Oriental Culture

Welcome to China! Our guide is at the Arrival Hall of the airport and ensures your transfer to the hotel, where you may either relax or get an early start in city exploring on your own.

Meals: No meals, advice freely available
Accommodation: The Great Wall Hotel Beijing - the former Sheraton

We will meet the other group members at the hotel lobby after a bumper breakfast. Your exciting tour starts from a lively exploration to the downtown area. First we have a stopover at the Tiananmen Square, the city's central square. Then walk northward to reach the Forbidden City, which is the star of today's show. It had seen 24 Emperors come and go in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

An a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our package) will be served at a nice local restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit the Temple of Heaven, to be followed later by a lively Chinese Kung Fu evening Show at Red Theatre.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch

Prepare yourselves well for the Great Wall visit. Upon mounting the majestic Badaling Great Wall, you get promptly rewarded with the breathtaking scenery. A jade factory visit follows right after. We do not arrange a sit down lunch today, but you may pack your own lunch or try a fast food outlet.

We proceed to the peaceful Sacred Way after lunch. On the way back to downtown, we will pass by the Olympic Stadium - the Bird's Nest for a photo opportunity.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

A relaxing tour of the Summer Palace and the ancient Hutong alleys highlights your last day in Beijing, with a pearl store visit and a delicious a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price). In the late afternoon, we will get you to the airport for your flight to the Xian, an ancient capital for 13 dynasties. With the company of your local guide and driver, you will be taken to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel

Our morning sightseeing begins with the famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, containing the tomb guards made more than 2200 years ago by the first Emperor Qin Shi Huang. In this museum, you will see the sophisticated craft skill of the craftsman in the ancient time, and learn about the Qin Dynasty and its impact on generations. After that, we get a short stopover at a pottery-making factory before we head to visit a local host family, where a specially arranged home-cooked lunch (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price) is waiting. Later, we will visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xian Museum. In the evening, a unique Dumpling Dinner accompanied by the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show at Shaanxi Theatre is scheduled to round off the day.

Tips: The Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show will be omitted in Jan, Feb, Mar and Dec, when tour charges are reduced and you get a free night in town.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Home-cooked a la carte lunch, Dumpling Dinner

We start the morning at the City Wall, which is the best preserved of its kind in China. A bicycle rental is available for those who want to ride around in the time allowed. Next, we visit Shaanxi History Museum.

After having an a la carte lunch (included in our price) at a well selected local restaurant, we'll drive you to the airport to take a flight to Shanghai. Your guide in Shanghai will escort you to the hotel and help you with the check-in procedure.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Equatorial Shanghai

We spend the morning with the rich collections at Shanghai Museum, the tranquil and enjoyable Yuyuan Garden and a silk shop. Lunch a la carte will be served at a good local restaurant (valued at CNY120.00 per person and included in our price). In the afternoon, we will stroll around the Bund area, where you will also have a short cruise tour on the Huangpu River. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, A la carte lunch

You may do last minutes shopping in the morning, or ready yourselves for travel. Your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you punctually to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. Let's start our next leg of journey to Vietnam.

On landing in Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport, you will be met by our professional guide after you fetch your luggage and clear the custom. Transfer you to the hotel for a well earned rest.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast
Accommodation: Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa

Today we will do a full day's city exploration from Ba Dinh Square area. We get an introduction to Ho Chi Minh, his life and times by visiting Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and his former residence. Then we have a short stopover at the nearby One Pillar Pagoda. After that we move to West Lake area where you will also pay a visit to the Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple besides the beautiful lake view. For the rest of the time, continue your visit to the Temple of Literature and the History Museum or the Ethnology Museum as you like. Then we get you back to the hotel for the evening.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch

After a full breakfast, we go to Halong Bay to board a fun cruise trip. Getting to the cruise pier takes about 3.5 hours, thus expect a noon time start with a bumper welcome lunch. As you sail into Halong Bay, thousands of limestone islands towering out of the water come into view. Enjoy the breathtaking gift of nature while aboard.

In the afternoon, an excursion to the Thien Cung (or Dau Go or Sung Sot) is arranged for you to exploring the limestone cave. You may join activities during the cruise such as: Kayaking, diving or swimming. You will spend the night on the cruis.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Indochina Sails - Superior Cabin

An early morning Tai Chi class takes place on the top deck. All are welcomed. Then you will continue visiting some nearby islands. Rejoin the Cruise at brunch as you sail back to Halong pier. Upon arrival, your guide and driver will pick you up and drive you to Hanoi. In the afternoon, let's fulfill our city tour at Hanoi central area to the Opera House, Old Quarter where one may find shops, restaurants, bars etc, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. Your tour comes to the end after you enjoy a special Water Puppet Performance at Hoan Kiem Lake area.

Meals: Brunch
Accommodation: Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa

Finally we will get you to the airport for your homeward flight. Safe Travel!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast