12-Day China Paradise to Beijing, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai

Day 1 Arrive in Beijing

Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts - an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites and a bustling modern metropolis getting ready to host the 2008 Olympics. Upon your arrival in Beijing, our guide will meet you and transfer you to your Hotel. The guide will give you some tips on local restaurants that we recommend and you can do some shopping in streets nearby. The rest of the day is free to rest to recover from jetlag or to explore yourself.

Day 2 Beijing

After breakfast head out for Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest public square, which is closely linked to Mao Zedong, and the Forbidden City, from which the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed for over 500 years. Later you'll visit the Temple of Heaven, where the Emperors prayed for good harvests and rain, or gave thanks for the harvest. Today's itinerary includes a visit to the old Beijing handicraft workshop(B,L).

Day 3 Beijing

Leave town in the morning for the drive (a bit under two hours) to the Badaling Section of The Great Wall, which stretches for over 6000 km, and was originally built to protect China from the barbarians. You can walk and climb at your own pace, or enjoy spectacular views from the cable car. Before returning to the city you'll enjoy visiting the Changling (one of the Ming Tombs), and the attractive tree-lined Sacred Way, bordered by stone statues, along which the Emperors once trod to conduct their sacred ceremonies. During the day a visit to Jade Caving Factory or Cloisonne (enamelware) workshop is included. Dinner tonight is at Quanjude Restaurant, where you'll eat some of the best 'Peking Duck' in Beijing(B,L).

Day 4 Beijing to Xi'an

You will be free in the morning until being transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Xi'an which is one of the oldest cities in China. Xi'an was the national capital for over 1,000 years and was also the starting point of the Silk Road. On arrival we will take a visit to one of the best museums in China, the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many Dynasties including magnificent bronzes and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display before(B).

Day 5 Xi'an

Spend today visiting some marvelous historical sites in and around this most ancient of cities, which was the national capital for over 1,000 years, and the starting point of the Silk Road. Despite a lot of modern development Xi'an remains a charming city, and you'll enjoy visiting the Bell Tower, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Then out to see the incredible Terracotta Warriors and Horses(B).

Day 6 Xi'an to Hangzhou

The morning is free for you to explore more of this ancient city. After lunch our guide will escort you to the airport for your flight to Hangzhou, a city famous for its natural beauty and historical and cultural heritage. On arrival we visit to Lingyin Temple (Monastery of the Hidden Souls). It is one of the most famous ancient Buddhist temples in China and houses a variety of Buddhist literature and treasures. The next stop is the Meijiawu Tea Plantation you will experience the unique tea culture, taste the fragrant tea and appreciate the beautiful village scenery(B).

Day 7 Hangzhou

Today's itinerary features the most famous scenic spots in Hangzhou - the West Lake. We cruise on the lake this morning to enjoy the beauty both natural and man made. The afternoon is spent at the Huqingyu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum. The Museum of Chinese Traditional Herbal Medicine is a key cultural relics and historic site under the protection of the government. It is housed in the ancient buildings of a famous Hangzhou Chinese herbal medicine shop. The exhibition halls introduce the origin, development and application of traditional Chinese medicine and its role in the history of medicine(B,L).

Day 8 Hangzhou to Suzhou

This morning you'll be transferred to Suzhou by train and arrive at 12:00pm. Garden of Humble Administrator is the first stop in Suzhou. It is the best representation of a Chinese classical garden in China. Afterward we are head to the Grand Canal, the longest man-made waterway in the world. Cruising on the Canal, you can observe the lifestyle of local people. Suzhou is also famous for its silk production and the last item of the day is a visit to the No.1 silk factory where you can see how the silk is processed from the silk worm to the final woven cloth(B).

Day 9 Suzhou to Shanghai

Before transferring to Shanghai, we visit the ancient Water Village Zhouzhuang where you can choose to cruise the town through many small streams and canals which surround the village. The waterways are criss-crossed with stone bridges and old residence with black tiles and white wells line the banks(B).

Day 10 Shanghai

Morning sightseeing begins at Jade Buddha Temple and the Yuyuan Garden in the old town of Shanghai, which is based on the original walled city established in the 11th century.
Afternoon to The Bund, the waterfront which shows Shanghai in early 1930s and then you can stroll or shop in the Nanjing Road. At night enjoy a wonderful Huangpu River Night Cruise. Huangpu River, is the name for grand Yangtze River Shanghai section where it joins in the East China Sea. It divides the Bund into two sections, Pu Dong and Pu Xi which means "east of river" and "west of river". Local people honor the Huangpu as their Mother River, and as you view the lights and spectacle from the deck during your cruise, you will understand why(B,L).

Day 11 Shanghai

We start the day by visiting Shanghai Museum which is The biggest museum in China, with a collection of over 120,000 pieces of Chinese art & cultural relics. The museum is especially famous for its treasures of bronzes, ceramics, paintings, and calligraphy. Then we head to the famous Oriental Pearl TV Tower (also known as the Pearl Tower, for its distinctive shape). The second highest viewing platform provides wonderful views over Shanghai and the Huang Pu River, and those with a good head for heights can choose to buy a ticket to continue on to the very top. In the afternoon, we take a relaxing walk to the Old French concession region. The area, which dates from the French Colonial period, is home to many of the city's best restaurants. Great area for a weekend stroll or to find a delicious food in the heart of downtown(B,L).

Day 12 Depart from Shanghai

Your time is your own, until you are ready to be transferred to the airport for your departure.