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Essential China (Premium)

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Fully Guided Small Group
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 Trip Length
11 Days
 Trip Starts
Beijing
 Trip Finishes
Shanghai
11 Day Essential China (Premium) Itinerary (Exodus)
Countries Explored: China
Trip Style
Culture
Accommodation
Premium
Max. Group Size
16
Pace
Easy / Leisurely
Guide Level
Fully Guided
Trip Code
ACDP

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Exodus 11 Day Essential China (Premium). Visit China's iconic sites in style on this premium tour with upgraded accommodation, upgraded transport, and the chance to sample Michelin class culinary delights. Beijing's history stretches back three millennia and the scale of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City never fail to amaze. Leaving the grandeur behind, explore the old town's narrow 'hutongs', and enter a locals house for a more humbling experience and a class in the traditional Chinese craft of papercutting.

Head out of the city and...read more step foot on one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall; here you'll begin to comprehend the magnitude of this construction as it snakes across the mountains to the horizon and beyond. Juxtaposed to this is Xi'an's vibrant Muslim Quarter, where we catch a shadow puppetry show at Gao's Family Mansion. Xi'an is most famed for the nearby Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin, where excavations have revealed thousands of hand-crafted life-size and lifelike army figures. A China holiday would not be complete without a trip to Chengdu to see the endangered Giant pandas - these black and white furry animals are a national emblem and a rare sight. End in cosmopolitan Shanghai, with its unmistakable skyline illuminated at night.

Itinerary

The group flights are scheduled to arrive into Beijing this afternoon. Free transfers are included for any flight as long as you have provided Exodus with your arrival details in advance (please specify if you arrive into PEK airport of the new airport, PKX – Daxing). You will be met upon arrival and transferred to our hotel. There will be a welcome briefing at approximately 6 pm where you will meet your tour leader and the rest of the group (please see the noticeboard in the hotel reception for further details). After the briefing, we'll head to one of Beijing's top restaurants to sample the Michelin Star cuisine. Stay: China World Hotel or similar.

We’ll head straight to Tiananmen Square by private transport this morning (<30 mins), one of the largest squares in the world, able to hold over a million people. The square is named after the 'Tiananmen' meaning 'Gate of Heavenly Peace' located at its north, which leads to the Forbidden City. Continuing on foot, we spend a few hours exploring the innumerable courtyards and temples the Forbidden City. Exiting via the north gate of the complex, we walk directly to Jingshan Park and climb up to the top of the hill for a different vantage point.

After lunch, we go on a walking tour of some of Beijing’s traditional 'hutongs' (narrow alleys of the old town) where we'll visit a local's house and try to master the art of paper-cutting, a traditional Chinese craft. Afterwards, we’ll meander our way through the hutongs and back to the hotel. Stay: China World Hotel or similar.

We leave the capital and head into the countryside to visit one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall, at Mutianyu (approx. 2 hours' drive). It is an impressive sight, snaking across mountains and valleys into the distance. We take the shuttle bus to the ticket office and from there it's about a 40-minute uphill walk to the top of the Great Wall (anyone not wanting to walk can pay to take the cable car, which takes about 8 minutes). We spend the next couple of hours or so walking along the top of the wall.

There are some steep steps to navigate and anyone who suffers from vertigo may find it difficult. This section of the Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. The wall here stands up to 8.5 metres high and 5 metres wide, and there are 22 watchtowers along its 2,250m stretch. We'll leave the wall behind and drive a short way to our lunch stop in a local village and then drive directly back to our hotel in Beijing. Stay: China World Hotel or similar.

Transfer to Beijing West Station (approx. 40 minutes) and catch a bullet train to Xi'an, arriving in the mid-afternoon. We transfer to the hotel, check-in and freshen up before starting our walking tour of the vibrant Muslim Quarter where we'll pass aromatic spice markets, the Bell and Drum Plaza and visit Gao's family mansion where we hope to catch a shadow puppetry show (depending on the show time). Xi'an is one of China's former capitals and one of the few cities in China to have retained its city walls, probably because they are so massive that no revolutionary was willing to tackle the huge task of removing them. Stay: Xi'an Park Hotel or similar.

Today we visit the famous Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin (the transfer is approx. 2 hours each way). Originally four armies were planned, at each point of the compass, life-size and lifelike. Three have been found and it is assumed the Emperor's successors decided enough was enough before the fourth was begun. The first pit excavated had an estimated 6,000 figures in its one army. The third pit has been opened to the public, which contains the 'command post' for the entire operation. This is one of China's great tourist attractions, and some people may find the sheer numbers of visitors overpowering. After our visit, we will take our lunch at a local farmer's restaurant nearby before driving back to Xi'an. Stay: Xi'an Park Hotel or similar.

There are no planned activities today but your leader will provide information on what is available to do and help you to arrange it. Perhaps you might like to walk along or hire bikes and cycle along the city walls to appreciate the sheer scale of these constructions. For a full day excursion (a long and tiring day but worthwhile for the scenery), you might like to visit Mount Huashan for some walks with magnificent views (please note that we strongly advise against the plank trail due to safety concerns and anyone wanting to do this will be asked to sign a form releasing them from the tour as Exodus accepts no responsibility for this activity). Stay: Xi'an Park Hotel or similar.

Take a short transfer to the train station and board a late morning bullet train to Chengdu (approx. 4 hours), the capital of Sichuan province, arriving in the early afternoon. This region is recognised throughout China as being 'the spicy province', and major flavour combinations include garlic, star anise, chilli peppers, and the ever-present Sichuanese peppercorn (hua jiao). We recommend having a ‘hotpot' dinner during your stay here (spicy or mild broths are available). In the late afternoon we set off on foot for a walking tour, passing through the city centre square (Tianfu Square) and visiting the People's Park where weather permitting, we can see and have a go at Chinese water calligraphy. Stay: Sofitel Chengdu Taihe or similar.

We leave early today to spend the morning visiting the Giant Panda Breeding & Research Base located 10km out of the city. These furry animals once roamed over large expanses of Asia but the last survey estimated the world's population of wild Giant Pandas at only 1,864. Giant Pandas eat for up to fourteen hours a day and so hopefully we will witness these highly endangered animals feeding, as this is when they're most active. Otherwise, we will have the opportunity to watch the Pandas indulge in their next favourite past time - sleeping! Afterwards, we drive back to Chengdu and the afternoon is free to explore at your own pace. Stay: Sofitel Chengdu Taihe or similar.

A pre-dawn start is required today in order to catch an early flight to Shanghai (we'll take a simple box breakfast with us from the hotel). The flight duration is approx. 2.5 hours: we should land by late morning and arrive at our hotel by lunchtime. With a population of around twelve million, Shanghai is a cosmopolitan coastal hub with a futuristic skyline. Stay: This afternoon we take the public bus (metro) to visit the Shanghai Museum, which has 11 galleries housing some of China's most beautiful and best-preserved cultural relics - some over 5,000 years old! Shanghai Bund Riverside or similar.

After breakfast we'll set off to discover some of the highlights of Shanghai on foot, starting with the famous Bund waterfront area to see the iconic buildings, before moving on to explore Nanjing Road (Shanghai's equivalent to London's 'Oxford Street') and the French Concession with its tree-lined avenues, cafes and Tudor mansions. The afternoon is at your leisure. Tonight more culinary delights await as we'll have a farewell group dinner in another of China's Michelin class restaurants. Stay: Shanghai Bund Riverside or similar.

The trip ends in Shanghai after breakfast.

Trip Inclusions

  • Beijing's Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Jingshan Park
  • Giant pandas at Chengdu's Breeding & Research Centre
  • One of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu
  • The famous Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin, near Xi'an
  • Shanghai's Bund waterfront area and French Concession

  • Travel by bullet train, domestic flight, metro/public bus and private coach
  • 10 nights upgraded hotels (minimum 4-star)
  • All breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners in 'Michelin' class restaurants included
  • Optional single supplement, available on request
  • Group normally 5 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
  • All breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners in Michelin class restaurants
  • All accommodation (upgraded throughout)
  • All transport and listed activities
  • Tour leader throughout
  • Arrival and departure transfers
About Exodus Travels
About Exodus Travels

From classic small group tours & family adventures, to walking holidays, cycling trips and self-guided tours. Read more

Exodus Trip Leaders
Exodus Trip Leaders

Exodus chooses their Leaders carefully. Professional, dedicated and are passionate about sharing their home countries. Read more

Accommodation with Personality
Accommodation with Personality

Wherever possible, Exodus chooses properties that are locally owned and that reflect the area you are visiting. Read more

Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.

Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Exodus. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Exodus. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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