China Encompassed

On arrival in Hong Kong you are transferred to your hotel. There will be a notice at reception about the evening's welcome dinner in the hotel restaurant (Cantonese cuisine). This is a chance for you to meet your fellow group members. Due to restrictions for Chinese citizens into Hong Kong, your tour leader will not be meeting you until you arrive in the mainland. If you are a first-time visitor to Hong Kong, it is recommended that you arrive a few days before the tour starts to allow yourself enough time to explore this exciting city. It is only a short walk from your hotel, situated on the Kowloon side near Nathan Road, to the waterfront for a spectacular night view of Hong Kong harbor.

Meals: Dinner

Start a long traveling day by taking a morning boat to Guangzhou, one of China's largest cities, where a former coastal trading town has given way to a metropolis of gleaming glass skyscrapers. This is where you meet your Chinese tour leader, who will hold a tour briefing en-route. Have a quick look around the city formerly known as Canton, before going to the railway station and boarding the overnight train to Guilin. You will travel in a ‘soft-class’ sleeper, which is a four-berth compartment.

Meals: Breakfast

Arriving in Guilin Railway Station, transfer to a bus and travel on to Yangshuo, a place nestled amongst the imposing limestone karst formations that have inspired poets and painters for centuries. This small town is a haven for back-packers and here you’ll stay in a delightful local style hotel. Yangshuo offers a relaxed and intimate alternative from the major cities of China and is an excellent place to explore by bicycle. Join one of our local friends and spend a few hours exploring the wonderful scenery in the surrounding countryside, including Moon Hill, and meeting some of the inhabitants of the nearby villages. Finish your bike ride by enjoying a home cooked lunch in your friend’s family home. A boat trip on the Li River to the surrounding market town of Fuli is an option to consider in your free time. This is also one of the better places for souvenir shopping so make the most of it.

Meals: Lunch

Catch your flight to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. Sichuan is known for its hot, spicy dishes, considered by the Chinese as their best cuisine. In such a food-loving country, that is no mean achievement. A history of trade built on ‘cottage industry’ handicrafts has had a major influence on the development of Chengdu. Recent changes in the regulations in China have seen a revival of this tradition of private industry, and, at almost every turn, you see signs of a thriving market. There is free time to explore the city. There is a large statue of Chairman Mao in the middle of the city and the tranquil Renmin Park is well worth a visit, with its beautiful gardens and interesting teahouses. On a day trip, you’ll travel to Leshan, to see the world’s largest Buddha, carved into the hillside near the confluence of the Dadu and Min Rivers. A seated figure (as opposed to the ‘standing’ or ‘reclining’ Buddha images found elsewhere), it is a staggering 71 meters high. It is over 1,000 years old and took almost 100 years to build. It is not only impressive at close quarters, but can be viewed on a boat from a distance, in order to gain a different perspective. On one morning you’ll also visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base situated near the city. The giant panda is one of the world’s most endangered species and has become an icon for conservation movements everywhere. It is still found in parts of the Sichuan Province, but is very difficult to spot in the wild.

Meals: 2 Breakfasts

Travel by bus to Dazu County, where you’ll visit the remarkable Baoding Shan (Treasured Summit Hill). Here are a series of Buddhist sculptures created between 1179 and 1249. These amazing works of art were created by mystic monks and incorporate many of the natural features of the surrounding hillside. The highlight is a 31-meter long reclining Buddha. Overnight in a nearby hotel. The accommodations here are very basic, as Dazu is a small town with very little in the way of tourism infrastructure. Staying here will give you a taste of the 'real' China, but you will need bring with you your spirit of adventure!

Meals: Breakfast

Continue on to the city of Chongqing, where you’ll board a boat to commence a cruise on one of the greatest rivers in the world. The Yangtze (also known locally as the Changjiang River) stretches over 6,300 km, and is the world’s third longest waterway. It rises deep into the heart of the province of Qinghai, to the north of Tibet, and flows relentlessly eastwards until it empties into the East China Sea near Shanghai. Effectively dividing the country into north and south, the river not only supplies the rural heart of China, but has also spawned many industries reliant upon its power. The Yangtze has also inspired poets, writers and travelers over the centuries. The ‘Sanxia,' as they are known in Chinese, stretch for 200 km and vary from 100-300 meters in width. Enjoy your cruise on a tourist-class boat and travel between Chongqing and Yichang. This is a much more comfortable way to travel than on the local boats that ply the same route, and offers a fascinating insight into life along the river. Spend three nights on board and sleep in twin-share cabins with private facilities, in accommodations similar to a small hotel room. Bedding and sheets are provided, as are all meals throughout the cruise. Travel through the renowned Three Gorges and finish the cruise near the construction site of the massive new dam.

Please note that all rooms on the Yangtze cruise are on a twin share basis. If you are not already sharing a room with someone from your group, you may be required to share with someone (of the same gender) from outside your group. This could be a member of another tour group or a local person. If you have paid a single supplement, please note that this does not cover the cruise.

Meals: 3 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners

After disembarking from the boat, you travel by bus to Wuhan through some typical Chinese rural areas and catch an overnight train to Xian.

Meals: Breakfast

Capital of Shaanxi Province and the largest city in northwest China, Xian is a wonderful place to explore. Food options are excellent here, ranging from delicious Muslim fare to great little dumplings in Chinese cafes. Widely regarded as the first capital of a united China in 221 BC, the city is rich in history. A half-day tour to the renowned Terracotta Warriors introduces you to these entombed statues, considered one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th century. Over 6,000 of them were individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costume, height, and even facial expression. They are standing in battle formation, facing east in order to protect the tomb of China's first Emperor, the great Qin Shihuang. Peasants digging a well only discovered the underground vault, which was home to this army for two millennia, in 1974. Xian also has a wonderful Muslim Quarter. A free day can easily be spent wandering the narrow streets where you’ll find quaint shops, lively markets, groups of white-bearded men in skull caps sipping tea in dingy cafes, and the Great Mosque, one of the most important in China.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, you fly to Shanghai and transfer to your hotel located near the famous Bund or waterfront area, where dozens of imposing European colonial buildings, remnants of the concession era, line the promenade. This is an excellent place to rub shoulders with the locals. The shopping area on Nanjing Road is situated nearby. Enjoy free time in Shanghai; however, your tour leader can show you how to get to the famous Yuyuan Gardens and Bazaar, a fascinating highlight of the city and worth exploring for its tranquil Chinese garden and wonderful food stalls. In the evening, there is a chance to see a performance of the famous Shanghai Acrobats. Keen photographers are rewarded by an early start to the day, as scores of locals practice tai chi along the waterfront at dawn. The old French Quarter is also a great place to wander around, and the Jade Buddha Temple and the impressive Shanghai Museum are both well worth a visit. The gleaming towers on the Pudong side reflect China’s march towards modernization and the rapid rate of changes that are taking place. On the evening of Day 16, you will board another overnight train for your final destination - Beijing.

Meals: 3 Breakfasts

Beijing offers endless opportunities for exploration. The enormous Forbidden City, built more than 500 years ago and off limits to commoners for almost all that time, is a truly amazing place. Its size might surprise you (it is huge!), but what makes it fascinating is that every square meter is interesting, ranging from intricately carved walkways to colorful, painted ceilings. The Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven are two other fine examples of extraordinary workmanship. Travel to Simatai, a largely un-restored and, as such, more authentic section of the Great Wall, not crowded with hordes of other tourists. Being perched on this incredible engineering feat and surveying the spectacular surrounding countryside is an unforgettable experience. There is also ample free time in the itinerary, allowing you to make your own discoveries. Your hotel is located in the south of the city and a walk in any direction will unveil all sorts of wonderful surprises. There are good shopping opportunities at the various markets around the city, such as the centrally located Dashilan Market. In the evening, you have the chance to enjoy a performance of the unique Beijing Opera or the spectacular acrobats (optional).

Meals: 2 Breakfasts

Your tour ends after breakfast. A transfer to the airport is not included, however, your tour leader will be on hand to advise you as to the options available.

For this trip, JOURNEYS International, Inc. is acting as an agent for Peregrine Adventures, which is the principal supplier of travel services for this tour and is an independent contractor.

TRAVEL INSURANCE WITH PROTECTION FOR AT LEAST $75,000 EMERGENCY MEDICAL EVACUATION PLUS $75,000 MEDICAL EXPENSE, IS MANDATORY FOR THIS TRIP. Adequate coverage for death, repatriation and curtailment is also required. You will be asked to show proof of coverage upon your arrival. Obtaining medical insurance is the responsibility of the client. Although not required, we strongly recommend the purchase of cancellation insurance.

Meals: Breakfast