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Day 1: Arrival Beijing
Welcome to Beijing! We will be meeting you at the airport from where you will be transferred by private car and English speaking guide to your hotel. Assisstance with checking in and time to ask you guide any initial questions you might have. Free time for the rest of the day to relax from the flight or start to explore the city with the help of your personalised Trip Guidebook we send you before the trip. Overnight hotel.
Meals: -|-|-
Day 2: Beijing
After breakfast start a full day excursion to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, perhaps China’s most famous landmark. After visiting the Wall drive to the Ming Tombs along the Sacred Way lined with giant marble figures and animals guarding the tomb area for deceased Emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644AD). In the evening a delicious Peking Duck dinner to warm you up and satisfy the appetite you will have built up today. Return to the hotel and overnight.
Meals: B|L|D
Day 3: Beijing to Pingyao
A full day private tour visiting three of Beijing premiere attractions. You will be collected from your hotel by your guide and driver for the day visiting the vast palace complex of the Forbidden City, the beautiful Temple of Heaven set inside a huge park and the Summer Palace - the emperor’s former playground set out to the west of the city where you may even be able to ice skate on the lake. After the tour a transfer to the station to catch an overnight train to Pingyao in comfortable soft sleeper class.
Meals: B|L|-
Day 4: Pingyao
Early morning arrival in Pingyao with a transfer to your hotel and breakfast. During the morning a half day orientation tour of this ancient walled city to familiarize yourself with the layout and venues for the photography festival. Free time in the afternoon to further explore the city and festival. Overnight hotel.
Meals: B|-|-
Day 5: Pingyao
Free day in Pingyao to further enjoy the photography festival and the city itself. Overnight hotel.
Meals: B|-|-
Day 6: Pingyao to Xian
After breakfast some free time before a transfer by minibus to Taiyuan stopping of at Jin Si with time to view and photograph this wonderfully atmospheric temple. Continue on direct to Taiyuan airport for the short flight to Xian, a Tang Dynasty city at the Eastern end of the Silk Road. Free time in the evening and overnight hotel.
Meals: B|-|-
Day 7: Xian
After breakfast start a full day tour to the Terra-cotta warriors and a city tour including the city walls. You will also visit the Wild Goose Pagoda built in 652 AD containing a large volume of Buddhist scriptures which were obtained from India by the eminent monk Xuanzang. In the evening a warming dumpling dinner banquet before returning to the hotel to overnight.
Meals: B|L|D
Day 8: Xian to Shanghai
Free morning in Xian to further explore such sights as the Drum and Bell Towers located by your hotel. Mid afternoon transfer to the station for the overnight train to Shanghai in comfortable soft sleeper class.
Meals: B|-|-
Day 9: Shanghai
Early morning arrival in cosmopolitan and bustling Shanghai. Transfer to your hotel, breakfast and time to freshen up before a full day tour of the Yuyuan Garden, Old Shanghai, the excellent Shanghai Museum and a stroll along the lively waterfront, known as the "Bund". Round off the day with a visit the world famous Chinese Acrobats before a transfer back to your hotel to overnight.
Meals: B|L|-
Day 10: Departure Shanghai
Free time until a transfer to the Maglev station for a ride on the world’s fastest train to Pudong airport to catch your flight out of China. Your transfer guide will buy a standard class Maglev ticket for you and make sure you get on the train which takes just 8 minutes to cover the 30km to the airport reaching a top speed of 430 km/hour. End of services.
Meals: B|-|-
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INCLUDED in this trip:
Train Tickets:
✔ Beijing to Pingyao soft sleeper class (overnight trip) 1 berth each in a 4 berth compartment
✔ Xian to Shanghai soft sleeper class (overnight trip) 1 berth each in a 4 berth compartment
✔ Maglev ticket to Pudong airport standard class (8 minutes reaching 430km/hour)
Plane Tickets:
✔ Taiyuan to Xian economy class
Accommodation:
(See Hotels used below itinerary)
✔ 2 nights Beijing
✔ 2 nights Pingyao
✔ 2 nights Xian
✔ 1 night Shanghai
Transfers:
✔ Beijing - Airport to Hotel
✔ Beijing - Hotel to Train Station
✔ Pingyao - Train Station to Hotel
✔ Pingyao - Hotel to Taiyuan Airport with time at Jin Si Temple on the way
✔ Xian - Airport to Hotel
✔ Xian - Hotel to Train Station
✔ Shanghai - Train Station to Hotel
✔ Shanghai - Hotel to Maglev Train Station
Organised Private Tours:
✔ Beijing - Full day private tour to the Great Wall at Mutianyu and the Ming Tombs. Peking Duck dinner in the evening.
✔ Beijing - Full day private tour to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace.
✔ Pingyao - Half day tour orientation tour of the old city and festival venues including the entrance fee to the city.
✔ Xian - Full day private tour to the Terra cotta Warriors, Wild Goose Pagoda and City Walls. Dumpling dinner in the evening.
✔ Shanghai - Full day private tour to the Yuyuan gardens, Shanghai Museum, Old City and Bund - Acrobats in the evening.
Meals:
✔ As indicated in itinerary above (B = breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
Other Items:
✔ Our exclusive Trip Guidebook personalised to your trip. This 100+ page document covers all the destinations you visit as well as sections on language, food, history and practical information about China and your trip.
NOT Included in this trip:
✘ International airfare to and from China.
✘ The Chinese visa (we can help you obtain this on request if you are a UK resident or give advice if you are not).
✘ Travel and trip insurance to cover medical treatment in China.
✘ Discretionary gratuities to drivers and guides.
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