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8 |
Cultural Exploration |
DAYS |
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Holiday Overview
Holiday Overview
Highlights
- Forbidden City: Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties
- Yu Garden: The Premier of Shanghai's Five Famous Classical Gardens
- Wuzhen Water Town
Map & Itinerary
Map & Itinerary
This
Cultural Expedition program is designed to give the family an opportunity to
experience a different and interesting Chinese Culture and Outdoor Landscape in
Beijing and Shanghai. Beijing is already one of the World’s Great Cities!
Although it has all the comforts and conveniences of a modern city, there are
many “must-see” attractions which are still unique –the Summer Palace, the
Temple of heaven, the Ming Tomb, the intriguing hutongs, and of course Tiananmen Square and the not-to-be-missed Forbidden City. The
shanghai section not only includes most of important sites such as Shanghai
Museum, Yuanyuan Garden, but also you will have a time to visit the famous
water town – Wuzhen. All of these will make you a wonderful experience
of real China.
Holiday Itinerary
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ARRIVAL BEIJING - FORBIDDEN CITY
Arrival Beijing airpoort, you will be met at Beijing International Airport by our guide and transferred to a hotel in central Beijing. In the morning, you will have an opportunity to rest and recover from the long flight. In the afternoon, we will follow in the footsteps of emperors, court ministers and eunuchs and head south to the magnificent and colorful Forbidden City. Forbidden City Beijing, also called Imperial Palace Museum, is located in the very heart of Beijing. It remained the residence of the emperors for nearly five hundred years, from the 15th century to the early 20th century, and was the actual and symbolic seat of imperial power. Popularly known as the Forbidden City, it was built in the Ming Dynasty between the 4th and the 18th years of the Yongle period (1406 - 1420 AD). Many of the buildings of the Palace have been repaired and rebuilt, but their basic form and layout remain in their original state. Welcome Peking Duck dinner will be followed by that - the capital's most famous dish. Once imperial cuisine, now the legendary duck dish is served at restaurants around the world.
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Accommodation Hotel in Beijing
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Meals D
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GREAT WALL & MING TOMBS
After breakfast we will travel to the Mutianyu section of The Great Wall, The Great Wall is regarded as being a sight that really takes the breath away. Indeed, for the scores of travellers that come to gaze upon its colossal beauty every day of the year, the reputation of The Great Wall is highly justified. Visitors are attracted here by the lure of seeing something utterly unique, an impossible feat realised by the strength and suffering of ordinary human beings. This impressive fortification was built both to protect the ancient civilization from the unruly northern tribes, and as a testament to the power of the emperor. Parts of The Great Wall are over 2,500 years old with the most magnificent sections located within the Beijing district, which contains over 670 kilometres of the Wall within its boundaries. Whilst taking a morning trek upon this giant fortification line your tour leader will give you a short lecture on the subject of The Great Wall including the events leading up to its creation, its construction, and the subsequent two millennia of its existence
After a traditional Chinese lunch at the bottom of Mutianyu Great Wall, we will transfer to Ming Tombs, visit Changling, the head and the largest tomb of Ming Tombs, where Emperor Yongle (the first emperor in Beijing) and his Empress Xu were buried. Then visit Sacred Road, which also called Shenlu in Chinese, it is often lined with stone statues, which are important decorations of the mausoleum. Then back to Beijing downtown.
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Accommodation Hotel in Beijing
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Meals BL
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BEIJING HIGHLIGHTS
In the morning, we will visit where we could see the cute Panda.
After that, we will transfer to visit Summer Palace. Summer Palace located in a northwestern suburb of Beijing, it is an immense park containing some Chinese traditional architecture and arts. It was built and served as a royal garden during the Qing Dynasty. It exhibits the quintessence of the Chinese classical landscape gardening. The halls, the pavilions, the corridors, the pagodas, the bridges and the water were elaborately arranged. The long Corridor is one of the most exquisite structures in the garden. It is over 700 meters long and decorated with thousands of Chinese traditional paintings.
After lunch, travel back to the city to visit the Olympic Village: Bird Nest & Water Cube (outside of it) in the afternoon. Drive back to the hotel.
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Accommodation Hotel in Beijing
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Meals BL
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BEIJING HIGHLIGHTS
In the morning, after breakfast, we will go to see the local people doing their morning exercises -- Taichi in Temple of Heaven. Tai Chi, or Taijiquan in Chinese, is an outstanding gem of traditional Chinese culture that is valuable in promoting health, developing combat and self-defence skills, and improving concentration and overall well-being.
Then we will visit the Temple of Heaven. Temple of Heaven was the venue for the Ming and Qing emperors to offer sacrifices to the Heaven and pray for harvest. This temple was built in the 18th year during the reign of the Ming Emperor Yongle in 1420.
Then enjoy a Hutong rickshaw tour. As the Forbidden City is the symbol of China's royal family, the Hutongs in Beijing show the real life of the common people. When you visit Hutong by rickshaw, you could really taste the life of common people in Beijing. Lotus Market, located in Houhai area, famous for old hutong and modern bars. You will also have chance to have a view of the Beijing drum show today to get close to the Chinese traditional art.
In the afternoon, transfer to visit Lama temple. Lama Temple, also called Yonghe Lamasery is the best-preserved lamasery in existence in China today. It was first established during the Qing Dynasty as the residence of Emperor Yongzheng when he was just a prince, and it was also the birthplace of Emperor Qianlong, the son of Emperor Yongzheng. Then we will have a free time walk on Beijing Famous Street – Wangfujing Street.
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Accommodation Hotel in Beijing
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Meals BL
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798 ART DISTRICT - SHANGHAI
Leisure in the morning, near noon, check out the hotel. After lunch, we will visit 798 Art District. "798” modern Art Zone was originally the site of a factory that produced electronics. Its massive ducts and bright windows are seldom seen elsewhere. The halls were built using Soviet aid in the 1950s, with East Germany providing architectural and industrial design. Beginning from 2002, it gradually became an area of international character, bringing together contemporary art, architecture and culture with a historically interesting location and an urban lifestyle which attracting attention from all around. Now “798” has evolved into a cultural concept of interest to experts and normal folk alike, influential on our concepts of both urban culture and living space.
After dinner, transfer to Beijing Railway station, take an overnight bullet train to Shanghai (Soft sleeper).
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Accommodation on the Train
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Meals BL
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SHANGHAI CITY TOUR
Our guide will pick you up at Shanghai Railway station, transfer to the hotel, after breakfast, have a short rest, drive to visit the Bund, Yu Garden. In the afternoon, continue to visit Oriental Pearl Tower and Xintiandi Bar street.
Yu Garden is one of the most famous gardens in China and is national heritage listed. It was built in 1559 and extended in 1577. Each section of the garden is separated by curved white walls crowned with the head and body of a dragon on them. It's named after the original owner.
The Bund: Also called the Zhongshan Road, is a Famous waterfront and regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years.It was the centre of Shanghai’s politics, economy and culture hundreds of years ago, consulates of most countries and many banks, bus inesses and newspaper offices were settled there.
The Oriental Pearl TV Tower is unquestionably an icon of Pudong’s renaissance. Looming through the mist, like a reproduction of a classical Chinese ink painting of landscape, stands Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Its soaring height of 468 meters boldly characterizes the Lujiazui cityscape.
Xitiandi Bar Street: A renovated city block that showcases the beauty of the Shikumen lane house, Xintiandi is a multifunctional dining, retail and entertainment centre. Xintiandi is an elegantly maintained version of authentic Shanghai street life.
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Accommodation Hotel in Shanghai
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Meals BL
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SHANGHAI - WUZHEN - SHANGHAI
Morning your guide and driver pick up you from Shanghai and begin to drive for Wuzhen, which is today’s visit. Then you will visit a wine making plant, & a local printing workshop. Have a Chinese lunch and continue to visit an exhibition of antique beds from the Ming & Qing Dynasties. After that, pay a visit to a local folk culture museum. Then you will make a cruise in Chinese gondolas. After that, transfer back to Shanghai.
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Accommodation Hotel in Shanghai
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Meals BL
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SHANGHAI - HOME
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and take the flight back home.
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Meals B
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Price Policy
Tour Price Policy
Additional details
1. Before you pay deposit to book the tour, we haven’t made any reservation yet. The train, flight tickets and the hotel may different from the itinerary listed.
2. The visiting order of the scenic spots in the itinerary may change according to the traffic condition and other unforeseen things.
3. Tourist insurance is a must before going, please provide us the confirmation of insurance company when sign up.
The price includes
1. Entrance Fees: to scenic spots as listed in the itinerary
2. All the activities fee mentioned in the itinerary: Hutong rickshaw in Beijing; Sichuan Opera show in Chengdu;
3. Private Transfers: Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing during the trip by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver.
4. Meals: All meals as indicated in the itinerary (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner), include Peking duck dinner in Beijing; Hot pot dinner in Chengdu.
5. Guide: As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available
6. Hotel: hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with king-size bed. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast
7. Internal flights
** Day 11/ Flight from Yichang to Shanghai (based on economy class);
8. Trains
** Day 04/ High speed train from Beijing to Xi’an (based on 2nd class);
** Day 06/ High speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu (based on 2nd class)
** Day 06/ High speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing (based on 2nd class)
9. Arrangements: the tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges
10. Travel Agency Liability insurance
The price does not include
1. International airfare or train tickets to enter or leave China
2. China entry visa fees
3. Excess baggage charges
4. The medicine for the sickness or accident while on the way
5. Personal expenses: expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary
6. Meals: any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary
7. Single room supplement
8. Please notice that the price will be much higher during the festival of Labors’ Day, National Day, spring festival
9. Tips to tour guide and driver (recommended USD10-15/guest/day).
10. Tourist accident insurance. NB - you are strongly suggested to buy travel and health insurance before you start out from your home country.
Payment conditions
To confirm your reservation, you must pay a deposit of 30% of the total amount due via the payment link that your local agent will share. The balance is due 30 days prior to departure. The quoted exchange rate is valid for the next 7 days – if the deposit is not paid within this time, the quote will be re-calculated.
Terms and conditions for cancelation
i. Cancellation of the Tour by CAT (local agent):
CAT reserve the right to cancel the postpone tour at any time up to the date final payment is due under the following condition: in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. And in this case, all money paid by the participants will be refunded. If the tour is postponed, CAT will offer all those who have signed up the opportunity to have the same tour for a later time, but the price may be changed according to the season. We will notify you of any change, and give you a reasonable period
of time to make your decision. Consumers may, but are under no obligation to, take the tour under these new terms. After final payment has been made, we may cancel the tour only if, in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. Since cancellation in this case involves factors which may arise suddenly and are entirely outside our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, civil unrest and epidemic disease, we cannot guarantee a full refund in this case. This is because payment will already have been made to finalize the arrangements and reservation.
ii. Cancellation of the Tour by Consumer:
Any cancellation must be made by sending an email to the local agent. The cancellation fee varies according to how many days prior to departure the cancellation is made:
· More than 30 days prior to departure: 5% of the total holiday cost
· Between 30 and 22 days prior to departure : 25% of the total holiday cost
· Between 21 and 8 days prior to departure : 50% of the total holiday cost
· Between 7 and 3 days prior to departure : 75% of the total holiday cost
· Less than 3 days prior to departure and after the departure date: 100% of the total holiday cost
All cancellations must be in writing and will be effective upon receipt by CAT. No refund will be made to those participants who break the journey regardless of the portions of the package unused. If, owing to serious illness or injury, the participant withdraws from the tour, a refund will be subject to the consent of the local travel agent.
No refund will be made to those participants who have failed to secure valid travel documents such as passport or visas.
