13 Days Summer Jewels of China Tour Package from SOTC

Day - 1 - Arrive into Beijing Begin your ‘Jewels of China’ tour

On arrival at Beijing Airport, our local representative will be waiting outside the customs area to welcome you and to take you to your hotel. The evening is free for shopping and to explore the city on your own. Overnight at hotel Beijing Super House International or similar in Beijing.

Day - 2 - Visit The Great Wall of China Visit the Ming Tombs Birds Nest - Photostop Lao Tse Tea Ceremony

Today, we take you on a tour of the Great Wall of China. This 3,946-mile long wall is a symbol of China’s ancient civilization and ranks among the greatest monuments in history. Next, we visit the Imperial Ming Tombs – the mausoleums of 13 emperors. See the Underground Palace and enjoy the rustic setting of the Tombs. Later we stop for a photo opportunity of the ‘Birds Nest’ - the symbolic stadium where the 2008 Olympics were held. After an early dinner, we proceed for the Lao Tse tea house for an evening of Chinese culture. This is one exciting cultural place in Beijing.

Named after the drama Teahouse by Chinese author, Lao Tse. it is a wonderful entertainment house with short shows by comedians, singers, musicians, acrobats and opera performers. You can enjoy a kaleidoscopic view of Beijing culture while sipping tea with light refreshment. A highlight is the tea pouring acrobatics of the waiters. The waiters masterfully pour tea from a very long spouted teapot into a small teacup, which is always greeted by much applause. Overnight at hotel Beijing Super House International or similar in Beijing.

Day - 3 - Guided City Tour of Beijing

After a buffet breakfast, we take you on a guided city tour of Beijing conducted by an English speaking guide. See Tian’anmen Square, the largest square in the world. Visit the Forbidden City, an awesome 250-acre complex of palaces, pavilions and gardens. We continue our tour to Summer Palace and its immense gardens, where the imperial court resided during summer. Overnight at hotel Beijing Super House International or similar in Beijing.

Day - 4 - Temple Of Heaven Onto Xian

Today, we go on a visit to the Temple of Heaven. The Temple of Heaven was the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties came to worship the God of Heaven and pray for good harvests. The highlight of this tour is the blue tile-roofed Hall of prayer. It is an awesome sight to visit the Temple of Heaven in the morning to see Chinese people practice Tai Chi and various other sports and dance forms to stay fit. We then drive to the airport for our flight to Xian. On arrival we check-in to the hotel. The rest of the evening is free to relax. Overnight at hotel Xian or similar in Xian.

Day - 5 - Terracotta Warriors Big Wild Goose Pagoda Provincial Museum City wall of Xian

Today, we begin the day with a full-day tour of Xian. See the Terracotta Warriors – the tomb of the First Emperor of China. See more than 6000 moulded soldiers, officers, horses and wagons of this famed army. Later, we visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda built in 652 AD. Next, we visit the Provincial Museum.

Built at the site of a former Confucian temple in the southern part of Xian, this is the largest comprehensive museum in the province. It exhibits primarily historical relics of past dynasties and displays precious art treasures and stone carvings of the Han and Tang dynasties. We also stop for a photo opportunity of the City Wall of Xian, built during the Tang dynasty. Overnight at hotel Xian or similar in Xian.

Day - 6 - Onto Chongqing Board the Yangtze Cruise

Today we drive to the airport for our flight to Chongqing. On arrival, we proceed to the wharf to board the scenic Yangtze River cruise. Enjoy an Indian dinner on board the cruise prepared by your own SOTC chef - a taste of home cooking. Overnight in the comfort of your own cabin onboard the Cruise. (B, D)

Day - 7 - Onboard the Yangtze Cruise Shore Excursion to Fengdu

Enjoy breakfast onboard the cruise. Relax on the deck and enjoy the scenic beauty as your cruise ship sails through Fengdu Enjoy a shore excursion of Fengdu – The City of Ghosts. Have an enjoyable time at Captains Welcome party as your ship anchors at Wanxian for overnight. Enjoy an Indian lunch and dinner onboard the cruise prepared by your own SOTC chef - a taste of home cooking. Overnight in the comfort of your own cabin onboard the Cruise.

Day - 8 - Three Little Georges

As you enjoy breakfast, we pass through Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge. We disembark for an excursion to the Three Little Gorges. Disembark for a shore excursion of the Shennong Gorges Later we sail into the west section of the third gorge of the Yangtze River – The Xiling Gorge after which your ships pass through the 5 stage ship lock. Enjoy an Indian lunch and dinner onboard the cruise prepared by your own SOTC chef - a taste of home cooking. Overnight in the comfort of your own cabin onboard the Cruise.

Day - 9 - Three Gorges Dam Fly to Hangzhou

Today, enjoy a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam. We then disembark after your ship sails into Yichang and we drive to Wuhan airport for your flight to Hangzhou. Hangzhou is one of the more modern and prosperous cities in China, about 100 kilometres southwest of Shanghai. It sits at the southern end of the Grand Canal and is one of China’s seven ancient national capitals.

When Marco Polo came to Hangzhou in the 13th century, he declared it to be “the most beautiful and elegant city in the world”. There is a popular saying: “Above there is heaven, below there are Hangzhou and Suzhou.” Hangzhou’s “heavenly” beauty attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists to its exquisite West Lake area each year to enjoy the placid lake, beautiful gardens, reflecting pools, lavish temples and lakeside teahouses. Overnight at hotel Wenhua or similar in Hangzhou.

Day - 10 - Six Harmonies Pagoda Cruise on West Lake Huagang Park Lingyin Temple

Today, we do a guided city tour of Hangzhou. First, we visit the Six Harmonies Pagoda. The Six Harmonies Pagoda is one of the true masterpieces of ancient Chinese architectures. The name comes from the six Buddhist ordinances and it is said that the reason for building this pagoda is to calm the tidal waters of the Qiantang River and as a navigational aid. After this visit, we move on to the West Lake. West Lake is very poetic, especially the famous scenery of the White Causeway.

Built-in Tang Dynasty, more than 1,000 years ago, the White Causeway is covered with silk-like willows and pink peach blossoms in spring, just like a bright and beautiful strap across the lake. Seeing such beautiful scenery, visitors would feel as if they have entered a fairyland on earth. Next, we visit the Huagang park. Huagang Park is located on a peninsula between the Inner Lake and the Small Southern Lake. Beautifully decorated, especially the noted ‘fish view’, Huagang Park remains as one of top attractions in Hangzhou. After that we visit the Ling Yin Temple, a premier showpiece in the West Lake environs and is notable also as one of the ten most famous Buddhist temples of China.

The Temple contains an important collection of Buddhist literature together with many other treasures. Originally founded in 326 AD by a Buddhist monk returning from India, this wonderful temple has been restored and rebuilt no fewer than 16 times over the centuries. The chief attraction is an enormous 20m high Sakyamuni Buddha statue, built only in 1956 but meticulously carved from camphor wood and decorated with gold. The temple is filled with incredible statues and monuments of Buddha- laughing, standing and sitting, adapting a warrior stance, all posing differently! Overnight at hotel Wenhua or similar in Hangzhou.

Day - 11 - Green Tea Ceremony Onto Shanghai

Today, we visit the Longjing tea plantation area. See how tea leaves are crushed by hand in a hot pan and later dried to later make the World Famous Green Tea. Later, we drive to Shanghai. On arrival, we check-in to our hotel. Overnight at hotel Shanghai Mandarin or similar in Shanghai.

Day - 12 - Jade Buddha Temple Yu Yuan Garden

Today, we take you on a full-day guided tour of Shanghai. Visit Nanjing Road and the Bund Area, where you can shop for souvenirs. See the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Experience the Maglev high-speed train. Visit Yu Yuan Garden, a traditional Chinese park with beautiful pavilions, miniature lakes and bridges. See the famous Jade Buddha Temple. Built-in 1882, the temple has two Jade statues of the Sakyamuni Buddha and houses various ancient sculptures, rare paintings and Buddhist scriptures. Enjoy dinner at an Indian restaurant. Overnight at hotel Shanghai Mandarin or similar in Shanghai.

Day - 13 - Maglev Train ride Return Home with Wonderful Memories

After breakfast, we drive you to Longyang Rd. station to board the Maglev train to the airport for your flight back home. Experience the world’s fastest commercial train as you cover a distance of 30 kilometres in just 8 minutes. Its time to say goodbye to all the new friends you have made. We hope you take back many happy memories of your SOTC Tour.