Wonders of China Summer 2019 - CostSaver

Day 1: Arrive Shanghai (2 Nights)

Welcome to Shanghai. On arrival transfer to your hotel and later meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Meeting followed by dinner.

Day 2: Shanghai Sightseeing

This morning your City tour begins with a visit to The Bund; a famous waterfront which has been regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. It is lined with buildings of various architectural styles from the past alongside the modern skyscrapers of the present day. Continue with a visit to a silk museum and then on to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre where the focus is on a large scale model of urban Shanghai. It showcases the old streets of 1930's Shanghai and futuristic plans demonstrated with the use of virtual reality. Later enjoy some free time for lunch and shopping in Nanjing Road; the earliest shopping street of the city. Today it houses over 600 businesses including modern shopping malls, theatres, international hotels and stores selling famous designer brand name goods. Later return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

Day 3: Shanghai - Guilin - Yangshuo (2 Nights)

After a late start this morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Guilin and on arrival continue on to Yangshuo and check in to your hotel. The small ancient city is surrounded by karst peaks and spectacular scenery. It is bordered by the Li River on one side and it is regarded as one of the most beautiful areas of China. This evening enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.

Day 4: Yangshuo Sightseeing

Start the day with a drive through the stunning countryside around Yangshuo to Ten Miles Gallery Resort and transfer on to an electric shuttle bus to continue your tour past rolling hills and idyllic villages. Make a stop to see the Big Banyan tree; a well-preserved tree which was planted on the banks of the Jinbao River during China's Sui Dynasty 1,400 years ago. This 17 metre tall tree is featured in a romantic love scene from the famous old Chinese movie 'Third Sister Liu' which has turned it into a popular spot for courting couples. See Moon Hill, a karst formation so named due to its wide semi-circular hole. Following lunch, join a relaxing cruise on the Li River from Yangshuo to Yangdi sailing on crystal clear waters surrounded by picturesque karst peaks, lush bamboo groves and steep cliffs that line the river banks. This evening an Optional Experience to see a show in the world's largest natural theatre is up for grabs to complete the day.

Day 5: Yangshuo - Guilin - Xi'an (2 Nights)

This morning fly to the city of Xi'an, the oldest of the four great ancient capitals. After checking in at the hotel, head out to the Tangbo Art Museum and discover a varied collection of artworks which depict the cultures, history and folklores of the Tang Dynasty. This evening enjoy a meal at a local restaurant followed by a stroll around the Muslim Quarter which comes to life as night falls. Walk through these fascinating streets with their stores selling mouth-watering exotic food, souvenirs and local products from the Shaanxi Province.

Day 6: Xi'an Sightseeing

Today visit one of the world's greatest archaeological discoveries: the Terracotta Warriors which were discovered in 1974 by some peasants digging a well. This large collection of life-size terracotta sculptures in battle formations were positioned according to their rank and buried with China's first emperor Qin Shi Huang to accompany him during his eternal rest. Following lunch in a local restaurant return to the hotel and this evening perhaps choose to take an Optional Experience to see the 'Tang Dynasty Show'.

Day 7: Xi'an - Beijing (3 Nights)

This morning take a short flight to Beijing and on arrival check in at the hotel. Later consider joining an Optional Experience to visit the Temple of Heaven; a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site. The three-tiered wooden masterpiece was built during the Ming Dynasty in 1420 and once a year the emperors went there to worship heaven and to solemnly pray for a good harvest.

Day 8: Beijing Sightseeing

Start the day with a visit to Tiananmen Square; located in the centre of Beijing it is one of the largest people's squares in the world with a capacity to fit around 300,000 people. It was built by Chairman Mao to flaunt the epic scale of the Communist project. Continue with a visit to the UNESCO listed Forbidden City; a large complex of courtyards, palaces, pavilions and gardens ringed by scarlet citadel walls which served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Later enjoy the afternoon at leisure and this evening consider an Optional Experience to see 'The Legend of Kung-Fu' show; a mixture of traditional martial arts and modern theatre.

Day 9: Beijing and the Great Wall

This morning it's time to visit the Great Wall; a series of fortifications built along an east-to-west line across the northern borders of China to keep out invaders. Its winding path over rugged country and steep mountains takes in some great scenery and this engineering triumph demonstrates the genius of the Ming Dynasty. Take a walk along the wall to be rewarded with heavenly views of the wall snaking over the hilltops before lunch in a local restaurant. This evening why not complete your stay in China with an optional Peking Duck Dinner.

Day 10: Depart Beijing

Transfer to Beijing International Airport for your onward flight.