The Great Wall of China
China is a country rich in history and steeped in centuries of culture and learning. Beijing offers a brush with the past, whether it is the breathtaking Great Wall of China, the majestic Forbidden City, or the beautiful Imperial Summer Palace. At the same time you can feel the rush towards the future as the cities of Beijing and Shanghai embrace the 21st century. As one of the four ancient capitals and one of China’s oldest cities, Xi’an is renowned the world over for the splendid Terracotta Army discovered in 1974, and can make for a fascinating side-trip when visiting China.
Itinerary
| Day 1 | London – Beijing Depart London on a direct flight to Tokyo. |
| Day 2 | Beijing Upon arrival into Beijing, you will be transferred to your hotel where you will stay for the next 3 nights. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore Beijing. |
| Day 3 | Beijing (B, L) Enjoy a full-day join-in tour to the stunning Summer Palace, the seasonal retreat of the Qing Emperors, followed by the Forbidden City, once off limits to all but the Ming and Qing dynasty Emperors. |
| Day 4 | Beijing (B, L) A full-day join-in tour to the awe-inspiring Great Wall of China and the Tombs of the Ming Emperors. At the Great Wall, you can enjoy a memorable walk alonmg a section of one of mankind’s most incredible creations covering an astonishing 6,500km |
| Day 5 | Beijing - Xi’an (B) Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Xi’an. On arrival, transfer to your hotel where you will stay for the next 2 nights. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore this ancient city. |
| Day 6 | Xi’an (B, L) Enjoy a full-day join-in tour to see the magnificent Terracotta Warriors, the tomb of the first Emperor of the Qin Dynasty and the Banpo Neolithic Museum. Xi’an is the cradle of Chinese civilisation and retains many relics of its rich and colourful past. |
| Day 7 | Xi’an - Shanghai (B) Transfer to Xi’an airport for your flight to Shanghai. on arrival, transfer to your hotel where you will stay for the next 2 nights. |
| Day 8 | Shanghai (B, L) A full-day private city tour of Shanghai including Yu Garden, an oasis of peace in the heart of the bustling city, and the wonderful 19th-century Jade Buddha Temple. |
| Day 9 | Shanghai - Suzhou (B, L, D) After breakfast, take a short train journey to the beautiful canal town of Suzhou. During your visit, you will have the opportuinity to retrace the 2,500 years of history that the city has enjoyed. In the afternoon, visit the Garden of Humble Adminstration, the silk spinning factory and Tiger Hill. Stay in Suzhou for one night. |
| Day 10 | Suzhou - Shanghai (B, L) Take a 2-hour rickshaw tour of the city, stopping at the bustling local market and Suzhou Park. This afternoon, enjoy a cup of tea in the quiet Couple’s Retreat Garden, with the accompaniment of ping-tan (a local musical form). Afterwards, you will take a short cruise on the Grand Canal and a walk along Old Street. Transfer by train back to your hotel and stay overnight. |
| Day 11 | Shanghai - London (B) Private transfer to the airport for your direct flight to London, arriving the same day. |
Tour Prices for 2012
| Departure Date | Standard |
| 04 Jan - 18 Mar | £1,990 |
| 19 Mar - 31 Mar | £2,165 |
| 01 Apr - 08 Apr | £2,359 |
| 09 Apr - 21 Jul | £2,229 |
| 22 Jul - 21 Aug | £2,465 |
| 22 Aug - 08 Dec | £2,359 |
| 09 Dec - 23 Dec | £2,229 |
| Single Supplement from | £310 |
Departure Dates
| Daily |
The air holidays and flights shown are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 3227. ATOL Protection extends primarily to customers who book and pay in the United Kingdom.
