ORIENTAL FLAVOURS

Beijing-Xian-Canton-Shanghai   

12 days/ 11 nights

Day 1   BEIJING   (D)   北京
Upon arrival in Beijing, meet and greet with the local English speaking guide and transfer to the hotel. Lunch not included. In the afternoon, visit The Temple of Heaven 天坛, considered one of the most remarkable examples of the ancient Chinese architecture. Then take a walk through Liulichang 琉璃厂, the famous antiquarians, calligraphers and artists street located in Qianmen, the oldest neighborhood in the city.
Banquet dinner to taste the traditional Beijing Roasted Duck.

Day 2   BEIJING   (B, D)   北京
After breakfast, transfer to Tian’an Men Square 天安门广场, named after the Tian’an men (literally, Gate of Heavenly Peace) where there are The Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, The People’s Palace, The National Museum and The Monument to the People’s Heroes. Visit The Forbidden City 故宫,  the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. Lunch not included. In the afternoon, visit The Lama Temple 雍和宫，one of the most important Tibetan Buddhism temple in China, characterized by his unique architectonic style.

After visit take some Chinese cuisine lesson, then Chinese dinner.

Day 3   BEIJING   (B, L, D)   北京
After breakfast, leave for the excursion to The Badaling Great Wall 八达岭长城, approximately 50 miles long, that is the most famous section of the Great Wall of China , the only place in the world visible from the moon.

Lunch at a local Chinese restaurant.In the afternoon visit Ming Tombs 城陵 and The Sacred Road 神路.

Dinner in a  local restaurant, Sichuan Cuisine (spicy).

Day 4   BEIJING-XIAN   (B, L)  (Night train, first class soft sleepers)   北京/西安
After breakfast meet and greet with the local English speaking guide and transfer to Panjiayuan Market 潘家园  (only on Saturday and/or Sunday). Lunch at a traditional Shanxi restaurant (Handmade Chinese noodles) ,

then have a tour through Beijing’s hutong 胡同  by rickshaw. Then, a short visit to the Food Market and transfer to Beijing Railway Station. Dinner not included.

Overnight on the train.

Day 5   XIAN   (B, D)   西安
Upon arrival, meet and greet with the local English speaking guide , transfer to hotel, on the way stop to visit The Hanyangling Museum 漢陽陵博物馆. Lunch not included. In the afternoon, visit the Ancient City Walls 古城墙, The Giant and Small Wild Goose Pagoda 大小雁塔 and The Museum of Shaanxi History 陕西博物馆.
Dinner at a traditional Shanxi restaurant.

Day 6   XIAN   (B, D)   西安
After breakfast, meet and greet with local English speaking guide and transfer to visit The Terracotta Warriors 兵马俑. Lunch not included. After the visit, go back to Xian and visit The Great Mosque 清真寺.
Banquet dinner where you can taste the local specialty Jiaozi (handmade dumplings) and where you can take part to the  traditional Tang Dynasty music and dance show.

Day 7   XIAN-CANTON   (B, D)   西安/广州
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to take the flight to Canton. Upon arrival, meet and greet with the local English speaking guide and transfer to hotel. Lunch not included. After lunch start the city tour : Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall 孙中山纪念堂, where he was appointed head of the government in 1923, Liu Rong Temple 六榕寺, also known as Six Banyan Trees Temple, founded to host a part of Buddha’s relics. Dinner at a traditional Cantonese restaurant.

After dinner Pearl River Night Cruise 珠江游船  (about 1hour ).

 Day 8   CANTON   (B, D)   广州
After breakfast, visit The Western Nan Dynasty Museum and Nanyue King Mausoleum 西汉南越王墓博物馆, built about 2.000 years ago, The Chen Ancestral Temple 陳家祠, a southern style temple built in 1890. Lunch not included. Then, Buxing Street 步行街, downtown shopping area, free time.
Traditional Cantonese cuisine dinner. (Extreme Cuisine on demand).

Day 9   CANTON-SHANGHAI   (B, D)   广州/上海
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and take the flight to Shanghai.
Upon arrival in Shanghai, meet and greet with the local English speaking guide and transfer to the hotel. Lunch not included. In the afternoon visit to Jade Buddha Temple 玉佛寺, to Yu Garden 豫园 and The City God Temple 城隍庙. Dinner at a traditional Shangainese restaurant.

Day 10   SHANGHAI   (B, D)   上海
After breakfast, meet and greet with the local English speaking guide and visit The Shanghai Museum 上海博物馆. Lunch not included. Then have a walk through Nanjing Road 京路 , commercial center of the city, full of shops and shopping malls, next to The Bund 外滩, the famous walk on The Huangpu river bank. Visit The Jingmao Tower 经贸大厦 where you can admire the Shanghai skyline.

Dinner at a traditional Shangainese restaurant.

Day 11   SHANGHAI-SUZHOU-SHANGHAI   (B, L)   上海-苏州-上海
After breakfast, meet and greet with the local English speaking guide and transfer to Suzhou.
Visit The Humble Administrator’s Garden 拙政园, the largest and the most elegant garden in Suzhou;  The Tiger Hill 虎丘, where He Lu, the King of Wu and founder of the city of Suzhou, was buried.
In the end excursion on The Grand Canal 大运河游船  (about 1 hour).
During the excursion stop at a local restaurant for lunch. In the evening back to Shanghai. Dinner not included.
   

Day 12   SHANGHAI   (B)   上海/回国
After breakfast transfer to the airport to take the flight back to your country.

HOTELS:

BEIJING
NOVOTEL XINQIAO HOTEL 4*  or similar 
Website:  http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-3641-novotel-beijing-xin-qiao/index.shtml

XIAN
XIAN GARDEN HOTEL 4* or similar
Website: http://www.xagardenhotel.cn/en/reservation.html

CANTON
DONG FANG HOTEL 5*  or similar
Website: http://www.hoteldongfang.com/

SHANGHAI
SHANGHAI JIN JIANG HOTEL 5* or similar
Website: http://jj.jinjianghotels.com/portal/jinjiang_en/jjindex.aspx