Historic China by Rail Tailor-made journey HISTORIC CHINA BY RAIL Ancient history and modern, rst-class rail Journey through China discovering its remarkable and ancient history. Magnicent locations including UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historic towns and cities, the incredible 1,500 year old Hanging Monastery, and the fascinating old streets of Pingyao. Another one of the many highlights is an impressive Kung Fu performance at the Shaolin Temple at Songshan Mountain. The tour starts in Beijing, the distinguished capital, before moving on to the renowned Terracotta Warriors in Xian. All this and more, as travel in rst-class comfort between destinations, on China's high-speed rail network. Locations you will be visiting Xian, China Luoyang, China Dengfeng, China Pingyao, China Datong, China Xian, the eastern starting Luoyang is a great base An ancient city, known Pingyao is lled with One of China's '24 point of the Silk Road, for exploring the Longmen worldwide as the home of ancient towers, historic Historic Cities' and home capital of Shaanxi Grottoes and the Shaolin martial arts temples and imposing city to a plethora of Buddhist province and one of Temple walls temples and pagodas China’s ... 1 Day 2 Days 2 Day 2 Days 2 Days Beijing, China Beijing is the capital city of China and is the nation’s political and cultural centre. 3 Days YOUR TOUR ITINERARY Historic China by Rail 13 day Tour Itinerary An overview of your trip DAY 1 UK to Beijing Take a scheduled ight from London Heathrow to Beijing. Departures from regional UK airports are also available, on request. Transport: Airplane DAY 2 Arrive Beijing Upon arrival at the airport in Beijing, our Links Travel representative will meet and transfer you to your hotel, to check-in for a three night stay. The afternoon is free at leisure to relax, or perhaps explore the local area. Your guide will be able to give you tips on what to do, before hosting a welcome dinner in the evening, where you can meet your fellow travellers. Meals included: Dinner DAY 3 Beijing City Tour Your Beijing City Tour starts after breakfast, with a visit to the Temple of Heaven, where the Ming and Qing emperors worshipped, and you may see locals practising Tai Chi in the courtyard. This is followed by a stroll through Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world, to the Forbidden City, on the north of the square. Also known as the Palace Museum, it served as China’s imperial palace for 24 emperors. Your nal stop of the day will be the Hutongs, a twisting labyrinth of alleyways lled with traditional courtyard homes. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner DAY 4 Great Wall Following breakfast, the Great Wall at Mutianyu is your rst stop of the day. This well-preserved section of the wall, just 40 km north of Beijing, is less busy than other places, and has breathtaking views over the surrounding countryside. On return to the city there will be an opportunity for photographs at the Birds Nest Stadium and Water Cube, venues for the memorable 2008 Olympics. In the evening, you will be treated to a delicious must-have Peking Duck dinner. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner DAY 5 Beijing to Xian Today’s rst stop, after breakfast at the hotel, is the Summer Palace, the largest royal park in China. This oasis, is a picturesque collection of Imperial pavilions, majestic towers and ornate bridges, connected by charming walkways, set over verdant Longevity Hill and surrounding beautiful Kunming Lake, where you can enjoy a relaxing boat ride. The day ends with a high-speed bullet train, in rst class, to Xian, where you will be met on arrival at the station, and transferred to your hotel for a two night stay. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch Transport: Train DAY 6 Terracotta Warriors The awe-inspiring Terracotta Warriors are today’s main attraction. Buried for centuries and only discovered in 1974, this 2,000 year old army of 10,000 soldiers, is a sight to behold. After lunch, there is time to explore Xian’s ancient city wall, best done by bike or on foot. It is one of the most complete defensive city walls surviving in China today. In the evening, a sumptuous dumpling dinner and accompanying Tang Dynasty Show are the ideal way to end the day. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner DAY 7 Xian to Luoyang Enjoy a hotel breakfast before admiring some of the 250,000 artefacts on display at the Shaanxi Museum, and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated at the Jianfu Temple. Your nal visit in Xian will be to the Muslim Quarter, for a different aspect of the city and a chance for souvenir shopping. Catch a bullet train, which will whisk you in comfort, through the countryside to to Luoyang, your next destination on this 13 day tour. On arrival, our representative will meet and transfer you to your hotel to check-in. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch Transport: Train DAY 8 Shaolin Temple Today starts with a short drive to the UNESCO-listed Longmen Grottoes, one of the nest existing examples of Chinese Buddhist stone-carving. Then it is on to the Shaolin Temple on Songshan Mountain, for an impressive Kung Fu Performance from the monks. The journey continues to Denfeng for the night. Meals included: Breakfast DAY 9 Dengfeng to Pingyao After breakfast, catch the bullet train from Zhengzhou to Taiyuan, watching the world pass by as you go. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Pingyao to check-in. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the local area or relax. Meals included: Breakfast Transport: Train DAY 10 Explore Pingyao Your day in Pingyao, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers you the opportunity to discover the varying architectural styles of Imperial China. Highlights include the ancient City Wall and the atmospheric Ancient Ming and Qing Street, which gives a hint to the city’s former grandeur. The Rishengchang Financial House Museum, one of the rst exchange shops in China, dating back to 1823, and the remarkable Zhengguo and Shuang Lin temples, are also worth visiting. Meals included: Breakfast DAY 11 Pingyao to Datong Transfer to the train station, after breakfast, for the train to Datong. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel to check-in, and the rest of the day is at leisure. Meals included: Breakfast Transport: Train DAY 12 Yungang Caves, Hanging Monastery, and to Beijing This morning, you will be taken to the UNESCO-listed Yungang Grottoes, ancient Buddhist temple caves, each painstakingly carved from the rock wall over many years, and the 1,500 year old Hanging Monastery. Clinging to the side of Hengshan Mountain, it is known for its combination of three traditional Chinese religions: Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Afterwards, transfer to the airport for your ight to Beijing, where you will be met and driven to your hotel to check-in. Meals included: Breakfast Transport: Airplane DAY 13 Fly to UK Enjoy breakfast before taking the hotel shuttle bus to the airport for your return ight to the UK. Meals included: Breakfast Transport: Airplane Optional Extras - Cultural Experiences There is some free time in your itinerary for you to explore on your own, or treat yourself to an excursion. Use the links below to create a to-do list, or, if you’d prefer us to book you onto one of these or any other excursions, please let us know when booking your tour. CHINA CHINA CHINA CHINA China: Beijing China: Tea China: China: Tai Chi Opera Tasting Calligraphy Lesson Delight at a performance of Appreciate the varying blends of Lesson Practise this ancient martial art with traditional Beijing Opera Chinese tea at a tasting a Tai Chi lesson Create your own piece with a class in Chinese caligraphy VIEW THIS PACKAGE VIEW THIS PACKAGE VIEW THIS PACKAGE VIEW THIS PACKAGE YOUR HOLIDAY DETAILS Departures and Prices 2020 / 21 China: Historic China by Rail Depart Return Days Price from Availability Reservation price Make an enquiry from £2,948 19/03/2020 31/03/2020 13 £2,948 Spaces available 02/04/2020 14/04/2020 13 £2,998 Spaces available WHAT'S INCLUDED: 09/04/2020 21/04/2020 13 £2,998 Spaces available International Flights in Local tips: RMB500 (approx. Spaces economy class with British £58) per person, 07/05/2020 19/05/2020 13 £2,998 Airways available Personal Spending Spaces 14/05/2020 26/05/2020 13 £2 998 14/05/2020 26/05/2020 13 £2,998 available Domestic ights in economy Travel Insurance class Spaces China visa and fees 04/06/2020 16/06/2020 13 £2,948 available Transfers Spaces ★ 23/07/2020 04/08/2020 13 £3,248 available 4 accommodation based on twin share 06/08/2020 18/08/2020 13 £3,248 Spaces available English speaking guides Spaces Meals as specied 03/09/2020 05/09/2020 13 £2,998 available Entrance fees to the sites Spaces 10/09/2020 22/09/2020 13 £2,998 available listed Spaces Airport taxes 17/09/2020 29/09/2020 13 £2,998 available Spaces 08/10/2020 20/10/2020 13 £3,148 available 15/10/2020 27/10/2020 13 £3,148 Spaces available 22/10/2020 03/11/2020 13 £3,148 Spaces available Spaces 18/03/2021 30/03/2021 13 £2,998 available Spaces 01/04/2021 13/04/2021 13 £3,048 available Spaces 08/04/2021 20/04/2021 13 £3,048 available Spaces 06/05/2021 18/05/2021 13 £3,048 available Spaces 13/05/2021 25/05/2021 13 £3,048 available Spaces 03/06/2021 15/06/2021 13 £2,998 available 2019 Tailor-made journey price from £3,204 Single supplement from £495 Land only from £2,499 Prices and products are subject to availability at the time of booking.