China's Exquisite History Tour

Get acquainted with the extensive Chinese history and explore the classical Chinese gardens on your once in a lifetime tour!

Remained as China's capital since the Ming Dynasty, Beijing's various historical and cultural sites are worth visiting: get a sense of the Royal family's living style at the Forbidden City, visit the best-preserved classical garden and the infamous and fancy marble boat at the Summer Palace of Empress Dowager Cixi, which were built with the funding of the imperial Chinese navy. Enjoy flying your kites at the TianAnMen Square, which is originally built for political rallies and important gala events. Then carry on to the Shaanxi province to explore the largest collection of underground relics. The first emperor's underground troops will certainly take your breath away as you explore the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum.

Both Suzhou and Shanghai are prestigious of having the best classical gardens in China. Enjoy the intricate designs of both the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Master of Net's Garden in Suzhou and the spectacular courtyards, pavilions and gardens in the classical Yu Yuan Garden in Shanghai.

Two percent of the standard tour cost would be donated to Lotus Travel's Orphans Improvement Program to improve the quality of life of orphans in China. By joining our China Homeland Heritage Tours, you help improve the lives of Chinese orphans!

Itinerary

Day 1: Canada/Beijing
accommodations: n/a
meals: n/a
Depart Canada to begin your explorations at China's most popular sites and cities. Cross the International Date Line enroute to China.
Day 2: Beijing
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: D
Arrive in Beijing and meet your English-speaking guide and driver after claiming your baggage. You will then travel to your hotel to settle down and adjust to the time difference. Attend a welcome dinner in the evening to get acquainted with the tour logistics.
Day 3: Beijing
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: B/L
Begin your day with a tour at the Forbidden City. Listed as a world heritage site in 1987, the Forbidden City contains the largest group of intact palace structures in the world. The palace is 720,000 square meters in size and contains 9,999 rooms, numerous pavilions, gardens and courtyards. In the afternoon, visit China's largest temple and altar-the Temple of Heaven, which is often depicted as the most recognizable symbol of China.
Day 4: Beijing
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: B/L
Visit two UNESCO world heritage sites today. Begin your day with a tour at the Great Wall. Constructed more than 2,000 years ago by China's first emperor, the ancient wall is 6,350 km in length and the only visible man-made structure that could be seen from space. Stop at the Beijing's Cloisonne (Jingtailan) Factory to learn about the intricate cloisonné making process after your great wall experience. Cloisonne originated in 1426 and became popular during the reign of Ming Emperor Jingtai. In the afternoon, explore the imperial gardens of the Summer Palace originally built in 1750 and later rebuilt in 1886. Located in the western outskirts of the city, the Summer Palace is the leading classical garden in China and a UNESCO world heritage site.
Day 5: Beijing/Xian
accommodations: Overnight Express Train
meals: B/L/D
Explore the fascinating Hutong neighborhoods. Beijing's oldest Hutongs were constructed during Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Your tour will take you through some of the best-preserved Hutong neighborhoods that represented the history, culture, and lifestyle of old Beijing. After a special homemade lunch at a local family residence in the Hutong Lane area, you and your children can relax and fly kites with the others at the Tiananmen Square. Noted as the largest city square in the world, the square was initially designed for political rallies and important gala events. Today the square is flanked by the Forbidden City in the north, the Great Hall of the People in the west, Mao TseTung's Mausoleum in the south and the Museum of Chinese Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History in the east. Early this evening, get onboard a luxury express train for your overnight journey to Xian.
Day 6: Xian
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: B/L
Arrive early this morning in China's ancient capital city of Xian. Known as ChangAn in ancient times, Xian was the capital city of China for 1,062 years (13 dynasties), under the reign of 73 different emperors. Visit the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum for an in-depth look at China's extensive history with more than 2,000 items on exhibit. In the afternoon, get on top the 950-year-old city wall and ride a bike; be sure to enjoy the panoramic view of the city. Built during the early Ming Dynasty with a core of mud covered by three layers of bricks, it is the only city wall to remain intact in China today.
Day 7: Xian
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: B/L
Embark on an amazing historical and cultural adventure today and begin with an exploration at the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, where you will find lifelike terracotta soldiers, horses, chariots and weapons created more than 2,000 years ago to guard the first emperor's tomb. Their vibrant painted details worn away during weathering, thus revealing their original earthy color. Continue your tour at the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum nearby. Historical records noted that 700,000 labors spent 36 years building Qin's Mausoleum at the foot of Lishan Mountain; numerous treasures entombed with the emperor still remain undiscovered. Learn to make JiaoZi (dumplings) in a local restaurant and have JiaoZi lunch there. Visit the HuaQing Hot Springs Palace constructed during the Tang Dynasty. This evening, relax and unwind. Enjoy recording your experiences of the day in a journal or just lounging in your fine hotel room.
Day 8: Xian/Guilin
accommodations: Guilin Ming Garden Apt Suites
meals: B/L
You will fly to Guilin from Xian today. After lunch, begin your tour with a visit to the Reed Flute Caves (Ludi Yan). Enjoy the spectacular views of beautiful backdrops created by the cool atmosphere and colorful lighting displays inside the caves as you pass by many fanciful shapes (don't forget to look for the Monkey King). Tonight you will stay at the Ming Garden Apartment Suites, which is located within the local Chinese residents' apartment complexes. Each unit is decorated in the Ming Dynasty Style with beautiful Ming furniture, an air-conditioning/heating unit, a private western-style bath, a kitchen equipped with microwave, refrigerator and cooking utensils; free Internet access, television set and telephone. The apartment units are rated above five-stars standard and guests can also enjoy free late checkouts until 6:00 p.m. (all hotels request checkouts before 12:00 noon). Although the Guilin Ming Garden Apartment Suites has no fancy lobby and swimming pool, all guests will have the rare chance to live among local residents within the same apartment complex. We can even arrange a nanny to take care of your children and make traditional Chinese meals for your whole family. What a great opportunity to experience the authentic lives of local Chinese people!
Day 9: Guilin
accommodations: Guilin Ming Garden Apt Suites
meals: B/L
After breakfast, embark on a Li River scenic cruise along the Li River and enjoy a delicious lunch onboard. The landscape of Guilin is noted as the most gorgeous in China, with sparkling clear waters and magnificent green hills; you will see fishermen fishing with their trained cormorant birds occasionally as well. Your children will be excited to watch water buffalos either grazing along the riverbanks or taking lazy afternoon swims. Visit the ShiWaiTaoYuan water garden on the way back to Guilin from Yangshuo.
Day 10: Guilin/Hangzhou
accommodations: Guilin Ming Garden Apt Suites
meals: B/L
This morning you will visit the Guilin Children's Palace to learn basic techniques of Chinese calligraphy and landscape painting. After lunch, explore the Duxiu Peak and Elephant Trunk Hill before transferring to the airport for your flight to Hangzhou.
Day 11: Hangzhou
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: B/L
After breakfast, visit the Ling Yin (Soul's Retreat) Temple founded in 326 AD by the Indian monk Hui Li. In the afternoon, get onboard a gorgeous scenic cruise on West Lake (Xihu).
Day 12: Hangzhou/Suzhou
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: B/L
Visit Hua Gang Park located at the southwest end of West Lake (Xihu) this morning. After enjoying your included Chinese lunch, get onboard the train to Suzhou.
Day 13: Suzhou
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: B/L
Suzhou is known as the "Venice of the East". Today you will visit the Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan) located at the Loumen Gate of Suzhou, which is often regarded as one of the major gardens in China. Continue your tour at the Taoist Temple of Mystery (Xuan Miao Guan), founded during the third century. Move on to the Embroidery Research Institute this afternoon to observe and purchase the delicate works of the artists as they embroider on the silks with intricate patterns. Having a historical background of more than 2,000 years in embroidery, the research institute in Suzhou is rated one of the four major schools of Chinese embroidery.
Day 14: Suzhou/Shanghai
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: B/L
This morning, explore the finest garden in Suzhou-- Master of Nets Garden (Wangshi Yuan). After enjoying your included Chinese lunch, get onboard the train to Shanghai.
Day 15: Shanghai/Zhu Jia Jiao/Shanghai
accommodations: Deluxe Hotel
meals: B/L
After breakfast, enjoy a scenic one-hour drive to the ancient town of Zhu Jia Jiao. Opened recently to visitors, Zhu Jia Jiao retains its charm and grace reminiscent of traditional Chinese painting, along with its quaint buildings, traditional arched bridges, and willow lined canals. You will pass by traditional craft workshops, picturesque canals, and teashops during your tour. Return to Shanghai in the afternoon.
Day 16: Shanghai/Canada
accommodations: n/a
meals: B/L
Your first stop will be the Bund, located near the Huang Pu River. Then visit the Yu Yuan Garden nearby, where you can view intricately designed gardens, pavilions, koi stocked pools and courtyards. Transfer to Shanghai airport for flight back to Canada in the afternoon after the included Chinese lunch.

You may extend your tour to visit other cities in China, such as your child’s birthplace and finding site.

Inclusions

  • Prices listed above include Super Deluxe (5-Star) hotels. In the event that a 5-Star hotel does not exist in a city, we use a top-class hotel in that city.
  • Prices listed above are based on group size of 10 or more passengers.
  • In the event that less than 10 people sign up for a tour, Lotus Travel reserves the right to cancel the tour and issue a full refund to participants.
  • For private package tour under 10 passengers or different scheduled tour, please contact us for a price quote.
  • Tour price includes sightseeing and meals as noted in the itinerary, intra-China airfare, private transfers and ground transportation, hotel accommodations, and the services of an English- speaking guide and driver.
  • All prices are quoted in Canadian Dollars and are subject to change without notice. Please check at time of booking.
  • All prices are quoted per person based on two people sharing a room (double occupancy). Single supplement applies for single travelers.
  • For Air and Land Packages, international airfare is included.

Exclusions

  • Airport tax.
  • Passport or China Visa Fees.
  • Tips to guides and driver.
  • Expenses of a personal nature.
  • Costs associated with side-trip to orphanage

Lotus Travel Terms and Conditions

Tour Overview
  • Trip Duration:
    16 days/15 nights
  • Price:
    Land Only: $2,899 (CAD)
  • Departure Dates:
    Please contact one of our experienced travel advisors for departure dates in 2008

  • For more information, please contact our Homeland Heritage Tour expert Louie.

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