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China in Style

Route: Shanghai - Beijing - Great Wall of China - Xian - Terracotta Army - Sanya, Hainan Island - Hong Kong

As its name implies, this China holiday package allows you to travel through the country more comfortably. You'll spend most nights in category 4 hotels, travelling large distances by plane instead of road, and all transfers will be taken care of.

You'll begin your trip in the futuristic city of Shanghai before taking the bullet train to China's capital. While in Beijing, you'll visit Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China. Then you'll visit the walled city of Xi'an to see the famous Terracotta Army and from here take a flight to Sanya where you'll be able to rest and relax on Hainan Island. Here you'll find long, sandy beaches. At the end of your China trip, you'll stay in the luxurious Harbour Plaza Hotel in Hong Kong with a view of the Hong Kong skyline. A fantastic end to an unforgettable journey.

If you'd like to build your very own China holiday package, you can choose from our range of bite-sized China trips. Or alternatively, take a look at our wider range of holidays in China or give us a call on 01273 322 048.

Duration:	15 days / 14 nights Departs Daily	Accommodation:	Category 3 and 4. See our accommodation page for more information.
Price:	From £1958 per person - based on 2 people sharing, * A surcharge can apply for travel in May/April and Oct/Nov in Hong Kong	Included:	Transport, accommodation, 3 domestic flights and all transfers as mentioned below
Transport:	All transfers on arrival and all transfers between cities and towns, as described below	Excluded:	International flights, (airport) taxes, meals and drinks, entrance fees

Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai

When you arrive into Shanghai and after you have collected your baggage, one of our representatives will be waiting for you in the arrival hall. S/he will have your name on a sign and your Shanghai trip will begin.

You’ll stay in a colonial hotel where the historic atmosphere has been maintained by keeping the wooden floors and beams. The location is ideal at Suzhou Creek, only a stones throw from the Bund. The hotel also has a restaurant and an Internet cafe and all the rooms have air conditioning, TV and high ceilings. You may want to prepare yourself for the hard beds though; unfortunately this is quite common in China. There is a bar/restaurant terrace near your hotel with a spectacular view of the Bund (which is illuminated until 23:00) and the Pudong skyline.

China holiday package - Your Hotel in Shanghai

Day 2: Shanghai

On day two of your Shanghai trip you can really explore this city. Walking past the large classic colonial buildings. International fashion stores and yuppie bars are found side by side in beautifully renovated buildings, such as the famous Peace hotel.

Across from the Bund, Pudong’s skyscrapers shoot into the sky. The motto here is: "To become rich is glorious". Take the psychedelic Bund Tourist tunnel (approx. 30 RMB) to Pudong and you can admire the Bund from the other side of the river. You can take a cheaper ferry ride back after you’re done sight-seeing.

Going out in the evenings is part of the Shanghai experience. The best place is the old French district which is filled with balconies, large trees and beautiful old facades.

Day 3: Shanghai - Beijing

Today it's time to leave Shanghai behind as you head to another cosmopolitan Chinese city: Beijing. A transfer will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Shanghai train station. Here, you'll board the high-speed bullet train from Shanghai to Beijing. The journey will take about 5 hours.

When you arrive in Beijing, you'll be greeted by one of our representatives and taken to your hotel. Once you've received a Beijing city map, it’s off to the city centre - a journey which will take about an hour. You'll stay in a centrally located hotel, situated near the shopping street Wangfujing, and only 10 minutes from Tian'anmen Square. The hotel has a Jacuzzi, a sauna, an indoor swimming pool and a gym. You can also have a massage or have other treatments in the beauty salon. All rooms have air conditioning, satellite television, a telephone, a mini bar, a safe, a water cooler and an ensuite bathroom.

Day 4: Beijing - City Tour

Around 08:30 in the morning, a car with an English-speaking guide will be waiting for you at your Peace hotel. The first stop of the day will be the Lama Temple of Tibetan Lama Buddhism (entrance fee 25 Yuan). The scent of incense and sandalwood will follow you during your visit to the red temple houses and curled wooden pagodas.

After visiting the Lama Temple, you’ll continue this trip with a visit to the Temple of Heavenly Peace (entrance fee 35 Yuan). The temple is set in a city park filled with pine trees and picnic spots. You'll have about 1.5 hrs to explore the temple before continuing on with your Beijing city tour.

At around 12:30 your driver will drop you off near Tian'anmen Square. You’ll say goodbye to your chauffeur, but your guide will stay with you until later in the afternoon. They’ll help you to decipher menus and order lunch.

After lunch, you will visit the famous Tian'anmen Square, which is a highlight of any China holiday. Tian’anmen means ‘Gate of Heavenly Peace’ and it is the largest urban square in the World. The square is bordered by buildings of parliament and the mausoleum dedicated to Mao Zhedong; China’s communist leader during the 60’s who personally lead the country’s Cultural Revolution.

The next part of your Beijing city tour will take you to The Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was the secluded home of Chinese emperors for many centuries. Strolling through the grand living quarters dating back to the 18th century, you'll feel as though you're walking through the set of a movie. The city is filled to capacity with Chinese tour groups in the morning, which is why we’ve planned this excursion for the afternoon when it's usually far less crowded. The Forbidden City closes its Gates at 16:00 and it will take you about two hours to see the entire city (entrance fee 60 Yuan). Once you’ve seen enough, your guide will help you get a taxi back to your hotel.

Day 5: Beijing - Dynasty Tombs & the Great Wall of China

On day 5 of your trip your driver and guide will collect you from your hotel at around 7.30am. The first stop of the day will be the Ming Dynasty Tombs. Your guide will take you around the tombs and afterwards you will walk down Sacred Way; the path through the gardens that is lined with statues of ancient officials and animals. The next stop of the day is the Dingling Tomb which is the tomb of the Wanli Emperor. This is famous for being the only one of the Ming Dynasty Tombs to have been excavated. The excavation work unearthed many historical relics which are now on display in the Dingling Museum which you will have the chance to see during your trip. You will have about an hour in which to walk around the two excavation rooms; one that shows the excavation process and the other which displays the treasure that was unearthed here.

You will then be taken to a restaurant where you will have around an hour for lunch (included). Once you've eaten your delicious Chinese food you will head to the highlight of the day: The Great Wall of China.

Your driver will take you to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, which is one of the best-preserved parts of the wall. Your guide will take you up to the counter and you can get your tickets to go up on the cable car. You can also choose to get the cable car back down. They will then show you where the driver will be waiting for you, and then it's time to go up to the wall. You have about two hours to walk along the wall taking in the magnificent views across the sweeping Chinese countryside.

Your driver will then take you to the famous Olympic 'Bird's Nest' stadium, also known as the National Stadium of Beijing. You can get out and have a look and take a few photos before being taken back to your hotel in Beijing. You'll have the rest of the evening to spend as you wish. If you haven't tried it already, you can head out to a Peking duck restaurant for dinner!

China holiday package - Great Wall of China

Day 6: Beijing - Xi'an

On the sixth day of your trip, we'll make arrangements for you to fly to China's ancient capital, Xi'an. If you would like to visit the Summer Palace in the morning, a beautiful estate where the emperor's family once spent their holidays 40 minutes from Beijing, please let us know and we'll arrange for you to catch a later flight to Xi'an.

In Xi'an your transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel. You'll stay in a hotel in the heart of the city near the famous Bell Tower. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish and to explore the city. The large boulevards will beckon you and before you know it you'll be visiting the Bell Tower or the nearby Drum Tower. If you arrive here around 5pm you'll not only have a wonderful view of the city, you'll also see a kettle drum demonstration - this is sure to be a real highlight of your China trip in Xi'an.

Day 7: Xi'an - Terracotta Army tour

Today, you’ll be picked up from your hotel at 9am to see the famous Terracotta Army - one of China’s top attractions. The excavation site is approximately 40 minutes from the city and is located in a large park. On the way you might get to visit a workshop where the staff will show you exact replicas of the Terrecotta Army and explain the different rankings of all the figurines that have been found at the excavation site.

We advise you to start in hall 3, then visit hall 2 and finally hall 1. This way you’ll save the largest and most impressive part of the excavation site until last. Your trip to the Terracotta Army will last approximately two hours; however, if you include transit time, the excursion will take up about half a day.

China holiday package - Terracotta Warriors

Day 8: Xi'an - Sanya, Hainan Island

You'll have an early start this morning as you journey towards the next destination of your holiday to China. Your transfer will be waiting for you and after an hour and a half you'll be at Xi'an airport.

You'll fly to Sanya airport at the southern part of Hainan Island. On arrival, your transfer will be waiting to take you on a short drive to your hotel by the beach. There's a restaurant, swimming pool and your room has air conditioning, tv and a modern bathroom. When you exit your hotel you'll be able to walk straight onto the beach and into the warm sea; a perfect way to spend day eight of your holiday to China.

Day 9: Sanya, Hainan Island

Hainan Island is a great place to simply relax and unwind, therefore nothing during your stay here will be pre-arranged, leaving you to do as little or as much as you like. The sea in front of your resort is fine for swimming, and there are also diving shops on the beach where you can rent snorkelling equipment or purchase an introductory dive.

If you’d like to see more on your Hainan holiday besides the beaches, 5km south of Sanya lies Luhuitou, a hilly peninsula excellent for hiking and with lovely scenery. Further inland you’ll also find a reserve with 1000 Guanxi monkeys.

Day 10: Sanya, Hainan Island

Yalong Bay lies about 20km further down the coast and is the most popular centre for tourism on the island. It has a yacht harbour, horse track and golf course. You can reach the bay by bus, taxi or by bicycle (which can be hired from your hotel).

The coastline is lined with coral reef, and snorkelling or diving trips can be booked from Sanya harbour. Sanya is also known for its fresh fish dishes, so we do recommend sampling the catch of the day during your Hainan stay.

Day 11: Sanya, Hainan Island - Hong Kong

Today we'll arrange your transfer back to Sanya airport to catch a flight to Hong Kong.

Upon arrival in Hong Kong, you'll be picked up from the airport and transferred to your hotel. You'll be staying in a very elegant category 4 waterfront hotel on Victoria Harbour; a great place to stay for a bit of pampering at the end of your trip. The hotel has a swimming pool, whirlpool and pool bar on the roof, and fantastic views of the Hong Kong skyline.

In front of the hotel there is a promenade along the waterfront and the hotel is only 5 minutes walk from Tsim Sha Tsui, the shopping and restaurant areas of Kowloon. The rooms are equipped with all modern comforts and overlook the impressive skyline of Hong Kong.

Day 12: Hong Kong

During your Hong Kong trip, we recommend heading to Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island. Here you’ll be able to enjoy the famous view of the Hong Kong skyline. Or you could visit the various markets in the city such as Temple Street Market, Ladies Market or the Bird Market.

Head towards Lan Kwai Fong in the evening. This is the happening place to be in the evening and is visited by a mix of Chinese and expats! You could also set the alarm on your watch for 20:00 to remind you to watch the Symphony of Lights, a laser-light show that casts a rainbow of colours on all of the buildings along the dock. It is regonised as the 'World's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show' by the Guinness book of World Records. It has been expanded and now includes more than 40 buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour.

Day 13: Hong Kong - UK

At the end of your China holiday, we'll arrange for a transfer to pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight back to the UK.

If you're interested in travelling to China on this China holiday package, simply fill in our quote request form and our China travel specialists will get back to you with a China travel plan to suit you.

China holiday package - View of Hong Kong

A Peek at Your Accommodation (click to enlarge)

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