A vast and complex country rife with historical heritage, China offers its
visitors a tremendous, cultural experience.
This comprehensive, 16-day
escorted tour will lead you through thousands of years of Chinese history - from
the era of its powerful dynasties to its prosperous present. While in China you
will experience the vibrance of its largest cities - whose lively, outdoor food
markets, beautiful pavilions and bicycle-loving locals will delight you - as
well as experience the beauty of the Chinese countryside, home to villages that
will transport you several hundred years back in time.
This escorted
tour includes delicious, local meals, excellent guiding and utmost comfort -
meaning that your tourist visa, flights, hotels and transportation are all taken
care of (please see specific inclusions list). Concerning your logistics, this
itinerary features a combination of planes, boats and private coaching, which is
the most comfortable way of traveling through this vast, fascinating country.
The program's overnight cities are Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou
and Guilin, where you will stay in 4-star hotel accommodations; additionally 3
nights will be spent aboard a 4-star cruise ship that will take you down the
Yangtze River.
While in Beijing you will go inside the Forbidden City;
this UNESCO World Heritage Site was home to emperors from the Ming and Qing
dynasties for half a millennium. Though set right in the heart of Beijing - it
was off limits to normal Chinese citizens until the 20th century. Its inner
complex of colorful alleys, gardens and pavilions will astonish you. In Beijing
you will also visit a hutong for a look at how traditional Chinese neighborhoods
were once designed.
Two once-in-a-lifetime inclusions on this tour
(which are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites) are a visit to the Great Wall of
China, a magnificent - truly beautiful - fortification whose construction began
in the 7th century BC, and a visit to Xi'an to see the 2222-year-old Tomb of Qin
Shi Huang, China's first emperor, which is guarded by thousands of life-size
terracotta soldiers.
As part of the tour, enjoy an evening at the
world-renown Peking Opera House. Tour beautiful Huagang Park. Visit the Ming
Dynasty Tombs, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tour the former imperial
family's Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on beautiful
Kunming Lake. Explore Shanghai's historic, colonial neighborhoods and its
iconic waterfront district known as The Bund. Visit the city of Guilin, a
spectacular area characterized by its karst landscape - home to very unusual
caves, one of which you will visit - which is dramatically set along the West
Bank of the Li River.
Experience one of the symbols of the People's
Republic of China: Tiananmen Square. See the lovely canals in Tongli, a town
often called the Venice of the East. Cruise the West Lake in the city of
Hangzhou; this picturesque, freshwater lake is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
because of its immense beauty and garden design. Home to beautiful temples,
pagodas and gardens - it has been a source of inspiration for artists, writers
and visitors (including Marco Polo) throughout the ages.
This escorted
tour will show you the very best of China's past and present - and after 16 days
in China, perhaps even a glimpse of its future.
