China's Present, Past and Future with Suzhou Extension

Welcome to Beijing! Upon your arrival at the Beijing Airport, meet our tour representative who will assist you with a transfer and check in to your hotel. Take the opportunity to rest and recover after the flight or head out into the city for your first glimpse of life in China’s sprawling capital city.

Overnight in Beijing.

Start the day with breakfast at the hotel then prepare for a full day tour of Beijing’s most famous landmarks. Start in the enormous Tiananmen Square, one of the world’s largest urban plazas. Stroll from Tiananmen Gate to Meridian Gate, which leads to the Forbidden City. Enter the Forbidden City and take in the sheer majesty of this incomparable treasure which was closed to commoners for centuries. Construction began under the Yongle Emperor in the early 15th century and it was meticulously designed to be in harmony with philosophical, religious and hierarchical principles. All the roof tiles were yellow, the emperor’s colour, and no other building in Beijing could be taller than the Forbidden City. Explore this beguiling UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site and marvel at the magnificent temples, halls, pavilions, palaces and courtyards (excl. exhibitions). Enjoy a local lunch after the visit. To wrap up our sightseeing tour we will visit the Temple of Heaven, framed amongst the princely imperial styles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties the site is a masterpiece of imperial style and architecture. Enjoy a Tea ceremony or visit a pearl market before getting back to the hotel in the late afternoon. 

Overnight in Beijing.

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and then get ready for a drive to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Enjoy this testament to Chinese engineering and ingenuity, a monument to human endeavour set against a backdrop of stunning scenery (excl. cable car). Before lunch break visit the cloisonné factory, one of the famous arts and crafts of Beijing. Afterwards, visit the Summer Palace, the former site of retreat for the imperial family. It provides a range of striking views and the opportunity to enjoy Kunming Lake. Its buildings and courtyards are beautifully decorated and charged with historical contents. (excl. boat, theatre and Longevity Hill).

Overnight in Beijing.

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel and begin the day with a tour through Beijing’s intricate alleyway ‘Hutongs’. Stop off to visit a local family and enjoy a lunch in this authentic Beijing style with an array of dishes and Chinese hospitality. From here you will be transferred to Beijing West Railway Station in the afternoon to take a high-speed train direction to Xi’an (the estimated departure time from Beijing Train Station is approx. 15:00 to Xi’an arriving between 19:00-21:00). Once in Xi’an North Railway Station, you will be greeted by a guide who will assist you with the transfer and check in to your hotel. 

Overnight in Xi’an.

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel and get ready for your pick-up for a visit to the Terracotta Warriors Museum. Praised as the eighth wonder of the world, this collection of terracotta warriors, horses, chariots and weapons unearthed at the site of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor provides a fascinating insight into ancient China. Around 2,000 warriors have been excavated since their chance discover in 1974, but it is estimated that there may be up to an impressive 8,000 in total. This silent army is a fascinating highlight to any tour. On the way back we will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This well-preserved ancient Buddhist pagoda was built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty and it is one of the oldest surviving structures of its kind in China. To wrap up our excursion we will visit a local jade factory and we learn about the process of fining and shaping this beautiful precious stone, adored by the Chinese for its calming effects. Once back in the hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Xi’an.

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and take a walk around the city walls that have been protecting the city over the centuries. Breach the walls and head to the historic Muslim Quarter, a bustling section of the city where the majority of Xi’an’s Muslim population lives and works. There are several mosques here and several lively market streets. Wander around the market and soak up the bright colourful atmosphere. Take the opportunity to sample a variety of local foods and snacks from the market sellers. In the afternoon, at the indicated time, you will be transferred to Xi’an Railway Station and board an overnight train to Shanghai Railway Station. Dinner on board (not incl.).

Overnight on board the night train.

Early arrival at the Shanghai Railway Station. Our tour representative will greet you and take you to your hotel for breakfast. Afterwards, join Shanghai’s old town city tour. Constructed 400 years ago during the Ming Dynasty, the colossal modern city of Shanghai has respectfully sprung up around the remains of its older relative, providing a fascinating window into the past. Visit the sublime Yu Garden, a wonderful example of classical design in the old city centre, tranquil spot for respite from the modern pace of life. After the lunch at the local restaurant (included), visit the Jade Buddha Temple, celebrated for its two magnificent white jade Burmese Buddha statues. Stroll along the seafront in The Bund and witness the world-famous Shanghai skyline first-hand. To wrap up our tour, stroll down to Nanjing Road, a well-known shopping boulevard with all the energy, bright lights and spectacle of Shanghai condensed into one location. 

Overnight in Shanghai.

Wake up the breakfast at the hotel and prepare for another experience. Today we´ll drive to Zhujiajiao, water town, commonly called “Venice of China” where we´ll spend a half day walking between the bohemian cafes and eye-catching high rise buildings. The charm of this picturesque town will be a memorable experience. Enjoy luch in a local restaurant before heading back to Shanghai, to see the Former French Concession that will unveil the quiet and idle face of Shanghai, with the old European architecture. The elegant boulevards and leafy residential rues, as well as grandiose mansions with chateau-style roofs and turrets, will leave an impression that you entered into a different country. The last stop of the day is the Silk Factory, where we will admire this fine handicraft before heading back to the hotel for the evening.

Overnight in Shanghai.

Enjoy your early morning farewell breakfast at the hotel, then prepare to check out. At 8:30 am you will be picked up from the hotel lobby and will arrive at the Railway Station. The high-speed train to Suzhou will depart at 10:00 am and arrive at 10:25 am (2nd class seat. The train ref: G7008). Upon arrival, you will be greeted by the guide and driver and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Suzhou.

After breakfast at the hotel, begin our full-day Suzhou sightseeing tour. We will start with a visit to Humble Administrator’s Garden which was originally built in 1509 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It was initially a private garden of a former government servant named Wang Xianchen for his life after retirement. He thought that was a simple life led by a humble man like him, hence the name of the garden. Next, we will drive to Lingering Garden. Originally a classical private garden, Lingering Garden is one of the four most famous gardens in China. Possessing a typical Qing style, it is well-known for the exquisite beauty of its magnificent halls, and the various sizes, shapes, and colours of the buildings. After lunch at a local restaurant (included) visit Panmen City Gate, which was first built during the Wu Kingdom of Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC) and it is the only well preserved water-and-land city gate in the world now. Next, drive to Xinshiqiao Wharf to take a 45-minute cruise of the Suzhou Grand Canal. You will be back at the hotel in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Suzhou.

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and at the agreed time you will be transferred to Shanghai Pudong Airport to continue with your travel arrangements.