Day 01: Arrive Beijing(Optional Kung Fu Show)
Welcome to your ‘Magical China’ tour! On arrival in Beijing, you will be met and escorted by our representative to your hotel (check in after 1400 hours). The rest of the evening is free to explore this city of marvels on your own. Come evening and you have an option to enjoy a wonderful Kung Fu Show. ‘The Legend of Kung Fu’ is a unique theatrical production, which celebrates the philosophy and skill of the martial art of Kung Fu through a compelling storyline, dramatic design, spectacular choreography and breath-taking music. A poignant and touching piece, the show blends the best of Kung Fu with exquisite ballet, music and wonderful theatre. (Breakfast)
Day 02: In Beijing (Excursion to Great Wall)
Today, you will visit the only man-made structure visible from the moon, the Great Wall of China, one of the oldest historic monuments in the world and a symbol of China’s ancient civilization. Just like a gigantic dragon, it winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus from east to west of China. Traditionally known as the “Wall of Ten thousand Li”, it leaves you spellbound by its sheer magnitude and architectural splendour. Continue on an interesting drive along the Spirit Way guarded by stone animals and human figures, and arrive at the Imperial Tombs, the only existing burial chambers of the Ming Emperors. The rest of the evening is free if you wish to explore the city on your own, or you have the option of enjoying an astounding Acrobatic Show tonight. One of the oldest performing arts in the world, Chinese Acrobatics borrows elements from the opera, dance and Chinese Kungfu merging them into a wholly distinctive style. (Breakfast)
Day 03: In Beijing (Guided city tour)
The day unfolds with a guided city tour of Beijing, viewing historic landmarks like Tian’anmen Square. It’s the largest open public square in the world, flanked by the imposing Tian’anmen Gate and crowned by a tower with a typical tiled roof and the Museums of History and Revolution. Tian’anmen (‘Gate of Heavenly Peace’) is the original gate of the Imperial Palace. Your city tour continues to the palace, better known as the Forbidden City. Admire this architectural masterpiece with exotic pavilions, serene courtyards, rich halls and flourishing gardens. The grand finale is a visit to the Summer Palace, a magnificent imperial garden located 12 km west of Beijing City. A summer retreat for emperors and a chosen few in the past, it is now the largest and most ancient preserved garden in China, and includes over a 100 ancient pavilions, mansions, towers, halls, temples, bridges and an enormous clear water lake. Later, we visit the famed Silk Alley markets boasting of more than 1000 stores and the Jingdu Pearl Factory. (B, D)
Day 04: Onto Xian
Fly to Xian this morning. On arrival, proceed on a guided city tour of Xian commencing with a visit to Huaqing Hot Springs, a picturesque spot with beautiful hot spring baths, a serene lake and luxury pavilions that served as the Emperor’s leisure residence. Later, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which houses sutras collected by a wandering Chinese monk in India, celebrating the onset of Buddhism in China. Next see the Ancient City Wall built in 1374 AD on the lines of the city of Changan in the Tang Dynasty. They are 11.9 km in girth, with a top width of 12 to 14 meters, built of grey bricks and are still standing from the Middle Ages. The gate towers built over each of the four city gates, painted a dark green, look lofty and magnificent, and form a tight defence engineering system. Later, shop for Chinese Jade and other artifacts along Ancient Style Street. Enjoy an optional viewing of the Tang Dynasty Show, for a performance of Chang’an music and dance, which originated in China’s Tang dynasty over a 1,000 years ago. Also, walk through a display of various ancient Chinese musical instruments. (B, D)
Day 05: In Xian (Excursion to Terracotta warriors)
This morning visit the archaeological site of the amazing Terracotta Warriors – a collection of 8,099 larger-than-life Chinese terracotta figures of warriors, horses and other figures, each celebrating Chinese unification. The figures vary in height, according to their role, the tallest being the Generals. In 1974, near Xi’an in central China, villagers chanced upon what has become one of the world’s most astonishing archaeological findings – an 8,000 man army in battle-ready formation, each warrior a life-size figure in pottery made over 2,200 years ago. (B, D)
Day 06: Onto Shanghai
Today, fly to Shanghai. On arrival, you will be met and escorted by our representative to your hotel. Later, head to Nanjing Road, the main street of the French Concession for some great value-for-money shopping. (Breakfast)
Day 07: In Shanghai
Today, depart on a full day sightseeing tour of Shanghai. See the Jade Buddha Temple, named after its exquisite milk-white jade Buddha brought from Burma in the 19th century by a Chinese monk – it is a spiritual oasis in the midst of a modern metropolis, the visually striking Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the alluring, centuries-old Yu Yuan Gardens located in the Old Town of Shanghai, which recreates a beautiful landscape of pagodas, pavilions, rockeries, fountains, ancient trees and precious flowers. Next, proceed towards the Bund and the Old City, where the great trading houses and banks had their headquarters in the early twentieth century about a mile long, it is the city’s fulcrum. In the evening, enjoy a cruise on the Huangpu River, gazing at the mighty skyscrapers, the Monument Tower to the People’s Heroes, the famous Waibaidu Bridge and Huangpu Park on one bank, and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, International Convertion Center, Jin Mao Building and the newly rising Pudong New Area on the other. The Yangpu and Nanpu bridges span the river. From the river, one can also view the ruins of ancient cannon emplacements and fortifications at Wusong and the magnificent view of the Yangtze River as it empties into the sea. (B, D)
Day 08: Depart China
After breakfast day at leisure till the departure to the airport for the flight to onward destination.