China Tour from Vancouver

On the day of departure, please find you own way to the airport and take your flight to Beijing. According to the current flight schedule, there is one direct flight (CA998 1300/1815) on Saturdays from Vancouver to Beijing, with a stop in Shenyang. The journey would take about 13.5 hours. If you depart on other days, you can make a connecting plan with the help of real-time flight trackers. As some connecting flights would take you two nights to arrive, please confirm the flight date with your travel consultant in advance.

On landing in Beijing, meet your expert local guide after clearing the customs and transfer to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you. You may wish to take a good rest to restore your energy.

Accommodation: Hotel New Otani Chang Fu Gong

The first stop of today's tour in Beijing is Tiananmen Square. You will walk northward across the largest urban city square in the world to reach the Forbidden City, home and office of imperial families of the Ming and Qing eras (1368 - 1911). Here at the City, you will be surprised that literally everything counts, from a single brick to a tiny, plain lock. While touring around, remember to make a stop before any locked door to check its lock. It’s hard to imagine it would cost 2,800 to 4,200 US dollars, unless you’ve learnt that it’s electric and part of the security system. If anyone touches it at night, they will trigger the monitoring system and be caught right on the spot! While at the northeastern corner of the palace grounds, we will also treat you to a visit to the Treasure Gallery.

After that, enjoy an a la carte welcome lunch with Peking Duck at a famous restaurant. Then, explore Yonghe Temple, womb of two Qing-era Chinese emperors and later a lamasery, and Temple of Heaven, China's largest royal sacrificial building complex. This evening, head to Liyuan Theatre to enjoy a Peking Opera Show. We will come earlier to visit the dressing room to watch the artists painting facial make-up.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte welcome lunch

Your tour in China is never complete without visiting the Great Wall. This morning, we will take a round-trip cable car to Mutianyu Great Wall, to witness a feat of engineering that stretches for thousands of miles. A red wine toast will be offered to remember this moment. We don't serve lunch today because the restaurants nearby are not up to our standard. You can bring some fast food or pack some snacks for lunch.

Driving back downtown, we will make a photo stop at the Bird's Nest, the Olympic stadium. Go on to have a tour through Hutong alleys via rickshaw and later inside a local courtyard house to mingle with Beijing’s locals.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Today's itinerary starts with Panda House in Beijing Zoo to see giant pandas. An animal species no more endangered than crested ibis and Tibetan antelope, those fur balls won the title of “National Treasure of China” simply because they can behave in a silly, adorable way like no other. But don’t be fooled by their look, since a single adult, weighing some 300 kilograms (660 pounds), is enough to take down two tigers at once, let alone their strong abilities to swim and climb trees.

Then, visit China's largest royal garden, the Summer Palace, where you can appreciate picturesque natural sceneries and exquisite royal constructions.

After your last meal in Beijing, your guide will transfer you to the airport for a flight to Xi'an. At Xi’an’s airport, you will be met and sent to the hotel by your local guide.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, local lunch
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Xi'an

The Terracotta Army, the eighth Wonders of the World, is the first stop while in this ancient city. Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 – 210 BC)’s army to protect his mausoleum, it consists of more than nine thousands of life-sized warriors. Such scale no doubt was made to display the strong military power of the Qin Empire. Out from the museum, we will also pay a visit to the family of the man who brought the first warrior to light. Your tour here will be wrapped up with making a mini clay solider following instructed steps, which is a gift prepared for you.

In the afternoon, visit Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. An unforgettable night is in store: you will enjoy a splendid Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show with delicious Dumpling Dinner. You might’ve heard that Tang people thought voluptuous build as beauty, but it’s not one hundred percent true. In fact, such aesthetic criterion was only practiced during the mid-Tang era, something used to reflect the empire’s power and prosperity of that time. It’s not hard to perceive because - doesn’t plumpness suggest health and richness? The show you are enjoying will offer you an insight into a vibrancy unique to the era.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Dumpling dinner

Please note:
Guests visiting in January, February, March and December will enjoy a free evening today, since the theater is usually not open at those times.

In the morning, we will have a leisurely walk around the City Wall Park, where many locals do morning exercises and engage in recreational activities or small talks. It’s the place to encounter real local life. You will also join them by doing some Tai Chi martial art with a master. An activity used to attract only the old, Tai Chi is gaining popularity among youngsters. According to UNESCO, which has listed it as an intangible cultural heritage, it is a traditional exercise with “relaxed, circular movements”, practiced to cultivate “a righteous and neutral mind”. Then, ascend the Xi'an City Wall, the most complete city wall in China. Walking or riding a rental bike (at your own expense) on the wall are both popular among visitors.

At noon, let’s hang around Muslim Quarter to fill our belly with authentic local food. Your guide will later escort you to the airport to fly to Shanghai. On arriving at Shanghai’s airport, meet up with your local guide who’s been waiting for you. The guide and driver will then transfer you to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Local lunch
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World

Start today with a visit to Shanghai Museum, which displays a large number of collections of ancient Chinese art works. Then, explore the famous Yu Garden, which specializes in precious tree species, exquisite Chinese-style pavilions, delicate rockeries... all that you would only find in a typical classical garden of South China. Next place is the nearby Yuyuan Bazaar, which offers handicrafts and trinkets as souvenirs, as well as toothsome local snacks.

Around noon, enjoy an a la carte farewell lunch at a nice restaurant. Later, we will take you to savor panoramic views of Shanghai’s cityscape at Duo Yun Bookstore high up in the tallest tower in China, Shanghai Tower. Afterwards, we will arrange a special cruise over the Huangpu River to round out today's trip. We will leave the charming Bund for you to explore by yourself for a while, until it’s time for us to take you back to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte farewell lunch

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, it's time to say goodbye to your 9 days China tours from Vancouver. Please check out and head for the airport for your flight home. Wish you have had a wonderful trip with us! For your reference, on each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, there is one direct flight (AC026 1815/1240) from Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Vancouver. For other days, you may take connecting flights. To get to the airport, we recommend you take a taxi for convenience, which will cost about CNY 200. After around 10.5-hour flight journey, you will arrive home.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast