China Express

On sale!

£879 was £1099

Discount: 20%

Offer end: Dec 31 2024

Duration: 8 days

Begins: Beijing

Ends: Shanghai

Trip Code: ACCR

From

£879 per person

Angebot anfordern

or Call 01273 099433

    Walk backwards in time along the Great Wall and stare down an army of Terracotta Warriors before leaping into the future of Shanghai's incredible high-rise towers on this fast-paced tour of China’s highlights. With the perfect blend of guided activities and free time to explore on your own, this adventure is made for those who want to get a taste of China in a short amount of time.
    Is this tour for me?
    Travel Style
    Classic
    All of the highlights, culture, access, and I-can’t-believe-we-did-that moments, all at a great price.
    Service Level
    Standard
    Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character; mix of public and private transport.
    Physical Rating
    2 - Light
    Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.
    Trip Type
    Small Group
    Small Group experience; Max 16, avg 12
    Age requirement
    12+
    All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
    What's Included
    • Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Shanghai
    • Great Wall excursion
    • Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City guided tour
    • Terracotta Warriors tour
    • Master of the Nets Garden and Tiger Hill Pagoda visit
    • Shanghai orientation walk and acrobatic show
    • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
    Accommodation

    Hotel (7 nts)

    Meals

    1 lunch

    Allow USD245-320 for meals not included.

    Transportation

    Train, local bus, metro, private van/bus, walking.

    Staff & experts

    English-speaking Chinese CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.

    Day 1 : Beijing

    Arrive at any time.

    Is Beijing top of your must-see list? Booking pre-trip accommodations will let you do Beijing your way before meeting up with the group.

    Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

    1h

    Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

    Acommodation

    Dongfang Hotel

    Acommodation

    Dongfang Hotel

    Day 2 : Beijing

    Enjoy an included visit to the Great Wall.

    Head out of town to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Spend time wandering around, taking photos, and picking up souvenirs.

    Orientation With CEO

    0h30m - 1h

    Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

    Private Vehicle

    Beijing - Mutianyu 1h30m - 2h

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Mutianyu Great Wall Visit

    Beijing 3h

    Climb the rolling hills of Huairou County at Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall. Enjoy scenic views as the wall winds along mountain ridges, and take brag-worthy photos of the wall from any of the 22 towers. The Great wall is an incredible piece of engineering stretching 6000 km west from the mountain ridges north of Beijing. It was originally constructed to protect Chinese empires from nomadic northern tribes, and even though it failed in this purpose, it's still one of the country's most remarkable achievements and an iconic destination. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is located about 80km away from the Veijing City Center. The walk is approximately 5 kilometres and will take 2 to 3 hours depending on your level of fitness.

    Private Vehicle

    Mutianyu - Beijing 1h30m - 2h

    Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

    Free time:

    Beijing

    Use your evening to explore the cityscape of Beijing.

    Acommodation

    Dongfang Hotel

    Optional Activities - Day 2

    The Pearl Market

    Beijing 1h30m

    Shoppers get ready. The Pearl Market is great place to get souvenirs for friends and family! This market is well know for the verity of pearls but, make sure to also check out the other vendors selling goods like crafts, clothing, and silk.

    Drum and Bell Tower Visit

    Beijing 1h

    Climb to the top of the Drum Tower for an unforgettable aerial view of the city. Back in the Han Dynasty the towers were used to echo the time to the city with bells in the morning and drums in the evening. Today the 63-ton bell still stands in one tower and drum performances happen daily in the morning and afternoon.

    Toboggan at Great Wall

    Mutianyu

    After your hike on the Great Wall, opt to take a Toboggan ride back down instead of the cable car! 100 CNY ( one way) -140 CNY ( Round trip

    Toboggan Station is at Tower 6. The return ticket include a cable car up to Tower 6 and the Toboggan.

    Cable Car at Great Wall

    Mutianyu

    The cable car ride is about 5 minutes ride up to tower 14, from where you may walk to the highest point of Mutianyu Great Wall at Tower 20. The walk from ticket check to tower 10 is about 30 minutes. The cable car ride is a good option if you are hoping to save energy to challenge the Tower 20. Return ticket is recommended as you may spend more time on the wall.

    Acommodation

    Dongfang Hotel

    Day 3 : Beijing/Xi'an

    Take the Beijing metro to visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Later, board a fast train to Xi'an.

    Due to restrictions in China after the pandemic, the maximum daily capacity in the Forbidden City has been reduced from 80,000 to 30,000. This significant decrease in daily tickets has had a great impact on availability for both individuals and group tours to secure tickets, especially during he summer season. Our local team works very hard to secure tickets for each group. However, on the off chance we are unable to secure tickets to the Forbidden City, we will visit the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven, places of similar architecture and importance.

    Metro

    Beijing

    Get around underground via public transit.

    Tiananmen Square

    Beijing Morning

    Explore one of the world's largest public squares and the symbolic centre of Chinese power. Framed by the Gate of Heavenly Peace with its Mao portrait, Mao's Mausoleum, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum, and with elaborate flag raising and lowering ceremonies at dawn and dusk, it's a place of pilgrimage for the Chinese tourists who consider it the heart of their nation.

    Forbidden City Tour

    Beijing 2h Morning

    Our CEO will steer around crowds and help make the most of a visit to the Forbidden City.

    Local Train

    Beijing - Xi'an 5h45m - 6h

    Climb aboard, take your seat, and get around like the locals do.

    Acommodation

    HNA Hotel

    Acommodation

    HNA Hotel

    Day 4 : Xi'an

    Visit one of China’s greatest archaeological treasures—the Terracotta Warriors. After, the day is yours to explore as you wish.

    Train is our main mode of transport in China and it's a great way to travel. We aim to get the best sleeping berths available on each train journey. However, train tickets availability is limited during peak travel times, including summer vacations and Chinese national holidays. As such, it is possible that the group may be separated into different carriages or assigned top sleeping berths.

    Terracotta Warriors Guided Tour

    Xi'an 3h 2km

    Take a guided tour of the Terracotta Warriors where more than 8,000 clay soldiers and hundreds of replica horses and chariots stand in three pits. Learn why the Emperor Qin Shihuang commissioned the statues to serve as his army in the afterlife and how they were discovered. Spend a half-day exploring this archaeological wonder.

    Free time:

    Xi’an Afternoon

    Opt for some cycling, or just take a walk around and explore the city of Xi'an.

    Acommodation

    HNA Hotel

    Optional Activities - Day 4

    Muslim Quarter Visit

    Xi'an 1h30m

    Explore the lively Muslim Quarter and its serene Great Mosque, making time to indulge in the offerings of exotic local street food stalls. At night, head out for some of the best street food in China – the spicy beef and lamb kebabs are always a favorite.

    The Great Mosque

    Xi'an 1h

    Discover this hidden oasis behind the markets of the Muslim Quarter. Learn about the Great Mosque's centuries-old history, and explore the temples and gardens to see how Chinese and Islamic architecture came together in this place of worship.

    Bell and Drum Towers - Xi'an

    Xi'an

    Climb to the top of the Drum Tower for an unforgettable aerial view of the city. Back in the Han Dynasty the towers were used to echo the time to the city with bells in the morning and drums in the evening. Today the 63-ton bell still stands in one tower and drum performances happen daily in the morning and afternoon.

    Big Goose Pagoda Visit

    Xi'an 1h

    Head to the outskirts of the city to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a beautiful, brick Buddhist temple.

    Acommodation

    HNA Hotel

    Meals Included:

    Lunch

    Day 5 : Xi'an/Suzhou

    In the morning, visit the ancient Xi’An City Wall and learn more about China’s incredible history. Then take the bullet train to Suzhou in the afternoon.

    The ancient Xi’An City Wall was built for protection during the Tang Dynasty through to the Ming Dynasty. Your visit will start at 8:00 am and can take 1-2 hours to explore only a portion of the wall. Choose to rent a bike and hop off where you’d like to admire the views as you pedal along the 12m (39 ft) wide wall, which takes about 2 hrs to cycle along.

    Xi'An Ancient City Wall

    Xi'an

    Xi'An City Wall

    Bullet Train

    Xi'an - Suzhou

    Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.

    Acommodation

    Castle Hotel Suzhou

    Optional Activities - Day 5

    Cycling Xi'an City Walls

    Xi'an 1h - 2h 14km

    Rent a bike and cycle the Xi’an city walls. The walls – built for protection in the Tang Dynasty and expanded in the Ming dynasty –are a great way to absorb local history. Hop off where you like and admire the views as you pedal along the 12m (39 ft) wide wall, which takes about 2 hrs to cycle along.

    Acommodation

    Castle Hotel Suzhou

    Day 6 : Suzhou/Shanghai

    Start the day by exploring in the city. Visit Suzhou's famed Master of the Nets Garden, one of the most beautiful gardens in China and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wander around Shantang Street. In the late afternoon, ride the bullet train to Shanghai.

    Bullet Train

    Suzhou - Shanghai 0h30m

    Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.

    Master of the Nets Garden Tour

    Suzhou 1h30m

    Tour through the serene classical garden and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    Shangtang Street

    Suzhou

    Wander around Shantang Street

    Acommodation

    Zhen Yue Hotel

    Acommodation

    Zhen Yue Hotel

    Day 7 : Shanghai

    After an orientation walk along Shanghai's famous Bund, you are free to explore the delights of this modern Chinese city. In the evening, head to the theatre for an intense acrobatic performance that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

    Orientation Walk

    Shanghai 1h

    Take a stroll along the Bund, a main road that follows the Huangpu River, with your CEO. This is a great opportunity to get a layout of the city and figure out what you want to explore next.

    Free time:

    Shanghai Full day

    Take advantage of your free time today to visit Yuyuan Gardens, return to the Bund, or do some shopping on Nanjing Road.

    Acrobatic Performance

    Shanghai 1h30m

    Let some of China’s most talented entertainers and athletes dazzle you for an evening with gravity-defying tricks and acrobatics. These spectacular performers will contort, balance, plate-spin, foot-juggle and more. Keep your eyes on the stage and you may even see a motorcycle or two.

    Acommodation

    Zhen Yue Hotel

    Optional Activities - Day 7

    Shanghai Museum

    Shanghai 1h30m

    Visit Shanghai Museum, home to a world-class collection of ancient Chinese art. Tour individual galleries devoted to such items as sculpture, bronze, ceramics, jade, coins, Ming and Qing Dynasty furniture, paintings, and calligraphy. Stop at the gift shop on your way out.

    Yuyuan Garden

    Shanghai 1h

    Explore this tranquil, 400-year-old, five-acre garden. Climb to the top of the Rockery to see the greenery from above. Check out the Jade Rock and watch the swarms of goldfish swim around in the ponds. With multiple pavilions and halls there’s plenty to see. Depending on when you visit there may be flower shows or tea ceremonies in the area. Opt to visit the bustling market located outside the gardens and hone your bargaining skills.

    Acommodation

    Zhen Yue Hotel

    Day 8 : Shanghai

    Depart at any time.

    We highly recommend post-accommodation to fully experience all Shanghai has to offer.

    Departure Day

    Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.

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