Day 2. Sunday April 20.
Beijing
You land in
Hong Kong
early the following morning with a connection on to
Beijing
and a late morning arrival at your hotel. The afternoon is free to relax before enjoying a special welcome dinner to the political, cultural and gastronomic capital of
China.
Accommodation for four nights at the Wangfujing Grand Hotel.
Day 3. Monday April 21st
A full day sightseeing including Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden city, a vast complex of Palaces, home to successive Emporers and off limits to anyone else for 500 years. After lunch a walk around the
Temple
of
Heaven
where offerings were laid to the Gods in an appropriately glorious setting of gardens, blossoming trees and sculptures.
A traditional Beijing Duck banquet to round off the day.
Day 4. Tuesday April 22.
Beijing
Recently accorded the status of an official wonder of the world by popular vote, you’ll take a morning stroll along a small stretch of the 4000 mile Great Wall. Lunch is in a nearby commune, itself a private collection of contemporary architecture designed by 12 Asian architects. The afternoon is spent in the
Summer
Palace
, the most expansive and beautifully preserved of all the Imperial gardens before visiting Beijing Zoo to see the Pandas. Dine at a local restaurant specialising in Dai minority food then witness a spectacular Acrobatic show following their own energetic 2000 year old traditions.
Day 5. Wednesday April 23
Beijing
- Yichang
A morning Pedi-cab tour of Hutong revealing highlights of the old city neighbourhoods with their narrow alleyways and courtyard gardens. Stop to see
Prince
Gongs
Palace
and the
Drum
Tower
before lunching with a local family to sample some fine Hutong home cooking.
This afternoon we take a two hour flight to Yichang for dinner in a local restaurant before boarding the Victoria Cruise Line’s luxuriously appointed three year old ship, the ‘Anna Katarina’ for the four night Yangze river cruise.
Day 6. Thursday April 24.
Yangze River
Cruise
Breakfast lunch and dinner while cruising upstream to see the Three Gorges Dam and pass through the amazing Xiling gorge.
Day 7. Friday April 25.
Yangze River
Cruise
Morning excursions ashore to explore the area around the Three Gorges and the Daning river. Enjoy a leisurely lunch as you cruise through the Wu Gorge then the picturesque Qutang Gorge in the afternoon.
Day 8. Saturday April 26.
Yangze River
Cruise
A morning leg stretcher to see the Wanxian or Shibaozhai Pagoda before continuing to the final destination of the cruise,
Chongqing
.
Day 9. Sunday April 27.
Chongqing
- Xian
After breakfast transfer to
Chongqing
airport for the one hour flight to Xian.
Time to relax over lunch before an afternoon visit the
Old
City
that was the fabled beginning and end of the
Silk Road
. Then on to the Great Mosque, a unique blend of Chinese and Islamic architecture and gardens. After dinner at a local restaurant, a traditional Tang Dynasty show before retiring to the
Howard
Johnson
Ginwa
Plaza
for the night.(your accommodation for 2 nights).
Day 10. Monday April 28. Xian
Time to see for yourself the greatest archaeological discovery of the last century. In 1974 the army of thousands of unique terracotta warriors was unearthed, still standing guard over the tomb of
China's
first emperor after 2000 years. After lunch a visit to the Big Goose Pagoda and then on to see the treasures of this region that was the political heart of
China
for its first millennia at the
Shaanxi
History
Museum.
Day 11. Tuesday April 29. Xian –
Guilin
– Yangshuo
Transfer to the airport after breakfast for the one hour forty five minute flight from Xian to the scenic city of
Guilin
celebrated by painters and poets. A highlight of the sightseeing is a visit to the famed limestone Reed Flute caves complete with illuminated stalactites and then Elephant Trunk Hill before transferring to Yangshuo. Dinner this evening at your hotel, the Paradesa Resort where you’ll be staying for two nights.
Day 12. Wednesday April 30. Yangshuo
A daytrip on the river Li provides a calm interlude with time to inhale the breathtaking scenery while meandering past timeless riverside villages. Drift past massive limestone peaks and see fisherman on bamboo rafts and grazing water buffalo. Local retail therapy at Yangshuo’s local market before this evening’s dinner at a local restaurant and a Yinxiang Luisanjie show.
Day 13. Thursday May 01. Yangshuo –
Guilin
–
Hangzhou
Some leisure time this morning to explore the picturesque Hangshao before returning to
Guilin
in time for lunch. In the late afternoon we take the one hour thirty minute flight to
Hangzhou.
Accommodation for two nights at the Zhejiang Bin Guan Hotel.
Day 14. Friday May 02.
Hangzhou
This morning visit the
West Lake
featuring fabled scenery, ‘
Broken
Bridge
’, ‘Autumn moon over the
Calm
Lake
’ and ‘ Three pools mirroring the moon’. Visit the
Lingyin
Temple
which is among the 10 most famous Buddhist Temples in
China
which has a history of over a thousand years.
Hangzhou
is also famous for Longjing Green Tea which will be tasted on a visit to a tea plantation to see the ancient refining process and sample the outcome.
Day 15. Saturday May 03.
Hangzhou
–
Suzhou
After breakfast visit the Six Harmony Pagoda and the
Guozhuang
Garden
before departing by coach for the drive to
Suzhou.
Known as the
Venice
of the South,
Suzhou
is a small town famous for its classic gardens and you’ll be staying here one night at the Bamboo Grove Hotel.
Day 16. Sunday May 04.
Suzhou
–
Shanghai
Today take in the sights of
Suzhou
including a leisurely visit to the
Lingering
Garden
and a look around a Silk spinning factory. A view from the water with a short boat ride on the
Grand Canal
dug 1000 years ago during the Sui Dynasty. Late afternoon continue by coach to
Shanghai
where you’ll be saying for two nights at the Jin Jiang Hotel.
Day 17. Monday May 05.
Shanghai
This morning you will visit the Bund, a popular promenade along the
Huangpu
River
. Continue to the Old town with its winding alleys lined with shops, tea houses and restaurants. In the afternoon tour the Shanghai Xintiandi featuring the city’s unique “Shikumen” houses and a maze of narrow alley housing retail entertainment and cultural facilities.
This evening enjoy a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 19. Tuesday May 06. Departure
After breakfast there is time for some last minute shopping in
Shanghai
before transferring to the airport for your return flight via
Hong Kong
to
Auckland.
Day 20. Wednesday May 07.
Auckland
Early morning arrival in
Auckland
and the end of your itinerary.
BOOKING INFORMATION
Prices: $7,495.00 per person, twin share from
Auckland
;
$950.00 Single Room Supplement
All prices are quoted in
New Zealand
dollars with a rate of exchange in effect on
the 10th of August 2007
and are subject to currency fluctuations. The costs are also based on a minimum of 25 people traveling together. The program is based on current airfares which are subject to change without notice. Any increases will be passed on to participants.
For more information, take a look at:
www.wangfujinghotel.com
www.laosheteahouse.com
www.victoriacruises.com - Victoria Katarina
www.paradiseyangshuo.com
www.zhejianghotel.com
www.b-ghotel.com
