China: 5 Star Experience

Fly to Beijing. Cross the Int’l Date Line.

Upon arrival in Beijing, the capital city of China, you will be warmly greeted at the airport by the tour guide and transferred to your hotel.

Beijing has served as the capital of five dynasties over a period of 800 years. Today, visit Tiananmen Square, the second largest public square in the world, and the Forbidden City, the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming to Qing dynasty. Tour the exquisite Summer Palace, the largest preserved ancient imperial garden in China, and a former summer resort for Emperors. Then, visit a Chinese Medicine work shop to learn about traditional Chinese medicine, which has existed for thousands of years. Tonight, you will enjoy a wonderful tour with dinner, a large scale dramatic musical-“The Golden Mask Dynasty”.

Today’s highlight is an excursion to the majestic Great Wall, the most famous image of China, and a chance to climb a portion of this 3,700-mile marvel. Visit one of the largest Jade Exhibitions in Asia enroute. After lunch, see skilled artisans at work at a Cloisonné Factory. Then we will pass by modern exteriors of the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. Your welcome banquet includes the local delicacy, Peking Roast Duck.

Enjoy the Temple of Heaven & Hutong Life tour with lunch. Temple of Heaven, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. Then take a famous rickshaw Hutong Tour & Local Family Visit, this package also includes a traditional Beijing Zhajiangmian (“Fried Sauce noodles”) as lunch. Hutongs are traditional alley ways that made up Beijing’s old city planning, take a special rickshaw ride for an immersive tour to get a wonderful glimpse into yesterday’s world, the old way of life and traditional Beijing culture, and see the dramatic changes the city has undergone, continue to visit a local family and local market afterwards. In the afternoon, depart for Shanghai, and be transferred to Suzhou upon arrival.

This morning, visit the Lingering Garden, one of the classical garden masterpieces on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Suzhou is known as the “Venice of the East” as a large part of the city is covered in water. After lunch, you may take a cruise along the Grand Canal for a glimpse of the local life and China’s golden waterway in its heyday. Then, visit a Silk Spinning Mill to learn how silk is created from mulberry-munching silkworms to produce the nest thread and cloth. You will be transferred to Wuxi hotel this afternoon.

To start the day, visit a Fresh Water Pearl Farm. Then, head to admire the famous Lingshan Grand Buddha, with a thousand-year old Buddhism temple nearby. Later, you will be transferred to Hangzhou, described by Marco Polo as “the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world”. In the evening, enjoy a performance show “Impression West Lake”, and see the story of West Lake come alive before your eyes. (Only for Feb – Oct)

In the morning, take a boat ride on the West Lake, known for its scenic beauty that blends naturally with many famous historical and cultural sights. Then experience an oriental tea-tasting at the Dragon Well Tea Plantation. After lunch, travel to Shanghai, the vibrant metropolis and commercial center of China. Followed by a walk along the famous Bund, a mile-long stretch along the Huangpu River. It is the best place to capture the western influences of the old days. This evening, you will take the Huangpu River Night Cruise to get a glimpse of the dazzling and charming night view of Shanghai.

Today, visit the Shanghai Museum and indulge in ancient Chinese art, furniture, and jade. Visit Shanghai Old City God Temple area, a busy shopping centre where you may find souvenirs and delicious local food. Enjoy some free time in the afternoon. In the evening, attend a thrilling Chinese acrobatic show “ERA – The Intersection of Time”.

Breakfast and transfer to take your homeward flight.