16 DAY CHINA DISCOVERY

Welcome to Beijing – Capital of China!
Today begins your spectacular tour through China! Upon arrival at Beijing Airport, you will be warmly greeted and escorted to your hotel to rest after your flight (you will most likely be arriving late in the evening).
Meals: In-flight meals
Accommodation: Ramada Beijing North Hotel 4* or similar

After breakfast, set out with your guide to discover the iconic imperial treasures of China’s massive capital, Beijing. Stand in Tiananmen Square, one of the largest public squares in the world.

After our tour, you may explore the city at your own pace or instead, you may wish to take part in an optional excursion to enhance your experience.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Ramada Beijing North Hotel 4* or similar

Remark: If you do not join our optional tour, you will be dropped off somewhere and informed when and where to pick up to go back to hotel. (Normally it will be 4 – 5 hours later). If you do not want to wait this long, you can hail a taxi to hotel. The taxi fee is paid on your own. 

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 and a bucket list destination. We will be touring the Juyongguan section, one of the three most famous passes along the Great Wall. Located 60km from downtown Beijing, it used be a stronghold that protected the northern access routes to the city. Here we’ll get a chance to climb a portion of this architectural marvel, which stretches an astonishing 21,000km. En route back to the city 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

After breakfast, you will begin our day at a Chinese herbal institute, where we will have the opportunity to learn about traditional Chinese medicine. Later you will pay a visit to the Temple of Heaven which is 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. You will have an interesting experience watching local people doing morning exercises, like dancing, walking, practicing tai chi or playing games, as you walk to the temple.

In the afternoon we will board a 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

This morning our day begins with a visit to The Brilliance of Lake Lihu, a branch of Lake Taihu. 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.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Lakeside Hotel Suzhou 4* or similar

The classical garden called the Lingering Garden is one of more than 60 in the city – it’s recognized as having the most UNESCO World Heritage gardens in the world.

After this we continue our journey to the Suzhou Silk Factory, which is said to be the largest silk manufacturer in the country. Here, we’ll discover the incredible methods that lay behind silk harvesting.

In the afternoon we 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, also 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 tea plantations 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, we’ll 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 Western influences from a bygone era, and is now called the ‘Wall Street of the East’. 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

Pick up and transfer to visit the incredible Wild Goose Pagoda. The temple was originally used to keep the Buddhist scripts which were carried by the great monk Yi Jing from the Indian area and over time it has become a holy place for pilgrims. In the evening, be fascinating by the optional Grand Tang Everbright City and feast on a yummy Dumpling Banquet (not included)
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Ramada by Wyndham Xi’an Chanba 4* or similar

Today you will explore Xi’an on the Terracotta Warriors day tour. View the enigmatic ranks of the Terracotta Warriors in the company of our experienced local guide. You may have the opportunity of meeting the man who discovered the Warriors and learn about the moment they were uncovered by talking to one of the farmers who stumbled upon them in 1974. Afterwards Visit the famous Moslem Street, where many delicious local snacks and souvenirs are available for purchase.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Ramada by Wyndham Xi’an Chanba 4* or similar

Fly to Yichang. Pick up and transfer to the pier to board the cruise. Yichang, the gateway to the Yangtze River, is the starting point of our Yangtze River Cruise, your home for the next four nights as you sail along the Yangtze River. Once you’ve settled into your room, join your fellow travelers in the main hall for the Capitan’s welcome speech and safety instruction.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Victoria Cruise 5* or similar

Today’s activities include a morning Tai Chi lesson and an included shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam Site. The Three Gorges Dam Site is one of the largest construction projects undertaken by mankind and is the biggest hydropower project in the world. You may also want to visit the Tribe of the Three Gorges (not included), the only large scenic spot that has not been influenced by the Three Gorged Dam project, which showcases the abundant Ba and Shu cultures. Later today, sail through Xiling Gorge, the longest (41 miles) and deepest of the Three Gorges. This evening attend the Captain’s Welcome Banquet and enjoy the evening entertainment with a Chinese dancing ball.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Victoria Cruise 5* or similar

Today you will enjoy shore excursion to Lesser Three Gorges – a shining pearl hidden in remote mountains. You will leave your cruise ship and board smaller vessels to sail through the narrower and breathtaking Lesser Three Gorges region, lined by sheer cliffs and mountains. Along the river you may see the ancient plank road and the Hanging Coffins. You may also want to visit the White Emperor City (not included), an ancient temple that is located atop Baidi Mountain on the northern bank of the Yangtze River in Fengjie County. You will then return to the ship and continue sailing into the 25-mile-long Wu Gorge, known for its quiet beauty, forest covered mountains, and cliffs so sheer that the sun barely penetrates the precipices. Then sail through Qutang Gorge, the shortest (5 miles), narrowest (500 feet), and most dramatic gorge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Victoria Cruise 5* or similar

Today you will join the included excursion to visit Xiaoguanshan Ancient Folk Culture Park, a noted site for the relocation and reconstruction of architectural relics after the water rose on the Yangtze as a result of the Three Gorges Dam Project, and scenic Mt. Shuanggui, a national forest park. Additional optional shore excursion to the Fengdu Ghost City (not included) to see why it’s regarded as the “City of Ghosts”. The temples built on Ming Mountain depict the punish instruments and demon paintings, demonstrating the Chinese people’s imagination of hell. Return to the ship and continue to pass through the mountains of Eastern Sichuan. Tonight enjoy the farewell dinner and pack your bags in preparation for disembarking tomorrow.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Victoria Cruise 5* or similar

This morning you will disembark the cruise in the city of Chongqing. You can explore this beautiful city at your own pace. Be sure to visit many landmarks of Chongqing including Hongyadong Folk Custom Scene Area, Ciqikou ancient town, Panda House and three Gorges Museum.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: On Plane

You arrive at your home today and we hope you enjoy your China trip with Asia Vacation Group.