Page Text Content
ADD-ON
If you would like to extend your holiday to China by taking any of the following add-ons before your return journey, please see the relevant page for full details.
Hong Kong
4 nights from only £499
See page 25 for details.
Yangtze Gorges Cruise
4 nights from only £599
See page 26 for details.
Tibet
7 nights from only £1199
See page 27 for details.
Grand Canal was built in the 6th century to connect Beijing with the east coast. It is believed to be the largest internal waterway in the world and is still used as a major transport artery. The busy water traffic of barges, sampans and sailing boats is a fascinating and absorbing sight, and our cruise will also give you a close-up view of the communes, farms and villages along its banks. Disembark at Suzhou and transfer to your hotel for a two night stay. DAYS 8 & 9 - Suzhou is beautiful. It is famous for its landscaped gardens, narrow canals and traditional Chinese architecture. Many of the sites of the famous gardens of Suzhou, known as far back as the 10th century, are still intact, and some have been restored to their former glory. A visit to these gardens will be one of the highlights of your time in China. Our full programme of sightseeing includes the Lingering Garden, Humble Minister's Garden, Lion Garden, Tiger Hill, and also visits to a silk and embroidery factory (Suzhou has been famous for its silk products since the days of Marco Polo). There will also be time to see the local markets and stroll through the quaint, narrow streets a must in Suzhou. You will come to narrow canals with cobblestone walks where rickety wooden houses lean against each other. Peek into the whitewashed cottages as you walk by and you'll catch a glimpse of families chatting, cooking and eating. On the steps to the water, women pound the washing against the stonework. A walk through Suzhou is indeed a rewarding experience. Transfer by train in the late afternoon of Day 9 to Shanghai. DAY 10 - Shanghai has to be seen to be believed! As the fastest developing city in China, if not the world, this vibrant and exciting seaport is rapidly recovering its entrepreneurial prominence. Shanghai's colourful history is embedded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and today this combines with exciting modernity and a glimpse into China's future. At its heart is the Huangpu River, with its constant and extraordinary stream of water traffic.
The Bund, the city's famous riverside boulevard, is lined with magnificent former colonial buildings, which now stand as monuments to Shanghai's onetime notoriety. Across the river in Pudong District, a new `Manhattan' is rising from the former marshlands. The labyrinth of streets in the Old Town form a stark contrast with modern Nanjing Road Shanghai truly is a shopper's Mecca. By night, the city is a culinary delight with all sorts of local and international foods and entertainment that just goes on and on! Our included sightseeing programme offers the best of Shanghai. Highlights include the thronging shopping thoroughfare of Nanjing Road, the traditional Old T Town, with its ancient Wu Xing Ting Teahouse, and T the Yu Yuan Gardens, a classic Chinese garden. You will also visit the beautiful Jade Buddha Temple and T have time to stroll along the Bund. This evening there is an included visit to an Acrobatic Show. DAY 11 - Morning free in Shanghai. Afternoon transfer to the airport for the flight to Xian. Transfer on arrival to your hotel. DAYS 12 & 13 - Please see description of Days 8 & 9 of our 10 day China tour on page 9. DAY 14 - A short visit will be made to the worldfamous Beijing Zoo to see the pandas, before continuing to the outskirts of Beijing to visit the magnificent, 800-year-old Summer Palace, the largest and best preserved of all imperial palace gardens. Here you can admire the famous Marble Boat, the ornately painted `long corridor', and simply gaze in awe at the traditional Chinese landscape surrounding the various towers, gardens and pavilions. Your final afternoon in Beijing is free for individual shopping and sightseeing. You can enjoy browsing amongst the shops and markets for excellent bargains in jade, porcelain, silk and cloisonné. DAY 15 - Morning transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. As you will be flying westwards your arrival is later the same day.
Tibet by train
5 nights from only £995
See page 27 for details.
Harbin Ice Festival
3 nights from only £399
See page 24 for details.
Beijing to Hong Kong by train
5 nights from only £529
See page 25 for details.
Panda Explorer
4 nights from only £399
See page 26 for details.
To view dates & prices click here To book click here
11
|
inbro