Your itinerary

Day 1: Depart UK.

Overnight flight to Beijing.

Day 2: Beijing.

On arrival in Beijing you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for a two night stay. The rest of the day is yours to begin to explore Beijing. (D)

Day 3: Beijing. Included sightseeing.

Our included city sightseeing tour begins with a visit to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. We continue to the Summer Palace, a park of lakeside pagodas and the site of a marble boat made for Empress Dowager Ci Xi. In the evening enjoy a Peking Duck Dinner. (B) (L) (D)

Day 4: Beijing - Great Wall of China - Xian.

Our morning tour takes you to the Temple of Heaven, an excellent example of 15th century Chinese architecture. Later, head to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, which criss-crosses forested mountain tops (return cable-car rides are included), before transferring to Beijing airport for a late afternoon flight to Xian. (B) (L) (D)

Day 5: Xian. Included Terracotta Warriors.

One of the highlights of the tour is our visit to the first emperor's funeral vault to see the amazing Terracotta Warriors: 8,000 life-sized model warriors, chariots and horses. Later visit the Wild Goose Pagoda, followed by a pleasant walk along the ancient city wall. In the evening enjoy dinner and the Tang Palace Show. (B) (L) (D)

Day 6: Xian - Dunhuang.

A morning tour of Xian's Provincial Museum. Transfer to the airport for an afternoon flight to the historical city of Dunhuang, the hub of the middle and eastern silk routes in ancient times. On arrival transfer to your hotel for a two night stay. (B) (L) (D)

Day 7: Dunhuang. Included sightseeing.

Enjoy a full day tour to the Mogao Caves, followed by the Mingsha Shan whistling sand dunes and oasis Cresent Lake. According to legend, the caves are built on the spot where a monk had a vision of a thousand Buddhas - the construction of the caves spanned ten dynasties. (B) (L) (D)

Day 8: Dunhuang - Hami.

We travel by road through the desert landscapes to Hami for a two night stay. (B) (L) (D)

Day 9: Eclipse Day.

Start the day with a morning tour to the Hui Wang Fen Tomb complex, followed by the Tomb of Gess. After lunch, travel to either Xiamaya or Weizixia village, the best viewing points in Hami from which to observe the eclipse (eclipse can be viewed in between 19:00 - 20:11, Beijing time). After the eclipse, drive to Yiwu County or Balikun Grassland for dinner before returning to Hami. (B) (L) (D)

Day 10: Hami- Dunhuang.

Return journey to Dunhuang. (B) (L) (D)

Day 11: Dunhuang - Shanghai.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. On arrival transfer to your hotel. (B) (D)

Day 12: Shanghai. Included sightseeing.

Today we immerse ourselves in cosmopolitan Shanghai with tours of the surreal Yu Yuan Garden, the Old Town area, and the famous Jade Buddha Temple. This evening, enjoy an acrobatics show. (B) (L) (D)

Day 13: Shanghai - UK.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. (B)

Note: The exact itinerary on the day of the eclipse may vary depending on local conditions. Hami is a small rural town and facilities in hotels and restaurants will be of a more basic standard compared to the remainder of the tour.

Hotels On Tour

Beijing: Dongfang; Xian: Garden Hotel; Dunhuang: Dunhuang Hotel; Hami: Jiageda Hotel; Shanghai:Ruitai Hongqiao. Note: Tour hotels will be as specified or alternatives of a similar standard.

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