Days 1-2 Hong Kong
You can arrive at any time on day 1 as there are no activities planned until
he evening, when there will be a group meeting. For those who arrive
early, check at hotel reception for information and ideas on what to do
for the day. Check for a notice from your leader detailing the time and
place for the group meeting.
Hong Kong is a dynamic, corporate Asian city and a great place to explore.
We get our tastebuds going in Cantonese style at a Yum Cha brunch and
a guided walk through local makets on Hong Kong Island, where we
sample a variety of dim sum with the locals. In the afternoon we can
take a cruise across the harbour on the famous Star Ferry and admire
the views from Victoria Peak. There's also free time for your choice of
activities in Hong Kong - explore Stanley Market, shop on Nathan Road.
Days 3-5 Yangshuo
On day 3 we take a short flight to Guilin and transfer by bus to
Yangshuo (approx. 1.5 hrs). Set amid towering limestone karsts,
Yangshuo is a relaxing riverside town. Small lanes and old houses
in local villages are visible alongside breathtaking scenery. During our
free time you can explore the Li River and its surrounds. Southern
Chinese cooking is typified by an abundance of fresh produce and
exotic ingredients available from the surrounding river and lush
agricultural areas. A hands-on cooking demonstration gets us out in
the market, buying ingredients and cooking up a storm!
We can relax in one of the many cafes or take to the surrounding
countryside on bicycles.
Days 6-8 Shanghai
On day 6 we travel back to Guilin (1.5 hrs) for a flight to Shanghai, a
booming, cosmopolitan city full of a decadent history and remnants of
glory. A stroll along Shanghai's famous Bund offers visitors an amazing
sight - magnificent art-deco style buildings to one side of the river and
the futuristic skyscrapers of the Pudong on the other. There is plenty
of free time to check out the sights - visit the famous Shanghai
museum, shop in Nanjing Lu, get lost in backstreets or stroll along the
Bund. You could also see a performance of the famous Shanghai
Acrobats. We take a day trip to beautiful Hangzhou (approx. 2 hours by
train) where we can sample famous local dishes such as West Lake fish
or Beggar's chicken. On day 8 we board an overnight train to Xi'an
(approx 17 hours).
Days 9-11 Xi'an
We arrive in Xi'an early and transfer to our hotel. At the beginning of the
Silk Road, this interesting city was the political heart of China until the
9th Century. We have plenty of free time for checking out sights like the
Great Mosque, city walls, pagodas and museums. We can sample dishes
like kebabs and hot pots at the great street stalls in the Muslim Quarter.
We take a day trip to the Terracotta Warriors (approx. 1 hour from
Xi'an). This incredible stone army has stood still for over 2000 years,
guarding the tomb of Qin Shihuang, China's First Emperor. In the
evening of day 11 we board a sleeper train for the trip to Beijing
(approx. 14 hrs).
Days 12-15 Beijing
In Beijing we explore the ancient palaces of the Forbidden City (off limits
for 500 years), and visit other sites such as Tiananmen Square
and Mao Zedong's Mausoleum. There are plenty of diverse eateries for
sampling northern specialties such as Mongolian hotpot, Royal banquets,
dumplings and hand-made wheat noodles. And of course, we sample
China's most famous dish - Beijing Duck, in one of the traditonal duck
restaurants tucked away in the old city. From the grand metropolis
of the capital city, we take a day trip to the Mutianyu section of the
2000 year-old Great Wall, China's most famous historic site. Known
locally as the "10,000 Li Wall", the crumbling structure stretches
6000 km across northern China.
You may depart at any time on day 15 as there are no activities planned.
Travel Style
We have something for everyone - variety being the key. Variety in
places visited, activities undertaken, people met and even the
accommodation and transport we use. Something new and different
every day. Some meals and activities are included, while there is also
lots of free time to explore and do your own thing.
Group Size
12 maximum
Accomodation
Hotels/guesthouses (12 nights), overnight trains (2 nights)
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