10 Days Stunning China Tour Tour (BJN10)

DAY 1: AUSTRALIA TO BEIJING | MEALS: IN-FLIGHT

Welcome to China! Meet local tour guide upon arrival at Beijing airport. A comfortable transfer will take you to hotel. Free for the rest of the day! Please note: Some flights may depart the day before.

DAY 2: BEIJING | MEALS: B

Start your day off with a visit to Tiananmen Square, one of the most spectacular public plazas in the world.
Continue to the Forbidden City, a 15th-century palace complex which now houses a museum full of collections from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Then you will be free for the rest of the day, or choose to join optional tour as follows (multiple choice is possible).
Optional Tour(s):
# Hutong Life Tour: This tour will take you around the intricate winding hutongs to admire the old courtyards. They are maze-like and deep and exactly as they were a long time ago. You are invited to visit a local family's house to experience authentic Beijing life.
# Temple of Heaven Tour: Explore the Temple of Heaven, which is the largest and most representative existing masterpiece amongst China's ancient sacrificial buildings. Step back in time as you admire the long wall enclosing the place where emperors of many dynasties held their Heaven Worship Ceremonies. You may also have the opportunity to learn and practice Tai Chi boxing.
# Peking-Duck Dinner: An authentic Peking-duck banquet served with all the traditional accompaniments. This famous roasted duck dish dates back to the Ming Dynasty, some 600 years ago. Peking duck is named after Beijing Peking is an older spelling.
# Beijing Kung Fu Show: The legend of Kung Fu Show is produced by China's leading performance company and the best of China's Kung Fu practitioners have been found for this show. Visually stunning with a great story line and martial arts skills.

DAY 3: BEIJING | MEALS: B 

After enjoying your breakfast, head north of the city to visit the famous Juyong Pass segment of the Great Wall of China. Surrounded by beautiful rugged mountains, this part of the wall stands out for its stunning Cloud Platform gate a white marble fortification standing at 9.5 metres tall. Make a stop at the largest Jade carving factory in Beijing to learn how Jade was used to create finest ornaments for Chinese imperial dynasties. Visit the site of the 2008 Olympic Games and marvel at structures such as the Bird's Nest and Water Cube, then unwind with a stop at a traditional Chinese medicine centre.

Optional Tour(s):
# Summer Palace Tour: The Summer Palace is the summer resort for the Qing dynasty's royal family. It is covered 3/4 with the water, the rest are hills and palaces. The Long corridor is the longest corridor in the world. From the eastern end, Moon invited gate you can see it is like straight line, then it's twisting and turning like in the wonderland. On the right side of the Long corridor, it is a beautiful lake. After this you will enjoy a visit to the famous Houhai area.
# Hot-pot Dinner: Hot pots are a winter specialty in the north of China. Cooked in water or soup in pots made of copper, aluminium or clay are usually such food as lamb, beef, fish, shrimps, bean curd products and fresh vegetables. In Beijing, the most popular is the lamb hot pot.

DAY 4: BEIJING TO NANJING | MEALS: B

After breakfast, take bullet train from Beijing (the north capital) to Nanjing (the south capital). Meet local guide upon arrival and then get driven to the must-visit site of Nanjing. It is Mausoleum of Dr Sun Yat-sun, who is revered as father of the Republic of China, the first democratic regime of China. Visit a local jade shop and see the different jade-carving workmanship between Beijing and Nanjing.
Optional Tour(s):
# Confucius Temple Tour: The Confucian Temple in the Qinhuai Scenic Zone refers to the zone along the Qinhuai River around the Confucian Temple. The zone includes the streets and lanes on both banks, residences, nearby historic sites, and scenic sites. This site is referred to by a verse in Liu Yuxi's "Lane of Black-gowned Mansions" that reads "Beneath the eaves of their lordships, oh swallow you used to nest, but now to homes of the commoners you go." Visiting the Confucian Temple, taking a boat tour of the Qinhuai River, dining, and watching the scenery at night are things you must do when you travel to Nanjing.

DAY 5: NANJING TO SUZHOU | MEALS: B

This morning, take a tour of Grand Bao'en Temple, the second oldest temple in China with a history of over 1500 years, also used to be the largest and the most significant Buddhist temple in China. Visit a crystal artefacts shop and learn how Feng Shui culture is embedded into these exquisite artefacts. Transfer from Nanjing to Suzhou. Dubbed as Oriental Venice, Suzhou is famous for its extraordinary silk products and classic gardens. This afternoon, you will visit Lion Grove Garden, one of Suzhou's Great Four Classic Gardens.
Optional Tour(s):
# Grand Canal Cruise: Enjoy a cruise along the ancient canal from the city to the picturesque Grand Canal, which is the best way to appreciate the stunning views of a water town.

DAY 6: SUZHOU TO HANGZHOU | MEALS: B

This morning, you will visit the largest silk factory in Suzhou and see how fabulous silk products are made.
Proceed to Hangzhou. Marco Polo praised it as "the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world". Take a boat ride on the picturesque West Lake, the most scenic region of Hangzhou.
Optional Tour(s):
# Impression West Lake: Staged entirely upon the lake itself, Impression West Lake (Enduring Memories of Hangzhou), directed by Zhang Yimou, is a grand open-air show of light, music, dance and theatrics. First initiated in 2007, Impression West Lake deploys the lake and its surroundings as props to create a life-like charming background. Through the vividly performed folklores and myths of Hangzhou, Impression West Lake highly exhibits the deep-rooted culture and natural beauty of Hangzhou.

DAY 7: SHANGHAI | MEALS: B

Hangzhou's mild climate makes it an ideal place for tea-planting. This morning, you will visit a famed tea plantation where you could try tea-picking and learn about how tea is processed. Drive to Shanghai and take stroll along the Bund area.
Optional Tour(s):
# Huangpu River Cruise: The Huangpu River offers intriguing views of the Bund, Pudong and riverfront activity. Experience the Bund from a different perspective with a river cruise experience. Gaze at the eclectic group of architectural styles that make up the striking Shanghai skyline from the water.

DAY 8: SHANGHAI | MEALS: B

The day is yours to discover exciting Shanghai as you wish. Or you may choose to join the following optional tours (multiple choice is possible).
Optional Tour(s):
# Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour: Zhujiajiao is an ancient water town also known as the "pearl stream." Best known for its bridges, built during Ming and Qing Dynasties, the various spans are built of wood, marble and stone.
# Shanghai City Tour: This tour takes you to Lujiazui Financial & Trade zone, where the Jinmao Tower is located. Jinmao is with 88 stories reaching a height of 420.5 meters and 290,000 square meter construction area, it is literally means "Gold Luxuriance Building" in Chinese. In here, you can find the perfect combination of traditional Chinese architectural style and the world's modern architectural technology. After this, we will visit another famous site in Shanghai Asia Pafic plaza.

DAY 9: SHANGHAI | MEALS: B

Enjoy one last delicious breakfast this morning, before your Chinese adventure comes to an end. At the appropriate time, you'll be transferred to the airport for your flight home, unless you choose to extend your stay and continue to explore other mesmerising cities. You'll be returning home with knowledge of a new culture, connections with new friends and memories to last you a lifetime.

DAY 10: AUSTRALIA | MEALS: N/A

Arrive home today.

1. [Beijing] D02 Hutong Life Tour   RMB150 / AUD30
2. [Beijing] D02 Temple of Heaven Tour  RMB300 / AUD60
3. [Beijing] D02 Peking-Duck Dinner  RMB150 / AUD30
4. [Beijing] D02 Beijing Kung Fu Show  RMB300 / AUD60
5. [Beijing] D03 Summer Palace Tour  RMB300 / AUD60
6. [Beijing] D03 Hot-pot Dinner   RMB150 / AUD30
7. [Nanjing] D04 Confucius Temple Tour  RMB330 / AUD65
8. [Suzhou] D05 Grand Canal Cruise  RMB225 / AUD45
9. [Hangzhou] D06 Impression West Lake  RMB550 / AUD110
10. [Shanghai] D07 Huangpu River Cruise  RMB225 / AUD45
11. [Shanghai] D08 Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour RMB550 / AUD110
12. [Shanghai] D08 Shanghai City Tour  RMB550 / AUD110

*The amount in AUD is subject to the currency exchange rate and it may change at any time without advance notice.

IMPORTANT NOTES

• Checked Luggage: max 20 kg @ 1 piece per person
• Maximum Room Capacity: 2 people
• Child Policy: no child discounts. Full price applies for all children travelling with their parents
• Unaccompanied Minors: not allowed
• Bedding Configuration: double or twin (subject to availability)
• A very good level of fitness and mobility is required for you to enjoy all aspects of the itinerary, as this is considered a fast-paced tour. While there is some free time scheduled either in the morning or afternoon, there are many full days of sightseeing with minimal rest and some early starts. You will be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
• The itinerary provided serve as a guide only and may be subject to change without notice and at the discretion of Expedition Exclusive. Itinerary may be altered for reasons including, but not limited to, weather conditions, social unrest, poor road conditions or generally to ensure the safe passage of customers. Itinerary may also be changed due to local circumstances or events. Changes may or may not be communicated prior to departure. Expedition Exclusive will not be liable for any costs resulting from a change in itinerary due to factors beyond its control. Further, customers are not entitled to a refund for itinerary alterations resulting from factors beyond Expedition Exclusives' control.
• Gratuities (tips) are not included in the tour price for services of the tour guides and drivers throughout the tour. The industrial recommended tip for the tour guide and driver is AUD15 per person/per day where tour or transfer services are provided.