Your itinerary
1.
London to Beijing
Your door-to-door driver will take you to London Heathrow for
your flight to Beijing with Air China.
2. Beijing
En route to the 3 diamond Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven, your
home for three nights, enjoy a short tour of the Temple of Heaven
which features exquisite architectural workmanship.
3. Beijing
Take in Tian'anmen Square, where Mao first proclaimed the birth
of the People's Republic of China and now his burial site; the
Forbidden City, off-limits to all but a privileged few for over 500
years and court to the Ming and Qing emperors; and the Summer
Palace on a sightseeing tour. B L
4. Sacred Way and Great Wall
Begin with a visit to the Sacred Way, where the tombs of all 13
Ming emperors are guarded by statues of animals and warriors, and
continue to the 2600-year-old, 3800-mile-long Great Wall, to admire
this feat of engineering and the beautiful scenery that surrounds
it. B L
5. Beijing to
Chengde
Cross a spectacular mountainous landscape by train - observe
rural China and everyday village life en route and pass some of the
oldest sections of the Great Wall. Reaching Chengde, check into the
3 diamond Yun Shan Hotel, your home for two nights, then explore
the Summer Palace, which was built as a retreat for residents of
the Forbidden City. B L D
6. Chengde
Explore Chengde's three Outer Temples today including the
largest, Putuozongsheng Temple, a mini replica of Tibet's Lhasa's
Potala Palace, the Tibetan style Puning Temple (Temple of Universal
Tranquillity) featuring a giant statue of Avalokitesvvara, and the
Pule Temple (Temple of Universal Happiness). B L D
7. Chengde to Xi'an
Travel by coach to take in the magnificent scenery between
Chengde and Beijing with photo stops en route. Fly from Beijing to
Xi'an and head straight for the only complete city wall still
standing in China. Relax for two nights at the Gloria Plaza Hotel
(4 diamond), set just outside the city walls. B L
8. Xi'an
Tour Xi'an today to see Ban Po's Neolithic Ruins, the hot
springs at Huaqing and the 2000-year-old Terracotta Army, built to
guard the Qin emperor's tomb and protect his journey to the
afterlife. This evening, dine at the optional Tang Dynasty Show
(book locally with your tour manager). B L
9. Xi'an to Beijing
Spend the morning at Shaanxi's highly renowned History Museum
then visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda, an impressive fortress-like wood
and brick edifice built in 652 AD. After lunch, fly back to Beijing
and the Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven (3 diamond), which welcomes
you for a final night. B L
10. Beijing to
London
Board your direct Air China flight to London Heathrow, where
your door-to-door driver will meet you. B
Travel notes Designed for
first-timers, this tour is an overview of China's extraordinary
history and culture, giving you a taste that will whet your
appetite to discover more. You'll need to pack an overnight bag for
your two nights in Chengde, as space is limited on the train
journey there. For a real sense of the culture, expect to eat
mainly Chinese food. Most meals are taken in local restaurants,
where you'll be able to sample regional specialities. The hotels
we've chosen are all of a good standard.
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