June 2019 Grand Tour of China 13 Days/ 12 Nights September 2019 - November 2020 STARTING FROM $3625 per person, based on double occupancy Embark on our extensive ‘Grand Tour’ of China and experience some the country’s principal attractions and foremost cultural experiences. From the wonders of the imperial past or the beautiful and heavenly landscapes, eventhe charmingly naïve Giant Panda, right into the beating heart of urban modernity and the new face of contemporary China. Our comprehensive program of travel and events will deliver unique and captivating insight into the soul of China. Take this wonderful opportunity to experience the hospitality and appeal of the many faces of an ancient and unique culture.Based around the great cities responsible for China’s illustrious past and present, our tour also allows you to cruise the mighty Yangtze and enjoy some truly spectacular scenery at a leisurely pace. TRIP HIGHLIGHTS : Great Wall Dujiangyan Giant Panda Base Forbidden City Yangtze River Cruise Terracotta Warriors Spectacular Shanghai Route : Beijing – Xi’an–Chengdu Yangtze River Cruise–Shanghai Duration : 13 Days/ 12 Nights Validity : September 2019– November 2020 www.5continents.ca [email protected] 5continents_Travel 5Ctravelconcierge June 2019 DAY1: Saturday Beijing After arrival at the award winning Beijing Capital international airport, you will be greeted by your local guide to assist your transfer to the city. Transfer by luxury coach to your awaiting local 5-star hotel in city downtown, and an opportunity to rest and prepare for the remainder of the day (excl. early check in). Hotel Xiyuan Hotel Beijing 5* or hotel similar Room Standard room Meals None DAY2: Sunday Beijing After breakfast at your hotel, visit the site that witnessed the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Tian’an Men Square is of one the world’s most impressive public plazas and stands at the center of Beijing. Visit the Forbidden City. Explore the halls and gardens of the largest ancient palatial structure in the world, the best preserved imperial palace in China and a site of great historical importance (excl. exhibitions). Lunch in a local Chinese restaurant Visit the Temple of Heaven. Framed amongst the princely imperial styles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties the site is a masterpiece of imperial style and architecture. Enjoy Tea ceremony Transfer back to hotel Dinner on your own Hotel Xiyuan Hotel Beijing 5* or hotel similar Room Standard room Meals Breakfast / Lunch DAY3: Monday Beijing After breakfast at your hotel, visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Enjoy this testament to Chinese engineering and ingenuity, a monument to human endeavor set against a backdrop of stunning scenery. (incl. cable car) Visit cloisonné factory Lunch at a local Chinese restaurant Visit the Summer Palace, the former site of retreat for the imperial family.It provides a range of striking views and the opportunity to enjoy Kunming Lake. Its buildings and courtyards are beautifully decorated and charged with historical contents.(excl. boat, theatre and Longevity Hill) Transfer back to hotel Dinner on your own Hotel Xiyuan Hotel Beijing 5* or hotel similar Room Standard room Meals Breakfast / Lunch June 2019 DAY4: Tuesday Beijing – Xi’an After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Beijing West Railway Station Take high-speed train to Xi’an (2nd class seat) Arrival in Xi’an and greeted by your local guide at the railway station Transfer to downtown (about 1 hour) Lunch on own Visit the ancient City Wall dated 600 years of Ming Dynasty, best preserved of its kind in China (excl. cycling). Visit the Muslim quarter, where you could have an opportunity to taste local foods at the market. Transfer to hotel for check in local 5-star hotel in city downtown. Dinner on your own Hotel Grand Park Hotel Xi’an5* or hotel similar Room Standard room Meals Breakfast DAY5: Wednesday Xi’an After breakfast at your hotel, visit the Terracotta Warrior Museum. The Terracotta Warriors arepraised as 'the eighth wonder of the world’ and providea fascinating insight into the ancient world. The silent army and its place in Chinese culture represent a wonderful highlight of any tour. Visit the Terra-cotta gure making factory Lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The pagoda is a well-preserved ancient building and one of the oldest surviving structures of its kind in China(excl. climb the tower). Transfer back to hotel Dinner on your own Hotel Grand Park Hotel Xi’an5* or hotel similar Room Standard room Meals Breakfast / Lunch DAY6: Thursday Xi’an – Chengdu After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to railway station for high-speed train to Chengdu (2nd class seat). Lunch on own Visit People’s Park, where locals enjoying their ease and relaxed life style (excl. tea drink) Visit Wide and Narrow Alleys Transfer to hotel for check in local 4-star hotel in city downtown Dinner on your own Hotel Dorsett Grand Hotel Chengdu 4* or hotel similar Room Standard room Meals Breakfast June 2019 DAY7: Friday Chengdu – Chongqing – Cruise Vessel After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Dujiangyan to visit Dujiangyan Giant Panda Base (about 1 hour drive). Lunch at local Chinese restaurant Transfer to Chengdu Railway Station for high-speed train to Chongqing (2nd class seat) Arrivalin Chongqing and greeted by your local guide at the railway station Transfer to the pier to embark your awaiting river vessel for a leisurely river cruisedownstream to Yichang Dinner on your own Cruise Yangtze River Cruise 5* President Cruise Cabin Twin cabin with bath/shower and WC Meals Breakfast / Lunch DAY8: Saturday Cruising Continue your cruise on the mighty Yangtze River with a stop at either Ghost City Fengdu, or the Shibaozhai Pagoda. Morning coee, tea and pastries Tai Chi exercise Buet Breakfast Ghost City Fengdu is an area of local legend, striking scenic beauty and great number of ghost focused temples (exclusive, payable at the spot) The Shibaozhai Pagoda is aQing dynasty wooden masterpiece built on a huge rocky outcrop and surrounded by gorgeous scenery. The evening provides an opportunity to attend an information meeting on board the cruise vessel with details and facts about the river and its famous locations. Cruise Yangtze River Cruise 5* President Cruise Cabin Twin cabin with bath/shower and WC Meals Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner DAY9: Sunday Cruising Pass through Qutang Gorge, the rst of the famous three gorges. Continue on to Wu Gorge, the last of the three gorges, bordered by cultivated elds that overhang at almost impossible angles. Morning coee, tea and pastries Tai Chi exercise Buet Breakfast Shore excursion to White Emperor City (exclusive, payable at the spot) Shore excursion to Shennong Stream,providing a chance to stretch your legs on land and explore. Back on board we head towards the Western Part of Xiling Gorge, a famous thoroughfare for shipping throughout the centuries, before passing the ship locks and heading to the majestic 3 Gorges Dam, China’s largest engineering operation since the Great Wall. June 2019 Cruise Yangtze River Cruise 5* President Cruise Cabin Twin cabin with bath/shower and WC Meals Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner DAY10: Monday Yichang – Shanghai Breakfast on board before a shore excursion and chance to encounter the Three Gorges Dam. Transfer to Yichang Train Station from the Three Gorges Dam Lunch at local restaurant or packed lunch prepared for you Take high-speed train to Shanghai (2nd class seat, around 8 hours) Arrival in Shanghai and greeted by your local guide at the railway station Transfer to hotel for check in local 5-star hotel in city downtown Dinner on your own Hotel Huating Hotel & Tower Shanghai5* or hotel similar Room Standard room Meals Breakfast / Lunch DAY11: Tuesday Shanghai After breakfast at your hotel, then to prepare you for a full day tour of Shanghai. Your rst stop is the sublime Yu Garden, located in the old city centre. The gardens and their surroundings are a wonderful example of classical design. Constructed 400 years ago in the Ming Dynasty, the colossal city of Shanghai has sprung up around this older relative but left it to grow old peacefully, providing a fascinating window into the past. Lunch at local restaurants. Visit the Jade Buddha Temple. Founded in 1882, the temple is celebrated for its two magnicent white jade Burmese Buddha statues. Next take a stroll to Nanjing Road, a well-known shopping boulevard with all of theimmenseenergy, bright lights and spectacle of Shanghai condensed into one location. The Bund. With an iconic skyline famous throughout the world, the Pudong area proudly boasts its striking modernist architecture, while at the same time contrasting with the ornate colonial buildings of yesteryear facing it from across the Bund river bank. Visit the Former French Concession Visit Silk factory Transfer back to hotel Dinner on your own Hotel Huating Hotel & Tower Shanghai5* or hotel similar Room Standard room Meals Breakfast / Lunch June 2019 DAY12: Wednesday Shanghai Breakfast at your hotel Day at leisure for self-exploring this international metropolis with Chinese and western cultures blended Lunch on your own Dinner on your own Hotel Huating Hotel & Tower Shanghai5* or hotel similar Room Standard room Meals Breakfast DAY13: Thursday Shanghai – Exit Breakfast at your hotel Check-out hotel (excl. late check-out service) Transfer to the airport Take ight out of Shanghai. End of service June 2019 Available starting dates Dates in 2019 (Arrival in Beijing) Dates in 2020(Arrival in Beijing) September 14th March 21st August 15th October 12th April 04th; 18th September 05th; 12th November 02nd May 09th; 23rd October 10th; 24th June 06th November 07th July 04th Package rates in CAD per person in shared twin room Pax/arrival dates Dates in 2019 Dates in 2020 MIN.