China holiday, discover imperial China
| country: | China |
| location: | Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 11 Oct 2009: 4 Apr |
| price: | From £1773 - £1923 (16 days) including flights from UK from £1214 excluding flights. Optional single supplement £260 (Olympic departure £325) |
the amazing things you'll be doing
A classic journey exploring the historical sites and stunning landscapes of Eastern China
The ancient civilisations of China began on the rich agricultural plains of Asia's eastern edge. The magnificent monuments and temples scattered among the network of canals in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Suzhou reflect this rich imperial past, with the vast Terracotta Armies in Xi'an a unique example of the people's devotion to their ancient rulers. European influences also seeped into the region and are evident in the colonial architecture lining Shanghai's famous Bund.
Away from the busy cities we visit some tranquil countryside and magical limestone scenery around Guilin and Yangshuo, so beloved by Chinese poets and painters, and the charming waterways of Tongli, China's Little Venice.
The ancient civilisations of China began on the rich agricultural plains of Asia's eastern edge. The magnificent monuments and temples scattered among the network of canals in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Suzhou reflect this rich imperial past, with the vast Terracotta Armies in Xi'an a unique example of the people's devotion to their ancient rulers. European influences also seeped into the region and are evident in the colonial architecture lining Shanghai's famous Bund.
Away from the busy cities we visit some tranquil countryside and magical limestone scenery around Guilin and Yangshuo, so beloved by Chinese poets and painters, and the charming waterways of Tongli, China's Little Venice.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart London. |
| Day 2: | Arrive Beijing, afternoon sightseeing. |
| Day 3-5: | Three full days sightseeing in China's capital, including the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace, plus an unforgettable visit to the Great Wall; overnight train to Xi'an. |
| Day 6-7: | Sightseeing in Xian, including the Terracotta Warriors; enjoy some free time in this historic city. |
| Day 8: | Morning flight to Shanghai; free afternoon to stroll along the Bund or visit the tranquil Yuyan Gardens and Bazaar. |
| Day 9: | Free day for further exploration of Shanghai with time to visit the French Quarter, Jade Buddha Temple and Shanghai Museum. |
| Day 10: | Morning train to Suzhou, famous for its canals and silk industry; afternoon city tour. |
| Day 11: | Drive to mediaeval village of Tongli, criss-crossed by canals and tiny bridges; some sightseeing in Tongli before continuing to Shanghai by train. |
| Day 12: | Fly to Guilin; transfer to Yangshuo. |
| Day 13: | Optional walk to Moon Hill and boat trip on the Li River; otherwise free to relax and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere. |
| Day 14: | Free day in Yangshuo, nestled amongst imposing limestone karst scenery. |
| Day 15: | Return to Guilin; fly to Beijing. |
| Day 16: | Fly to London. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.award winner
This tourism business won an award in our 2004 Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical, Magazine of the Royal Geographical Societyhow this holiday makes a difference
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As a part of our continued commitment to responsible tourism, we operate this trip in a way that aims to reduce impacts and to give as much back as possible to the local community. We use a local operator as well as Chinese leaders, city guides and staff. We use Chinese owned and run accommodation and the hotels display notices advising that not changing linen or towels daily helps reduce the environmental impact of your stay and most hotels have automatic keys that turn off lights air conditioning. These initiatives we believe will enable the wide community to benefit financially from our visits and will help with cross cultural understanding. We also limit the group size to 16 to reduce cultural and environmental impacts.
UK Office: We have at our offices worked to reduce our carbon footprint through a reduction of energy use and energy conservation measures. We also actively try to reduce the waste produced by having active reduction and recycling policies in place. We run annual staff workshops on Responsible Tourism. Carbon balancing: Global warming is a reality and to help you make a difference by reducing the carbon dioxide that is produced when you travel we offer a chance to carbon balance your flights. We encourage all our clients to do this and do so for all our staff travel. Go on do your bit! |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |