China
The great sites of imperial China by high-speed train, from the Great Wall to the canals of Zhujiajiao
China
Classic China in a group of 25 at most: Beijing (Tiananmen, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Summer Palace), the walled town of Pingyao, Xi'an and the Terracotta Army, an introduction to calligraphy, then Shanghai, its old concessions and the water town of Zhujiajiao. High-speed train journeys. With an extension: Guilin (15 days) from €2,546 per person, Zhangjiajie (€2,956), Chengdu and its pandas (€2,999), a Yangtze cruise (€2,999), the mountain minorities (€3,081), Zhangjiajie and Guilin (€3,174), Hong Kong (€3,209) or Yunnan (€3,563).
When
Apr-June, Sept-Oct
Price
From 1 872€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
9 nights
Ideal length
Days 1-5
The imperial capital and the Great Wall.
Day 1
Flight to China
Flight to China. Dinner and night on board.
Day 2
Arrival in Beijing
Welcome at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Free time depending on your arrival.
Day 3
Tiananmen and the Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square, the largest in the world, then the Forbidden City, palace of the last two imperial dynasties.
Day 4
The Great Wall
Drive to the Great Wall at Juyongguan and free time on the ramparts. Lunch, then a visit to a cloisonné enamel workshop.
Day 5
The Summer Palace – Pingyao
The Summer Palace, its pavilions, bridges and gardens around Kunming Lake, then the high-speed train to Pingyao.
Days 6-8
The walled town, then the old Qin capital.
Day 6
Pingyao, the imperial town – Xi'an
A walk on the ramparts of Pingyao, a walled town that has stayed intact, Rishengchang, China's first bank, and the old Yamen court. Lunch in an inn. Train to Xi'an.
Day 7
Xi'an and the Terracotta Army
The pits of the Terracotta Army, several thousand soldiers lined up in battle order for the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Back to Xi'an and its city walls.
Day 8
Xi'an – Shanghai
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda and an introduction to calligraphy, then about 6 hours by high-speed train to Shanghai.
Days 9-12
The concessions, the arts district and the canals.
Day 9
Shanghai, Fuxing Park and Moganshan
Fuxing Park and its tai chi players, the old concessions and the Moganshan arts district.
Day 10
The water town of Zhujiajiao
The Shanghai Museum, then Zhujiajiao, the 'Venice of Shanghai', its canals, stone bridges and Ming and Qing houses, by boat.
Day 11
Shanghai – flight home
Free time depending on your flight, then transfer to the airport and fly to France.
Day 12
Arrival in France
Arrival in France during the day.
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