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The Imperial Voyage

Tour Itinerery

Day 1: UK - Beijing

Our adventure begins as we board our flight at London Heathrow to Beijing. (Regional departure available - please ask for details).

Day 2: Beijing

Morning arrival in Beijing. You will be greeted by Oriental's Tour Manager. Take the time to relax and settle in our deluxe class hotel. Later in the afternoon, a short drive takes us to the sacred Temple of Heaven, a place of solitude, contemplation and where once the emperor's spoke in hushed whispers to the gods in heaven to pray for continuing prosperity & good harvests.
Accommodation: 5* Oriental Bay Hotel

Day 3: Beijing

Our days begins with a walk through Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world, before retracing the steps of the great emperors of China and wander amongst the imperial splendour of the Forbidden City. This afternoon you will take a leisurely ride along the old city's historic alleyways (Hutong) in a ped-rickshaw.

Day 4: Beijing

An exciting day awaits you as we head to the Great Wall (Mutianyu Section) where you will have plenty of time to climb up to the top of this magnificent structure. Unforgettable views, a glass of bubbly and when the weather is good, a lovely picnic lunch will go to make this a day to remember!
Stop by a Cloisonne Workshop on our way back to city. The rest of afternoon is at leisure enabling you to organise your own activites. Your tour manager will be on hand to assist you and make suggestions.

Day 5: Beijing to Xian

You can't help being impressed with the majestic and beautifully landscaped Summer Palace, an extensive assembly of temples, pavilions and halls nestling on the banks of Kunming lake and re-built for Empress Dowager Cixi just before the time of the "last Emperor".
Only a short flight away, Xian is a veritable treasure trove of China's former glory. We will stop by the 14th century built Drum Tower before checking into our deluxe-class hotel overlooking the impressive Ancient Walls & South Gate.
Accommodation: 5* Howard Johnson Ginwa Plaza

Day 6: Xian

This morning 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 find ourselves admiring the beautifully preserved Big Wild Goose Pagoda with its reverberating chant of Buddhist mantra.

Day 7: Xian to Guilin

A leisurely morning is followed by a stroll along the massive Ancient City Walls and the South Gate. We then fly to Guilin, hub for our next few days exploration, where we stay overnight.
Accommodation: 4* Guilin Bravo Hotel

Day 8: 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 9: 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 10: 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 11: Yangshuo to Jiuzhaigou Valley

This morning we fly to Jiuzhaigou via Chengdu. Known as "Fairyland on Earth" to the Chinese, this jagged alpine valley offers a spectacular landscape and native beauty that is unique in all of China and in the world, with over a hundred colorful lakes connected by bouncing streams & roaring waterfalls, and lush forest surrounded by snow-capped peaks, Jiuzhaigou certainly deserves the praise.

Day 12: Jiuzhaigou Valley

We spend a full day exploring the beauty of the region.

Day 13: Jiuzhaigou to Chengdu

A further day to explore the region before a late afternoon flight to Chengdu. Dinner will be served upon our arrival in hotel.
Accommodation: 4*+ Yinhe Dynasty Intercontinental Hotel

Day 14: Chengdu

Our day begins with a visit to the Chengdu Panda Sanctuary where we will discover all about this endangered species, which are only a few centimetres long when born and get up close to watch them at play. Later we depart for Leshan Grand Buddha. This stunning example of a Buddha, sitting at an impressive 233ft high, and having been fashioned out of the sheer cliff face, required tremendous dedication and took almost a century to complete.

Day 15-21: Three Gorges & Yangtze River Cruising

Today we embark on our 6 nights voyage sailing 1,000 miles along the Yangtze River through the central plains to Shanghai.
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 ....
On this extended 6 nights voyage, our shore excursions & visits include:
Fengdu's Ghost City "entrance to the underworld"
The Three Gorges
The Lesser Gorges whose towering walls of rock seem impenetrable and whose beauty is inspirational
Mountain Huangshan a World Heritage Site and renowned for its magnificent scenery with spectacular granite peaks and rock formations emerging out of oceans of clouds
Nanjing the ancient capital of China
Accommodation: 5* Victoria Cruise (private balcony cabin)

Day 22: Shanghai

This morning we make a spectacular arrival into the metropolitan Shanghai. After freshen up in our hotel there will be a city tour including the Jade Buddha Temple, the Bund, Old French Concessionary before concluding the day with an Acrobatics Show.
Accommodation: 4*+ Rendezvous Hotel or Four Points by Sheraton

Day 23: Suzhou

Day excursion to the garden city of Suzhou where you will visit the Lingering Garden, Tiger Hill and a Silk Workshop.

Day 24: Shanghai

A day at leisure in Shanghai.

Day 25: Shanghai to Hangzhou

Today we travel by train (2 hours) to Hangzhou, a beautiful city blessed with an eye-popping kaleidoscope of visionary delights. This afternooon we will visit the best Tea Museum in the country to learn all about the Chinese tea culture before driving through lush greenery hill of tea plantation and sip down the "Longjing" tea and feel the fragrance travel through your nose...
Accommodation: 5* Zheijiang Narada Grand Hotel

Day 26: Hangzhou

We begin the day with a relaxing boat trip on the famed West Lake, before discovering the Buddhist treasure arts at the Lingyin Temple and admiring the stunning architecture of Six Harmonies Pagoda.

Day 27: Hangzhou to Xiamen

After a leisurely breakfast and morning in Hangzhou, we take a short flight to Xiamen, a small island on the east coast of China. After freshen up in our deluxe class hotel overlooking the harbour, we will take a walk on the Gulangyu islet and visit the Music Square.
Accommodation: 5* Seaside Hotel

Day 10: Xiamen - Hakka Earthen Castles

Another exciting day is in prospect as we head across the mountains to the Hakkaland to explore the unique earth houses (or "Tulou" as in Chinese) and Hakka people's life and customs.

"The CIA spy satellites once mistook Hakka residences as missile silos!" .... These walled communal residences, unique anywhere in China and in the World, built layer by layer with sand, lime, glutinous rice & brown sugar, and reinforced with bamboo and wood without any use of nail or cement, have been standing proudly on the mountainous region as they are for over 500 years, surviving the flooding, storms, earthquakes and natural deteoriation over the centuries!

This is where traditional lifestyle intersect with the nature. Each of the communal houses accommodate dozens of families. There are hundreds of them scattered throughout hundreds of villages in the area, arranged in harmony among green hills, water, bamboo, water mill and fields, composing a colourful and brilliant picture.

Despite their uniqueness, cultural and architectural significance, the "Tulou" have received little notice from both domestic and overseas travellers until recently. So much so that a small group of tulou have just listed on UNSECO World Heritage Site as recent as in July 2008 and have caught the BBC crew's attention into filming on its Wild China Program ("Tides of Change" episode)

Read more about Tuluo on Wikipedia

Day 29: Xiamen to Shanghai

This morning and afternoon will be left free at leisure. Xiamen is blessed with spring like weather year round. Some of you may wish to enjoy warm sunshine on the beach or pamper yourself with a traditional massage while others may want to further explore the city's other cultural relics. As always your tour manager will be on hand to assist and offer suggestions. Later in the afternoon, catch a short flight back to Shanghai and stay overnight.

Day 30: Shanghai to UK

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

Hong Kong Extension
Hong Kong 4 days/3 nights - add £295 per person

Tour Price includes:

• Escorted holiday with English speaking guides (plus Tour Manager for size above 12)
• Return international flights
• 22 nights hotel accommodation as listed above
• 6 nights 5-star Victoria Cruise including all shore excursion fee
• Daily buffet breakfast and most lunches & dinners - 28 breakfast, 27 lunch/refreshment, 22 dinner
• Tour programs as mentioned including local transportation, entrance fee etc

Tour Price exclude:

- Chinese visa fee (we can arrange for you)
- Travel insurance (we can arrange for you)
- Gratuities to tour manager/guide
- Airline fuel surcharge

Dates	Price (per person)	Availability
April 21	£3,790	Booked out
May 25	£3,790	Good	Book
October 12	£3,890	Good	Book