Giant China
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Overview
In 210BC when the first Emperor of China died, he had every man working on the Terracotta Army buried alive to keep him company. But he also unified China and standardised writing. So, not a total monster.
(Was China Odyssey)
Itinerary
Day 1-2 - Hong Kong
Practice your chopstick skills, and see how many Hong Kong favourites you can devour: congee, mango pancakes, siu yuk (five layer roast pork) and stinky tofu for the brave ones.
Day 1
- A free day, but arrive early if possible - there's plenty to see in Hong Kong
- Pre-departure briefing with your tour guide in the early evening (approx. 6 pm)
- Perhaps take in the spectacular Sound and Light Show on the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island
Day 2
- Head to Guangzhou (Canton) on a hydrofoil journey
- Take in the views whilst sailing out of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour
- Board an overnight six-berth hard-sleeper class train bound for Guilin
Day 3-5 - Yangshuo
Stu says it best: “If you’re a bit homesick, head to West Street where you can get burritos, steak and Vegemite sandwiches."
- Explore the Yangshuo region on bicycle and by foot - a photographer's paradise
- Hire bikes for half a day and ride past the limestone outcrops that jut up from the surrounding paddy fields
- Stop in the villages and mingle with the locals
- Hike up the famous Moon Hill and view the surrounding countryside
- Plenty of free time to relax in the many cafes and restaurants that line Xi Jie (West Street), or shop for a bargain in the marketplace
- Catch the overnight train for Wuhan
Day 6-9 - Yangtze River Cruise
Cruise down Asia’s longest river on a local boat with viewing platform, bar, shop and dining room. Oh, and there's karaoke but please, no Celine Dion.
Day 6
- Travel to Yichang - the gateway city to the massive Three Gorges Dam
- Take a stroll along the banks of the Yangtze River and watch the sunset with the locals
Days 7-9
- Embark on a riverboat trip
- Be surrounded by sheer cliff faces one minute and passing a thriving city or a deserted town the next
- Make the most of the boat's viewing platform, bar, shop and dining room
- Perhaps take one of the several on-shore excursions
- Dismebark at Fengdu and drive to the bustling and hilly city of Chongqing and enjoy free time to explore
Day 10-12 - Chengdu
See a couple of China's biggest attractions. Literally. At 71m Dafo is the world’s largest statue of Buddha. Then it’s off to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base.
- Travel to Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, a province famous for its spicy food
- For dinner, why not try the local delicacy - Sichuan hotpot
- Visit Leshan, situated on the shores of the Min Rive, on a day trip
- View the Giant Buddha (Dafo), located at the convergence of the Dadu and Min rivers
- Drive out to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base and seize a rare chance to glimpse this cute and cuddly icon
- Board a sleeper train bound for Xian
Day 13-14 - Xian - Terracotta Warriors
It’s said there are 7000 warriors at the site, but only about around 1800 have been excavated. Each warrior is different; look out for features like moustaches, hair, smiles, frowns and sneaky sideways glances.
- Arrive in Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province
- Explore the awesome army of Terracotta Warriors
- Enjoy free time to wander around this historical city
- Perhaps swing by the Muslim Quarter - a fascinating place to visit
- Why not cycle along the top of the ancient city walls or climb the Bell Tower
- Embark on the sleeper train to Beijing
Day 15-17 - Beijing - Great Wall
We've managed to find a section of the wall that's still relatively undiscovered. Stay in the thick of Beijing’s action at our hotel with rooftop bar and view of Tiananmen Square.
- Explore many of Beijing's main attractions
- After entering through an archway beyond Tiananmen Gate, spend the morning exploring The Forbidden City
- Take a walk along the Great Wall
- Survey the spectacular surrounding countryside from the wall - the surrounding views are amazing
- Enjoy ample free time to explore the many other sights of Beijing, such as the Summer Palace or the Temple of Heaven
Day 18 - Suzhou
Wander the gardens and canals of Suzhou, home of silk. Try the snails, they’re a local delicacy. The (optional) sunset cruise is pretty spectacular too.
- Explore the canals and alleyways of Suzhou on foot
- Take an optional sunset cruise along the canals
Day 19-20 - Shanghai
Some call it The Paris of the East. We call it Home of the World's Best Pork Bun. Don’t believe us? Head to Tai Din Fung and find out.
- Take a stroll along the famous river waterfront known as The Bund
- Visit the Yu Yuan Gardens, a fine example of a classical Ming Dynasty garden
- Enjoy plenty of free time to visit any of the fascinating museums or the many shopping arcades
- Cut loose in some of Shanghai's many bars, restaurants and nightclubs
Day 21 - Hangzhou
Change of pace today. Take a bike and explore the temples and gardens around the West Lake. It’s famous for producing some of the world’s best tea so order a pot with breakfast.
- Enjoy a walk down to the city's West Lake - with wonderful views and relaxing gardens
- Perhaps set off on a bike ride in free time
- Why not sample some of Hangzhou's world-famous tea in one of the many teahouses
Day 22-24 - Yellow Mountain
Look familiar? Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was filmed here. But don't try running along any tree-tops. Just walk or take the cable car to admire the 72 peaks of Yellow Mountain.
- Catch the bus to Yellow Mountain (Huangshan)
- Head up Yellow Mountain's eastern steps by foot or cable car for spectacular views
- The more adventurous can walk up the eastern steps and down the western steps
- Optional visit to the Jade Gorge where the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was filmed
- Catch a bus to Shanghai, arriving in the early afternoon
Day 25 - Shanghai
Last chance to grab a plate of your favourite xiao long bao. We also recommend finding some sheng jian bao - a final pork dumpling fix.
- The trip ends this morning, but Shanghai (and China) have much more to offer for those who wish to stay on
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What to Know
What's Included
• Gecko’s expert English-speaking Chinese tour guide throughout the tour and local site guides at some sites.
• Two-night Yangtze River cruise through the Three Gorges. Accommodation in a twin-share cabin, with private facilities, on a tourist-class riverboat.
• Two days exploring Yangshuo on bicycle and by foot including Moon Hill and stops at local villages.
• Sightseeing (including entrance fees where applicable): Giant Buddha (Dafo), Terracotta Warriors, Beijing, Suzhou, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Yellow Mountain.
• Visit to Chengdu’s Giant Panda Breeding Research Base.
• Walk on a remote section of the Great Wall at Mutianyu.
• Free time to explore Hong Kong, Chongqing, Yangshuo, Xian, Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou.
• Hydrofoil from Hong Kong to Guangzhou.
• Overnight trains from Guangzhou to Guilin, Guilin to Wuhan, Chengdu to Xian, Xian to Beijing and Beijing to Suzhou. Accommodation in six-berth, air-conditioned cabins.
• Day trains from Suzhou to Shanghai and Shanghai to Hangzhou.
Not Included
- International flights, arrival and departure transfers, departure and airport taxes, visas, all other meals, all optional tours or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature.
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Map
Map Itinerary
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Dates
Trip Dates and Prices
Start Date – End Date Trip Status Price 07 Jul 2013 - 31 Jul 2013 4 Request US $3,260On Sale Sale: US $2,445 Book Now 21 Jul 2013 - 14 Aug 2013 7+ Available US $3,260On Sale Sale: US $2,771 Promo code: 1355 Book Now 04 Aug 2013 - 28 Aug 2013 7 Available US $3,260On Sale Sale: US $2,445 Book Now 18 Aug 2013 - 11 Sep 2013 7+ Available US $3,260 Book Now 01 Sep 2013 - 25 Sep 2013 7+ Available US $3,260 Book Now 29 Sep 2013 - 23 Oct 2013 7+ Available US $3,260 Book Now 13 Oct 2013 - 06 Nov 2013 7+ Available US $3,260 Book Now 10 Nov 2013 - 04 Dec 2013 7+ Available US $3,260 Book Now 05 Jan 2014 - 29 Jan 2014 7+ Available US $2,870 Book Now 16 Mar 2014 - 09 Apr 2014 7+ Available US $3,260 Book Now 30 Mar 2014 - 23 Apr 2014 7+ Available US $3,260 Book Now 13 Apr 2014 - 07 May 2014 7+ Available US $3,260 Book Now 27 Apr 2014 - 21 May 2014 7+ Available US $3,260 Book Now 11 May 2014 - 04 Jun 2014 7+ Available US $3,260 Book Now 25 May 2014 - 18 Jun 2014 7+ Available US $3,260 Book Now 08 Jun 2014 - 02 Jul 2014 7+ Available US $3,260 Book Now 22 Jun 2014 - 16 Jul 2014 7+ Available US $3,260 Book Now -
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