ENCHANTING CHINA

DAYS FROM 17

$6,180 PER PERSON

INCLUSIVE FROM SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, BRISBANE, ADELAIDE & PERTH

MOST MEALS

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 Walk on the Great Wall

 Visit pandas in Chengdu

 See Shanghai like a local

 Cruise the Yangtze River

 Explore the Temple of Heaven

 Face the Terracotta Warriors

PRICE INCLUDES

• 15 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 4 dinners

• International flights and current taxes

• Domestic transportation

• 4 star accommodation

• Touring with guides and entrance fees

• Visa fees for Australian passport holders

Itinerary

DAY 1: FLY TO BEIJING

Fly to Beijing, China’s historic capital. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

DAY 2: IMPERIAL BEIJING

DAY 5: TEMPLE OF HEAVEN

Try local snacks in Xian

EXPERIENCES YOU’LL LOVE

From hand-stretched noodles to barbecued meat on skewers, Xian’s Muslim Quarter is a street food heaven! As you explore these atmospheric streets and soak up the history, why not grab a delicious snack or two, to keep your energy up?

Spend an evening exploring China’s long and fascinating history in a breathtaking show of martial arts, acrobatics and stunning special effects – the fantastic ERA Show at Shanghai’s Circus World.

At the heart of a huge tea-producing region and once a stop on the Tea Horse Road, drinking tea is an essential element of life in Chengdu. Visit a traditional tea house to experience the history, customs and the perfect brew.

Begin today in Beijing’s symbolic heart with a stroll across Tiananmen Square into the sprawling magnificence of the Forbidden City where you will find a complex full of imperial treasures. Visit Yandaixiejie, where you will have some free time to wander the hutongs. These narrow alleys offer an authentic glimpse of the old Beijing before the emergence of high-rise buildings and modern commerce. Enjoy lunch in the hutongs and then spend the evening at leisure exploring the vibrant Houhai district. (B,L)

DAY 3: HUANGHUACHENG GREAT WALL AND WANGFUJING

This morning, visit Huanghuacheng, a particularly scenic section of the Great Wall reached by boat that boasts spectacular views from the top. Spend the afternoon at leisure exploring colourful Wangfujing street which is one of the largest and best-known shopping streets in Beijing. This evening, enjoy an optional Peking duck dinner. (B,L)

DAY 4: SUMMER PALACE

Explore the beautifully designed grounds of the Summer Palace including the Long Corridor and the Marble Boat. Spend time strolling along the lake and admire the Chinese architecture, followed by a walk up Longevity Hill to enjoy the panoramic views. Also make a stop at the Olympic Park for a photo opportunity. (B)

Begin today soaking up the harmonious ambience of the Temple of Heaven, an orderly oasis in a bustling urban landscape. Here, mingle with the locals and watch or participate as they begin their day practising tai chi, dancing or playing cards. Later, fly to the former capital city, ancient Xian. (B,L)

DAY 6: TERRACOTTA WARRIORS

Housed in three immense hangars, the ranks of the Terracotta Army stand sentinel in their subterranean necropolis, constructed to protect China’s first emperor. Gaze over the ranks of warriors and horses, while you are introduced to these life-like soldiers’ fascinating story. Take a walking tour of the Muslim Quarter and maybe sample some of the freshly cooked snacks. Enjoy the evening at leisure with a cold beer in Defu Lane or take an optional tour of Xian by night. (B,L)

DAY 7: CYCLE THE WALL (OPTIONAL)

Today is a day at leisure to explore Xian. There is the option to enjoy a gentle cycle ride that will take you the nine miles around Xian’s beautifully preserved city wall for a fantastic overview of the city. This evening, enjoy an optional Tang Dynasty show. (B)

DAY 8: CHENGDU LIKE A LOCAL

Take the bullet train to Chengdu and walk around People’s Park, a hive of activity. See beautiful golden koi, locals dancing and practising tai chi, visit a local teahouse, and most interesting of all spend time in Matchmaker’s Corner, where parents search for suitors for their children. This evening, enjoy an optional Sichuan hot pot dinner and a ‘Changing Faces’ show. (B,L)

DAY 9: PINGLE ANCIENT TOWN (OPTIONAL)

Today is a day at leisure to relax in Chengdu or take the option of visiting the old town of Pingle. Dating back to the Han Dynasty, Pingle was a stopping point on the Tea Horse Road. Take time to walk through its maze of teahouselined streets before seeing the bamboo forest from above on the Jinji Rope Bridge. (B)

DAY 10: GIANT PANDAS

Spend the morning visiting the famous pandas at Chengdu’s Panda Conservation Centre. Here you can observe these gorgeous creatures lounging, playing and chomping through piles of bamboo in surroundings that mirror their natural habitat. Drive to Chongqing and board your Yangtze cruise vessel, home for the next three nights. (B,D)

DAYS 11-12: YANGTZE CRUISE

As you cruise downstream, nature takes over, revealing some of the world’s most dramatic scenery including the Three Gorges themselves. A voyage along China’s riverine treasure is a chance to relax and enjoy a slower pace, whilst absorbing one breathtaking panorama after another. Over the next two days, take a side trip to the attractive Shennong or Goddess Stream and enjoy various shore excursions. (B,L,D)

DAY 13: THREE GORGES DAM

Disembark your cruise vessel and visit the Three Gorges Dam. A man-made marvel, the project showcases a massive feat of engineering. Next, travel to Yichang and then fly to the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai, also known as the ‘Paris of the East’. (B,L)

DAY 14: SHANGHAINESE SHANGHAI

Wake up to the buzz of Shanghai and take a breakfast walking tour between shimmering skyscrapers and traditional streets. Walk through the city’s most fascinating districts, marvelling at monuments and rickety old buildings before enjoying breakfast as the locals do – sample pancakes, fried bread sticks and tofu. Visit the classical Yu Garden, the old town and a silk factory. Later, take an evening stroll along the Bund and cruise down the Huangpu River, as you are serenaded by the neon lights of Pudong. (B)

DAY 15: ZHUJIAJIAO (OPTIONAL)

Enjoy a day at leisure in Shanghai and explore this action-packed city. Alternatively, take an optional tour to Zhujiajiao, one of Shanghai’s sleepy water towns built on an old canal system once used to transport goods all over imperial China. The town’s narrow alleyways exude old-world charm, whilst the waterways are lined with ancient buildings and crossed by stone bridges. Tonight, enjoy the ERA show and a farewell dinner of authentic Shanghainese cuisine. (B,D)

DAYS 16-17: FLY SHANGHAI TO AUSTRALIA

Fly to Australia, arriving home the same or following day. (B)

AVAILABLE AS YOUR OWN PRIVATE TOUR

Enjoy flexibility, your own guide and vehicle.

IS THIS TOUR FOR YOU?

Slow down the pace and enjoy China with several leisure days and a gentle cruise on the Yangtze. See the classic sights and take time to relax. But if you want to keep busy, there are optional activities available.

PRICES & DEPARTURES

Prices are per person, twin share

*Departure coincides with Golden Week.

Flight and supplement information

• Based on departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth

• Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available upon request

• Land only (Beijing - Shanghai) 16 days from $5,180 per person, twin share

• Single supplement from $1,580

Important note

Prices include airline fuel surcharge and taxes. Correct as of 01 September 2022, subject to change. Depending on airline schedules, you may depart and/or arrive on Day 2. Extra nights’ accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.

Customary tipping amount of approximately RMB870pp (AU$193pp) is paid locally in China.

Call for our 2025 pricing and departures