VOUCHER REDEMPTION (WCX18): 18 days Captivating China tour with Yangtze River cruise and flights

ABOUT US

Expedition Exclusive is a tour wholesaler and destination management company which has a strong focus on China and Mongolia. This exclusive focus means we have up to date information and first-hand knowledge that offers authentic travel experience to our clients.

Address: Level 2B, 818 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill, Victoria 3128, Australia

Phone: 1300 738 196; Website: https://www.expeditionexclusive.com.au/; Email: info@expeditionexclusive.com.au

PAYMENT

The final payment is due 180 days prior to travel or before the issue of international flight tickets. Should you wish to settle the final payment by its due date, please choose 'PAY BY BANK TRANSFER' option upon completing your booking.

If you choose 'PAY BY CREDIT CARD' option, payment will be collected by the system instantly.

ACCOMMODATION

• Xi’an: Hualuxe Xi’an Hi-tech Zone or similar
  
• Beijing : Shangri-La’s China World or similar
  
• Tai’an : Four Points by Sheraton Tai’an or similar
• Suzhou : Double Tree by Hilton Suzhou Wujiang or similar
• Shanghai : Pullman Shanghai Qingpu Excellence or similar
• Yangtze River: Victoria Katarina or similar
• Chengdu  Crowne Plaza Chengdu Panda Garden or similar

* Please note: the listed accommodation may be subject to change but will remain of a similar or higher standard. Any changes remain beyond our control and all efforts are made to communicate these as soon as possible. We endeavour to always book non-smoking rooms however these cannot be guaranteed. Hotel locations can be within or outside itinerary cities.

THE FINE PRINT

• By purchasing this tour you are agreed to attend the itinerary as what is listed, any change/no-show may cause the  cancellation of tour at no refund.
  
• Based on two people sharing, single supplement surcharge applies
  

ITINERARY

DAY 01 | XI’AN - Meals Included: None

Your phenomenal tour through China awaits! Begin your trip with an international flight to Xi’an. Upon arrival at the Xi’an International Airport you’ll be greeted by your tour guide and transferred to your hotel. Please note: Some flights may depart the day before.

DAY 02 | XI’AN - Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Prepare to be humbled as you begin your Terracotta Warriors tour with our experienced local guide, who will walk you through more than 1000 years of Xi’an's history. The city served as China’s capital for 13 dynasties and has a wealth of history. Often considered the unofficial Eighth Wonder of the World, this legion of soldiers was discovered by accident in 1974. Consisting of more than 7000 soldiers, archers, horses and chariots, the Terracotta Army has guarded Emperor Qin’s tomb since 210 BCE. Each figure is unique and the painstaking repair and excavation work continues to this day. Next we'll walk through the bustling marketplace of the old Muslim Quarter, where the scent of delicious street food wafts through the air and stalls are packed with trinkets and souvenirs.

DAY 03 | XI’AN TO BEIJING - Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning you’ll visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda. This pagoda is one of the key Buddhist structures erected in the Tang dynasty about 1300 years ago. Its unusual curved shape protects it from earthquakes. It’s a peaceful, tranquil spot. This afternoon you’ll take the high-speed train to Beijing.

DAY 04 | BEIJING - Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we’ll discover some of Beijing’s most extraordinary imperial treasures. You’ll begin at Tiananmen Square, one of the largest and grandest public plazas in the world and the site of several important events in Chinese history. Followed by a visit to the famous local freshwater pearls workshop. Pearls, particularly freshwater pearls are one of China’s many sought-after products. If you’re travelling with that special someone or looking for the perfect gift for someone back home, then you can’t go wrong with pearls. From here you’ll enjoy the rest of the day at free leisure and explore this captivating city at your own pace. Alternatively, you can join our handpicked optional tour and proceed to the expansive Forbidden City, an iconic palace complex in central Beijing.

Optional Tour(s):

# Forbidden City Tour (Lunch Included): On this tour, you’ll first taste the delicious Old Beijing Noodle with Soy Bean Paste during lunch before exploring the world famous Forbidden City, the former seat of the emperors throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is a true architectural masterpiece and home to the National Palace Museum.

# Golden Mask Dynasty: The large-scale poetic dancing drama, Golden Mask Dynasty Show, is based on a legendary age in China. The Golden Mask Dynasty Show incorporates dancing, lighting and acoustics, acrobatics and some magnificent costumes to recreate the wonderful legend.

DAY 05 | BEIJING - Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we’ll visit the majestic Great Wall (Juyong Pass) – it’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the way we’ll stop at a jade museum to learn the history of jade and observe skilled artisans at work as they create intricate designs. Jade, known as the royal gem, has been a popular stone for prosperity and luck since ancient times. Enjoy a scenic drive through the rugged mountain scenery of the countryside to reach China’s most renowned monument. We’ll visit Juyong Pass, one of the most important forts on the Great Wall. It’s not as crowded as the other sections. You’ll have a chance to climb a portion of this ancient wall. This afternoon you’ll take a relaxing break and enjoy your own time exploring the local shopping mall in Beijing. Alternatively, you can experience the authentic old Beijing local life and culture by joining the optional Hutong tour.

Optional Tour(s):

# Hutong Life Tour (Lunch Included): This tour will take you around the intricate winding hutongs to admire the old courtyards. They are maze-like and deep and exactly as they were a long time ago. You are invited to visit a local family’s house to experience authentic Beijing life and enjoy a meal of local home cooking.

# Peking-Duck Dinner: An authentic Peking-duck banquet served with all the traditional accompaniments. This famous roasted duck dish dates back to the Ming Dynasty, some 600 years ago. Peking duck is named after Beijing – Peking is an older spelling.

DAY 06 | BEIJING TO TAI’AN - Meals Included: Breakfast

Chinese Traditional Medicine is thought to be over 2000 years old, it is very common throughout China and is used in most households. This morning you’ll visit a Chinese Herbal Institute to discover and participate in learning this ancient way of healing. Afterward you’ll enjoy some free time in a Beijing’s veteran shopping mall where you can find a broad choice of local and world famous brands. Alternatively, you can join our optional tour to Temple of Heaven and step back in time to discover the history of the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. This afternoon you’ll board the bullet train and travel to Tai’an. Upon your arrival, our local representative will meet and greet you at the Tai’an Railway Station and transfer you to the hotel for rest.

Optional Tour(s):

# Temple of Heaven Tour (Lunch Included): Explore the Temple of Heaven, which is the largest and most representative existing masterpiece amongst China’s ancient sacrificial buildings. Step back in time as you admire the long wall enclosing the place where emperors of many dynasties held their Heaven Worship Ceremonies.

DAY 07 | TAI’AN - Meals Included: Breakfast

Today’s excursion is one of the most anticipated of our trip, a visit to the Mount Tai Scenic Area. Mount Tai, also known as Taishan has been a famous mountain in China since ancient times and has the reputation of “the head of the Five Sacred Mountains”. This morning you journey starts with a nice guided walking tour on the Mount Tai Ancient Imperial Walkway that was the royal steps exclusive to the emperors to climb the mountain. Along the stone-paved walkway, you’ll see the unique Taoist Temples, ancient trees and stone tablets and appreciate the magnificent view of Mount Tai from foothill. Followed by a transfer to hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Alternatively, our optional cultural tour to Qufu will be an excellent choice for you to have insights into Chinese culture, traditional foods and history.  

Optional Tour(s):

# Confucius Culture & Food Tour: Confucius was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the Spring and Autumn period. He is widely considered as one of the most important and influential individuals in shaping Chinese culture and history. Confucius was a great thinker and educator, but he was also undoubtedly a gourmet. Many of his ideas regarding food and diets have played a significant role in the forming and development of Chinese food culture. On this tour, you are invited to enjoy the unique style of Confucius Family Cuisine and a cultural immersion in the Nishan Holy Land.

# Feng Shan Sacrifice Performance: This live performance was created with utmost care by the production team of Mr. Mei Shuaiyuan, the founder of China's large-scale landscape live performances. This large-scale landscape performance was divided into seven chapters, recreating the fengshan ceremony scene of the emperors of the Taishan Five Dynasties. The performance, taking Taishan history and culture as the core and Taishan natural landscape as the background, fully demonstrates the unique value and profound connotation of Taishan culture.

DAY 08 | TAI’AN TO SUZHOU - Meals Included: Breakfast

Enjoy a relaxing morning and exploring the city at your own pace. Tai’an is host to a great number of historical and cultural sites. Alternatively, you can experience the real rural life in a Chinese village by joining our optional farm-visit tour. This afternoon you’ll travel to Suzhou by bullet train.

Optional Tour(s):

# Chinese Farm-visit Tour (Lunch Included): This tour gives you the unique experience of Chinese rural life. You’ll visit the traditional village tribe of Shandong, see seasonal farming activities in action and experience firsthand some indigenous heritage by viewing tools, carvings and artwork.

DAY 09 | SUZHOU TO SHANGHAI - Meals Included: Breakfast

Suzhou, the city of paradise, is also known as the Oriental Venice for its exquisite canals, bridges, pagodas, and beautiful gardens. Suzhou is designated a UNEWSCO World Heritage Site. After breakfast, you’ll visit the Lingering Garden, a classic private garden with 500 years of history, and continue your journey to the Suzhou Silk Factory, the largest silk manufacturer in the country and discover the mysterious processing silk. In the late afternoon, you can enjoy the optional excursion and explore the famous Grand Canal further. We’ll then drive to Shanghai.

Optional Tour(s): 

# Grand Canal Cruise:  Enjoy a cruise along the ancient canal from the city to the picturesque Grand Canal, which is the best way to appreciate the stunning views of a water town.

# Chinese Acrobatic Show: As a multimillion-dollar stunning acrobatic extravaganza, the first of its kind in China, ERA is a multimedia odyssey whose inspiration is a direct result of the combination of traditional Chinese acrobatic arts and modern technology. Just like Shanghai, ERA evolves through a constant collision between the past and future.

DAY 10 | SHANGHAI - Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, you’ll visit the Bund, a waterfront area in central Shanghai. Along the way, you’ll see the most famous and attractive sight in the Bund, namely 26 colonial-era buildings of different western architectural styles. Followed by a visit to a local tea house and taste the local well-known Dragon Well Tea. It is science proved that green tea is excellent for maintaining the well-beings, and today you will have the opportunity of learning the tea culture. Later we’ll step back in time at the Shanghai Museum. You’ll have the afternoon free, or you may explore this buzzling city further by joining one of our well-designed optional tour programs.

Optional Tour(s): 

# Shanghai City Tour: This tour takes you to Lujiazui Financial & Trade zone, where the Jinmao Tower is located. Jinmao is with 88 stories reaching a height of 420.5 meters and 290,000 square meter construction area, it is literally means “Gold Luxuriance Building” in Chinese. In here, you can find the perfect combination of traditional Chinese architectural style and the world’s modern architectural technology. After this, we will visit another famous site in Shanghai – Xi’tian’di. It is an historical and cultural character of the city tourism attraction, its unique Shikumen Shanghai-based urban construction attract people from the globe to explore this special leisure area.

# Huangpu River Cruise: The Huangpu River offers intriguing views of the Bund, Pudong and riverfront activity. Experience the Bund from a different perspective with a river cruise experience. Gaze at the eclectic group of architectural styles that make up the striking Shanghai skyline from the water.

DAY 11 | SHANGHAI TO YICHANG - Meals Included: Breakfast

Today you'll travel from Shanghai to Yichang by high-speed train. Upon arrival, you'll board your Yangtze River Cruise ship and settle in to your cabin before departure tomorrow. The Yangtze River is the longest in Asia and the third longest in the world. It is renowned not only for its impressive size, but also for the natural beauty that surrounds it. The river begins in the remote, mountainous region of Tibet and winds its way through stunning gorges, and lush and fertile regions, connecting with numerous lakes and waterways.

DAY 12 | YANGTZE RIVER - Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner

Enjoy your first day on the Yangtze River as the ship wends through spectacular scenery. This morning indulge in a beautiful breakfast buffet onboard before joining an included shore excursion to the Three Gorges Project. One of the largest construction projects undertaken by man, it is also the biggest hydroelectric power project in the world.

Optional Tour(s):

# Tribe of the Three Gorges: One of the few remaining scenic spots not to have been influenced by the Three Gorges Dam project, this leafy area showcases Ba-Shu Culture. Come evening you'll return to the ship and attend the Captain’s Welcome Banquet, enjoying an evening of dancing and good food.

# Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift: Operational only since 2016, here you can experience the world's biggest shiplift on a specially-designed sightseeing boat. The shiplift is capable of elevating ships of up to 3000 tons, floated on a volume of water roughly equivalent to four Olympic-sized swimming pools. Experience the lift as your boat climbs 113m – the height of a 40-storey building.

DAY 13 | YANGTZE RIVER - Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner

Today, we'll enjoy a shore excursion to the mesmerising Shennong Stream. A tributary of the Yangtze, the Shennong flows through three beautiful gorges including the Mianzhu, Parrot and Longcangdong. Each gorge is renowned for its unique and stunning scenery. The Shennong Stream is also home to the Hanging Coffins – ancient coffins suspended high up on the limestone cliff faces, which contain the remains of descendants of the Tujia people. In the afternoon, return to the ship in time for lunch and enjoy the crew’s magnificent performance in the evening.

Optional Tour(s):

# White Emperor City: An ancient temple complex overlooking the western end of Qutang Gorge, White Emperor City has long been the subject of many poems. From the site visitors can enjoy views that look back toward the Qutang Gorge – a sight that's depicted on the back of the Chinese 10-yuan bill (trip offered when river conditions permit).

DAY 14 | YANGTZE RIVER - Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner

Today’s shore excursion will take you to the legendary Jade Emperor in Fengdu. Located on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, Fengdu is an ancient city with a time-honored history, known as the 'Ghost City' to most Chinese people. According to superstitious legend, the dead come to Fengdu Ghost City and the devils go to hell. Since Tang Dynasty, forty-eight temples have been built in the place, such as the 'Hall of the Jade Emperor'.

Optional Tour(s):

# Fengdu Ghost City: If you’re feeling brave today then why not visit the Fengdu Ghost City. Regarded as the City of Ghosts, this complex of temples, shrines and monasteries, built on Ming Mountain depict instruments of punishment and paintings of demons, demonstrating the Chinese people's imagination of hell.

DAY 15 | CHONGQING TO CHENGDU - Meals Included: Breakfast

Today, you'll disembark the cruise ship and be transferred to Chongqing Railway Station for your continued travel to Chengdu, the hometown of Giant Panda. Take an impressive trip to the famous Jinli Old Street where you’ll find delicious local snacks, delicate artefacts, interesting folk shows, and other activities.

Optional Tour(s):

# Traditional Sichuan Dinner & Opera Show: Immerse yourself in the captivating culture of Chengdu during an incredible Sichuan Opera show and traditional dinner. Venture within a traditional restaurant to devour the local delicacy of Sichuan hot-pot. Sated, prepare to feast your eyes upon a colourful spectacle of acrobatics, music and comedy as you watch the extravagant Sichuan opera.

DAY 16 | CHENGDU - Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning you’ll make a memorable visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.  This facility is not only the most important panda scientific research center in the world, but also the home for more than 100 Giant Pandas. You’ll walk at leisure through the bamboo-framed paths and closely observe giant pandas of different ages eating bamboos, playing with each other, tumbling, and climbing trees. There is also a very informative Panda Museum where you can learn more scientific facts about Giant Pandas. Followed by a visit to Chengdu Kuan-zhai Lane, part of the old city in Chengdu which has been restored and renovated. This is a chance to see old Chengdu and experience its traditional lifestyle.

DAY 17 | CHENGDU - Meals Included: Breakfast

Enjoy one last delicious breakfast this morning, before your China adventure comes to an end. After checking out of your hotel, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight back home. You’ll be returning home with knowledge of a new culture, connections with new friends and memories to last you a lifetime.

DAY 18 | AUSTRALIA

Arrive home today.

Please take the time to read and understand the conditions of booking set out below prior to booking a trip with us. We strongly recommend that you also read the essential trip information relating to your tip prior to booking to ensure that you understand the itinerary, style and physical demands of the trip you are undertaking.

BOOKING CONDITIONS