Experience Overview
Modern cities, ancient history. Roaring cities, tranquil landscapes. Spell-binding architecture, lip-smacking street eats. Get ready for 12 incredible days in the fascinating lands of China. You'll tour Beijing with a local guide, enjoy authentic dinners, witness incredible live shows, see Xi'An's world-famous terracotta army, go rock-climbing, and meet pandas too! And of course, you'll check out the absolutely jaw-dropping sight of the Great Wall. It's intriguing. It's mesmerising. It'll leave you with a new perspective on the world.
Highlights
- Dining Summary: 11 Breakfast (B),3 Dinner (D),3 Lunch (L)
- Included Experience: Beijing: This crispy Peking Duck will crown your Beijing experience, and ruin all the Chinese eateries back home – simultaneously.,Beijing: See Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and 798 Art Precinct for an arty take on this spellbinding city.,Beijing: Time for some serious bucket list ticking! Visit the Sacred Way and the Great Wall (Mutianyu) to finally see what the fuss is about. Transport? No problem, return shuttle and cable cars are included too.,Beijing: Ride through the narrow streets of Beijing like a native, then stop off for lunch with a local family.,Beijing: A rainbow feast of Insta-ops! With ornate gardens, colourful dragon boats and Oriental art around every corner.,Xi'an: Time for a bit of ‘adulting’ as we marvel at Ancient Chinese art and try to create our own calligraphy sample.,Xi'an: China's got some jaw-dropping sights. But this epic work of art (2000+ sculptures of soldiers from 210–209 BCE) is still a fave. Don’t forget your camera!,Xi'an: This ancient city wall was built by the Ming Dynasty to keep troublemakers out. Nowadays they’ll let anyone in. Luckily for us...,Chengdu: Learn more about these furry cuties in an ethical environment.,Shanghai: Check out the maze of skyscrapers, rivers and roads as we head to the 118th floor of the Shanghai's tallest building.,Shanghai: Nothing in this world will awaken your senses like Shanghai. So hit up the alleys of this buzzing city and come see the God Temple and the glittering skyline with the Shanghai Tower. Unforgettable.,Shanghai: Ready for the smoothest outing of your entire life? This one’s to dye for. If it's not too materialistic, that is…
Trip Details
Product Code: 31084
Tour Type:
Accommodation: Budget
Transport:
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles: 18 - 35 Year Olds Only
Tour Operator: Contiki (CA)
Supplier Code: 681.2321B
Starts: Beijing, China
Finishes: Shanghai, China
Duration: 12 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating: Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4,311 ($359 /day)
Itinerary
Tonight we join up in the capital city of Beijing and begin rolling in the excitement of having 12-days of Chinese explorations ahead of us. Get cozy in our hotel and perhaps do some DIY exploring before we get to know each other - no time like the present to begin getting cultured.
This captivating city will start revealing its depths today as we get up close & personal with these ancient monuments. Today, we'll roam the world’s largest city square, visit the resting place of the founding father of the People's Republic of China, & even tour the Forbidden City. Plus, we'll check out the thriving Chinese artistic community of 798 Art Precinct for its modern galleries and trendy vibes. (Please note that daily restrictions apply to tickets for the Forbidden City. The Temple of Heaven will be offered as an alternative if tickets are not available)
With another day filled with historical delights and jaw-dropping sites still here in the heart of Beijing, we'll start to understand just how much this vast country has to brag about. A trip to the Great Wall and Ming Tombs will fill our day, while local delicacies will colour our night.
Though we won't be spending another night in the capital, we've still got a few things to tick off our Bejing to-do list, not to mention some free time to do your own last bits of exploring. Roam the 1,700 stalls of the Silk Market (which offers way more than just silks), check out the Summer Palace, venture to the Temple of Heaven or just hang out at one of Beijing's many museums with a rickshaw ride in-between to really do it local. Tonight we kick on to Xi'an. When in China, ride the overnight train - that's our go local motto. Sleep soundly knowing tomorrow a new city will be ours to uncover.
This morning we'll roll into Xi'an ready for a full day of epic history and heavenly food. We’ve got an incredible day lined up. First, we'll visit the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Terracotta Army & the TangBo Art Museum. Then our Local Guide will show us around the site of the Terracotta Army (where you'll see over 8,000 terracotta soldiers that were discovered by accident!). For dinner tonight, why not join us for a night market tour?
Rise, shine, and pack your bags for another incredible destination. After a speedy train journey, we’ll arrive in Chengdu, where we can settle into our hotel before heading out to explore this teahouse dotted city.
Get ready for cuteness overload... we've got half a day to spend away at a Panda Sanctuary! And if hanging out with these gorgeous creatures hasn’t completely worn you out, you can sign up for a Sichuan Cooking Class in the evening.
This morning we say goodbye to panda land and get ready to board a flight to Guilin. This city will be the gateway to our time in the countryside – it’s time to get a little bit traditional. After a drive out of Guilin, we’ll arrive in Yangshuo, where we’ll sip Tsingtao and shop the late-night markets. With the quaint setting of this village & surrounding limestone karsts, we may never want to leave this endlessly scenic region.
With all the city time we've had of late, today's the perfect chance to soak up some of mother nature's beauty by roaming the nearby hills. And what better way to do it than by some wandering around Yangshuo's lush, rocky hills. Plus, you've got the chance to witness the epic spectacle of one of the world's biggest outdoor live shows or even try your hand at rock climbing! (Adrenaline-rushes are pretty much guaranteed...)
On an included flight we’ll hop from Yangshuo to Shanghai, waving to the charming countryside setting on take off. Our ultimate scene change awaits us in Shanghai, a city bursting with energy and lights. And this afternoon, we're getting its best view from the 118th floor of the Shanghai Tower (cameras at the ready...)! But that's not even the best part. No trip to China would be complete without seeing an incredible acrobatic show. So, that's what we'll do tonight.
Wakey wakey travellers - it's our first full day in Shanghai and it promises to be an epic one. First up we're heading to Chenghuang Miao (City God Temple) where temples, teahouses, shops and restaurants will keep us entertained. Shanghai's Silk Museum and riverside promenade of Bund are also ours to explore before the chance to spend the final night together reminiscing on your trip while overlooking the Shanghai skyline.
Okay Chinese revellers, our trip has come to a close. Though we knew this sad day was inevitable, it doesn't make saying goodbye any easier. Hug it out and go back to your corners of the world armed with a wealth of new knowledge, a stack of new pals and endless life-lasting memories.
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Tour Operator
Contiki (CA)
Contiki is a New Zealand-based tour company that caters to 18 to 35-year-olds, offering over 350 different tours in over 75 countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.[1] It is a subsidiary of The Travel Corporation. Its tours historically had a reputation for partying;[2][3] however, it also operates wellness trips culturally immersive experiences that focus less on alcohol, which are more popular with Generation Z.[4] The company owns lodging facilities in Europe, including the Chateau De Cruix, a 16th century castle in the Beaujolais wine region, and the Gasthof Schoneck in the Austrian Tyrol. The name "Contiki" comes from the portmanteau 'Con' from the word 'Continent' and 'Tiki'; from the Māori referring to the first man, often symbolised as a pendant known as hei-tiki. It can also be attributed to the New Zealand slang 'Tiki-tour' describing taking a longer route to a destination in order to explore.[5]
In Business Since 1931
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