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Beijing, southern China & tropical beaches

Route: Beijing - Great Wall of China - Xian - Terracotta Army - Yangshuo - Ping'an - Hainan Island - Guangzhou

Although you can visit China at any time of the year, November to March can be pretty chilly. This holiday to China will take you to the warmer regions of the country, making it a great China holiday choice all year round.

Your China trip will begin in Beijing, where you will visit Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China and a day in the ancient capital of Xi'an to see the famous Terracotta Army. Your holiday to China will then continue towards the Chinese countryside where you'll stay in an idyllic area amidst karst mountains, rivers and the highest altitude rice terraces in the world. Finally, you'll be able to rest and relax on Hainan Island, where you'll find long, sandy beaches- the perfect way to end your China trip.

If you'd like to build your very own holiday to China, 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:	14 days / 13 nights	Departure:	Daily
Comfort level (1-5):	3 (see accommodation)	Accommodation:	Comfortable and characteristic hotels and night on a night train
Price:	£1375 per person - based on 2 people sharing	Included:	Accommodation, transport, 4 domestic flights and all transfers and excursions as mentioned below
Transport:	As described below	Excluded:	International flight, (airport) taxes, meals and drinks, entrance fees

Day 1: Arrival in Beijing

On the first day of your China holiday, our local representative will be waiting for you in the arrival hall with a sign with your name on it. There's an ATM in the arrival hall if you want to use it. A transfer of about an hour will take you to your hotel in the centre of Beijing.

You'll stay in a traditional courtyard hotel with small scale architecture. This is a cosy way to begin your holiday to China. There are several large streets filled with stores near the hotel. The staff at the reception desk speak pretty good English and will be happy to answer any questions about your stay in Beijing.

Holiday to China - Traditional Beijing accommodation

Holiday to China - Rickshaw Taxis in Beijing

If you're not feeling too jet lagged this afternoon, you can take a taxi to Tian'anmen Square, the Gateway to Heavenly Peace. Here you'll find parliament buildings as well as Mao Zhedong's Mausoleum, and the Forbidden City (entrance fee approximately £6). For centuries this was the city where Chinese emperors lived in seclusion from the real world and where they led the country.

Strolling through these atmospheric grounds of ancient emperors, you'll really feel that your holiday to China has begun. You can even rent an audio tour with a Roger Moore voice-over for approximately £4. At the end of day one of your holiday to China, you can catch a taxi back to your hotel and in the evening you can kick up your heels in the Hou Hai Lake district.

Day 2: Beijing - Great Wall of China tour

The Great Wall of China is an essential China travel experience and is a must- see part of your holiday to China. It isn't until you actually walk over the wall that you can get a sense of the vastness of this unique Chinese heritage site. You'll be able to walk for about 3km and eventually you'll return to where you first began. This part of the wall has been restored and you'll be walking over a path; however if the path is slippery you'll need to be cautious. You'll be able to enjoy the panoramic views all around you and for a little while you'll forget all about the modern western world, immersing yourself completely in your China holiday.

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 the Jinshanling segment is the best place to experience the stunning landscapes in the mountainous area of the Luanping County.

Holiday to China - Winter on the Great Wall

Day 3: Beijing - Xi'an

Today on your holiday to China you'll have a day free in Beijing. If you'd like to spend the day in peace and quiet, you may want to take a taxi to Beihei City Park to visit one of the remaining classical Chinese gardens. You'll see Chinese doing Tai Chi, singing in groups or playing Mah-jong here. If you're looking for a more active way to spend the day you can go for a walk or cycle through Beijing's historic neighbourhoods.

About 40 minutes from Beijing you'll find the Summer Palace which was once the Emperor's Family getaway. During the winter months many Chinese come here to ice skate over the beautiful lake. The entrance fee is 30 Yuan or 50 Yuan if you want to visit the Garden of Virtue and Harmony as well.

You'll be picked up at around 5pm and taken to the train station. We'll make reservations for a hard sleeper in the night train to Xi'an where you'll continue your holiday to China. Once on board you'll find it difficult not to fall asleep to the rhythmic sound of the train rolling over the tracks.

Day 4: Arrival in Xi'an

On day four of your holiday to China you'll be awakened from your slumber before arriving in Xi'an. You'll then be greeted in the arrival hall and taken straight to your comfortable and centrally located hotel. The transfer should take approximately 15 minutes. If you prefer not to travel by train, there are several daily flights to Xi'an.

The rest of the day is yours to spend as you wish. You may wish to stroll across the boulevards to the heart of the city, the large Bell Tower. Nearby you'll also find the Drum Tower. If you climb the tower around 5pm you'll have a wonderful view of the city and you'll catch a demonstration of Chinese kettle drums. The Muslim neighbourhood is quite fun to visit for dinner in the evening. A taxi cab (or tuk-tuk) back to your hotel will cost about 1 or 2 pounds.

Day 5: Xi'an - Terracotta Army excursion - Guilin

You'll be picked up at 9am this morning for a visit to one of the most popular attractions on your holiday to China; The Terracotta Army. The excavation site is located about 40 minutes from the city of Xi'an and was discovered in 1974 by farmers, who found approximately 7000 clay soldiers, clay horses and clay chariots, commissioned by the then 14 year old king Zheng for his future royal tomb. A visit to this intruiging site is sure to be a highlight of your China trip.

A trip to the Warriors will take up approximately 2 hours, however including transport you'll be out half a day. At around 1pm you'll be back in Xi'an.
Sometime in the afternoon you'll head for Xi'an airport where you'll continue your China holiday as you fly to the karst mountain area in Guilin. We'll arrange for a transfer to take you straight to the Yangshuo countryside, which will take about 2 hours. During the winter the temperature is 10-15C on average.

Day 6: Yangshuo - Cycle trip and Yulong River bamboo boat tour

Today a cycle tour and bamboo boat ride are on the agenda. We'll arrange a bike, a boat and an English-speaking guide for you, who will tell you more about life in the area and will bike and sail along with you. You'll travel in a small group today along with other Western travellers.

The scenery here 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. During your bike ride you'll leave the main roads and peddle over paths along the river, through farmland and rice paddies with the karst mountains as constant companions during your ride- a picturesque part of your holiday to China.

After biking for a while, the bamboo raft will be waiting to take you down the river. You will sail through the peaks of the karst mountains. After a few kilometres you'll get back on your bike and peddle towards Moon Hill. You can choose to climb the hill if you wish. Later in the day when you return to your hotel you can unwind with a beer or glass of wine on the terrace. Bliss.

Holiday to China - Yangshuo karst mountains

Day 7: Yangshuo

You're halfway through your holiday to China and today 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 Kung Fu lesson for an hour.

There's quite a show 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 a show here in the outdoors with a backdrop of mountains and the river that attracts about 1000 visitors each and every night. The surrounding mountains are part of a magnificent light show every night during the performance which can be viewed daily from 8pm - 9pm. Tickets are on sale on location from £15.

Day 8: Yangshuo - Ping'an

At around 9am you'll be picked up and a transfer will take you to the next destination on your holiday to China; the Longji rice terraces. The village 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.

You'll stay in a basic, well maintained guest house in the village on this holiday to China. Electricity and warm water are available in the mornings and evenings. 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, a local minority.

Holiday to China - Zhuang minority in Ping'an

Holiday to China - Rice terrace walk in Ping'an

Day 9: Ping'an - Guided scenic walk

At 9am on day nine of your China trip, you’ll take off with your guide on a walk through the world’s largest rice paddies, The Dragon's Bone or Long Ji.

This walk will be anything but ordinary and hopefully a memerable part of your China holiday. You’ll climb and descend through marvellous scenic areas, past rivers, through wooded areas and through rice paddies where the Zhuang push their oxen through the blubber. Around lunch time you’ll have a bite to eat and you’ll rest up for a bit in the village before continuing on the two hour walk back to Ping'an. At around 3pm a bus will take you to the end of the road to Ping'an where you'll continue walking along the short path to the village.

Day 10: Ping'an - Guilin - Canton - 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 Guilin airport.

You'll fly to the city of Canton (Guangzhou) where you'll change planes and after another hour of flying, you'll arrive at 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 an air conditioning, tv and a modern bathroom. When you exit your hotel you'll walk straight onto the beach and into the warm sea, a perfect way to spend day ten of your holiday to China.

Holiday to China - The beaches of Hainan

Day 11 - 12: Hainan Island

Spend these next two days of your China holiday as you wish; rest and relaxation are your only priorities on this island. The atmosphere here is one of 'sun, sea and surf'. There are several diving shops at the beach where you can also rent snorkelling equipment or arrange an introductory dive.

If you would like to see a little more of the island during your holiday to China, 5km south of Sanya lies a hilly peninsula which offers great hiking opportunities and beautiful views. Further inland lies a reserve with 1000 Guanxi monkeys. 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. You can head into Sanya or stay in the area around your hotel for dinner in the evenings and try some of the catch of the day, this area is well known for its fresh fish dishes.

Day 13: Hainan Island - Canton

On day thirteen of your China trip, you'll be able to take your time, relax and perhaps go for one last stroll along the beach. Later on you'll return to Sanya airport and fly to Canton (Guangzhou). If there is a flight available to the UK for later in the day, we'll make arrangements for you to fly home the same day. Otherwise you'll be able to visit the Canton evening market for souvenirs, taste some genuine Canton food and spend one more night in your hotel in the centre of town.

Day 14: Guangzhou (Canton) - UK

All good things must come to an end and this is true for your holiday to China. Today you'll return to the airport (you can arrange a transfer at your hotel reception for just a few pounds) and catch your flight back to the UK.

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