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Yangtze Highlights plus Guilin

Beijing - Xi'an - Guilin - Yangtze River cruise - Shanghai

Length: 14 nights/15 days

A combination of the cities of Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai, with their famous historical monuments and bustling modern life, with a 3-night cruise downstream through the scenic Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. This is then combined with the beautiful and striking scenery of Guilin and Yangshuo.

An escorted tour, with your own English-speaking guides and car and driver, mostly 5-star hotels and 5-star Yangtze River cruise boat. Departures between March and November.

Day 1 Depart UK.
Day 2 Arrive Beijing. Transfer to 5-star hotel. Rest of the day free.
Day 3 Morning tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, the centre of power for China's rulers for over 500 years. After lunch, visit the Temple of Heaven, where emperors performed rituals to guarantee a good harvest, and Hongqiao Market for shopping. Acrobatic show or Peking Opera show after a Peking duck dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 4 Full day excursion, stopping first at the Great Wall at Badaling. After lunch, visit the tombs of the Ming Dynasty emperors. Also visit a jade-carving factory. (B, L)
Day 5 Take a tour among the 'hutongs' or traditional residential areas, near the Shishahai Lakes, by cycle rickshaw. Visit a 'siheyuan', or traditional single-storey courtyard house to meet a typical Beijing family. After lunch, visit the Summer Palace. (B, L)
Day 6 Transfer to airport for flight to Xi'an. Transfer to 5-star hotel. Visit the Bell Tower Square and ancient cultural street. (B, L)
Day 7 In the morning, visit the famous Terracotta Army, created to guard the tomb of China's first emperor. Return to Xi'an city to visit the impressive Shaanxi Historical Museum. Steamed dumpling dinner and song and dance show in the evening evoking the sights and sounds of the Tang dynasty. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Transfer to airport for flight to Guilin. Met on arrival and visit to the Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill. Transfer to 4/5-star hotel. (B, L)
Day 9 Boat trip on the Li River to the small riverside town of Yangshuo, travelling past stunning scenery of limestone peaks and flat rice paddy fields. Lunch served on board boat. Optional evening river boat excursion to see traditional methods of fishing using cormorants. (B, L)
Day 10 Transfer to airport for flight to Chongqing. If time allows, visit to the Stilwell Museum and the panda house at Chongqing Zoo. After dinner, transfer to pier to join your 5-star Yangtze cruise boat. (B, D)
Day 11 Yangtze River cruise, including shore excursion to the 'Ghost City' of Fengdu. Captain's welcome party and dinner aboard the boat. (B, L, D)
Day 12 Yangtze River cruise, including trip in small boats on the Shennong Stream, one of the Yangtze tributaries. Pass through the Three Gorges (Qutang, Wu and Xiling) (B, L, D)
Day 13 Yangtze River cruise, including shore excursion to visit the Three Gorges Dam. Continue to Yichang and disembark. Transfer to airport for flight to Shanghai. Transfer to 5-star hotel and the rest of the day free to explore this vibrant city. (B, L)
Day 14 One day city tour of Shanghai, to include the Yu Garden and the Jade Buddha Temple, Pudong and the famous Bund, or waterfront. In the afternoon, tour the former French concession area, the People's Square, and the Pudong new economic development zone. (B, L)
Day 15 Transfer to airport for flight back to UK, arriving later the same day. (B)

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PRICE (per person) 2012:
(based on 2 persons minimum, twin/double room, standard cabin):

  • from £2,375
  • from £2,530 (Jul, Aug, Sep)

Single supplement on request.


PRICE INCLUDES:

  • International flights to/from China (we can arrange flights from London Heathrow or UK regional airports). Supplements for direct flights.
  • Internal flights, transfers and transport.
  • Accommodation: 5-star hotels and 5-star Yangtze cruise boat.
  • Breakfast daily at hotels and lunches and dinners as shown at local restaurants, full board aboard boat (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner).
  • Sightseeing excursions, entrance fees, the services of English-speaking guides.
  • Airport taxes.

NOT INCLUDED:

  • Entry visas.
  • Tips and gratuities.

DEPARTURES:

  • Daily in season (subject to boat schedules and flight availability)

We use special fares for international flights which help keep the cost of tours to a minimum. These seats are limited by airlines, however, especially at peak periods between April and October, so may not be available at the time of your booking in which case a small flight supplement, or an alternative airline may apply. We therefore advise early booking to avoid disappointment.

China Direct
Tel: 020 7538 2840
info@chinadirect-travel.co.uk