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Go China

Route: Beijing - Great Wall of China - Xian - Terracotta Army - Chengdu - Lijiang - Dali - Yangshuo - Ping'an - Shanghai

Go China is an itinerary that will take you to all the important Chinese cities, cultural and natural attractions. In your three week China holiday you'll walk over a picturesque part of the Great Wall of China, visit the Terracotta Army, and get up close to pandas at the research centre in Chengdu. You'll also wander the winding little streets of Lijiang which are beautifully lit by lanterns in the evening.

In this China holiday you'll also have time to relax and unwind on the water in a dragon boat on Erhai Lake by Dali, or on a boat ride down the river with a fairytale landscape of karst mountains and green pastures surrounding you.

If you'd like to build your very own China holiday, you can choose from our range of bite-sized China trips. Or alternatively, take a look at our wider range of holidays in China.

Duration:	20 days/ 19 nights	Departure:	Daily
Comfort level (1-5):	3 (see accommodation)	Accommodation:	Comfortable and characteristic hotels and 1 night in a sleeper train
Price:	£1728 per person - based on 2 people sharing (including 4 domestic flights)	Included:	Transport, accommodation, 4 domestic flights, transfers and excursions as described below
Transport:	All arrival transfers, transfers between cities and towns (see below)	Excluded:	International flight, (airport) taxes, meals and drinks, entrance fees

Day 1: Arrival in Beijing

When you land on the first day of your China holiday, one of our local representatives will be waiting for you in the arrival hall holding a sign with your name on it, and will take you to your hotel. There's an ATM in the arrival hall where you can secure your first Yuans to spend on your China holiday extras. The airport is about an hour drive away from the centre of Beijing.

In keeping with local style, you'll stay in a traditional courtyard hotel with fruit trees, magnolias and flowers. The small scale architecture of these hotels is quite charming. The staff at the reception area are quite well versed in English, very helpful and very friendly. Be prepared for a very hard bed, unfortunately all beds are in China. The rest of the day of your China holiday is yours to spend as you wish; to recuperate from your flight, to get used to the time difference and to explore the area surrounding your hotel.

Day 2: Tour of Beijing

Day two of your China highlights tour starts by touring Beijing with your driver and English speaking guide. You'll be picked up at 8:30 in the morning. Your first stop is the famous Tian'anmen Square: Gate of Heavenly Peace.After a rest stop you'll visit the Temple of Heavenly Peace (entrance fee 35 Yuan, approximately £3.50) and the colourful Lama Temple (entrance fee approximately £2.50). Since you will have a guide accompanying you, you can not only ask them any practical questions you may have, such as where to go for lunch when you stop at around 12:30.

During the afternoon you'll walk along with your guide into the Forbidden City (open until 16:00, entrance fee approximately £6). Once you've seen all you wish to see, your guide will help you find a taxi back to your hotel (£1.50). While travelling in China, be sure to always bring along a business card from the hotel you'll stay at in China.... taxi drivers may not always understand you and a business card can get you back to your hotel.

Day 3: Beijing - Great Wall of China tour

Most travellers will agree that the Great Wall of China is one of the highlights of any China itinerary; however many parts of the wall are magnets for mass tourism. You'll leave Beijing early in the morning and you'll head towards a quiet part of the wall, about three hours from Beijing. Here you'll walk over the wall for about 10km; it's quite a vigorous walk and not appropriate for people with a fear of heights. It should take you about four hours to complete the entire course. Many parts of the wall are still the original wall segments which have not been restored. At the end of the route you'll encounter the busy Beijing streets once again; arrival will be around 18:30.

Recently the Simatai section of the Great Wall has been closed for renovation and is unavailable for clients to hike. The hike that we offer will still depart from Jinshanling and continue onto the point of closure at Simatai and then continue back to Jinshanling. Even with the closure of the Simatai section we still feel that this is the best way to experience the stunning landscapes in the mountainous area of the Luanping County.

Day 4: Beijing - Xi'an

On day four of your China holiday you'll have another day off to explore Beijing at your own pace. After your walk on the Great Wall of China yesterday, your muscles may be a bit stiff. If you'd like to spend the day in peace and quiet, you may want to take a taxi cab to Beihei City Park to visit the classical Chinese gardens or you can visit the Summer Palace. This estate is located about 40 minutes from Beijing (a taxi cab will cost you £4-7) and was once the Emperor's Family getaway. The entrance fee is 30 Yuan or 50 Yuan if you want to visit the Garden of Virtue and Harmony as well. If you want to spend your day more actively, go for a walk or ride a bike in Beijing's old neighbourhoods, the hutongs.

Head back to your hotel around 15:00, where you'll be picked up at around 17:00 and taken to the train station. We'll make reservations for a hard sleeper in the night train to Xi'an for you. Once on board you'll find it difficult not to fall asleep to the rhythmic sound of the train rolling over the tracks.

Day 5: Arrival in Xi'an

You'll be awakened from your slumber on day five of your China holiday before arriving in Xi'an (if you prefer not to travel by train, there are several daily flights to Xi'an). We'll make reservations for you in a centrally located, comfortable hotel. You'll be greeted in the arrival hall and taken straight to your hotel. The transfer should take approximately 15 minutes.

The rest of the day on the China holiday is yours to spend as you wish. You may want to have a look around the large boulevards and we would suggest visiting the charming Muslim neighbourhood. The heart of the city is the large Bell Tower in the middle of the traffic intersection. Nearby you'll also find the Drum Tower. If you climb the tower at 5pm you'll have a wonderful view of the city, the Muslim neighbourhood and you'll catch a demonstration of Chinese kettle drums- this is sure to be a real highlight of your China holiday. The area around the Drum Tower is quite lively in the evening, filled with lively and chatty young people.

Day 6: Xi'an - Terracotta Army excursion

This morning you'll continue your China holiday as you're picked up at 9:00 and taken to the excavation site where you'll see more than 7000 amazing clay soldiers, clay horses and clay chariots. This is the world famous Terracotta Army, and the second major highlight on your China holiday.

The site is located about 40 minutes from Xi'an - If you start your visit in hall 3 and then go on to hall 2 and 1; you'll save the best for last. We'll arrange transport to and from the site, and you'll be back in Xi'an around 13:00 in the afternoon.

If you're looking for more action in the afternoon, you can go for a bike ride across Xi'an's city wall. The wall runs for 12km in a square surrounding the city. If you want to avoid the busy city of Xi'an, this is quite a treat and a fun part of your China trip. You'll pay 40 Yuan to access the wall and another 15 Yuan for 1.5 hour bike rental and a 200 Yuan deposit.

Day 7: Xi'an - Chengdu

In the morning on day seven of your China holiday you'll arrange your own transport to the airport, where you'll catch a plane to Chengdu. We'll arrange a transfer to your comfortable hotel in the centre of the ancient walking street, Jinli. There are several backpacker hostels nearby, offering you the chance to benefit from the know how of the hostel's English speaking staff as well as the affordable activities that they organize. You'll have the best of both worlds.

The area surrounding your hotel has many fine restaurants; you may want to try the areas most popular dish, the Sichuan Hotpot. This is a bowl with boiling hot water that is placed on the table with raw meat, vegetables and herbs served separately for you to cook in the bowling water. Holly's hostel usually offers Sichuan cooking classes to teach you the basics of Sichuan cooking- a fun option on your China holiday.

Day 8: Chengdu - Panda Research Centre excursion

If you’d like to experience a panda encounter during your China holiday, the best place to see them is at the Panda Breeding Research Centre. The Research Centre is a large bamboo filled park where pandas can be seen in large fenced enclosures. We really enjoyed our visit here, especially because it’s the only opportunity to see these mystical creatures up close.

Of course it’s still a zoo; however it’s a very responsible and well maintained zoo and seeing these giant creatures is extremely moving. On this Chengdu trip, you’ll learn a lot about these animals, their breeding habits, their heritage and you might get to see new-born pandas (depending on the time of year).

Your panda trip is planned for early in the morning which is the best time of day to visit as this is when they are most active. This means that you’ll be picked up at your hotel around 7am. You’ll get to the park in time to see the pandas being fed. After about 3 hours in the park you’ll have seen all you’ll want to see and you’ll be back in your hotel by 11:30.

Day 9: Chengdu - Lijiang

Altitude 2400m

You'll arrange your own transport to Chengdu airport (taxi approximately £4) where you'll fly an hour to fairy tale town Lijiang, the next stop on your China holiday. On arrival you'll be greeted by our representative and taken to our courtyard hotel in the historic part of town. This area known as the 'old town of 'Dayan' is listed on Unesco's world heritage list. Your hotel has a courtyard with sitting areas, plants and lanterns.

The countless red lanterns in Lijiang are all beautifully lit up in the evenings, so you can soak up the magical atmopshere here on your China holiday. Stroll along paths, bridges, cobble stone streets and at some point you'll hear the sound of singing. Men and women of the Naxi minority have a tradition of singing limericks to each other. It sounds romantic and sweet, but at times it's just downright funny. There's screaming, drinking, laughing and dancing to accompany the limerick singing.

Day 10: Lijiang

You're halfway through you China holiday and this morning you and a guide will go on a bike ride through the area surrounding Lijiang. You'll through the coumtryside surrounding Lijiang to the authentic Naxi village Baisha, where the legendary herbal practitioner Dr. Ho lives. He is now over 80 years old; however he is very kind and hospitable and would love to invite you into his home for a cup of tea (he may even show you some of his newspaper clippings of articles about him in foreign newspapers).

In the early afternoon, you'll be back in Lijiang and you'll say goodbye to your guide. After lunch you may want to visit the Black Dragon Pool Park (entrance fee 60 Yuan). Don't forget your camera during this part of your China holiday, as this is a great spot for photographs. For instance you'll see a lake in which the sun creates reflections of a temple and the tops of the surrounding mountains.

Day 11: Lijiang - Dali

Today your China holiday will take you to another part of the Yunnan countryside. A bus will take you from Lijiang to Dali, which will take approximately 4 hours. The last part of the drive will take you past Lake Erhai. Historic Dali, the part of town that you'll stay in, is a fun part of Dali to stay in. Your hotel is completely immersed in Tibetan style and adds to the authenticity of your China holiday. It lies just outside of the walled in part of town. There are many pictures of the local inhabitants here: the 'Bai' and the 'Yi'. They only live in this part of China and live according to ancient traditions.

Take a stroll through the illuminated southern gate in the evening, into the historic heart of town. There are small wooden homes, stores and restaurants on both sides of the streets. 'Foreigner Street' is the place where western tourists get together and share stories and experiences.

Day 12: Dali

Day twelve of your China travel holiday can be spent however you please. Your hotel offers a variety of interesting excursions to choose from. On Mondays you can visit the colourful Shaping morning market; you could also visit surrounding villages around the lake or visit the Yi minority in the company of a guide. If you feel like exploring independently you can rent a bike for a very small fee and explore the area surrounding Dali. There are also horseback rides through the forests and mountains. There are plenty of options.... and in the evening you can enjoy the nightlife in the walled off part of Dali.

If you decide to book an extra night in Dali as part of your China travel plan, take the chair lift behind the Three Pagodas temple complex into the mountains. There you'll find the start of a beautiful 10km hike along the mountain ridge. The trail is flat and can be hiked by almost anyone. At the end of the trail you'll take a gondola down the mountain. When you get out you can catch a taxi cab back to Dali.

Day 13: Dali - Kunming - Guilin - Yangshuo

Your day will start with a bus ride to Kunming which takes about 5 to 6 hours. You'll ride through farmland and villages with hills and mountains surrounding you. You'll pass through several long tunnels and then you'll drive into the Kunming outer limits.

On arrival at the Kunming bus station, a transfer will be waiting to take you to the airport for a 2 hour flight to Guilin. At the end of the day you'll arrive at one of our favourite highlights on this China holiday: the karst mountains near Guilin. You'll be greeted by our local representative and we'll arrange a connecting transfer to the next destination, Yangshuo, which is about two hours away. All in all you'll be travelling for quite some time, however all the travelling will be well worth it.

China holiday - A different pace of life

In order to reach Yangshuo’s Karst Mountains, you’ll fly to the city of Guilin first. Many travel organisations book hotel accommodation in the large city of millions, Guilin, and arrange a boat ride on the Li River on to Yangshuo. This may sound like fun; however more than 50 double- decker boats filled with Chinese tour groups go up and down this River each day. Instead of being able to enjoy the splendour of nature all around you, you would most likely be distracted by the cacophony of ship horns honking and very loud tour groups shouting over the river.

Instead of arranging accommodation in Guilin during this part of your China travel package, we’ll arrange accommodation for you in a charming retreat located in between the karst mountains. Only 20 minutes away from Yangshuo, you'll be surrounded by farmland and rice paddies. There are mountain bikes, kayaks, bamboo rafts and tubes for rent and naturally this area is great for walking. You could hike to the river and catch a glimpse of the bamboo boats you'll be sailing in tomorrow.

Day 14: Yangshuo - bike, bamboo boat excursion Yulong River

You're two weeks into your China trip and today a bike tour and bamboo boat ride are on the agenda. You'll travel in a small group today along with other Western travellers.

The view from the Yulong river is every bit as beautiful as it is at the Li River and it features a dramatic array of karst mountains on the banks of the river- a truly scenic part of your China holiday. During your bike ride you'll leave the main roads and peddle over paths along the river, through farmland and rice paddies and you'll have the karst mountains as constant companions during your ride.

After biking for a while, the bamboo raft will be waiting to take you down the river. You, your guide and other boats will sail through the peaks of the karst mountains. After a few kilometres you'll get back on your bike and peddle towards the 'highlight' of this trek, Moon Hill. You can choose to climb the hill if you wish. In warm temperatures, this could be quite a strenuous climb. However the view from the top will make up for any inconvenience of getting there. Eventually when you return to your hotel you can unwind with a beer or glass of wine on the terrace.

Day 15: Yangshuo

On the fifteenth day of your China holiday you’ll have the entire day to spend as you please. There's plenty to do in this area; you can rent a kayak from the hotel, spend another day on a bicycle to explore the area on your own or you can even take a Kung Fu lesson.

There's quite a lot to see on and along the Li and Yulong Rivers in the evenings. The name Zhang Yimao may not ring a bell, however he is the most well known movie director in China and was also responsible for directing the opening ceremony for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He’s created an outdoor show here with a backdrop of mountains and the river that attracts about 1000 visitors each and every night. As with most things in China, this show is a large production and definitely worth a visit.

The show can be viewed daily from 20:00 - 21:00. Tickets are on sale on location from £15. After the show you may want to venture out for some souvenir shopping or have a bite to eat in one of Yangshuo's busy streets.

Day 16: Yangshuo - Ping'an

This morning you'll continue your China holiday and head north through Guilin to the Longji rice terraces. The village of Ping'an is located in the middle of this area and is only accessible by foot. You'll be met at the end of the drive and someone will join you on the 20 minute walk to the village. If you prefer not to carry your suitcase/ backpack during the walk, you can have your baggage carried for 30 Yuan. By lunchtime you'll reach the village.

You'll stay in a basic, well maintained guest house in the village.Your room will have its own private bathroom. The guest house has a large veranda where you can enjoy the view of the rice fields and mountains in the crisp clean air. In the afternoon you can walk through the village and visit the Two View Points. Along the way you're sure to encounter the Zhuang. This local minority introduced the terraced irrigation system that is used in this area about 5000 years ago.

Day 17: Ping'an

After breakfast on the veranda this morning, you and a guide will head out for a day of hiking through the epic rice terraces known as Dragon's Bone or Longji. The hike is possible for anyone with an average level of physical fitness. You'll mostly be walking through the rice terraces; however you'll also walk through forest or marshes. You'll see the Zhuang hard at work in their paddy-fields pushing their oxen through the mud.

Around lunchtime you'll have a bite to eat in a small town and then you'll continue hiking for another two hours. Then you'll catch a bus back to the end of the road leading to Ping'an where you'll walk back to your guest house in the village with your guide. In the evening you'll be able to enjoy a stunning sunset from the veranda. We considered our stay here as one of the most relaxing moments during our China trip.

Day 18: Ping'an - Guilin - Shanghai

On day eighteen of your China holiday, you'll check out of the guest house and walk back to the parking lot with your baggage. Here, a transfer will be waiting to take you to Guilin airport (1.5 hour drive), where you'll catch a plane to an entirely different part of China.... harbour city Shanghai!

Domestic flights arrive at the Hongqiao airport, 18km from Shanghai city, a 30 - 60 minute drive depending on traffic. We will make arrangements for a transfer to take you to your centrally located colonial hotel in the heart of Shanghai. Here you'll have a deluxe room with air conditioning and tv. The hotel is truly located at the best possible spot; in the evening you can simply exit the hotel and walk onto the Shanghai river boulevard, The Bund.

Day 19: Shanghai

While strolling along the Bund past the large classic colonial buildings you'll feel like you're walking through ancient 18th and 19th century China.

Much like during the golden days, business is still booming here. International fashion boutiques, yuppie bars and beautifully renovated buildings such as the infamous Peace Hotel all stand side by side. On the other side of the Bund you'll see Pudong's skyscrapers shooting into the sky like a brand new Shanghai.

A popular attraction in this area, albeit a very touristy and crowded one, is the Jade Buddha Temple (Yufo Si). However, if you only want to visit one museum during your China holiday here, we recommend visiting the Shanghai museum with its incredible collection of everything in China that was worth saving.

If you just feel like relaxing and unwinding during this part of your trip in China, you may want to visit the famous Yu-garden, not far from the Bund. Try to visit the garden close to closing time, the quietest time of the day. The calming atmosphere will not only rest your feet, but also your head.

If you plan on going out in the evening, you'll want to visit Xintiandee, a district made up of pedestrian walkways, tea houses, restaurants and renovated Shikumen houses, and even a French district. Staying 'in' for the evening in your hotel is not an option..... a night on the town is part of the Shanghai experience!

Day 20: Shanghai - End of China holiday

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and today your China holiday must draw to a to a close. You'll return to the airport (arrange a transfer at your hotel reception for just a few pounds) and catch your flight back to the UK.

If this China holiday sounds like the trip for you, just click the quote request form link below and select it. Send us the form and we'll send you a detailed, no-obligation China travel plan quote.

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