Chinese Checkers: 11 days

Tour Information
Starts in: Beijing
Ends in: Shanghai
Local Payment Required: No
Breakfast: 9, Lunch: 4, Dinner: 2
Hotel rating: 3 - 4
Tour leader: Yes (for groups of 6 or more)

Day 1: Beijing
Saturday. Hello China! Welcome to the start of your holiday! Arrival transfer to our hotel. Overnight - Beijing

Day 2: Forbidden city
Beijing - breakfast. Today, we embark on a guided tour of the nation’s capital. Tiananmen Square, a patriotic vision of grandeur and the Forbidden city, the walled city of the former Chinese emperors boasting stunning temples, courtyards and reception halls. Afternoon rickshaw ride navigating the old back lanes and courtyards of Beijing’s Hutongs. Tonight, Welcome Dinner at a city restaurant. Dinner and overnight - Beijing

Day 3: Great Wall
Beijing - breakfast. Today we walk famous Great Wall. Snaking more than 6000km in length, the scenery and panoramic views are picture perfect. We continue to the nearby tombs of the Ming Emperors and tour a cloisonne workshop. Tonight, we watch a death defying Chinese acrobatic performance. Lunch and overnight – Beijing

Day 4: Summer palace
Beijing - Luoyang - breakfast. Morning market walk and a visit to the Summer Palace. We explore the lavishly decorated temples, halls and courts, reconstructed in 1902 at the whim of the extravagant Dowager Empress Cixi. Visit to the famed Silk Alley markets and drive by the Beijing 2008 Olympic Stadium en route to the train station. Overnight – sleeper train

Days 5 & 6: Luoyang
Luoyang - Xi’an - breakfast. Today we explore the UNESCO - listed 6th Century Longman Caves etched into the cliffs of the Yi River. The 1300 caves (grottoes) are adorned with 100,000 statues and images of Buddha and his disciples, carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty. Later we tour the White Horse Temple, the first Buddhist temple in China. Day 6, a visit to Peony Square to watch ballroom dancing, tai chi and sword fighting. Boarding the morning train we travel to Xi’an and have the afternoon at leisure. Dinner & overnight (1) - Luoyang, overnight (1) - Xi’an

Day 7: Xi’an/Terracotta Warriors
Xi’an - breakfast. Emperor Qin’s Terracotta Warriors are reputed to be the greatest discovery of the 20th century - 7,000 life-sized clay soldiers stand ready for battle. We visit the archaeological site, Huanqing Hot Springs and the workshop where the replica warriors are crafted. This evening an optional Tang Dynasty dinner & performance is offered. Check out our Tang Dynasty bolt-on for more details. Lunch & overnight – Xi’an

Days 8 & 9: Xi’an/Shanghai
Xi’an - Shanghai - (breakfast day 8). Today, we tour the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, take a bike ride on Xi’an’s medieval City Wall and visit the Muslim Quarter. Day 9, Shanghai city sightseeing tour and cruise along the Huangpu River. Lunch & overnight (1) - sleeper train, overnight (1) - Shanghai

Day 10: Suzhou water canals
Shanghai - Suzhou - Shanghai - breakfast. Today, we journey to an oriental Venice - ancient Suzhou interwoven by a series of canals and pretty waterways. We cruise on the Grand Canal and visit a silk workshop. Lunch and overnight – Shanghai

Day 11: Shanghai
Tuesday. Shanghai - breakfast. Tour ends after breakfast and onward departure transfer to the airport.