China in a Nut Shell

This is the day when you arrive in Beijing. No activities are predicted.

Temple of Heaven

The first stop of the day is the Great Wall. This is the largest defensive wall in the world and there is not a single man in civilized world that haven’t heard of it. Mostly, it is a pretty crowded place since the tourists from all around the world are coming here to see it, but the Mutianyu Great Wall is a section that will allow you to enjoy the view in peace. The transportation is carried out by a cable car. The Temple of Heaven is the largest temple in the City and it is one of the major Buddhist attractions in the country. It was once used as an imperial temple where emperors were praying for a good harvest. The whole complex is quite huge and very pleasing to the eye. You will have your lunch at the local Restaurant and it will be somewhat unique experience that should please any taste. Meals: Breakfast and a lunch

Forbidden City

The first stop of your second day in Beijing is the Forbidden City. This is the most famous imperial complex in the world and it looks really amazing. It was a home to 24 of the Chinese emperors from 1368 until 1911 and it is definitely something that you have to see when visiting China. The next stop is just beside this complex and it is the world’s largest city square. Its name is famous around the world as Tiananmen Square was a place where many important things in Chinese history have happened. It is also possible to see many monumental buildings surrounding this square. The final stop of the day is a tour through Hutong in Xicheng District. This is a place that still has a scent of old times upon it and it is rapidly disappearing during last few years. This maze of narrow streets and single storey homes is definitely something that you have to visit. You will be served a lunch in a loca Restaurant . Meals: Breakfast and a Lunch

Xian City Wall with Bicycle

After the breakfast you will be transferred to the airport to take a trip to the city of Xi’an. There you will be visiting the History Museum of Shaanxi as a first stop of the tour there. This history museum is considered to be one of the best in all of the China and the experience will be a rather nice one. After that you will get to see the Xian City Walls. These are the best preserved defensive city walls in China and they stretch around the whole town centre. Since they are some 13 kilometres long, the bicycle ride is predicted to see all that should be seen. In case that the weather is too bad, this will be substituted with a visit to the Bell Tower. Your lunch will be served at the local Restaurant. Meals: Breakfast and a lunch

Terracotta Warriors

This is your second day in Xi’an and it will start with a visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This is a large pagoda made in a memory of Xuanzang and his epic trip to India. There are some very interesting statues and artefacts to be seen there. After this the tour goes to one of the most spectacular sites on the entire trip. Namely, city of Xi’an is a place where famous Terracotta Horses and Warriors were found in 1974. The discovery of these statues in the Emperor Qin’s tomb was made accidentally and the excavations are still in progress. Up to date, there are some 7000 of these statues discovered. The entire site is under 3 huge hangars and it is a good idea to wear comfortable shoes while visiting this place. Your lunch will be served in local Restaurant. Meals: Breakfast and a Chinese lunch

This day is predicted for travelling from Xian to Yichang. No sightseeing is predicted and the lunch will be served in the prince restaurant which is the biggest restaurant in the surrounding with a capacity of 2000 people. Meals: Breakfast and a Chinese Lunch

--Three Gorges Dam, the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken by man and it has been a dream for several generations of Chinese people. The construction of the dam formally began in 1994. The body of the dam has been completed in 2003, and the whole construction will be competed in 2009. It will be 2,335 meters long, 185 meters high, 18 meters wide on the top and 130 meters wide at the bottom. The tourists can get access to the top of the dam and enjoy different kinds of photo opportunities.

--Shennong Stream is another tributary of the Yangtze River, and its fast-flowing, crystal clear water runs southwards through deep gorges. The stream races past large and small karst caves, flocks of swallows, sheer cliffs, deep gorges, waterfalls, three-colored springs, rapids, the ancient plank path, a suspended coffin in the cliff, groups of ancient tombs and marvelous karst formations.

--Shibaozhai, literally means Stone Treasure Fortress, Located in Zhong County, it was first built in Qing Dynasty in 1750. Shibaozhai is one historic site that will look much different in 2009. The wooden architecture stands on the riverside. It is built by catch upon a rectangular rock with sheer cliffs with a height of 56 meters and 12 stories. And every floor of the wooden structure contains interesting artifacts. Each of the 12 floors of Shibaozhai is dedicated to a famous general of the Three Kingdoms period (220-265AD), a local scholar or a renowned Chinese poet.

Potala Palace

This is your first day of the Tibet tour and it starts with a visit to Potala Palace. It was once a winter residence to Dalai Lama and it is actually a marvellous place with enchanting labyrinths and rather lovely stairways. Getting up there is not too easy so it is a good idea to wear comfortable shoes if you wish to enjoy it to the fullest. After that, you will get to see the Jokhang Temple. It is far easier to reach and it is placed in the very heart of the Buddhism. Many of the local people come here to pray and it is always busy and crowded. One of its main attractions is the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha that was brought here in the 7th century. Barkhor Street is circling around this temple and it is the last stop of your daily tour. It was referred as the path of saints and it is the most important street in Lhasa. You can shop there for souvenirs or simply enjoy a cup of coffee in one of the cafe. The lunch will be served in Kechu Hotel which is pretty famous for their Nepalese and Tibetan dishes. Meals: Breakfast and a lunch

Drepung Monastery

The day starts with a visit to the Norbulingka. This was a summer palace of Dalai lama and it was used as both religious and administrative centre. It was build during the period of 7th Dalai Lama and is really something special to see. The next stop is the Sera Monastery. This is a monastery complex made out of one central building and three halls which are used for the famous daily debates. The monastery was built in 1419 and it got its name by the wild roses growing there at the time. If you are lucky enough you will get to see one of the debates but it is advised to remain silent. The final stop of the day is the Drepung Monastery. This monastery was built in 1416 and it is one of the six most signifficant monasteries of the Gelu Sect in China. It was used as a Dalai Lama’s residence until the Potala Palace was built and it really does look very impressive with its white walls against the dark mountains in its surrounding. The lunch will be served at the Steak House Restaurant and there are some western and Tibetan dishes available. Meals: breakfast and a lunch

This day is reserved for transfer from Lhasa to Chengdu. No other activities are predicted. Jinli Old Street, a famous shopping area. Picturesque, bustling, and cheerful, you can sample local arts and craft, traditional Chinese goods, food and delicacies, and even a Starbucks, local style. Have tea in tea house is a traditional cusom for Chinese people. You could have a tea in the local tea house to experience the local custom.

Chengdu Panda Base

The tour goes to the quite unique place that can’t be seen anywhere else in the world. Namely, the famous Panda Research and Breeding Centre is located in this city and you can see both Giant and Red Pandas which are the part of a very successful breeding program here. There is an option of taking part in Panda Keeper Program but that requires a reservation in advance. The lunch will be served at the local Restaurant. After this you will be transferred to the city of Guilin. Meals: breakfast and a lunch

Li River Cruise

This day is reserved for a cruise on a lovely Li River and it goes from Guilin to Yangshuo. You will be able to enjoy the beautiful nature along the way and if you are lucky you will even get to see the local fishermen in their bamboo rafts. This tour will be more than relaxing and you will see some of the truly marvellous sites along the way. Meals: Breakfast

This is your second day in Guilin and you will get to see some really memorable spots. The first one will be the Reed Flute Cave. This is the largest cave in the vicinity and it will for sure be a pleasant place to visit since there are all sorts of cave decorations available to be seen there. After that, the tour goes to the most recognizable landmark of the city. It is the Elephant Trunk Hill and for many years the city of Guilin was famous about it. It looks exactly as if it was an elephant that is drinking the water from the river. The lunch will be served at the local Restaurant. After that, you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight to Hong Kong. Meals: breakfast and a lunch

repulse bay

The Hong Kong tour is consisted of the orientation drive that will allow you to see some of the true gems of this city. The first stop is the Victoria Peak with its famous Victoria Tower. It is one of the best known landmarks of the city and it allows you also to see the 112 years old tram that is operating there. The next stop is the Aberdeen Harbour. This is a very lively place and many people live there. The main source of income for them is fishing for junk. You can also see it from close if you rent a sampan but that will cost you some $10 to $12. The final stop of the day is the Repulse Bay. This is one of the most exclusive and most prestigious residential parts of the Hong Kong and it makes quite a contrast with Aberdeen Harbour. No meals are included in this day’s itinerary.

This is the day of the departure and you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight back home.