China Encounter

11 days - an excellent holiday that covers both the ancient and the scenic faces of China ...

• Beijing: The Great Wall, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Hutong tour (4 nights)
• Xian: Terracotta Warriors, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower (3 nights)
• Guilin & Yangshuo: Li River Cruise, Reed Flute Cave (2 nights)

View details below...

Forbidden City

Tian an men

Xian Fanggu St

Guilin

Guilin Rice Terrace

Day 1
Depart from Heathrow or your preferred airport for a scheduled flight to Beijing. Meals on board.

Day 2 Beijing
Upon arrival in Beijing, you are greeted at the airport by our English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel by private transport. The rest of the day is at your leisure to recover from jetlegs and get ready for the adventure to come! (China is 8 hours ahead of UK)

Day 3 Beijing
A full day city tour to soak up the atmosphere of Beijing. This includes visiting historical sites such as Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Then we will go to watch an entertaining acrobat show. (includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Our welcome dinner in the evening provides an opportunity to sample special Chinese cuisine combined with live music, singing and dancing entertainment.

Day 4 Beijing
The highlights of today's tour include a visit to the Great Wall, the only man-made wonder on earth visible from the moon. We travel to the Ming Tombs and walk on the Sacred Way to see the resting place of thirteen Chinese Emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Enjoy the famous Peking Roasted Duck dinner upon your return. (Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

We will visit Juyongguan section of the Great Wall, which was originally constructed in the 5th century and is regarded as the most strategic section of the Wall. The section is quieter and less commercial than some other areas and it provides the opportunity to visit the Sacred Way, another highlight of the Great Wall heritage.

Day 5 Beijing to Xian
Today, our tours includes a visit to the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan), which dates back to the 12th century when the Jin ruler built his Gold Mountain Travelling Palace. We walk along the Long Corridor beside Kunming Lake and take a detour to the Garden of Harmony before taking the ferry next to the Marble Boat. In the next part of our tour we take a fascinating Rickshaw ride and visit an old residential area and see how local people live. Our guide will then escort you to Houhai, a popular relaxing and eating out place for both Western and Chinese tourists. For travelers who would like to experience shopping in China, we can take you to the popular shopping street - Xiushui Silk Market. In the evening, we take a flight to Xian, the former capital of China and starting point of the ancient Silk Road. (Includes: Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 6 Xian
As the ancient capital of China for many dynasties, Xian has a lot historical sites to offer. We will take a city tour which includes visiting Xian's well preserved Ancient City Walls, built in the early Ming Dynasty (about 600 years ago) and the Bell Tower where you can overlook the entire city. Our tour guide will also escort you to Fanggu Street in the city centre, where the shops have all been reconstructed to resemble ancient times of China. (Includes: Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 7 Xian
Today, the highlights include Terra-cotta Warriors. You will visit the luxury underground palace of Emperor Qinshihuang, The Archaeological Museum of 6,000 life-size Terracotta Warriors and their horses. The warriors were the after life protectors the first emperor who united China (221BC-206BC). Following this we will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built as a Buddhist Monastery during the Tang Dynasty. In the evening we attend a re-enactment of the royal arts performance of a 7th century Tang Dynasty Show, with a special Dinner of dumplings included. (Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8 Xian to Guilin
Flight to Guilin and after booking in at your hotel, we take a tour to the delightful Fubo Hill or Elephant Trunk Hill (depends on local situation). Later we visit Reed Flute Cave, a vast underground cavern of exotic rock formations. In the evening you have the oportunity to attend an optional tour to see the fantastic Ethnic Dragon dance theater show. (contact us to find out prices etc for the show).

(Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 9 Guilin to Yangshuo
Li' River Cruise. Depart from your hotel in the morning for the hour drive to Zhujiang Dock, where you will board your boat and start cruising down the picturesque Li River with lime stone pinnacles, water buffalos, farms and villages on both sides of the river bank. Lunch will be served on board and you will disembark upon arrival at Yangshuo, an charming ancient town that is famous for its beautiful scenery.

Day 10 Guilin
Today's activities including early morning Tai Chi practise, and a leisurely bicycle ride into the countryside to view the hills layered with rice paddies. Later we drive back to Guilin and take a flight back to Beijing, where you will be met and transfered to your hotel. For travellers who booked the Hong Kong extension, we leave Mainland China today. (Includes: Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 11 Beijing to UK
Our Guide will meet you at your hotel and see you depart at the airport. (Includes: Breakfast)

Hong Kong extension (£300 per person)

Day 10 Guilin to Hong Kong
You are transferred to the airport for your flight to Hong Kong. Upon arrival, transfer to moderate deluxe or deluxe class hotel. The rest of day is free at leisure. (Includes: Breakfast)

Day 11 Hong Kong
Half day morning tour to the Victoria Peak, Stanley Market and Aberdeen Fishing Village. Rest of the day is free. (Includes: Breakfast)

Day 12 Hong Kong
You are transferred to the airport for your flight home. (Includes: Breakfast)

OR, for the same price, you may choose the option of 3 nights/4 days in Hong Kong incl a flight to Hong Kong. (flight & accommodation only)

Group Departure Dates & Price 2007 (£)

Departure Dates & Price 2008 (£)

Please note dates for 2008 are provisional, subject to confirmation on cruise sailing date.

We also arrange private tour or tailor made departure according to this itinerary, please contact us to discuss your requirement.

Price Includes (The prices shown above are 'per person')

• All flights including airport tax. We can also arrange your local airport departure from £50. Please enquire at the time of your booking.
• All airport/hotel transfers.
• Sightseeing tours (including entrance fee) by professional English-speaking tour guide.
• Selections of deluxe hotel accommodation (4 and 5 star) in well furnished rooms with private facilities.
• Meals as specified in the itinerary.

Price Does Not Include

• Visa fee (please go to Our Visa Service for details).
• Travel Insurance.

Flights As agent of many airline consolidators, we can obtain flights in various class, with reputable airlines such as BA, Air China, Virgin, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Finnair etc. Depends on the availability we will choose airline for you and will try to arrange direct flight when possible. We can also provide land-only tours if you prefer to organise your own flights and save airmiles.

Your Accommodation for this tour Excellent 4 and 5 star hotels and cruises among the same standard. In some remote areas, the hotel standard can be lower but we will provide you with one of the best available in the area. Please visit Accommodation for details.

Your Meals We include all breakfast (mixture of western & Chinese) at hotel, most Chinese lunches and dinners on tour, each with wide variety of tasty dishes. All meals included in the itinerary are pre-booked. It is a good experience of trying out a few meals by yourself while you in China. The hotels we select provide good choices of cuisine with English menu, alternatively, plenty restaurants are available in the main sightseeing area in Chinese cities. A good meal (dinner) in restaurant should only cost about £5 per person.

Other fact of our tour arrangement Our itineraries are regularly checked and updated to provide ideal and latest sightseeing spots for our travellers. We organise our own special activities to introduce the real China to our travellers, and connect you closer to the local people.

Our itineraries are designed at a sensible pace to provide you with a rare opportunity to enjoy touring the country, with a combination of escorted sightseeing, and some free time. China is huge, please take into account of flight time required when considering a tour suggestion.

Guaranteed departure from 2 people. Small group travel with like minded people and flexibility on tour. Normal group size 16 people. Suitable for all age travellers. Add on tours and city extension available, for details visit optional tours page.

The itinerary is designed according to the most updated information of flights and cruises sailing schedules available, although occasionally the sequence in which cities are visited and duration of time spent in each city can change due to local conditions which are out of our control. The above itinerary highlights the main attractions that are to be visited each day. Further places of interest may be visited during your stay, which will provide unique ethnic and cultural handcraft shopping opportunities. We reserve the right to change, amend or alter the itinerary, although we will act in your best interests to handle any amendments. Please refer to the booking form for detailed terms & conditions.