China Express (10 days)

This relatively short tour (10 days) takes you to China's three great capitals. Two of these capitals date thousand of years back. Beijing is literally translated from the Chinese as the Northern Capital and Xian is translated as the Western capital. The third capital, China's largest city and its economic center - Shanghai - was just a small fishing village until mid 19th century.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Beijing
Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. Meet your guide upon arrival and be transferred to your comfortable hotel.
Day 2: Beijing
Begin the day's activity with a visit to Tian'anmen Square, the largest urban square in the world. Then, move on to the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City, the biggest palace complex in the world. In the afternoon, visit Temple of Heaven, the place where the emperors of Ming and Qing Dynasties worshiped heaven and prayed for good harvest. A Peking Duck Dinner concludes your first full day activities in China.
Day 3: Beijing
Visit the enchanting Summer Palace, one of China's largest and best-preserved royal gardens, where you can have a walk along the famous Long Corridor. In the afternoon, you will visit the Yonghe Lama Temple, the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Lama Temple in Beijing, and the most renowned in China (outside Tibet itself).
Day 4: Beijing
Today's highlight is your visit of the Great Wall (Badaling Section), one of the Seven Wonders of the world and a symbol of Chinese civilization. Then, move on to visit the Ming Tombs (Changling Tomb) area where is for deceased emperors of the Ming Dynasty.
Day 5: Beijing-Xi’an
After a relaxed breakfast at hotel this morning, you will take a ride in rickshaw through some old Hutongs lanes or alleys formed by lines of Siheyuan (a compound with houses around a courtyard). Then, walk around Wangfujing Street, one of the biggest shopping center in China. Take an overnight train to Xi'an with soft sleeper (first class in China, 4 persons sharing one cabin).
Day 6: Xi’an
Meet your guide at railway station and be transferred to the hotel for breakfast. Begin the day with an once-in-a-lifetime viewing of the extraordinary 2,200-year-old Terracotta Warriors of China's first feudal Emperor, Qin Shihuang. Enjoy a characteristic Dumpling Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 7: Xi’an-Shanghai
Visit to Big Wild Goose Pagoda which was built in 652 A.D. It contains a large volume of Buddhist scriptures which were obtained from India by the eminent monk of Xuanzang. (The entrance fee for climb up the Pagoda is not in the price included, if you want to climb up, please pay the charge on spot by yourselves.) Then, visit Forest of Steles Museum where precious stone carvings and sculptures are kept. Take an overnight train to Shanghai with soft sleeper (first class in China, 4 persons sharing one cabin).
Day 8: Shanghai
Arrive in Shanghai at about 12:00. Be picked up at railway station. Visit the Bund, at the west shore of the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower can be seen on the opposite side. The splendid row of early 20th century Europe buildings remains the quintessential Shanghai sight. Visit fascinating Yuyuan Garden, a well-restored Suzhou-style garden, and take a walk through the Old Town filled with antique markets and specialty stores. A fabulous Acrobatic Show concludes your first day in Shanghai. (No breakfast be arranged by the travel agency today.)
Day 9: Shanghai
This morning you will visit marvelous Shanghai Museum, a leading attraction of the city since it opened in 1994. Move on to check out the St. Ignatius Cathedral built in 1846. Wander around the former French Concession represented by the leafy Fuxing Park and the architecture in the area. Then pay a visit to the Jade Buddha Temple where two rare jade statues of Sakyamuni Buddha are treasured. You will have some free time in the afternoon to explore the city.
Day 10: Return from Shanghai
Be transferred to the airport and prepare for boarding on your home-bound flight.

Tour details

10 days - Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai
Price:  $148 / day (total $1,480 per person)

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