Archive for June, 2010

Ancient cultures and modern miracles in eight shorts days. The mysteries of The Great Wall, The Forbidden City and the Entombed Warriors are there to be discovered along side the amazing New China in Shanghai and Beijing. Take the 8 days of Essence of China 2010 to enjoy the relax China holiday.

Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in Beijing, Flight not included
Today’s Activities: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing)
Detailed Itinerary: You’ll be met on arrival in Beijing. On the way to your Hotel, your guide will explain tomorrow’s arrangements. Spend the rest of the day exploring the nearby streets, or resting and catching up on your jetlag. Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts – an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites, and a bustling modern metropolis. Moreover, Beijing has successfully hosted the 2008 Olympics.

Day 2

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today’s Activities: Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, Short Hutong Tour in Xicheng District, Baigongfang Pearl Market
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Hancang Hakka Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary: This exciting day starts by visiting Tian’an men Square, the biggest square in the world that lies in the center of the city. If you like, we can stop and let you have a walk on the square. Then you will have the privilege to experience ancient emperor’s daily life. We will visit the Forbidden City, from which the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed for over 500 years. It is the essence and a must for sightseeing in Beijing, the magnificent and solemn palaces arouse your imagination of the life of Chinese emperors. Afternoon you will take a rickshaw ride to Hutong to have a unique experience of living a common life in Beijing. Viewing the local flea market, appreciating the most typical architecture this region owns. You can also have a rest in the house of Hutong and talk to the family members to gain a true understanding of life in this region.

Day 3

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today’s Activities: Mutianyu Great Wall(with round way cable car), Temple of Heaven, Run-De Jade Garden
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at You Ren Ju Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast, our guide will accompany you to visit the Great Wall -Mutianyu Section which owns some unique characteristics among all the sections. Wonderful surrounded landscape, rarely seen structure formed by three connected watch towers, all these make it outstanding from the others. In the afternoon, we arrange a visit to the Temple of Heaven. Built in 1420A. D, it is the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would offer sacrifice to heaven and pray for good harvests.

Day 4

Place & Transport: Beijing to Xian, Flight No. TBA
Today’s Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Beijing), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Xian), Summer Palace, Beijing Olympic Green(outside tour of Bird’s Nest and National Aquatics Center)
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Xibei Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary: Today we will first visit the Summer Palace, which is equally famous as the Forbidden City. It is up to now the best preserved and the largest imperial gardens in China. You may regret it if you come to Beijing without visiting this grand imperial garden. Then we step onto Beijing Olympic Green to have a glimpse of Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. Later you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Xi’an, one of the most ancient cities in China, which was the national capital for over 1,000 years, and the starting point of the Silk Road. Despite a lot of modern development Xi’an remains a charming city. You’ll have the evening to yourself.

Day 5

Place & Transport: Xian
Today’s Activities: The Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Chongde Handmade Pottery Factory
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at A Wa Shan Zhai Restaurant(Qinling Branch)
Detailed Itinerary: After breakfast in the hotel, you will set off for one of today’s highlights – the incredible 2000 year-old Terra cotta warriors. Each one is part of the underground tomb of the Emperor Qin. Well over 7000 figures were drawn up in full battle array in several large pits. After lunch, we visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda where widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) stored his collection of classic Buddhist artifacts brought from India.

Day 6

Place & Transport: Xian to Shanghai, Flight No. TBA
Today’s Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Shanghai), Ancient City Wall, Shaanxi Provincial Museum
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Guohua Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary: In this morning, you will like a half-hour’s cycling along the Ancient City Wall. It is a major landmark, and the best preserved, as well as the oldest and largest city defense systems in China. If you like, you can make an option to experience a City Wall biking, but the extra fee is needed. And then, you will visit one of the best museums in China, the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many of the Dynasties, including some magnificent bronzes and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display before. Later you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Shanghai.

Yuyuan Garden

Day 7

Place & Transport: Shanghai
Today’s Activities: The Bund, Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Museum, Tianhou Silk Factory
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch at Taihu Chuan Cai Restaurant
Detailed Itinerary: We start the day by visiting the lovely old Yuyuan Garden, the most famous garden in Shanghai, which is decorated by beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes, bridges and rock formations. It is also a shopper’s paradise for there are many small shops carrying everything from furniture to porcelain. After have a visit to Jade Buddha Temple you will continue to your tour to Shanghai Museum. The galleries in this outstanding building display stunning collections of bronzes, sculptures, ceramics and porcelain, paintings, calligraphy, seals, jade, coins, furniture, ethnic artefacts from minority groups, temporary travelling exhibitions from places like the Guggenheim, and so much more . . . give yourself time to enjoy it. The last stop is the Bund. It was once the home of the foreign traders and major banks, with futuristic old European-style buildings, chic restaurants, top end shops and bars offer plenty to see and do – and by night it’s magic!

Day 8

Place & Transport: Depart Shanghai, Flight not included
Today’s Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai)
Meals: Breakfast
Detailed Itinerary: Your time is your own, until you are ready to be transferred to the airport for your departure.

Note: If you choose to stay on in Shanghai for a few extra days, or arrive a few days early in Beijing, please let us know, and we’d be happy to extend your hotel bookings, or arrange additional tours for you.

Want to book the tours, Click Essence of China Tour 2010 .