..here's the details
Day 1: UK - Beijing
Our adventure begins as we board our flight at London Heathrow to Beijing.
Day 2: Beijing
Arrival in Beijing. You will be greeted by Oriental's Tour Manager. Take the time to relax and settle in our hotel before enjoying a welcome dinner.
Accommodation: 4* Qianmen Hotel
Day 3: Beijing
Our day begins with the sacred Temple of Heaven. Move onto the Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world, before retracing the steps of the great emperors of China and wander amongst the imperial splendour of the Forbidden City. Later we walk through the imperial Jingshan Park and climb up to the Jingshan Hill, time is matched to catch the panaroma sunset over the golden rooftop of the 999 rooms of Forbidden City!
Day 4: Beijing
An exciting day awaits you as we head to the Great Wall (Mutianyu Section) where you will have plenty of time to climb up to the top of this magnificent structure.
Stop by a Cloisonne Workshop on our way back to city and pass by the Bird Nest Stadium & Water Cube Stadium the two ultra-modern stadiums hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
We visit the Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall. Avoiding the tourist traps at the Badaling section, this part of the Wall offers an authentic Great Wall experience. When the weather is good, we will enjoy a lovely picnic lunch with sparkling wines on the Wall Tower.
Day 5: Beijing - Xian
You can't help being impressed with the majestic and beautifully landscaped Summer Palace, an extensive assembly of temples, pavilions and halls nestling on the banks of Kunming lake and re-built for Empress Dowager Cixi just before the time of the "last Emperor".
Later in the afternoon, fly to Xian, a veritable treasure trove of China's former glory. We shall stop by the 14th century Drum Tower whose rich beat once signal the closure of the city gates, before checking into our hotel.
Accommodation: 4*+ New World Hotel
Day 6: Xian
This morning journey out to the World Heritage Site of the Terracotta Warriors. Here you will have plenty of time to personally inspect the eternal guard of the First Emperor.We will also stop at a workshop to view the production of Terracotta figurines by local craftsmen and perhaps purchase a 6 ft replica warrior for you garden or home!
After lunch and a chance to sample local specialty of "hand-pulled noodles", we find ourselves admiring the beautifully preserved Big Goose Pagoda.
Day 7: Xian - Jiuzhaigou (Nine Villages Valley)
Morning stroll along the Ancient City Walls and South Gate. We then fly to Jiuzhaigou where we stay for two nights.
Day 8: Jiuzhaigou (Nine Villages Valley)
Known to the Chinese as "Fairyland on Earth", the jagged valleys offer a spectacular landscape and native beauty are unique in China and in the world - with over a hundred colourful lakes connected by bouncing streams & roaring waterfalls, and lush forest... You will be given the option to join with the rest of the group for a guided walk or explore the natural trail alone at your own pace.
Day 9: Huanglong Multi-colour Ponds
Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992, Huanglong consists of numerous unique landscapes created through millions of years of geological evolution. Glacial revolution, terrane structure, stratum of carbonic acid rock, tufa water and unqiue climatic conditions such as artic-alpine sunlight have created this world-famous traverine landscape. The major attraction lays in its water, which consist of various yellows, greens, blues and browns, creating wonderful multi-coloured ponds.
Day 10: Chengdu & Leshan Giant Buddha
Today's excursion is to Leshan Giant Buddha - a stunning example of a Buddha sitting at an impressive 232ft (71m) high. Dinner tonight will be an exotic Sichuan-style hot pot - where you pick and cook the meat in the boiling soup yourself!
Day 11: Chengdu - Lijiang
After a leisurely buffet breakfast we shall pay a visit to the Chengdu Pangda Sanctuary - the world's principal panda reserve and breeding centre - where we will discover all about this endangered species and get up close to watch them at play. There will be some free time in the afternoon with options to visit a local teahouse or markets before catching our flight to Lijiang.
Day 12: Lijiang
The walled city of Lijiang is the jewel of Yunnan province, whose timeless heart has also been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site. There will be a guided walking tour followed by leisurely free time enabling you to wander around this heritage city at your own pace.
Day 13: Tiger Leaping Gorge & Lijiang Countryside
After a relaxed breakfast we will take our first forage into Yunnan's rich and beautiful countryside to stop at the Tiger Leaping Gorge whose crashing tumbling water roars through one of the deepest gorges in the world. After taking lunch by the river, venture onto First Blend of Yangtze River.
Day 14: Dali
This morning a short coach ride through the rich fertile land will set the scenario for today. Visit Dali's landmark Three Pagodas and a scenic cable car ride up to the viewing terrace high up in the Cangshan Mountain gives you a bird's evey view as you gaze down at Lake Erhai. We have left your afternoon free so that you can wander amidst the cobbled lanes of this ancient walled city at your own pace.
Day 15: Dali - Kunming
A morning flight takes us to Kunming, capital of Yunnan province. We will skip the usual tourist sights in the city and head straight to our hotspring resort set amidst countryside Yunnan where some of the country's best kept secrets are to be found.
On the way to our hotel we shall stop by to see China's famous Stone Forest - an immense collection of ancient limestone stalagmite like peaks which mother nature has patiently been eroding away for the last 200 million years.
Day 16: Mile Hotspring
There will be no pre-arranged program for today allowing you a well deserved break in the middle of your grand journey. Some of you may want to soak into the hotspring pools of our resort hotel and pamper yourself with a traditional massage; while others may want to follow your tour manager to the Alu Caves, named as "first wonder cave in Yunnan", and the nearby Vineyard, the largest and best in the region, and taste the locally popular red wine!
Day 17: Yuanyang
An exciting day is in prospect as we head towards Yuanyang. This mountainous county, rarely touched by western travellers, is home to five ethnic minorities - Ani, Yi, Miao, Yao and Zhuang. Its rice terraces, widely praised as the most beautiful rice paddies in the country, spread across the mountains covering a total of 360 thousand square acres.
We shall do some hiking along the rice paddies alongside with the farmers and catch the famous sunset view higher up on the terraces. Overnight in a local hotel.
Yuanyang Rice Terraces -- so much so that the BBC Wild China crew has chosen it to elaborate the Chinese rice culture:
"The improbable egg-carton hills of Southern China seem to float in a sea of glistening rice paddies. This is a landscape full of surprises....But this isn't a nature park. Almost 300 million people live here, with a tradition of eating wildlife. So what forces have shaped this remarkable landscape and how do farmers and wild creatures manage to coexist among the rocks and the rice fields?"
Day 18: Yuanyang - Jianshui
Early risers may follow your tour manager to climb up a hill for the panarama sunrise over the terraces & mountains. Explore the minority tribal villages on foot and glimpses local livings.
Journey out to Swallow Caves, " the biggest and most splendid cave in Asia", where each year thousands of swallows fly here building nests and giving birth to baby swallows, hence the name.
Day 19: Guilin
After breakfast we head back to Kunming airport for our flight to Guilin. Driving through Yunnan's lush countryside is always fascinating. En-route we shall make some stops to a local villages and markets.
Day 20: Yangshuo
Today is a chance to capture the almost heart stoppingly beautiful countryside of towering karst limestone spires that seem to emerge at random out of an almost perfectly flat plain, as we take a relaxing cruise along the Li River to Yangshuo.
Day 21: Yangshuo
A motorised buggy ride or bicyle ride - your choice, takes us deep into the countryside to explore the paddy fields, rivers,and peaks; see farmers in their fields and roaming water buffalo .... After finishing at the mysterious Moon Hill, you will enjoy further leisure time in this picturesque town.
Day 22: Shanghai
Morning depart for our flight to Shanghai. There is a city orientation tour visiting the highlights such as Yuyuan Bazaar, the colonial Bund and Old French Concession.
Day 23: Suzhou
Today's excursion is to Suzhou, which is famous for its fine gardens, canals and silk. We being with a boat ride on the city's oldest water canal to Humble Administrator Garden. Off to Tiger Hill to see the Leaning Pagoda. Before leaving we will also visit a specialist silk shop.
Day 24: Shanghai
Day free at leisure giving you a fantastic opportunity to further explore the city or indulge yourself in some serious shopping. As always your tour manager will be on hand to assist you and make suggestions.
Day 25: Shanghai - UK
A day at leisure in Shanghai
Day 26: Shanghai - UK
On our way home!
Thanks to www.orientaltravel.co.uk for all the great content above.
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