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• Escorted Small Groups

Through the Middle Kingdom 20 Days

Tour Itinerery

Second-time visitor? Already been to Beijing & Xian? You can join this tour starting on Day 8 in Lijiang. Please contact us for a quote.

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.)
* Second-time visitor to China may wish to skip Beijing & Xian. You can join this tour starting on Day 7 or 8 in Chengdu/Lijiang. Please contact us for a quote.

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. Take the time to settle in. Later in the afternoon, we visit the majestic Summer Palace with a boat ride on the lake.
This evening enjoy a warm welcome dinner in our favourite restaurant with fusion imperial court cuisine. 5* Marco Polo Parkside / 4* Comfort Suites

Day 3: Beijing

Our days begins with a stroll 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. We then take a rickshaw ride along Beijing's old quarter "Hutongs".This afternoon move onto the sacred Temple of Heaven.
Conclude the day with a delicious Peking duck banquet dinner.

Day 4: Beijing

Enjoy marvellous scenery as we wind our way up to the Great Wall (Mutianyu Section) - 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. Unforgettable views, and when the weather is good, a lovely picnic lunch will go to make this a day to remember! On our return to the city, we stop by a Jade Carving Workshop.

Day 5: Beijing - Xian

Morning fly to Xian. En-route to the airport we drive pass and stop by the 2008 Beijing Olympic Stadium.
Upon arrival Xian, embark on a discovery tour of the Tombs of Emperor Han Yangling. This tomb showcases the style in which the West Han Dynasty decorated their tombs in preparation for the afterlife. Drive past the Bell Tower to our deluxe hotel excellently located within the ancient walls.
Evening enjoy a Dumpling Banquet Dinner.
Accommodation: 5* Grand Noble Hotel / 4* Grand New World

Day 6: Xian

Once the largest city in the world, Xian is a treasure trove of China's former glory. Our morning begins with a leisurely walk on the Ancient City Wall and South Gate. Next journey to the UNESCO heritage listed Terracotta Warriors. Here you will have plenty of time to personally inspect the eternal guard of the First Emperor.
After lunch and a chance to sample local specialty of hand-pulled noodles, visit 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!

Day 7: Xian - Chengdu

Morning flight to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province. Here we make an excursion to Leshan to see the Leshan Giant Buddha. A delicious hot pot meal will set the theme for our dinner tonight.
Accommodation: 5* Crowne Plaza Panda Garden / 4* Tianfu Sunshine Hotel

Day 8: Chengdu - Lijiang

Leisurely morning and breakfast is followed by a tour to the Panda Sanctuary. Next, we sip some fine Chinese tea in a local teahouse followed by lunch.
Later, a short flight takes us to the UNSECO World Heritage Lijiang where we stay three nights in a charming courtyard hotel in the old town.
Accommodation: 5* Yibang Residence Boutique

Day 9: Lijiang

Journey to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and board the chair lift from Yak Meadow. You will also enjoy "Impression Lijiang Show", an outdoor theatre set against the backdrop of the snow-capped mountain.

Back to Lijiang, you will have a guided walking tour of the Lijiang walled city and a climb up Lion Hill.

Day 10: Tiger Leaping Gorge & Lijiang Countryside

Today we venture to the spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge whose crashing tumbling water roars through one of the deepest gorges in the world. We spend a little time hiking along the most beautiful sections of the Gorge before enjoying lunch by the river. Continue onto the Black Dragon Pond. You will have the evening to relax after this tiring but memorable day.

Day 11: Dali

This morning depart on a scenic three hour coach journey to Dali. After lunch and time to freshen up at our hotel, visit Dali's landmark Three Pagodas. Enjoy a guided walk of Dali ancient town and you will have the evening at leisure enabling you to wander amidst the cobbled lanes of this ancient town at your own pace.
Accommodation: 5* Gurong Hotel

Day 12: Dali & Xizhou

After a relaxed breakfast we will depart on our next adventure. Our first stop is the morning market at the ancient Bai village of Xizhou. We then find ourselves gently cruising a quiet section of Erhai Lake on paddle boat where you can find locals catch the fish with a tradition handed down over the generations, a practice knowned as "Cormorant Fishing".
In the afternoon a scenic cable car ride up to a viewing terrace high up in the Cangshan Mountain gives you a panorama view over Dali proper and the green jade waters of Erhai Lake.

Day 13: Kunming Hotspring Resort

This morning we travel to Kunming the capital of Yunnan Province. On arrival we skip the tourist sights with little interest in the modern city and head straight to our hotspring resort. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to indulge in one of the fifteen themed hotspring pools or pamper yourself with an optional traditional massage.
Accommodation: 5* Brilliant Hotspring & Spa

Day 14: Kunming - Guilin

Enjoy a leisurely buffet breakfast at hotel. Later drive to visit the remarkable Stone Forest - an immense collection of ancient limestone stalagmite-like peaks which have patiently been eroded by the elements over millions of years.
An afternoon flight brings us to Guilin where we stay overnight.
Accommodation: 4* Guilin Bravo Hotel (Grand wing deluxe room / standard room)

Day 15: Longsheng Rice Terraces

Today we head north to Longsheng, home to a mixture of minority people that have retained their way of life and colourful embroidered costumes throughout the centuries. After a steady walk through rich fertile countryside we will be served lunch in a minority family restaurant, nestled high up within the quilted patchwork of rice terraces called the "Dragon's Backbone".
Travel by coach to Yangshuo where we stay two nights.
Accommodation: Hidden Dragon Villa Lodge

Day 16: Yangshuo

Today we set off to explore Yangshuo's tranquil countryside, water cave and river. We take a leisurely cycle along the flat back-road through farmland. Next we visit the Silver Water Caves followed by a bamboo rafting along the river. From the raft you can really apprecite the towering karst limestone spires seem to emerge at random in every direction from the almost perfectly flat plains. We will also visit a well preserved an ancient town to see its village hall and residential houses.
(* For those who do not wish to cycle we will take a leisure walk to explore the farmland)

Day 17: Yangshuo - Hong Kong (or Shanghai option)

We have some free time so that you can pick your own optional activities as you prefer, before our afternoon flight to Hong Kong. Options on offer include a climb up Moon Hill, kayaking or swimming in Yulong River, Chinese cooking/painting classes etc.
Accommodation: Harbour Grand Hong Kong / 4* Empire Hotel Causeway Bay

Day 18: Hong Kong

Today we will provide you a 48 hours bus pass of the open-top bus tour stopping at various spots in the city. You can "hop on & off" at your own pace. The pass includes ferry ticket for crossing the famous Victoria Harbour and return tickets for the tram ride to The Peak for a bird's evey view of the famous city skyline.

Day 19: Hong Kong

Further day to use the open-top bus pass.

Day 20: Hong Kong - UK

Enjoy some leisure time before taking a taxi or shuttle bus to airport for return flight home. Or you may choose to extend your stay in Hong Kong.

Tour Price includes:

• Escorted tour program as mentioned inc. domestic flights, land transportation, sightseeing entrance fee
• Return international flights
• 18 nights hotel accommodation as listed above
• Daily buffet breakfast (set breakfast in remote area & room only basis in Hong Kong) and most lunches & dinners - 15 breakfast, 15 lunches/refreshments, 5 dinners. Room only basis in Hong Kong.
• Oriental Culinary Experience - 9 lunches/dinners will be served in our hand-picked restaurants with either special local cuisine such as the attraction such as Peking duck, sizzling Sichuan hot pot, and hand-pulled noodles or in unique locations such as the delightful experience of a courtyard restaurant or a picnic lunch on the Great Wall. The rest of 11 lunches/dinners will be served in standard local restaurant and onboard cruise.

Tour Price exclude:

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

Dates	Price (per person)	Availability
May 5	£3,240 (£3,120)	Good	Book
June 2	£3,180 (£3,040)	Booked out
July 21	£3,290 (£3,160)	Low	Book
August 7	£3,290 (£3,160)	Booked out
September 15	£3,260 (£3,120)	Good	Book
October 27	£3,260 (£3,120)	Good	Book