China Splendour

This tour is the perfect choice to see both the beauty of Sichuan Province as well as the most famous sites in China, visiting the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai, the Terracotta Warriors in Xian and the Great Wall in Beijing. We also admire the splendour of the Nine Villages Valley, the Grand Buddha at Leshan and the pandas at the famous reserve in Chengdu.

TOUR ITINERARY

DAYS 1-2: SOUTH AFRICA TO SHANGHAI

Fly with Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to Shanghai for a two-night stay. Our welcome dinner this evening will be a sumptuous banquet of traditional Shanghai cuisine.

DAY 3: SHANGHAI

Experience this exciting city, visiting the beautiful Yu Gardens, the Old Town, and see the superb antiques and the fine arts at the Shanghai Museum. This afternoon we take a stroll along the famous Bund before we enjoy an evening cruise on the Huangpu River.

DAY 4: SHANGHAI TO CHENGDU

This morning we will be transferred to the airport to board our flight to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. Chengdu is renowned for its natural beauty as well as its popular and distinct cuisine.

DAYS 5-6: CHENGDU TO NINE VILLAGES VALLEY

Today we fly to the breathtaking Nine Villages Valley (Jiuzhaigou), a botanical gallery that is heavily forested and home to many protected species. Entering the valley is like being transported into a different world, where crystal clear lakes gather at the foot of every waterfall and rich coloured forests are dotted with flowers. We stay in the valley for the next two nights to further
explore its beauty.

DAY 7: NINE VILLAGES VALLEY TO CHENGDU

This morning we travel to Huanglong where we will walk or take an optional cable car ride to the temple at the head of the valley. Huanglong is renowned for its hundreds of sparkling mineral pools where beautiful colours intertwine and the water cascades down the mountainside. Later this afternoon we fly back to Chengdu.

DAY 8: CHENGDU - LESHAN

Today we travel to Leshan where we will marvel at the Grand Buddha, an enormous statue carved into the side of the Lingyun Mountain. The Buddha is over 71m tall and is wide enough for more than 100 people to sit between its feet. Later this afternoon we visit Huanglongxi, an ancient town dating back to the Qing Dynasty.

DAY 9: CHENGDU TO XIAN

This morning we visit the famous Panda Research Centre to see these endearing animals being reared in surroundings reminiscent of their natural habitat. We then transfer to the airport for our flight to the former imperial capital, Xian. This evening we feast on a traditional Shui Jiao Dumpling banquet, a specialty of the region, while enjoying a performance of music and dance
from the Tang Dynasty.

DAY 10: XIAN

Today we visit one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th Century, the life-size Terracotta Warriors. We then visit the ancient City Wall, one of the best preserved in all of China. We also stroll through the lively Muslim Quarter.

DAY 11: XIAN TO BEIJING

Enjoy a morning visit to the Little Wild Goose Pagoda and the renowned Shaanxi Provincial Museum before flying to Beijing. For dinner this evening we sample the local delicacy, ‘Peking Duck’.

DAY 12: BEIJING

Beijing is a city full of wonders. During our sightseeing tour today we enjoy a stroll through famous Tiananmen Square past Chairman Mao's Mausoleum. Later this afternoon we visit the 15th-century Forbidden City. Our evening entertainment will be a fascinating performance of traditional Chinese Acrobatics.

DAY 13: BEIJING

An often quoted saying in Beijing goes ‘you have not been to China until you have climbed the Great Wall’. Built over 2,000 years ago, it stretches from the Shanhaiguan Pass on the east coast to the Gobi Desert in the west, more than 5,000km away. Walk along the wall admiring the panoramic views. This afternoon we will also explore the landscaped beauty of the Summer Palace.

DAY 14: DEPART BEIJING

Transfer to Beijing airport to board our overnight flight to South Africa.

DAY 15: ARRIVE SOUTH AFRICA

Arrive home this morning.

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Images from China Splendour