Exploration of China from Australia

Itinerary

• Day 1: Melbourne - Xi'an

  Get ready to board a flight from Melbourne to Xi'an, a city rich in history. On arrival, you'll be welcomed and escorted to your hotel by your personal tour guide before staying in this amazing city.

  Overnight: Xi'an

• Day 2: Xi'an, Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Street

  Nǐhǎo Xi'an! Your journey will begin with an in-depth exploration of the Qin Shihuang Empire heritage - Terracotta Warriors, where you can admire over 8,000 life-size painted terracotta warriors and horses, which of them were sculpted from real-life models and arranged in battle formation. Afterward, visit a jade gallery to learn about classification, colour, quality, symbolic meaning of a jade. Each piece of jade here has been carefully designed, skillfully carved and polished. At the last stop of today's journey, stroll around the Muslim Street and the Great Mosque to enjoy the Chinese Muslim culture.

  Overnight: Xi'an
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

• Day 3: Xi'an - Chongqing, Yangtze River Cruise

  Transfer to Chongqing, the largest city in Southwest China, by a high-speed train. On arrival, follow the guide to discover the city's past and present, the locals' daily life as well as culture, including Testbed 2 Arts Center, Ciqikou Ancient Town, the Three Gorges Museum, Huguang Guild Hall, Yangtze River Cableway, Line 2 of Chongqing Rail Transit (CRT).

  After that, be escorted to the dock to embark a Yangtze River cruise from Chongqing to Yichang.

  Overnight: Onboard
  Meal: Breakfast

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• Day 4: Yangtze River Cruise, Fengdu

  Enjoy your breakfast, then stretch your legs and arms to practice Tai Chi. Release your stress and promote blood circulation through a few minutes' slow-paced movements. Disembark later and have a visit to the Jade Emperor Scenic Area in Fengdu. Late in the afternoon, there is a captain's welcome reception on board, so you can enjoy the time and make multinational friends.

  Optional 1: When you are in Fengdu, why not to choose the Ghost City as an additional adventure?
  Optional 2: At night, FengYan Sanguo (War Fire of Three Kingdoms), a large-scale real landscape show about the culture and history of the Three Kingdoms, will help you to get close to traditional Chinese culture.

  Overnight: Onboard
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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• Day 5: Yangtze River Cruise, Shennv Stream

  Continue your healthy lifestyle by doing Tai Chi in the early morning, wake up your mind and start a new day. The cruise smoothly moves downstream along the Yangtze River, passes through the Qutang Gorge, the narrowest of the Three Gorges. The limestone cliffs covered in lush green trees along the river banks provide a great view for your relaxation. Next, sail through the Wu Gorge, famed for its scenic forests and mountains.

  A wooden plat bottom boat will take you to the Shennv Stream, reach the valley's depths and experience of the locals' original life. As the last night of your cruise journey, you will be invited to the Captain's farewell banquet and enjoy the Minorities and Dynasty Crew Cabaret Show.

  Optional: If you are an explorer of Chinese cultural and historical attractions, a visit to the White Emperor City is a nice choice.

  Overnight: Onboard
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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• Day 6: Yangtze River Cruise End, Yichang - Shanghai

  This morning, take a shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam, one of the largest hydroelectric gravity dams in the world. Disembark the ship at noon and be transferred to Yichang by your tour guide. Enjoy a city tour if time permits. Later, be escorted to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon your arrival, your private guide and driver will take care of you.

  Note: If you choose to take the morning flight to Shanghai, your tour today will be different. You will be met by your private tour guide from Yichang at the ship lobby around 8 am (the time may vary depending on your flight schedule), be escorted to enjoy a vision of the Three Gorges Dam, and then transferred to the airport for your flight to Shanghai.

  Optional: If you are interested in the Three Gorges Dam, take a scenic ferry sailing through the dam's ship elevator to experience the magnificent view of the dam.

  Overnight: Shanghai
  Meal: Breakfast

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• Day 7: Shanghai, City Sightseeing Tour

  Today's activity is the Shanghai Museum first. You can learn about Chinese culture and history of the millennium there. The interior displays a collection of bronzes, porcelains, ancient furniture, coins, garments, calligraphy, etc; then visit the Yu Garden - a place full of ancient Chinese style buildings, with a strong atmosphere of traditional Chinese culture, you will feel like you are stepping back in time. Take a walk to nearby Yuyuan Market, and learn how to sample the local snacks like a Shanghainese. After that, take a quick look at a silk workshop. Before visiting the final stop - the Bund, stroll around the former French Concession, a great walking area full of history with its cobbled streets, beautiful French style villas, a variety of cafes, restaurants, and antique stores. Finally, wander alongside the Bund, which will offer you a direct feeling of the sparking Shanghai.

  Optional: Acrobatic Show is a pleasant night show will enable you to discover Chinese Acrobatics in a very typical Shanghainese setting and atmosphere, and watch high-level acrobatic skills and exciting stage. It is too awesome to miss.

  Overnight: Shanghai
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

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• Day 8: Shanghai - Beijing

  Enjoy some leisure time until be transferred to the railway station for a high-speed train to Beijing. Upon your arrival, be picked up and escorted to your hotel by your local guide.

  Overnight: Beijing
  Meal: Breakfast

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• Day 9: Beijing, the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven

  This morning, meet your tour guide at the hotel lobby, then start the adventure of Beijing history by strolling around Tiananmen Square, the symbolic political center of present China. After crossing the square, enjoy a guided visit to the Forbidden City, the seat of power since 600 years ago, which always amazes worldwide visitors with its exquisite pavilions, elegant ornaments and lively historical stories. Embed yourself in the early 15th century during the Ming and Qing imperial dynasties, and explore the Chinese most precious treasures.

  The last stop is the Temple of Heaven, a place once used by emperors in the Ming and Qing dynasties to pray to Heaven for good harvests. Finally, be transferred back to your hotel.

  Optional: Legend of Kung Fu Show at Red Theater is a must-see show for Kung Fu lovers. It promises a lot of eye-catching stunts, for instance, smashing iron tablets overheads and hitting people with thick wooden sticks.

  Overnight: Beijing
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

• Day 10: Beijing, Mutianyu Great Wall

  After breakfast, proceed to the Mutianyu Great Wall, where you will take a cable car to one of the most iconic constructions in the world. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking view of the wall and its surroundings, and do some hiking on it (around 2 - 3 hours). After that, get down by a cable car again and then drive back to Beijing. En route, visit the Changling Tomb, the largest and best preserved of the 13 Ming Tombs near Beijing, followed by a jade gallery.

  Overnight: Beijing
  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

• Day 11: Beijing - Xi'an - Melbourne

  After breakfast, be escorted to the airport for your return flight to Melbourne via Xi'an.

  Meal: Breakfast