Itinerary

Day 1 Beijing

Beijing is China's foremost city and capital for twenty four successive emperors. Some of the major sights include: Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall and Summer Palace. The complete range of Chinese cuisine can be found in the capital, and evening entertainment is superb.

Take an airport transfer by private car with an English-speaking guide.

You will be picked up from your Beijing hotel and taken on a half day private guided tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City with a deluxe lunch. Tiananmen Square was built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty and was the front door of the Forbidden City. The present square stretches a vast 440,000 square meters and features Tiananmen Tower, Monument to the People's Heroes, Great Hall of the People, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall. The Forbidden City is the world's largest palace complex with 9,999 buildings across 74 hectares, surrounded by a six meter deep moat and a ten meter wall, and divided into two parts. The Outer Court was where the emperor exercised his supreme power over the nation. The Inner Court was where he lived with his royal family. Fourteen emperors of the Ming dynasty and ten emperors of the Qing dynasty reigned here until 1924.

Michael’s House Beijing is housed within a traditional Chinese courtyard house. A short distance from Beihai Park and Deshengmen, it offers free internet and a daily breakfast. The hotel is 30 km from Beijing Capital International Airport. Attractions like Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Olympic Stadium are just a short drive away. Surrounded by the hutongs (small alleys which run between courtyards) which were constructed in the 13th century, the hotel enjoy an atmosphere full of history and culture.

Overnight at Michael`s House .

Day 2 Beijing

Full day tour to Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs with, lunch. It is a coach tour. Clients are picked up in their hotels in the morning, and dropped off in the late afternooon after the tour, lunch included. The Great wall - world wonder was firstly built 2000 years ago, and restored in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Built mainly from granite with 8 m walls and 5m wide at the top. It is notable for its 22 watch towers. Because of its long history, palatial and integrated architecture, Ming tombs - the mausoleums of 13 Ming dynasty's emperors (1368-1644) has a high cultural and historic value. The layout and arrangement of all thirteen mausoleums are very similar but vary in size as well as in the complexity of their structures.

Enjoy a transfer to/from train station with private vehicle, driver, and English-speaking guide.

Board your overnight train bound for Xi'an. Choose either the standard soft sleeper, which is a cabin of 4 berths (two upper bunks, two lower bunks) or opt for the private 2 person berth (two lower bunks only). Comfortable bedding and good quality pillows are provided. Each bunk is equipped with a small reading lamp. Temperature controls are installed alongside the door. Generally speaking, the facilities include a clothes rack, slippers, clothes brush, stainless steel thermos, fine porcelain teacup, a trash can and wall socket. Travel time is roughly 11-13 hours.

Overnight at Train - Xi`an.

Day 3 Xi'an

Xi'an was the capital of China's first emperor whose tomb is guarded by the world famous terracotta warriors.

Train station to hotel or hotel to train station transfer by private car with professional tour guide.

Half day private guided tour of the Terra Cotta Army and BanPo Museum with deluxe lunch. China's greatest archaeological excavation, the over 7,000 terra cotta life size warriors and horses arranged in battle formations symbolically guard the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin dynasty (246-209 BC). The Neolithic Banpo Village was a settlement has on display nearly 10,000 production tools and the remains of 45 houses.

Train station to hotel or hotel to train station transfer by private car with professional tour guide.

Board your overnight train bound for Shanghai. Choose either the standard soft sleeper, which is a cabin of 4 berths (two upper bunks, two lower bunks) or opt for the private 2 person berth (two lower bunks only). Comfortable bedding and good quality pillows are provided. Each bunk is equipped with a small reading lamp. Temperature controls are installed alongside the door. Generally speaking, the facilities include a clothes rack, slippers, clothes brush, stainless steel thermos, fine porcelain teacup, a trash can and wall socket. Travel time is roughly 13-16 hours.

Overnight at Train - Shanghai .

Day 4 Shanghai

Shanghai is the symbol of "New China", bustling and busy with excellent shopping. With an eclectic architectural mix from Asian infused Victorian and Art Deco to 21st Century avant-garde, Shanghai is an exciting, ever-changing metropolis. Popular attractions range from the Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Garden and Shanghai Museum to modern wonders like the Oriental Pearl Tower. Landmarks of the city include the French Concession and historic waterfront known as the Bund. Shanghai is an excellent base from which to explore the canal towns of the Yangtze delta as well as nearby Suzhou or Hangzhou. Shanghai will host the 2010 World's Fair.

Transfer to/from train station with private vehicle, driver, and English-speaking guide.

The staff at the high-rise Holiday Inn Express Shanghai Zhabei hotel offer a warm welcome on your arrival, 30 minutes by taxi from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. Only a 5-minute walk from Shanghai railway station and subway station, this modern hotel is in the downtown Puxi area of Shanghai. You can surf the web with complimentary high-speed Internet in the comfort of your spacious, air-conditioned Guest room.

Overnight at HolidayInn Express Zhabei.

Day 5 Shanghai

Walking along the famous Nanjing Road and fabulous Bund area, listening to your expert local tour guide explaining the history and development of China's most cosmopolitan city.

Overnight at HolidayInn Express Zhabei.

Day 6 Shanghai

Transfer from central Shanghai with a driver, and English-speaking Guide to the Maglev station in Pudong from where you can complete your airport transfer in about 8 minutes at speeds of over 400 km/h. (Warning - involves a little walking).

Depart from Shanghai international airport - end of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart.

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