TP 04 - Big China Roundtrip

Departure Hong Kong by flight to Kunming, known as a city of perpetual spring with a mild climate. 
Arrival Kunming, lunch at local restaurant and followed by a brief city tour with visit to the Night Market.

Hotel accommodation  

Meal: L

Breakfast at hotel  

Depart in the early so as to avoid meeting a large crowd of tourist group.  We drive around 120km southeast of Kunming to the famous Stone Forest, a massive collection of grey limestone pillars, split by rain water and eroded to their fanciful forms, the tallest standing 30m high.  

Lunch at local restaurant  

Return to the city of Kunming for sightseeing  

Hotel accommodation  

Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Visit the West Hill which can be reached by chairlift and provides spectacular views to Lake Dian, walk your way down from the hill on a narrow stone-footpath which is cut into the cliff to the Dragon Gate, passing a series of famous shrines and temples 

Lunch at local restaurant  

Transfer to airport for flight to Guilin  

Arrival Guilin and transfer to hotel 

Hotel accommodation

Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Cruising on Li River to Yangshuo, passes extraordinary peaks, sprays of bamboo lining, riverbanks, fishers in small boats and picturesque villages. Lunch at local restaurant after disembarkation. 

Transfer back to Guilin and visit one of the most extraordinary sceneries, which is underground – the Reed Flute Cave with its multicoloured lighting and fantastic stalactites and stalagmites.  Afterwards, further visit to Elephant Trunk Hill for its strange rock-formations. 

Hotel accommodation  

Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Transfer to airport for flight to Shanghai  

Arrival Shanghai and followed by visit to Jade Buddha Temple, which houses a 2M high sitting white Jade Buddha., and Yuyuan Garden, with history of more than 400 years and decorated with masterpieces of architecture.  Lunch at local restaurant  

Evening Acrobatic Show   

Hotel accommodation  

Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Round trip guided transfer to Shanghai Urban Planning exhibition Hall – a 5-storey museum that details the ambitious plans of Shanghai's urban planners. Visitors are provided with a glimpse of how Shanghai will look like after a couple of decades. An old Shanghai was rebuilt at the basement with house entrances, cobble stone ways and operating shops and teahouses. Incl. museum ticket, no guide assist

Free for leisure  

Hotel accommodation  

Meal: B

Breakfast at hotel  

Depart from hotel and transfer to Suzhou, a city with history of more than 2500 years and is also named as “City of Gardens”. 

Arrival Suzhou and followed by lunch at local restaurant 

Visit Net Master Garden,  Lion Forest Garden, a silk factory and boat ride on sidearm the Canal 

Hotel accommodation  

Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Visit Tongli - a picturesque and elegant town, has become famous for its wonderful scenery, classic building and precious relics - with lunch in very local restaurant 

Back to Suzhou and transfer to train station.  Depart for Luoyang by an overnight train K738/K735 (16h52/07h43+1) 

Overnight on train  Meal: B/L

Arrival Luoyang and transfer to hotel  

Breakfast at hotel  

Visit Shaolin Monastery with lunch.  The Monastery is founded in the 5th century by an Indian monk and is long famous for its association with Chinese martial art. 

Hotel accommodation  

Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  
Visit Longmen Caves with it’s 100000 images and statues of Buddha and his disciples carved into the rocks 

Lunch at local restaurant  

Transfer to train station and depart for Xian by train K869 (15h28/20h45)  

Arrival Xian and transfer to hotel  

Hotel accommodation  

Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Full day tour includes Terracotta Warriors with more than 6000 life-sized terracotta figures of soldiers and horses in perfect battle array are showing the superb sculptural art of that time.  Lunch at local restaurant and followed by visit to Wild Goose Pagoda. 

Evening Tang Dynasty Show with dancers who are dressed in tradition costumes and performing dances of the Tang Dynasty. 

Hotel accommodation  

Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Transfer to airport for flight to Beijing, arrival Beijing then transfer to hotel.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Free for leisure 

Hotel accommodation  

Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Full day tour includes Great Wall (Badaling Section), which was built in 770-475 B.C., climbing on top of 2484 miles long Great Wall is really amazing.  Summer Palace, the summer-residence of the former emperors with one of the biggest and best preserved gardens in China.  Visit a pearl factory en route and experience 45 mins of Foot Massage afterwards

Lunch at local restaurant  

Hotel accommodation  

Meal: B/L

Breakfast at hotel  

Visit Tiananmen Square, where the Mao’s Mausoleum and the Congress Hall are located; and  followed by Forbidden City, with the emperors palace in the heart of Beijing (So called because it was off limits for 500 years, covering an area of 250 acres, protected by an 10.7m high wall, marked off by towers at each corner) 

Lunch at local restaurant  

Visit Hutongs, lanes or Alleys formed by lines of Siheyuan (a compound of houses around a courtyard) where old Beijing residents live, witness the vicissitude of the city by a trishaw 

Peking Duck Dinner  

Hotel accommodation  

Meal: B/L/D

Breakfast at hotel  
Transfer to airport for departure flight  

Meal: B

* * * * * * * * End of Program * * * * * * * *

Remarks:

Program included :
01> Accommodation with breakfast and meals as mentioned in the above tour program.
02> Private transfers and tours conducted by local German-speaking guide as mentioned in the above tour program. (English-speaking guide will be provided in Luoyang)
03> Admission ticket for sightseeing as specified in the itinerary.
04> International airfare (economy class) inclusive of tax and fuel surcharge Hong Kong / Kunming.
05> Domestic airfare (economy class) inclusive of tax for Kunming / Guilin / Shanghai and Xian / Beijing.
06> Ticket for soft sleeper berth cabin on overnight train Suzhou/Luoyang.
07> Ticket for soft seater class on train Luoyang / Xian.

Program NOT included :
01> Other than the above itinerary
02> Application of visa for China
03> International airfare enter Hong Kong and exit China
04> Land arrangements in Hong Kong
05> Personal expenses
06> Service during free time
07> Gratitude for tour guides, drivers and porters

Remarks:
01> Blackout dates: 12-21 Feb 2010 (Chinese New Year), 30 Apr-03 May 2010 (Labour Day Holiday), 28 Sep - 08 Oct 2010 (National Day Holiday) & Shanghai Formula 1 (exact date has to be confirmed)
02> Flight / train no. and schedule mentioned in the itinerary is for reference only and which is subject to change at the discretion of the carriers.
03> A surcharge of USD 100 per room will be applied if clients are visiting Luoyang within the date of 05.-30.4.2010 due to Peony Festival.
04> On day 14, lunch to be served on Li River cruise is not suitable for western travellers and therefore, it will be arranged at a local restaurant in Yangshuo after disembarkation.