zhujiajiao date back to the Ming
and Qing Dynasties and are in a remarkable state of
preservation. The several large gardens that are
scattered around this ancient town are breathtaking. |
Day 14 : Shanghai-departure (B)
You will be driven to the Shanghai airport and fly to your next destination, ending your China tour. |
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