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Tour AC01 - The Best of the Orient

Highlights: Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin
Duration: 10 days, 9 nights

Tour AC01 - The Best of the Orient
Highlights: Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin
Duration: 10 days, 9 nights
 

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
On our second-last day in China, we fly to 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 for the perfect ending to your vacation in China.

Day 10: Shanghai - Canada
Today, our local tour guide sees us off at the airport, and we fly home to Canada. Have a wonderful trip!


Accommodations and Meals Information

Day 1 In-flight In-flight
Day 2 Jade Palace Hotel (5-stars) In-flight
Day 3 Jade Palace Hotel (5-stars) B/L/D
Day 4 Jade Palace Hotel (5-stars) B/L/D
Day 5 Diamond International Hotel (4-stars) B/L/D
Day 6 Diamond International Hotel (4-stars) B/L/D
Day 7 Guilin Park Hotel (4-stars) B/L/D
Day 8 Guilin Park Hotel (4-stars) B/L/D
Day 9 New Century Hotel (4-stars) B/L/D
Day 10 In-flight B


Tour Fares

Adult Fare $3199
Child Fare $2499
Single Supplement $300

 

Notice
The fares displayed are for information only and are subject to change according to season. Fares cover international and domestic airfare, coach transportation, tour guide, admissions, meals, hotel accommodation, and travel accident insurance. Fares do not include gratuities for driver and tour guide, trip cancellation insurance, flight accident insurance, or baggage and document loss insurance. MidEarth Travel reserves the right to cancel or amend the schedule when necessary. For customers wishing to arrange their own travel insurance, our staff will be happy to assist.
Tour Fare:
Quad: $0.00
Triple: $0.00
Double: $2499.00
Single: $300.00
Child: $0.00
Departure Dates:

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