Tours

• Special
• China Group Tours 2010/11
• Indochina Tours 2010/11
• Local Packages 2010/11
• China Minibreaks 2010/11

China Experience (Tourcode: EJ)

A highly rewarding 11 nights, 12 days tour to Harbin,Beijing, Xi’an Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai, land price from NZ$3230

Day 01 Arrival Harbin

Arrival Harbin, which is the city bears “Ice World” as its main claim to fame. Upon arrival met and transfer back to hotel. Visit to the St. Sophia Church, which was built in 1907. Then head for the Central Avenue of Harbin, a place that is full of Russian style buildings. (L/D)

Day 02 Harbin

Morning tour to the famous Songhua River. Watch the local swimmers exercise, one of the features at the time of Harbin’s Ice & Snow Festival, then go to visit the Sun Island. You may also take your free time wandering around the riverbank or participate into local citizens amusement activities. Later after lunch, drive to visit the Jile Temple, one of the most famous Buddhism Temple in North East China or visit a Jewish Historical Museum. Dinnertime you will have the Russian Style Meal. (B/L/SD)

Day 03 Harbin/Beijing

After breakfast, fly back to Beijing. Tour the Tian’anmen Square, the biggest public square in the world. If permitted, we visit Mao’s mausoleum. After lunch, visit Forbidden City, the vast complex of palaces, which was home to successive Emperors for more than 500 years. Included is admission to the living quarters, museum and jewelry sections. Enjoy our traditional Beijing Duck banquet dinner. (B/L/SD)

Day 04 Beijing

Morning tour to the Great Wall, stretching almost 4,000 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the sands of Central Asia and befittingly crowned one of the ten wonders of the world. Along the way, you will stop at a jade carving factory where you can watch artisans at work. Continue to the Summer Palace, the largest and the best preserved of all imperial palace gardens, which boasts such delights as the famous Marble Boat and the ornately painted 'Long Corridor', and take a boat ride on its Lake Kunming if weather permit. After dinner, acrobatic show (B/L/D)

Day 05 Beijing

Morning, enjoy a pedi-cab tour of Hutong – the ‘old city’ neighbourhoods of narrow alleyways and courtyard gardens, experience local life on a family visit and kindergarten if opens. After our special lunch in a local family home, tour to the Temple of Heaven, the 500 year old Temple houses altars on which sacrifices and offerings were laid to the gods in a glorious setting of gardens, tress and sculptures. Visit a local market if time permit. Evening at leisure (B/L)

Day 06 Beijing/Xi’an

Morning, transfer to the airport for a flight to Xi’an. Upon arrival, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Have sumptuous dumpling dinner, and enjoy a traditional Tang Dynasty show after dinner. (B/DS)

Day 07 Xi’an

Morning tour to the greatest archaeological discovery of the century, more than 2,000 year-old Terracotta Warriors interred with the Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Included are the Circle Vision Movie and Bronze Chariot. Afternoon, we visit to the Great Mosque, a best-preserved Islamic mosque in China and focus for the 30,000 Chinese Muslims of Xi’an. (B/L/D)

Day 08 Xi’an/Hangzhou

After breakfast, free at leisure to explore this historical city. Take evening flight to Hangzhou. Upon arrival, transferred to your hotel. (B)

Day 09 Hangzhou-Suzhou

We will go to the West Lake Garden to see the Gold Fish (Hua Gang Park). Take a cruise on the West Lake, located west of the city and hemmed in by mountains on three sides, you will enjoy the fabled scenery at 'Broken Bridge', 'Three Pools mirroring the Moon'. Afterwards we will also visit a local tea plantation and taste the rich and fresh green tea as well as acquaint you with the ancient refining process of tea. If time permit, visit the Lingyin Temple, which has a history over 1000 years. Continue traveling to Suzhou by coach. (B/L/D)

Day 10 Suzhou-Shanghai

We visit to "Fishing-Net Master's Garden", this tiny garden is a typical building complex of ancient China, and Silk Spinning Factory, afterwards take a short cruise on the Canal. If time permit, we take a short visit to newly renovated Shan Tang Street. Take coach to Shanghai, the biggest commercial city in China. (B/L/D)

Day 11 Shanghai

Morning tour to the Bund, a popular promenade along the Huangpu River, where the old meets the modern in Shanghai. We may experience local life on the Bund to see early morning Tai Chi if you want to be an early bird. Then to the Old Town with its winding alleyways, lined with shops, teahouses and restaurants, and to the elegant and tranquil Yu Garden. Afternoon tour the Shanghai Xintiandi, which is a new tourist attraction in downtown Shanghai, featuring the city’s unique “Shikumen” houses and a maze of narrow alleys, which have been converted into specialist F & B, retail, entertainment and cultural facilities. Dinner will be on your own arrangement. (B/L)

Day 12 Shanghai/Departure

Before transferred to the airport for your flight back home, you are free to have the last chance for shopping or to explore this booming city on your own path. (B)

Tour Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions

• 4-star hotel accommodation or similar on twin shared basis
• All road transport by modern airconditioned vehicles from arrival until end of the tour in China
• Meals, sightseeing and entrance fees as specified in the itinerary
• English-Speaking local guides
• English-Speaking national guide(only for 10+ group size)
• Travel wallet and CTS Backpack

Exclusions

• New Zealand departure tax
• Chinese visa fee
• Personal travel insurance
• Compulsory Tipping see Page 64
• Tour extension
• Personal expenses