DAY 1
Depart on your scheduled flight to Beijing.
DAY 2
Afternoon arrival in Beijing, where you will be met by your local guide. Transfer to your hotel for a four night stay. Take the remainder of the day to explore the area surrounding your hotel. Tonight, dinner is included.
DAY 3
Beijing is an extraordinary city. Ancient temples and palaces, with golden curved roofs and exquisite marble and jade, stand proudly beside the vast 20th century civic buildings created by Chairman Mao and his people. The most modern architecture can be seen with the iconic Olympic buildings. These include the National Aquatics Centre, better known as the Water Cube and the National Stadium, better known as the Bird’s Nest.
Daily life in Beijing is a truly spellbinding sight to the first time visitor. It is a city of millions of bicycles, bustling street markets and food stalls, horses and carts, crowded buses and, above all, a warm, dignified and friendly people, eager to welcome their visitors. Today we include a visit to the heart of Beijing – Tian an Men Square. It’s the largest public square in the world, bordered by the Qianmen Gate, the Great Hall of the People and the Gate of Heavenly Peace.
Your tour will proceed through the gate, which forms the entrance to the incredible Forbidden City, to marvel at the magnificent buildings that house the Imperial Palace from which China was ruled by the imperial dynasties for hundreds of years. During your guided tour you will see magnificent collections of Chinese bronzes, porcelain, paintings, jade and other treasures. Lunch is included today.
DAY 4
This morning we include a visit to the Great Wall. At 3,800 miles long and at least 2,600 years old, the Great Wall winds like an immense dragon through the hills of northern China and passes within 40 miles of Beijing at Badaling, where it is wide enough to allow five horsemen to ride abreast. Here you will have plenty of time to walk along the historic ramparts and marvel at its size and grandeur.
Lunch is followed by a visit to the remarkable Ming Tombs where thirteen emperors are buried. Lunch is included today. After lunch you will visit the strikingly beautiful Temple of Heaven. This ornate structure, made entirely of wood, was built in 1420 and is still used as a hall of prayer for good harvests. Lunch is included today.
DAY 5
Optional morning visit to the magnificent, 800-year-old Summer Palace, the largest and best preserved of all imperial palace gardens. Here you can admire the famous Marble Boat, the ornately painted ‘long corridor’, and simply gaze in awe at the traditional Chinese landscape surrounding the various towers, gardens and pavilions.
This afternoon you are free to explore at leisure. Why not visit the Wangfujing shopping district or the fascinating Hutong district?
DAY 6
This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. On arrival, transfer to your hotel for a four night stay. Lunch is included today.
DAY 7
Shanghai is a vibrant and exciting city. Our included sightseeing programme offers the best of Shanghai. Highlights include the thronging shopping thoroughfare of Nanjing Road, the traditional Old Town, with its ancient Wu Xing Ting Teahouse, and the Yu Yuan Gardens, a classic Chinese garden.
You will also visit the beautiful Jade Buddha Temple and have time to stroll along The Bund, the city’s famous riverside boulevard. Lunch is included today. This evening there is an included visit to an Acrobatic Show.
DAYS 8 & 9
Two free days to explore Shanghai. You can also take the optional excursion to Suzhou by train. This beautiful city is famous for its landscaped gardens, narrow canals and traditional Chinese architecture.
DAY 10
Depart for the airport on your return flight to the UK via Beijing. As you are flying westwards, arrival will be later the same day.