Your trip starts today with your arrival in Beijing. No activities are planned, so arrive early if you can, as there is plenty to see. There will be a pre-tour briefing with your tour leader late in the afternoon. Please note that your Tour Leader will collect the Local Payment during your group meeting so be sure to take the 300 US dollars to the meeting along with your travel insurance details. Please bring new USD notes/bills in large denominations. Please see the noticeboard in the hotel reception for details.
Beijing is abundant in cultural and historical sites. The vast Forbidden City, built nearly 600 years ago and off limits to citizens for almost all that time, is a truly amazing place. The size might surprise you (it is huge!), but what makes it fascinating is that every square metre is interesting, ranging from intricately carved walkways to colourful, painted ceilings. A visit to China is not complete without walking along the Great Wall. We will travel to Simatai Great Wall, a largely unrestored and, as such, more authentic section of the famous wall, not crowded with hordes of other tourists. Climbing up this incredible man-made engineer and surveying the spectacular surrounding countryside is an unforgettable experience. There is also ample free time in the itinerary, allowing you to make your own discoveries and explorations. Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace are two other fine examples of extraordinary workmanship and architecture. In the evening, you have the chance to enjoy a performance of the unique Beijing Opera or Kongfu Show (optional).
We leave Beijing on the overnight train in Day 4, travelling in the sleeper train to Shanghai. You can either purchase dinner on the train or buy some food prior to boarding. We stay in six-berth air-conditioned cabins that have an open and relaxed feel about them. A blanket, sheets and a pillow are provided, although some people may wish to bring their own inner sheet. The 11-hour trip is a great opportunity for our group to get to know each other and is a great way to mix with the locals and practise your Chinese-language skills.
Days 5-7 Shanghai
Shanghai is a vibrant, fast-moving city with a fantastic variety of markets and restaurants for eating out. The shopping area on Nanjing Road is situated nearby. We will enjoy free time in Shanghai, and your tour leader can show you how to find the way to the famous Yuyuan Gardens and Bazaar, a representative of private garden in south China and highlight of the city. We might have opportunities to try some wonderful food stalls as well. Acrobat here is recommended for your entertainment at night.
There is a full free day for further exploration of Shanghai. Keen photographers are rewarded by an early start to the day, as scores of locals practise Taichi along the waterfront at dawn. The old French Quarter is also a great place to wander around, and the Jade Buddha Temple and the impressive Shanghai Museum are both well worth a visit. The gleaming towers on the Pudong side reflect China’s march towards modernisation and the rapid rate of changes that are taking place.
On the evening of Day 7, we board another overnight train for our next destination – Xi’an.
Days 8-9 Xi'an
We arrive in Xi'an early in the morning. Xian topped the other ancient capital cities in China. Many wonderful places are on your exploration list. Food options are excellent here as well, ranging from delicious Muslim fare to great little dumplings in local restaurants. Widely known as the first capital of a united China in 221 BC, the city is the deep root of Chinese history. A half-day tour to the renowned Terracotta Warriors shows us to these unearthed pottery statues, considered one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th Century. Over 6,000 of them were individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costume, height, even facial expression. They are standing in battle formation, facing east in order to protect the tomb of China's first Emperor, the great Qin Shi Huang Di. These soldiers were accidentally discovered by local farmers in 1974. A free day can easily be spent wandering the narrow streets among the Muslim quarter where we find quaint shops, lively markets, groups of white-bearded men in skull caps sipping tea in dingy cafes. For those who are interested in history, please do not miss Shaanxi History Museum, which introduces you the total history of Chinese civilization. Other places you may visit include Bell Tower, Drum Tower, City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a famous Buddhist temple.
On day 9 we leave Xi'an mid-afternoon on an overnight train bound for the capital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu (approx 16 hours).
Days 10-12Chengdu-Emei Shan
Chengdu is the capital of south-west Sichuan Province. Sichuan is known for its hot, spicy dishes, considered by the Chinese as the best cuisine within China. After our overnight train journey, this afternoon is an opportunity to relax and an appropriate way of doing this is to simply sit on a bamboo chair at the teahouse in Renmin Park, sipping tea and watching the world go by. There is often an ear-picker with cotton buds wandering around, if you feel the need! A stroll to Wenshu Temple will take you past beggars, children, tourists, fortune-tellers and fireworks sellers. This is an active and noisy place of worship.
We depart Chengdu in the morning of Day 11 and visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base situated near the city. The giant panda is one of the world’s most endangered species and has become Chinese national treasures and an icon for conservation movements everywhere. It is still found in parts of the Sichuan province, but is very difficult to spot in the wild. After visiting this lovely park, we continue onto Emei Shan town where we will leave our main luggage and pack a day pack to last for 2 nights. After visiting this lovely park, we continue onto Emei Shan by bus (2 hours) and will base us at the foot of the mountain.
In the morning of Day 12 we wake and prepare ourselves for a leisurely hike up to the Golden summit of Mount Emei. In this 8 hour hike we avoid many of the tourists to pass through villages and amazing countryside as we make our way to the summit. After this hike we overnight on the summit to enjoy a spectacular sunset. On Day 13 we make our way down from the Golden summit to the car park where we catch a local bus to the industrial city of Chongqing (approx 8 hours), the gateway to the Yangtze River and starting point of our Yangtze River cruise.
Days 13-16 Chongqing-Yangtze River Cruise-Yichang
We travel by bus to Chongqing, where we board our boat to commence a cruise on one of the great rivers of the world. Before boarding, you may wish to purchase some small snacks to take with you on the boat. The Yangtze (also known locally as the Changjiang River) is, at 6,300 kilometres, the world’s third longest waterway. It rises deep in the heart of the province of Qinghai, to the north of Tibet, and flows relentlessly eastwards until it empties into the East China Sea near Shanghai. Effectively dividing the country into north and south, the river not only supplies the rural heart of China, but has also spawned many industries reliant upon its power. The Yangtze has also inspired poets, writers and travellers over the centuries. The “Sanxia”, as they are known in Chinese, stretch for 200 kilometres and vary from 100 metres to 300 metres in width.
Over the next two days, we start the cruise through the famous Three Gorges. With the construction of the Three Gorges hydroelectric project, life along this majestic river is changing at a rapid pace. The scenery is spectacular! We enjoy our cruise on a tourist-class boat between Chongqing and Yichang. This is a much more comfortable way to travel than on the local boats that ply the same route, and offers a fascinating insight into life along the river. We spend three nights on board and sleep in twin share cabins with private facilities in accommodation similar to a small hotel room. Bedding and sheets are provided, as are all meals throughout the cruise On Day 16we disembark from our riverboat and drive to Yichang, the gateway of Yangtze River, where we will drive to Wuhan to catch the overnight train to Guilin (approximately 13 hours).
Please note that all rooms on the Yangtze cruise are on a twin share basis. If you are not already sharing a room with someone from your group, you may be required to share with someone (of the same gender) from outside your group. This could be a member of another tour group or a local person.
Days 17-19 Yangshuo
We arrive in Guilin in the early morning and transfer by public bus to the small countryside town of Yangshuo (1.5 hrs). Yangshuo, a place nestled amongst the imposing limestone karst formations that have inspired poets and painters for centuries. This small town is a haven for back-packers and here we stay in a delightful local style hotel.
Day 18 we take a half-day bike ride through the surrounding countryside to gain an insight into rural life in South China and have a scrumptious lunch in a local restaurant at the foot of Moon Hill. It is also a wonderful area for exploring individually, as every turn in the road brings you to another picture-postcard location- this is why Yangshuo is the favorite with LPC travellers. A boat trip on the Li River to the surrounding town is an option to consider in your free time.
Day 19we bus to Guilin to the overnight train to Guangzhou.
Days20-21Hong Kong
Arriving in Guangzhou in the morning, we head to the ferry terminal and catch the hydrofoil to Hong Kong. There is just so much to see and do in Hong Kong. You can take a funicular ride up to Victoria Peak and enjoy magnificent views over the city, wander through the Stanley Market or just shop until you drop! On our last night we can get together for a group dinner or go out and enjoy some of the many bars and nightclubs around town. Every evening there is a spectacular Sound and Light Show on the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island - 8:00 to 8:20pm. Check with your hotel reception for details. Be warned - after Mainland China, you will not find Hong Kong a cheap city!
Our trip ends in Hong Kong on Day 21. Checkout time is usually around 12 Noon; however you are free to leave at any time in the morning. If you are a first-time visitor to Hong Kong, it is recommended that you extend your stay to further explore this exciting city. A journey up to the top of Victoria Peak on the famous Peak Tram is a good introduction to Hong Kong. Additional accommodation can be arranged on request. The hotel staff will be on hand to advise you how to get to the airport.
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