Tour AC04 - The Essence of China

Day 1: Canada - Beijing
We start our journey to the Middle Kingdom with a transpacific flight to Beijing.

Day 2: Beijing We arrive in Beijing, the political and cultural capital of China. We are greeted at the airport by our local tour guide and make our way to the hotel. We get a good night’s sleep and prepare for our first day of touring in this land of wonder and mystery.

Day 3: Beijing
Today, we tour Beijing, the capital of China for five dynasties and over 800 years. We start our day with a visit to the Forbidden City, the Imperial palace from the mid-Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. This beautiful complex is the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world, featuring more than 800 buildings, 720,000 square metres of building space, 9,999 rooms, resplendent golden-glazed roofs, red lacquered pillars, vermilion walls, and mind-boggling opulence. We make our next stop at the famous Temple of Heaven. Built during the Ming Dynasty, the beautiful temple was used to offer sacrifices to heaven and pray for good harvests. We then tour the Summer Palace, a dominion of palace temples, gardens, pavilions, and lakes that was once a playground for the imperial court. It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi diverted 30 million taels of silver originally designated for the Chinese navy to the reconstruction of the Summer Palace when the original site was destroyed by two major wars during the nineteenth century. Today, Summer Palace is viewed as a symbol of Chinese landscape garden design, for its creative incorporation of the works of mankind and nature in a harmonious whole. In the evening, we are entertained by an amazing acrobatic show before retiring to our hotel.

Day 4: Beijing
No visit to China is complete without a walk on the remarkable Great Wall at Juyongguan. The Great Wall is the first image that comes to mind when most people think of China, and seeing it in person is truly something else. It is one of the non-classical Wonders of the World, a symbol of China's rich and storied past, and the pride of the Chinese nation. The Juyongguan Pass, with its northern Badaling portion, is the most well-known and visited section of the Great Wall. Later, we visit the Sacred Road and the Ming Dynasty Tombs, the site of the tombs of 13 Ming Emperors. This scenic area blends natural beauty and masterful architecture in a tranquil serenity. In the evening, we visit a traditional cloisonné factory before enjoying a traditional Peking Duck banquet.

Day 5: Beijing - Xian
Today, we fly to Xian, the first Chinese city to open its doors to the world. During the Tang Dynasty, Xian became the first stop on the Silk Road. This capital of China for eleven dynasties and over 2,000 years was a world leader in culture and trade on par with the likes of Rome and Constantinople, and played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between East and West in ancient times. Upon arrival, we visit the Bell Tower and Xian's city wall - the most complete city wall in China and one of the largest and most complete military defence systems in the world today. For dinner, we enjoy a traditional Tang Dynasty dumpling banquet and show.

Day 6: Xian
On our second day in Xian, we visit the acclaimed Terracotta Army, a collection of 8,099 life-size terra cotta figures of warriors and horses buried with the first Emperor of Qin to help him rule another empire in the afterlife. Re-discovered in 1974, the Army is recognized as one of the top archaeological excavations of the twentieth century and often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World. Later, we visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a pagoda built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty to hold the Buddhist scriptures collected by the Chinese monk Xuanzang.

Day 7: Xian - Guilin
Today, we fly to Guilin, hailed by many as the most picturesque city in China and a must-see destination for tourists. Guilin's reputation has given rise to a famous Chinese saying describing its natural scenery as the "finest under heaven." The region's uniquely-shaped limestone towers and crystal-clear waterways, accented by magical limestone karst caves, have been the inspiration to countless Chinese artists over the centuries. Two highlights on our tour are Elephant Trunk Hill and Reed Flute Cave.

Day 8: Guilin
On our second day in Guilin, we take a cruise down the famous Li River. Flanked by green hills and mountain peaks rising into the sky, the Li River meanders through one of China's most breathtaking regions. Our eyes are treated to scene after scene of postcard imagery as our boat drifts slowly downstream. Once we return to shore in the evening, we enjoy an aboriginal song and dance show with dinner.

Day 9: Guilin - Shanghai
As a definite highlight of our tour, we visit Shanghai, the undisputed commercial and financial heart of the country. Situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta, this modern metropolis is widely regarded as the citadel of China's economic development. Originally a sleepy fishing town, Shanghai became China's most important city by the twentieth century and is now a centre of popular culture, intellectual discourse, and political intrigue. While here, we visit the Bund and its architecture reminiscent of early twentieth century Europe, the skyscraper-lined banks of the Huangpu River, the shopping heaven that is Nanjing Road, and the refreshing oasis in the heart of the city - the Yuyuan Gardens. After a delicious dinner, take advantage of Shanghai's vibrant nightlife because this city never sleeps.

Day 10: Shanghai - Suzhou - Wuxi
After a delicious buffet breakfast featuring both local and international delicacies, we travel by coach to Suzhou, known in China as “Paradise on Earth” since ancient times for its extraordinary beauty and delicate elegance. The city is referred to by many as the “Venice of the East” because it is built around the Grand Canal, while others call it “Garden City” for its abundance of classical Chinese gardens. Two highlights on our tour are Tiger Hill and the Master of the Nets Garden. After enjoying a dinner featuring local specialties and a silk fashion show in the evening, we travel by coach to Wuxi.

Day 11: Wuxi - Yangzhou
Today, we tour Wuxi, a city that has been dubbed “Little Shanghai” for its recent economic development. With over 3,000 years of history, Wuxi is also one of the oldest cities in China. We visit the acclaimed Turtle Head Park, where we take in the beauty of Lake Tai, the third-largest lake in China. For lunch, we’re served the specialty of the local cuisine: Wuxi Spare Ribs. In the afternoon, we visit Three Kingdoms City, a 35-hectare movie set used to shoot the Han Dynasty epic "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," and a freshwater pearls farm. In the evening, we make our way to Yangzhou.

Day 12: Yangzhou - Nanjing
On the twelfth day of our tour, we enjoy the splendor of Yangzhou. This 2,500 year-old city is home to countless traditional Chinese pavilions that will keep your cameras clicking. We visit the Slender West Lake and the Ge Garden. While in Yangzhou, we make sure to indulge in the local Huaiyang cuisine, which includes the famous Yangzhou Fried Rice, a popular dish loved all over China. At night, we continue our tour to Nanjing via motor coach.

Day 13: Nanjing - Wuzhen - Hangzhou
Nanjing is the capital city of the province of Jiangsu. It served as the capital of China through six dynasties and is littered with cultural relics, fascinating museums, and breathtaking scenery. Highlights on our tour include the Mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the Confucian Temple, the Qinhuai River, and Nanjing Museum. After enjoying the local Qinhuai flavour for lunch, we continue our journey to Wuzhen. Wuzhen is a charming water town with 1,300 years of history. This small town in the province of Zhejiang is a picture-perfect combination of canals, bridges, and traditional Chinese architecture. In the evening, we make our way to Hangzhou by coach.

Day 14: Hangzhou - Shanghai
Today, we spend the day in Hangzhou. A famous saying in China roughly translates: "In heaven, there is paradise; On earth, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou." When Marco Polo visited this city in the thirteenth century, he referred to the city as "beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world." Our visit takes us to West Lake, arguably the most famous lake in China. While here, we witness the Ten Scenes of the West Lake, each presenting a unique kind of beauty. Later, we visit the Yellow Dragon Cave and taste the celebrated Longjing (Chinese for Dragon Well) Tea. In the evening, we return to Shanghai by coach.

Day 15: Shanghai - Canada
Today, our local tour guide sees us off at the airport, and we fly home to Canada. Have a wonderful trip!