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• Escorted Small Groups
• Private / Tailor-made Packages

Grand China with Yangtze River Cruise

Definition of Grand (adj) - "Noble or admirable in conception or intent"

Tour Itinerery

Day 1: Shanghai

Our journey begins as we fly with non-stop British Airways to Shanghai from London Heathrow (Regional departure available at a small supplement).

Day 2: Shanghai

Morning arrival in Shanghai. You will be greeted by Oriental's Tour Manager. Chauffeur to our hotel in downtown. After time to relax and settle in, in the late afternoon, we will take a leisurely walk along the colonial riverside The Bund before enjoying our welcome dinner.
Accommodation: 4*+ Rendezvous Hotel or Four Points by Sheraton

Day 3: Shanghai

Once home to gangsters & opium dens Shanghai Old Quarter still retains an authentic feel with its tiny lanes and petite houses. At its heart lies the Yuyuan Garden with its host of shops, cafes and tea house for you to explore and both a bric a brac. After a leisurely morning here we continue onto the Jade Buddha Temple and Old French Concession which has now been converted into trendy cafes, bars and restaurants, before finishing off the day with a marvelous acrobatic show.

Day 4: Shanghai - Suzhou

Following a leisurely breakfast in our hotel, we depart for an hour coach journey to Suzhou. Historically the cultural capital of China, this traditional city is famous for fine gardens, canals & silk. Over the centuries it has been a haven to high ranking officials, scholars & rich merchants all competing to create the most lavish & original Chinese gardens imaginable, many of which still remain to this day.
After freshen up in our hotel, we start with a boat trip along the city's oldest water canal. For those with an interest to discover how important Feng Shui is to traditional Chinese garden design, the exquisite named Humble Adminstrator Garden will be an enlightening experience. Adjoins the garden lies the newly built Suzhou Museum designed by the internationally acclaimed architect I.M. Pei. The museum itself is a piece of art. Architecture and landscape become interrelated as a series of gardens and courts flow in and from the building itself. On display is a rich treasure of ancient Chinese art, brush paintings on rice paper, calligraphies and hand-made crafts
Accommodation: Pingjiang Lodge - "Oriental's Special Collection", a heritage mansion converted into boutique hotel furnished with period furniture

Day 5: Suzhou

We spend a relaxing morning strolling along the city's best preserved traditional quarter, Pingjiang, with its cobbled lanes and courtyard houses.The impressive seven-storey and 1,000 year old leaning pagoda on top of Tiger Hill, is quite remarkable...after all, are buildings really supposed to lean that much? The explanation is entralling and the photos iconic.
After lunch in a canal-side restaurant, we should pay a visit to a silk workshop to discover the fascinating world of the silk worm and perhaps even indulge yourself in the factory shop!

Day 6-9: Three Gorges & Yangtze River Cruising

Today we fly to Yichang to board our cruise vessel on the Yangtze River.
It is hard to describe the joy of waking up each morning to what seems like an endless procession of magnificent views slowly unfolding before you. Highlights include Three Gorges; Fengdu's Ghost City "entrance to the underworld"; the "Lesser Gorges" whose towering walls of rock seem impenetrable and whose beauty is inspirational; and a shore excursion to The Gorges Dam Project
Accommodation: 5* Victoria Cruise

Day 10: Chongqing - Guilin

Moring disembark our cruiser in Chongqing. There will be an excursion to the Panda House to see the giant pandas in play before taking our flight to Guilin where we stay overnight.
Accommodation: 4* Guilin Bravo Hotel

Day 11: Longsheng

Today we head north to Longsheng, home to a mixture of minority people that have retained their way of life and vibrantly colourful embroidered costumes throughout the centuries. After a journey through rich fertile countryside and a steady walk we will be served lunch in a minority family restaurant, nestling high up within the quilted patchwork of rice terraces called the "Dragon's Backbone".

Day 12: Yangshuo

Today is a chance to capture the almost heart stoppingly beautiful countryside of towering karst limestone spires that seem to emerge at random out of an almost perfectly flat plain, as we take a relaxing cruise along the Li River to Yangshuo. There is a buffet lunch onboard and the rest of the afternoon is left for you to discover the delights of "West Street", the heart of this picturesque riverside town.
Accommodation: 4* Tulip Holiday Hotel

Day 13: Yangshuo

A motorised buggy ride takes us deep into the countryside to explore the paddy fields, rivers,and peaks; see farmers in their fields and roaming water buffalo ... After finishing at mysterious Moon Hill, we will return to our hotel, conveniently located by West Street, with its wonderful array of market stalls, shops, cafes & restaurants.

Day 14: Yangshuo - Xian

This morning we fly to Xian, a veritable treasure trove of China's former glory. Our first visit will be the beautifully preserved Big Wild Goose Pagoda with its fragrant haze of incense and the reverberating chant of Buddhist mantra. Discover the Drum Tower whose rich beat once brought closure to the city's gates.
After freshen up and relax in our hotel overlooking the city's impressive Ancient City Wall, prepare yourself for an enriching dinner show tonight.
Accommodation: 5* Howard Johnson Hotel

Day 15: Xian

Today we journey out to the World Heritage Site of the Terracotta Warriors. Here you will have plenty of time to personally inspect the eternal guard of the First Emperor. We will also stop at a workshop to view the production of Terracotta figurines by local craftsmen and perhaps purchase a 6 ft replica warrior for you garden or home!
After lunch and a chance to sample local specialty of "hand-pulled noodles", we will return to the city for a relaxing walk on the city's impressive Ancient City Wall (optional bicycle or electric buggy ride) and South Gate.

Day 16: Xian - Beijing

This morning we will depart for our final destination in our Grand Journey. A stroll through the myriad of smiling faces that flock daily to enjoy Tiananmen Square, the largest and most enigmatic square in the world. From here we will retrace the footsteps of China's great emperors into the Forbidden City with its labyrinth of royal palaces and imperial splendour.
Dinner tonight will be in our favourite courtyard restaurant in town, with a wonderful selection of Chinese fusion dishes.
Accommodation: 5* Oriental Bay Hotel

Day 17: Beijing

There is some marvelous scenery as we wind our way up to the much quieter, authentic and picturesque section of the Great Wall at Mutianyu. Here where once soldiers cast nervous glances towards the barbarian hordes to the north, you will have plenty of time to savour this magnificent structure.
On our way back to the city, we will top by a Cloisonne Workshop to inspect this unqiue and sophiscated art form originating in Beijing in the 13th century. Later this afternoon enjoy a leisurely ride along the old city's historic alleyways (Hutong) in a ped-rickshaw.

Day 18: Beijing

After a leisurely buffet breakfast at hotel, we will visit the sacred Temple of Heaven, a place of solitude, contemplation and where once the emperors' spoke in hushed whispers to the gods in heaven to pray for continuing prosperity and good harvests. Be impressed with the majestic and beautifully landscaped Summer Palace with its sprawling imperial encampment of temples, pavilions and halls nestling on the banks of Kunming Lake and re-built for Empress Cixi just before the time of the "Last Emperor".
The rest of the afternoon will be left free enabling you to do some last-minute shopping before heading home or perhaps loose yourself in Shijiahai's lakeside cafes? As always your tour manager will be on hand to assist you and make suggestions.

Day 19: Beijing - UK

Today bid a fond farwell to China as we board our return flight home. Arrival is scheduled for the same afternoon.

Extension Options

Pre-tour Hong Kong 2 Nights/3 Days, Price per person: £295
pre Day 1: UK - Hong Kong -- Fly overnight from UK to Hong Kong.
pre Day 2: Hong Kong -- Arrival Hong Kong, own taxi arrangement to 4*+ Harbour Plaza Metropolis or L'Hotel Causeway Bay. Rest of the day at leisure.
pre Day 3: Hong Kong -- Half day coach tour to take in the major highlights of this exciting city including Aberdeen Fishing Village, Stanley Market, Man Mo Temple and a vintage tram ride up to the Peak for a magnificent view over the Victoria Harbour.
pre Day 4: Hong Kong - Shanghai (Connect with Day 2 of the group tour) -- Morning free at leisure. Afternoon own taxi arrangement to the airport for flight to Shanghai. Arrival Shanghai, chauffeur to our hotel and join the rest of the group later in the afternoon.

Tour Price includes:

• Escorted holiday with English speaking guides (plus Tour Manager throughout for size above 12)
• Return international flight with British Airways
• 13 nights hotel accommodation as listed above
• 4 nights 5-star Victoria Cruise including all shore excursion fee
• Daily buffet breakfast and most lunches & dinners - 17 breakfast, 15 lunch/refreshment, 9 dinner
• Tour programs as mentioned including entrance fee
• Domestic flights and land transportation
• Airport taxes and service charges

Tour Price exclude:

- Chinese visa fee (£40 inc. embassy fee, we can arrange for you)
- Travel insurance (we can arrange for you)
- Gratuities to tour manager/guide

Extension Options

Dates	Price (per person)	Availability
May 21	£2,390	Booked out
June 4	£2,350	Good	Book
July 9	£2,350	Good	Book
August 20	£2,390	Good	Book
September 10	£2,390	Low	Book
October 8	£2,390	Very Low	Book
October 15	£2,390	Low	Book
November 5	£2,350	Low	Book
November 12	£2,350	Good	Book