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• Escorted Small Groups

The Grandeur Waterway & Railway Journey 13 Days

With a history stretching back further than the Great Wall to the 5th Century BC, the Grand Canal is the world's oldest and longest, featuring 24 locks and some 60 bridges. At nearly 1800kms (1120 miles) it surpasses both the Suez and Panama canals. On this pioneering adventure, Oriental Travel takes you on a 13 day journey featuring the new high speed bullet train, through the ancient trails of the Grand Canal, discovering the richly decorated merchant towns and staying at some of the most charming boutique hotels along the way.

Tour Itinerery

Day 1: UK - Beijing

Our journey begins as we board our overnight scheduled flight to Beijing.
(* For those who may experience jet lag, we recommend adding a pre-tour night in Beijing for a refreshing start of your holiday.)

Day 2: Beijing

Morning arrival into Beijing where you will be greeted by your Oriental Travel Tour Manager and chauffeured to your deluxe class hotel.
Later in the afternoon, just before sunset, we will take a leisurley stroll along the "Hutong" area around Shichahai Lake. Surrounded by former princes' palaces, traditional courtyard residences and narrow alleys, Shichahai was part of the old Grand Canal of the Yuan Dynasty dating back 600 years. A welcome dinner will be served in a charming restaurant hidden in one of the narrow alleys.

Day 3: Beijing

Our days begins with a stroll through Tiananmen Square before wandering amongst the imperial splendour of the Forbidden City. In the afternoon visit the majestic Summer Palace. This is here where the Qing emperors and empresses took their summer vacations. This evening we have prepared a sumptuous Peking duck banquet dinner in a lively local restaurant.

Day 4: Beijing

An active but rewarding day is in store as we head to the Great Wall at Mutianyu - a much quieter and picturesque section of the Great Wall. Here you will have plenty of time to climb up to the top of this magnificent structure. On our return to the city, visit a jade carving workshop.

Day 5: Beijing - Nanjing (Tangshan hotspring), by train (4 hours)

This morning we visit the Temple of Heaven, a place of solitude, contemplation and where the emperors once prayed in hushed whispers to the gods for good harvests and continued prosperity.

Late morning take our first ride on the new bullet train heading south to Nanjing. This rail journey takes 4 hours.

We will arrive in Nanjing early afternoon and head straight to the countryside Tangshan County where our hotspring resort is located. The rest of the day is at your leisure to indulge yourself in the hotsprings or pamper yourself with a traditional Chinese massage. Accommodation: 5* Easpring Hotspring Resort

Day 6: Nanjing - Suzhou, by train (1.5 hour)

Nanjing, literally means southern capital in Chinese and served as the capital for six ancient dynasties. After a relaxed breakfast at our hotel, we embark on a tour of the city visiting the Confucius Temple, Ancient City Walls and the Ming Tombs through the "sacred path".
Travel to Suzhou by yet another bullet train (1.5 hour). Upon arrival check into our heritage boutique hotel for two nights stay. Located on Suzhou's most historic area, the Pingjiang Lodge is not a regular hotel as it is a conversion of a 400 year old courtyard house of a local merchant of the Ming Dynasty.
Accommodation: Pingjiang Lodge Boutique Hotel (a 400 years heritage garden mansion converted into a charming boutique hotel)

Day 7: Suzhou

Known as ¡°Venice of the Orient¡± and one of the cultural capitals of China Suzhou is renowned and compared to Heaven due to is silk, canals and famous landscaped garden. Our tour begins with a relaxing walk through the traditional Pingjiang Quarter around our hotel. We then take a boat trip along one of the oldest sections of the grand canal to the Humble Administrators Garden. This afternoon visit a silk workshop.

Day 8: Suzhou - Wuzhen

Travel by our comfortable coach to the ancient water town Wuzhen, founded 1,300 years ago. Here we stay in a charming hotel tastefully decorated in traditional Chinese style with modern day comforts. A delicious lunch will be served in a canal side restaurant with special local cuisine
Our guide will walk you through the treasures of this ancient town including the pagodas, the town hall, merchant houses and the idllyic gardens. The highlight today will be a night cruise on wooden paddle boats where you can take a closer look at canal life ...

Day 9: Wuzhen - Hangzhou

Enjoy a free leisure morning before travel to the southern end of the Grand Canal - Hangzhou. In fact the Grand Canal is also known as Beijing-Hangzhou Canal in Chinese.
Arriving in Hangzhou, we drive through the lush green hills of tea plantations where you get a taste of Dragon Well Tea. Then we will learn more about Chinese tea culture by visiting the only tea museum in the country.

Day 10: Hangzhou

Our day begins with a boat trip on the famed West Lake where we explore its beautifully landscaped islets. Next visit the Six Harmonies Pagoda. In the afternoon we make a visit to the Grand Canal Museum, the only museum in teh country dedicated to the study of Grand Canal.

Day 11: Hangzhou - Shanghai

Today we travel to Shanghai (2.5 hours). After luch and settle in at our hotel, this afternoon we drive through the modern Pudong District with its financial centre and some of the tallest buildings in the world, before return to the old side of the river. Here we will stroll along the colonial Bund, and the Old French Concession.
Accommodation: 5* Grand Mercure Hotel

Day 12: Shanghai

After a relaxed breakfast, we visit the City Planning Hall. This interesting little museum showcases the development & history of the city including a scale city model.
Stroll through the Shanghai Old Quarter and its lively neighborhoods and Yuyuan Bazaar which is famous for bargain hunting. Here we have lunch with some true Shanghai delicacies .
Tonight enjoy the award-winning Shanghai Acrobatics Show.

Day 13: Shanghai - UK

Today bid a fond farwell to China as we transfer to the airport for our return flight home.

Extend extra night(s) in Shanghai - only £42/person (May, Sep, Oct, Nov) & £39/person (all other months).

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Post-Tour Hong Kong Extension 2 Nights 3 Days

Price include:
- Your choice of domestic flight or overland train from Shanghai to Hong Kong
- 2 nights hotel accommodation (extra nights available), room-only basis
- 1 day (24 hours unlimited use) ticket pass Open-Top Bus tour of Hong Kong(inc. return tickets on Peak Tram and Star Ferry)

4* Empire Hotel Causeway Bay hotel website
Low Season -- £365pp (extra nt £43)     High Season -- £395pp (extra nt £48)

5* Harbour Grand Hong Kong hotel website
Low Season -- £399pp (extra nt £65) High Season -- £460pp (extra nt £86)

* Low Season = Mar,May-Aug,Dec;     High Season = Apr,Sep,Oct,Nov
* Note: the train departs on alternative dates only and takes 25 hours
* Train option include single bed ticket in the soft sleeper (4-berth compartment), there may be an option upgrade to private compartment. Please enquiry with our team.
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Huangshan Extension 3 Nights
Huangshan (English translation "Yellow Mountain") is a World Heritage Site renowned for its magnificient scenery and the source of many great Chinese poems. Spectacular granite peaks and rock formations, emerging out of ocean of clouds, and the historic temples dispersed along the trail, this is a paradise for photographers, painters and lovers of nature.
Price starts from £535/person. Please enquire for details.

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Tour Price includes:

• Return international flights
• Escorted tour program as mentioned inc. domestic flights, land transportation, sightseeing entrance fee
• 11 nights hotel accommodation as listed above
• Daily buffet breakfast and most lunches & dinners - 11 breakfast, 8 lunch/refreshment, 5 dinner

Tour Price exclude:

- Chinese visa fee (we can arrange this for you)
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities to local guide/driver

Dates	Price (per person)	Availability
April 3	£2,380	Booked out
May 5	£2,340	Good	Book
October 16	£2,380	Good	Book