China
China is a unique destination in the world of travel. As well as being the world's most populous country and oldest continuous civilisation, it contains a wealth of attractions. Its ancient sculptures, murals, burial sites and temples are renowned throughout the world and many ancient colourful traditions and historic customs still function today.

HIGHLIGHTS OF CHINA
& THREE GORGES DAM

As well as all the most famous sights and attractions in Beijing, Xian and Shanghai, this tour has a geographical emphasis visiting the incredible Three Gorges Dam Project, also studying residential urban projects, rural farms, a factory and well-known retailing streets .

Tour Highlights Forbidden City • Terracotta Warriors • Three Gorges Dam visit • Visits to private farms • Factory tour

DAY 1 FLY FROM LONDON
Depart from London to Beijing.

DAY 2 BEIJING
You will be met by an English-speaking guide and transferred to your hotel in a good location. Dinner will be at a good local restaurant.

DAY 3 BEIJING
Today we continue to one of the world's greatest architectural wonders, the world famous Great Wall, 4,000 miles long and dating back to China's first dynasty (Qin dynasty). On the return to Beijing we visit the Ming Tombs, the underground palace where 13 Chinese Emperors are buried in an exquisite valley setting. Returning to Beijing we make a study trip to an area of dense population like a high rise residential building project/estate with a local guide. An evening Circus Acrobatic Performance is on our schedule.

DAY 4 BEIJING – OVERNIGHT TRAIN TO XIAN
This morning we will visit the Summer Palace, where royal families from as far back as a thousand years came for rest and relaxation. We will walk along the famous long corridor with its Painted Gallery and enjoy the peacefulness of Kunming Lake; we will then also walk along the Seventeen Arched Bridge, Longevity Hill and the magnificent Marble Boat. We will also visit Suzhou Street within the complex, which offers colourful shops and tea gardens, and takes you back to China’s imperial past. Our day will also include a visit to the Temple of Heaven, one of the impressive buildings in the world. The temple was built in 1420 AD and was fully restored in 1890. In the late afternoon we will board the overnight train with soft-sleeping compartments to Xian, the capital of 12 dynasties over 1,000 years, with a great number of precious relics and historical sites.

DAY 5 XIAN – TERRA COTTA WARRIORS
We arrive in Xian and will be met by a local English-speaking guide. After transfer to your hotel, we have breakfast. We will then see the ancient city wall of Ming dynasty and ascend the Bell Tower on Xian's city gates. Here you can clearly view the busy road and railway system - Xian is the important transportation hub of central China. After lunch we will visit the Museum of the Qin Emperor's Tomb (Terracotta Warriors), an archaeological site displaying the life-like army of terracotta warriors and horses that guard the tomb of Qin Shihuangdi, the first emperor of China. We will then visit Xian Art Ceramics Factory to view how those exquisite Terra Cotta Warriors were made. We will finish off the day by stopping at a neighbouring village –Xiahe village to visit a small private farm where the ex-president of America Bill Clinton once visited.

DAY 6 XIAN/WUHAN
In the morning we fly to Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei. After lunch we visit the Hubei Provincial Museum, and follow on to visit Yellow Crane Tower located on Snake Hill in Wuchang. This is one of the "Three Famous Towers” south of the Yangtze. We finish the night off with dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel.

DAY 7 WUHUAN
In the morning we have a guided visit of the Three Gorges Dam.
In the afternoon we shall visit the Hongbei Agricultural Demonstration Area, it lies in the Caidian District of Wuhan city. After that we choose one private Farm to visit in the outskirts of the city.

DAY 8 WUHAN - FLY TO SHANGHAI
In the morning we board a flight to Shanghai. You will be met by an English-speaking guide and transferred to your hotel. Although the city is more than 3000 years old, much has changed to make Shanghai a modern city, known for its international trade. On arrival we will visit Yuyuan Garden, a celebrated classical Chinese garden. We take a leisurely visit to the Bund, which is regarded as the birthplace of Shanghai. East of the Bund is a new developing Shanghai, you can see “yesterday and tomorrow” on each side of the river. To study retailing, we visit the Nanjing Road, which has hundreds of odd old shops. After dinner, we will visit the Jinmao Hyatt Hotel, the third tallest building in the world and ascend to the observation deck for a magnificent view over the bustling city.

DAY 9 SHANGHAI
Shanghai is China's largest city with a population of 12 million and it is the most important industrial area in the country. With its well-developed trade, Shanghai is also one of the main ports for foreign trade. In the morning we will have a city tour that will introduce the highlights of Shanghai. In the afternoon we will visit the Yu Yuan Garden, renowned as the `best scenic spot south of the Changjiang River'. The Garden has an exquisite design, meticulous layout and artistic spacing. The Jade Buddha Temple has a rare piece of historical relic - the seated Jade Buddha, which is 1.9 metres tall, glittering and translucent, and solemn in facial expression. There is also the Longhua Pagoda, which was built more than a thousand years ago. You will also visit Chenghuang Temple, which was built in the Ming Dynasty. Presently, it is a prosperous and bustling emporium after recent years of major reconstruction.

DAY 10 DEPART BACK TO UK
Today we will transfer to the airport to catch the flight back to the UK.

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