Welcome to Beijing – The majestic capital of China!

Upon arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), you’ll be warmly greeted and transferred to your hotel for a well-deserved rest after your flight. Get ready to embark on a spectacular journey through China.

(please note that most flights arrive later in the evening).

Meals: In-flight meals
Accommodation: Ramada Beijing North Hotel 4* or similar

After a breakfast, explore the iconic imperial treasures of Beijing with your guide. Begin at Tiananmen Square, one of the largest public squares in the world.

Later, explore the city at your own pace or join an optional excursion to enhance your experience.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Ramada Beijing North Hotel 4* or similar

Note:
If you choose not to join an optional tour today, you will be dropped off at a designated location and informed about the pick-up time and place, typically 4-5 hours later. If you prefer not to wait, you can take a taxi back to the hotel at your own expense.

Today’s excursion is one of the most anticipated of our trip – a visit to the Great Wall of China. Often recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a staggering feat of engineering and a bucket list destination.

Explore the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall, renowned as one of the Wall’s three most famous passes. Situated just 60 kilometers from downtown Beijing, this historic stronghold once defended the northern approaches to the city. During your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to climb a segment of this architectural wonder, which extends an impressive 21,000 kilometers.

En route back to Beijing we’ll visit one of the largest jade exhibitions in China and learn all about China’s most precious and celebrated stone.

Upon returning to Beijing, the rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure or to participate in one of our optional excursions.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Ramada Beijing North Hotel 4* or similar

Begin your day with a visit to a Chinese herbal institute, where you have the opportunity to learn about traditional Chinese medicine. Later visit the Temple of Heaven, seen as the most holy of Beijing’s imperial temples. It has been described as “a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design”. Morning is the best time to visit it. Experience local life with morning exercises. 

In the afternoon board the bullet train to reach the city of Wuxi. China’s bullet train network is now the most expansive in the world and you’ll be rocketing towards Wuxi at speeds up to 300km/h. Upon arrival in Wuxi, you’ll be met by our local representative and escorted to your hotel where you may spend the rest of the day relaxing, exploring or spending time with newly made friends.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Park Hotel Wuxi 4* or similar

Visit The Brilliance of Lake Lihu, a beautiful park on the shores of Lake Taihu. Discover the rich history and enjoy its serene environment. The lake is well known for its gorgeous park and many interesting features. Locally, it is famous thanks to the work of numerous scholars, who have written that notable historical figures, such as Fan Li and Xi Shi, boated here. While here we’ll also visit a freshwater pearl farm to learn about pearl cultivation.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Lakeside Hotel Suzhou 4* or similar

Explore the Lingering Garden, one of Suzhou’s classical gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

After, continue to the Suzhou Silk Factory, one of the largest silk manufacturers in the country. Discover the incredible methods that lay behind silk harvesting.

This afternoon continue on to Hangzhou, once described by Marco Polo as “the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world”.

Upon arrival in Hangzhou you’ll have the evening free to spend at your leisure: relax or take up our optional excursions, enjoying a performance.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Merchant Marco Garden Hotel Hangzhou 4* or similar

The city of Hangzhou, known as ‘Paradise on Earth’, has been immortalised by countless poets and artists. The most renowned feature here is the West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

After our visit to the West Lake, we’ll continue on to a tea plantation to taste Dragon Well tea, otherwise known as Longjing – a much sought-after local green tea leaf. Green tea is said to be great for health and wellbeing, packed with antioxidants, and today you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about China’s tea culture.

Following lunch, we’ll drive to Shanghai, on China’s central coast. This evening, we’ll have the opportunity to get a glimpse of Shanghai’s dazzling skyline by joining the optional Huangpu River Cruise ride.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Novotel Shanghai Qingpu Excellence 4* or similar

Enjoy a full day in Shanghai – a city of some 26 million people and an important global financial hub.

After breakfast, travel to the Bund, a famous waterfront area in Shanghai that’s lined with colonial architecture of European design. The Bund is perhaps the best representation of a Western influence of a bygone era.

Following our tour here, the rest of the day is yours to spend as you please – relax or enjoy one of our optional tours and activities to help enhance your experience.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Novotel Shanghai Qingpu Excellence 4* or similar

Enjoy some free time in the morning before transferring to the airport for your next flight to Tokyo, Japan. 

Konichiwa! Welcome to Tokyo – Japan!

On arrival, you will be met by a local representative the arrivals hall and transferred to your accommodation. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sunshine City Prince Hotel 3* or similar

Today, we’ll travel to Nara, renowned for its historic temples and free-roaming deer. Our first stop is Tōdai-ji (Great Eastern Temple), one of Japan’s most iconic temples. This grand structure houses one of Japan’s largest bronze Buddha statues, known as Daibutsu. After visiting the temple, we’ll take a leisurely stroll through Nara Park, where you can encounter hundreds of friendly sika deer roaming freely.

Following our time in Nara, we’ll head to Osaka. There, you’ll embark on a walking tour of the lively Dōtonbori area. This bustling district, running alongside the Dōtonbori Canal, is famous for its vibrant shopping scene, delicious street food, lively bars, and entertainment options. As evening falls, the area lights up with a dazzling array of colorful neon signs and mechanized displays, including the iconic Glico Man and Kani Doraku crab signs. After the tour, you’ll have the evening free to enjoy Osaka at your leisure.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Inn & Suites Shin Osaka 3* or similar

After breakfast, we will leave Osaka and head to Shizuoka. En route, we’ll stop at the Ninja Museum of Igaryu, where you can explore a ninja trick house, browse the museum exhibits, and, if time allows and at your own expense, enjoy a ninja show.

Next, we’ll visit Nagoya Castle, a historic 17th-century landmark and one of the most iconic structures in Nagoya. Following our tour of the castle, we’ll continue our journey to Shizuoka. Once there, you’ll have the evening free to relax and explore at your own pace.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Associa Shizuoka 4* or similar

After breakfast, we’ll head back to Tokyo for a tour of this vibrant city. Our first stop is the historic Asakusa neighborhood, a refreshing contrast to Tokyo’s fast pace. Here, you’ll visit the ancient Sensō-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest and most significant Buddhist temple, dating back to the 7th century. Be prepared for crowds as you admire the grand Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) with its impressive red lantern.

We’ll stroll along Nakamise, a lively shopping street that connects the temple’s entrance to its main hall. This street is bustling with food stalls and souvenir shops offering a range of traditional Japanese crafts and treats, perfect for finding unique souvenirs.

Next, we’ll visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building for breathtaking panoramic views of the city. Afterward, we’ll check in to our hotel, and you’ll have the evening free to explore or relax as you wish.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sunshine City Prince Hotel 3* or Similar

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. You will have free time to explore or relax until it’s time for your included transfer to the airport.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: in-flight

Please note: If purchasing the land only option, please be advised airport transfers will not be included and you will need to make your own way to the airport.

Welcome home. We hope you have enjoyed your journey through Japan with AVG Travels.