China Discovery - Overland Trip
2 weeks: Hong Kong to Beijing (IMT-AACD)
Intro
This trip has just about everything that you could wish for from a tour in China. Stay at the guesthouse of a delightful Zhuang minority family, cycle around beautiful Yangshuo, relax on a Yangtse cruise, marvel at the 2000 year old Terracotta Warriors AND hike along the spectacular Great Wall. All in just two weeks!Group Size
Max 18Activities
Extensive walking at sights, optional hiking in Longsheng and along the Great Wall, optional bike riding in YangshuoAccommodation
6 nights simple hotels, 1 night guesthouse, 3 nights cruise boat, 4 nights sleeper trainTransport
Public and private bus, airconditioned Yangtse cruise boat, train & taxiFully Escorted
By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides in Xi’an and on cruise boat excursionsWINTER ITINERARY:
For winter departures, the China Discovery tour will follow an amended itinerary from Days 6 to 10, as follows:Day 6, LONGSHENG -
Today we trek along the ridge to another picturesque village, and after lunch take a bus back to the guesthouse.Day 7, SHANGHAI
- We transfer to Guilin and fly to Shanghai. Free afternoon to explore or take a river cruise.Shanghai
One of the great cities of the world, Shanghai is currently undergoing a major face-lift. Historically renowned as the seat of colonial power in the east, with all the resulting decadence, excitement and vices, Shanghai entered a period of stagnation when the communists came to power. Now it is being redeveloped, and part of the city has become a Special Economic Zone, its streets full of gleaming new office buildings and crowned by the space-age Pearl TV Tower. The rest of the city is also undergoing huge change, with much of the old being pulled down to make way for the new. It is an exciting and vibrant place which embodies the astonishing development which China has been experiencing in recent years, and exemplifies the economic powerhouse that China has become. Despite the frantic construction, the colonial legacy lives on in the form of beautiful neo-classical buildings which housed the major trading corporations of the east, most notably along the Bund, the road running along the waterfront.
A highlight of any visit to Shanghai are the astonishingly dextrous Shanghai Acrobats, who put on an incredible performance which inevitably leaves you rather humbled.
Day 8, SHANGHAI
- A full free day to explore the bustling city. In the evening we see the famous Shanghai acrobats.Day 9, SHANGHAI - CHENGDU -
We fly to Chengdu. This evening there\'s a chance to see the fascinating Sichuan variety performance and try a traditional hotpot dinner, typical for this region.Chengdu
Itineraries
Day 1,HONG KONGArrival day.
Day 2,HONG KONG - GUILINFree morning in Hong Kong before a short afternoon train ride to Shenzhen. Overnight train to Guilin.
Day 3,YANGSHUOMorning arrival in Guilin and transfer to Yangshuo. Explore the beautiful countryside on foot or by bike. In the afternoon we have a Chinese lesson to get you ready for the trip ahead.
Day 4,YANGSHUOA free day to explore on foot or by bike (US$2 bicycle hire). Pass through beautiful rural scenery with lovely old stone buildings and farmers working in the paddies. You may also want to learn some of the local culture by taking a lesson in Chinese cooking (US$11/14), Tai Chi or calligraphy (US$5.5 per hour).
Day 5,YANGSHUO - LONGSHENGTransfer to Longsheng. Late afternoon is a great time to take walks in the rice paddies with spectacular views of the terraces.
Day 6,LONGSHENG – CHONGQINGA free morning for further exploration before we return to Guilin for the overnight train to Chongqing.
Day 7,CHONGQINGArrive in Chongqing where we board our cruise boat.
Day 8 to Day 9,YANGTSE RIVER CRUISEWe cruise down the Yangtse River, passing through the spectacular Three Gorges. along the way we stop for various excursions to places of interest. (BLD)
Day 10,YICHANG – XI’ANWe disembark in Yichang and take the overnight train to Xi'an (B).
Day 11,XI’ANMorning arrival in Xi'an and guided tour of the Terracotta Warriors. A free afternoon to wander through the markets, haggling over souvenirs or try some of the delicious northern Chinese cuisine with a bowl of steaming dumplings or noodles.
Day 12,XI’AN – BEIJINGThe day is free for you to explore this ancient city and its many amazing sites. In the evening we catch the overnight train to Beijing.
Day 13,BEIJINGMorning arrival in Beijing. We visit Tiananmen Square before free time to visit the magnificent Forbidden City and any other sites you wish to see.
Day 14,BEIJING - GREAT WALLA day at the Great Wall. We have the option of hiking along one of the less-visited but most beautiful sections.
Day 15,BEIJINGTour ends.
Last updated: 26th November 2008
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