Best of China Tour

– – – 14 days tour to Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai, Guilin & Hong Kong

ITINERARY:

*ABF – American Buffet Breakfast; B – Breakfast; L – Lunch; D –Dinner; SD –Banquet;
** Time – All times listed in the itinerary are LOCAL TIME;

Day 1 International Gateway / North Pole
You will depart from the international gateway of CANADA by your preferred airlines today and fly across the North Pole.

Day 2 Beijing
You will arrive in Beijing today. Beijing is a world-class capital with an incredible mix of historic and modern landmarks. Upon arrival you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to the centre located hotel. You will be on at leisure for rest of the day to make necessary adjustment for the jet-lag.

The Regent Hotel Beijing (5 star)
99 Jinbao Street. Dongcheng District, Beijing
T: (86 10) 8522 1888
www.regenthotels.com

New Otani Chang Fu Gong Hotel (4 star)
26 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Beijing
T: (86 10) 6512 555;
www.cfgbj.com

Day 3 Beijing (ABF, L, D)
After having the breakfast, you will start the tour from the largest public square in the world – the Tiananmen Square and then enter the intriguing Forbidden City, home of Chinese emperors for more than 500 years. In the afternoon, you will visit the harmonious Temple of Heaven, one of the best examples of Ming Dynasty architecture in China, also an ornate sanctuary where Chinese Emperors worshiped the Gods. En route, you will drive around the intriguing architecture of the 2008 Summer Olympic Opening Ceremony venues: the National Stadium which is nicknamed the “Bird’s Nest” because of the unique design and the National Aquatics with the nickname of “the Water Cube (H₂O³). 

Day 4 Beijing (ABF, L, SD)
An unforgettable outing includes a walking to the wondrous Great Wall – Mutianyu portion, where you will have the chance to climb a portion of this 3,700-mile vista and marvel. Its dramatic descends steep ridges and narrow valleys will scatter a good landscape for your camera. In the afternoon, visit the Summer Palace, where the Empress Dowager Ci Xi would go to escape the heat of the city. Tonight, feast on the emperor’s cuisine – The Beijing Roast Duck Banquet will be arranged at a leading city restaurant.

Day 5 Beijing / Xi’an (ABF, L)
After having the breakfast, enjoy a Pedi cab tour of the Hutongs, the “old city” neighborhood of narrow alleyways and courtyard gardens hidden behind Beijing’s modern facade. These old-style courtyard houses are still inhabited by Beijing residents.
In the afternoon, you will take high-speed train to Xi’an – the Ancient Chinese Capital thousands years ago. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by local tour guide & transferred to hotel.

Shangri-La Hotel (5 star)
38B Keji Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province;
T: (86 29) 8875 8888;
www.shangri-la.com;

Grand Noble Hotel Xi’an (4 star)
334 East Street, Xi’an
T: (86 29) 8769-0000;
www.gnhotel.com;

High-speed train G87 Beijing West / Xi’an North 14:00PM / 18:25PM (4h25m – 1^ST or 2^ND class);

Day 6 Xi’an (ABF, L, SD)
Today’s highlight is a visit to the Archaeological Museum, home to more than 6,000 life-size terra-cotta warriors and horses excavated from the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty. After lunch, visit the Shanxi Provincial Museum which contains relics from the earliest known inhabitants of China. In the evening, attend a Tang Dynasty (AD 600 – 780) Dinner Show, a true duplicate of royal entertainment 1200 years ago.

Day 7 Xi’an / Hangzhou (ABF, L)
Xi’an is a city of unsurpassed importance in China’s history; it is filled with archeological wonders and served as the capital for eleven dynasties. You will tour the Great Mosque, a haven of tranquility tucked into the bustling market areas of Xi’an. Also in your today’s itinerary will cover the Ancient City Wall, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
In the afternoon, you will be transferred all the way to the airport for your flight to Hangzhou on the east coast of China. Hangzhou, one of the seven ancient capitals in China, was called “the Paradise on Earth” 1300 years ago. The Venetian traveler Marco Polo, after his visiting Hangzhou, called it “the most beautiful and splendid city in the world”. You will visit the nation’s famous West Lake Garden, lingering along the zigzag path; you may find the same sceneries that can be found in traditional Chinese painting.

Hyatt Regency Hotel (5 star);
28 Hu Bin (Lakeshore) Road, Hangzhou
T: (86 571) 8779-1234;
www.hangzhou.regency.hyatt.com;

Victoria Regal Hotel (4 star);
89 Yan-An Road, Hangzhou;
T: (86 571) 5678-9999;
www.victoriaregal.com;

Day 8 Hangzhou (ABF, L)
You will start today’s tour with a short boat tour on the West Lake, you will also climb the Flying Peak, a typical Chinese pagoda on top of the hill where enable you to have a magnificent bird view of the city. Your last stop in the Dragon Well Tea Plantation will let the farmers demonstrate you how they prepare the world- famous “Dragon Well Tea”. After sunset, you may dwell along the lakeshore where you will behold the spectacular night view of the West Lake.

 Day 9 Hangzhou / Shanghai (ABF, L)
Less than an hour via high-speed journey will bring to Shanghai, the economic heart of China. Your first day of sightseeing in Shanghai will start from the Bund. Along the waterfront you will see the European-Style architecture of the buildings that once housed the institutions of the colonial powers in the 19^th century. Then, you will make a visit the Shanghai National Museum. There you will find artifacts that span the length of China’s history, and enliven its cultural traditions.  Followed program will be a visit to the Old Town and walk down its narrow lanes past traditional buildings to the once private Yu Yuan Gardens. You end your full-day sightseeing tour with a stop at the Jade Buddha Temple.

The Westin Bund Center Hotel (5 star)
88 Henan Central Road, Shanghai
T: (86 21) 6335 1888
www.starwoodhotels.com;

The Ocean Hotel (4 star)
1171 Dong Da Ming Road, Shanghai
T: (86 21) 6545 8888;
www.oceanhotel.sh.cn/en

High-speed train G7356 Hangzhou / Shanghai Hongqiao 10:12AM / 11:24AM (1^ST or 2^ND Class);

Day 10 One day excursion Suzhou (ABF, L, D)
The city of Suzhou is referred to as the “Venice of the East”. Take a relaxing stroll through one of Suzhou beautiful gardens, like the Humble Administrator’s Garden, one of the largest classical gardens in Suzhou as well as one the four best gardens in China. Then experience an educational visit to a silk spinning factory. Enjoy a boat cruise along the Grand Canal, which is over 1,500 years old and connects Beijing to the rich coastal areas around Shanghai. Your tour programs will also include the Garden of Master Fishing Net.

 Day 11 Shanghai / Guilin (ABF, L, D)
Today, you will fly to China’s most scenic city – Guilin. Best known for its immortal stone mountains, Guilin also is noted for fantastic caves, and this afternoon you’ll explore the finest Reed Flute Cave, full of oddities and historic treasures. Also you will visit the Fubo Hill, Elephant Trunk Hill & farmer’s free market.

Shangri-La Hotel (5 star);
111 Huan Cheng Bei Er Lu (Road), Guilin
T: (86 773) 269 8888
www.shangri-la.com;

Lijiang Waterfall Hotel (4 star)
The Shan Lake North Road, Guilin
T: (86 773) 282 2884;
www.waterfallguilin.info

 Day 12 Guilin / Yangshuo / Guilin / Hong Kong (ABF, L)
After breakfast, cruise in air-conditioned comfort on the Li River, where every turn offers breathtaking new views of vertical peaks, weathered stone pinnacles, caverns, soft bamboo groves and other pastoral landscapes that have inspired so much Chinese art and poetry. You spend the entire afternoon in Yangshuo, a small town 100 km away from Guilin, to have a better study of Chinese farmers’ daily life.
At the evening, you will be escorted back to Guilin Airport for your flight to Hong Kong. Upon your arrival at Hong Kong airport, our CTS H.K. representative will meet you at the airport for your transfer to hotel.

Marco polo Prince Hotel (4.5 star)
Harbour City, 23 Canton Rd. Kowloon
T: (852) 2113 1888
www.marcopolohotels.com

Salisbury Hotel Hong Kong (3.5 star)
41 Salisbury Road Hong Kong
Tel: 852 2268 7000;
www.ymcahk.org.hk

 Day 13 Hong Kong (ABF)
Enjoy the free at leisure for self-exploration of this metropolitan city. In the afternoon, your tour guide will meet you in the hotel lobby for half day tour in Hong Kong Island. The tour will start from Victoria Peak’s classic tram and glittering new Tower Complex, to quaint Aberdeen, Repulse Bay and the teeming markets of Stanley.

Day 14 Hong Kong * / Canada (ABF)
Be free in the morning. At around noon time, your tour guide will meet you at the hotel lobby for the transfer to the airport for your back home flight. * Extension in Hong Kong is available upon requests.

The whole trip is finished!

PRICES – “Land Portion Only” *International Transpacific Airfare is quoted separately:

The above tour arrangement is INCLUSIVE of:

• All transportation in China (Beijing–Xi’an–Hangzhou–Shanghai-Suzhou-Shanghai-Guilin–Hong Kong);
• Hotel accommodations throughout (based on double occupancy);
• All related taxes, hotel 12.5% service charge and airport security fees within China;
• Daily American Buffet Breakfast throughout and lunch & dinner as indicated in the itinerary;
• All airport / hotel / airport transfers;
• Private comprehensive sightseeing with all transfers in each city in a private vehicle;
• All admission fees for the programs listed in the itinerary;
• English speaking guide;

The above tour arrangement is EXCLUSIVE of:

• Travel Insurance – we may arrange this for you with Insurance Company;
• International round-trip transpacific air ticket (Canada / Beijing || Hong Kong / Canada)*;
• China visa * visa application is available upon requests;
• Gratuities to tour guides, private tour car drivers (suggest CND$12  / per tourist, per day);
• Any personal expenses like laundry, long distance phone call, hotel mini-bar beverage and postages.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

Terms & Conditions prepared by China Travel Service (Canada) Inc. is attached and it will apply for the whole trip to China.