A Taste of China
Historical Beijing & the Great Wall, Xi'an & the Terra Cotta Army, plus futuristic Shanghai; optional extensions: Yangtze Cruise or Hong Kong
Style | Small Group Tour Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout | ||
Departures | Group Size | 16 travelers max | |
Themes | History & Culture, Bucket List | ||
Activity Level | |||
What to Expect | This moderately-paced, escorted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking or hiking and requires an average level of physical fitness. Hong Kong is an independent/self-guided extension. Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. |
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China has become one of the most attractive travel destinations in the world, and you won't want to miss this wonderful opportunity to see the country's three most popular cities at an amazing tour price. You'll find impressive modern achievements within an ancient and incredibly rich culture whose recorded history dates back 5,000 years. Beijing, China's capital and, host of the 2008 Summer Olympics, and Shanghai, often called the "Paris of the East," are probably the most dynamic cities in the world. And Xi'an, which at first glance looks like any other large industrial city, is actually the site of one of the world's most important archaeological treasures: the army of 2,200-year-old terra-cotta soldiers including more than 8,000 life-size ceramic soldiers, chariots and horses buried there to protect the tomb of the first Qin emperor.
Package includes
- Flights
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round trip flights from Los Angeles via Air China including taxes & fees
- All intra-China flights and ground transportation
- 8 nights in Deluxe and First Class hotels with private bath
- 13 meals: 8 breakfasts plus 4 lunches and 1 dinner
- Comprehensive touring program including entrance fees
- Professional English-speaking tour director and local guides
- Advanced audio headset guided tour system
Optional add-ons
- Discounted optional tours package
- Hong Kong Optional Post-Tour Extension
- Yangtze Cruise Optional Post-Tour Extension
Why you'll love it
- Wander through the serene Yu Garden, one of the oldest and must-see attractions in Shanghai.
- Enjoy stunning views atop the Great Wall of China.
- View the “Bird’s Nest”, Beijing’s spectacular Olympic stadium.
- Explore the lovingly restored Forbidden City, the world's largest palace complex and UNESCO World Heritage site.
- See historic Tiananmen Square, one of the largest city squares in the world.
- Visit Xi'an's ancient Terra Cotta Army.
Itinerary at a Glance
- 1 Depart USA
- 2 Shanghai
- 3 Shanghai
- Optional Excursion: Oriental Pearl TV Tower & Shanghai Museum (purchased locally) , $50
- Optional Excursion: Dinner and acrobatics show (purchased locally) , $48
- 4 Shanghai
- Optional Excursion: Full day Suzhou tour with lunch , $95
- 5 Shanghai & Xi'an
- Optional Excursion: Dumpling Dinner and Tang Dynasty dance performance , $48
- 6 Xi'an
- 7 Xi'an & Beijing
- 8 Beijing
- Optional Excursion: Peking Duck dinner and Legend of Kung Fu show (purchased locally) , $53
- 9 Beijing
- 10 Depart Beijing/Arrive USA
Hong Kong Extension
- 10 Beijing & Hong Kong
- 11 Hong Kong
- 12 Hong Kong
- Optional Excursion: Full Day Lantau Tour with Lunch , $110
- 13 Depart Hong Kong/Arrive USA
Detailed Itinerary
To see full details, click the button to the right.
Day 1 Depart USA
- Depart the USA on your flight bound for Shanghai, China via Beijing
- Passengers departing LAX must check in no later than 10:40 PM the night before!
Day 2 Shanghai
- Arrive in Shanghai, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel
Juss Hengshan Hotel or similar
Day 3 Shanghai
- Visit the Yu Garden in Shanghai
- Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant
- Balance of the day is at leisure, or join optional excursions
Juss Hengshan Hotel or similarBreakfast & lunch
Day 4 Shanghai
- Full day at leisure in Shanghai or optional excursion to Suzhou
Juss Hengshan Hotel or similarBreakfast
Day 5 Shanghai & Xi'an
- Transfer by maglev train to the airport for your flight to Xi'an
- Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for check-in
- Balance of the day is at leisure or join an optional dinner show
Grand Mercure on Renmin Square or similarBreakfast
Day 6 Xi'an
- Visit the famous Terra Cotta Army archaeological site
- See the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and City Wall
- Enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant
Grand Mercure on Renmin Square or similarBreakfast & lunch
Day 7 Xi'an & Beijing
- Fly from Xi'an to Beijing
- Afternoon tour of Beijing's Hutongs
- Visit a pearl factory for shopping then continue to dinner
Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing or similarBreakfast & dinner
Day 8 Beijing
- See China's Olympic venues, the Bird's Nest and Water Cube
- Stop at a jade factory for a demonstration and shopping
- Explore the Great Wall of China
- See the Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs
Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing or similarBreakfast & lunch
Day 9 Beijing
- See the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City
- Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant
- Afternoon at leisure
Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing or similarBreakfast & lunch
Day 10 Depart Beijing/Arrive USA
- Transfer to the airport for your return flight
- Arrive in the USA later today
Breakfast
Yangtze River Cruise Extension
Extend your stay in China with an unforgettable 4-night luxury cruise on the Yangtze River from Yichang to Chongqing on board Victoria Cruise's deluxe river cruiser the Victoria Jenna. Plus, you'll experience a superior level of service and amenities with our included executive-level package upgrade.
To see full details, click the button to the right.
Day 10 Beijing & Yichang
- Afternoon flight to Yichang
- Board your deluxe Yangtze River cruise ship
- Enjoy an included dinner on board
Victoria Jenna, Victoria KatarinaBreakfast & dinner
Day 11 The Three Gorges Dam & Xiling Gorge
- See the impressive Three Gorges Dam at Sandouping
- Sail through the Xiling Gorge
Victoria Jenna, Victoria KatarinaBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 12 Shennong Stream, Wu Gorge & Qutang Gorge
- Take an excursion through the Shennong Stream
- Sail to Wu Gorge, the most beautiful section of the Yangtze
- Continue to Qutang Gorge and the Kui Gate
Victoria Jenna, Victoria KatarinaBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 13 Fengdu Relocated Village
- Explore the Fengdu Relocated Village
- Visit a local farmer's family
Victoria Jenna, Victoria KatarinaBreakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 14 Chongqing & Depart/Arrive USA
- Disembark your cruise ship at Chongqing this morning
- Visit the former headquarters of General Joseph W. Stilwell, now a WWII museum
- Proceed to the Chongqing Panda Zoo to see the giant panda
- Transfer to the airport for your return flight via Beijing
- Arrive in the USA later today
Breakfast & lunch
Hong Kong Extension
Prepare to be dazzled by a breathtaking symphony of lights in cosmopolitan Hong Kong. City-lovers worldwide rank Hong Kong among their must-see destinations, and for good reason. With its glorious harbor, excellent shopping, renowned restaurants, and some of the best nighttime skylines in the world, Hong Kong has it all.
To see full details, click the button to the right.
Day 11 Hong Kong
- Morning tour of Hong Kong Island with peak tram ride
- Afternoon at leisure for independent sightseeing
The Royal GardenBreakfast
Day 12 Hong Kong
- Full day at leisure, or optional excursion to Hong Kong's largest island, Lantau
The Royal GardenBreakfast
Day 13 Depart Hong Kong/Arrive USA
- Transfer to the airport for your return flight via Beijing
- Arrive in the USA later today
Breakfast
Hotels & Ships
Hotels
In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.
Cruise Ships
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Trip Details
- What should I know before I go?We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
- Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements?Travel visas are required for this package. Please review the visa & entry requirements.
- Can I make changes to my trip?Want to upgrade your seats? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
- Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions?To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
- Should I purchase travel insurance?Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
- What's the fine print?Review the terms & conditions for this package.
What should I know about China?Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
What should I know about Hong Kong?Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
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