The China Discovery is a tour that leads you to a fantastic introduction to the splendid attractions and historic monuments in Xi’an, Beijing and Chengdu. Explore enormous ancient city walls and the massive army of more than 7,300 lifesized Terra-Cotta Warriors while in Xi’an. Climb the Great Wall of China. Feast on a Peking Duck banquet in Beijing and visit Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Spot which full of beautiful natural and historical sites, with the Giant Buddha being the most distinguished one.
ITINERARY
HIGH LIGHTS
FINE PRINT
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Day 1
Depart Home – Beijing
Begin your journey with the international flight to Beijing
Meet and transfer to the hotel with your tour manager
In-Flight
In-Flight Meal
Day 2
Beijing
Visit Tiananmen Square
Walk through the Forbidden City, home of the Chinese emperors and their household for five centuries
Visit Hutong, the local and traditional Beijingese living area. Take the option to ride on rickshaw and have a special lunch hosted by local family (US$50 pp)
Experience traditional Chinese Tea Culture Enjoy an optional Evening Entertainment - The Legend of Kung Fu (US$35 pp)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Beijing
Visit 2008 Olympic Games Sites , Bird’s Nest & Water Cube
Visit Jade factory to learn Chinese Jade culture
Walk in the clouds while hiking the 2,000-year-old Great Wall of China
Enjoy Chinese traditional foot massage to release your tire (at your own expense) and learn about traditional Chinese medicine
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4
Beijing
To experience Morning exercise -Tai Chi lesson , Temple of Heaven
Pearl Factor Outlet - A great place to buy pearls in China with "wholesale" prices, every strand of lovely sea and freshwater pearls is negotiable
Optional to visit Beijing Zoo to see Pandas in the afternoon (US$50 pp)
Take the option to enjoy Beijing Opera in the evening (US$35 pp)
Breakfast
Day 5
Beijing – Xi’an
Take scheduled flight to Xi’an.
Upon arrival in Xi’an, visit Provincial Museum and ancient City Wall, one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6
Xi'an
Visit Terracotta Warriors factory to see how warriors is made, and tour the exhibit of the historical Terracotta Warriors
Visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Muslim Quarter and the traditional market
You can experience Xi’an local food, or take the option to enjoy Dumpling dinner and Tang Dynasty Dancing show (US$60 pp)
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7
Xi’an - Chengdu
You will be transferred to the airport via your schedule flight to Chengdu.
Visit Panda Research Base in Chengdu
Vist Jinli Old Street, originally built as a commercial street during 221 AD – 263 AD Enjoy evening optional show: Sichuan Opera, featuring fire breathing, changing face and juggling pottery (US$45 pp)
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8
Chengdu
Free day to explore Chengdu or take the optional tour to visit Leshan Giant Buddha (US$80 pp) Leshan Giant Buddha, a statue of Maitreya in sitting posture, a UNESCO on the list of World Heritage sites
Breakfast
Day 9
Chengdu- Home
You will be transferred to the airport via your schedule flight back home or continues your journey to visit other cities in China
Breakfast
Beijing
Forbidden City- The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost 500 years, it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government.
Great Wall - The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China in part to protect the Chinese Empire or its prototypical states against intrusions by various nomadic groups or military incursions by various warlike peoples or forces. Several walls were being built as early as the 7th century BC; these, later joined together and made bigger, stronger, and unified are now collectively referred to as the Great Wall. Especially famous is the wall built between 220–206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang.
Hutong - Hutongs represent an important cultural element of the city of Beijing. Thanks to Beijing’s long history and status as capital for six dynasties, almost every hutong has its anecdotes, and some are even associated with historic events. In contrast to the court life and elite culture represented by the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and the Temple of Heaven, the hutongs reflect the culture of grassroots Beijingers. The hutongs are residential neighborhoods which still form the heart of Old Beijing.
Xi’an
Ancient City Wall - Ancient City Wall, the fortifications of Xi'an, an ancient capital of China, represent one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. Construction of the first city wall of Chang'an began in 194 BCE and lasted for four years. That wall measured 25.7 kilometres ( 16.0 mi) in length, 12–16 metres (39– 52 ft) in thickness at the base. The area within the wall was c. 36 square kilometres (14 sq mi). The existing wall was started by the Ming Dynasty in 1370. It encircles a much smaller city of 14 square kilometres (5.4 sq mi). The wall measures 13.7 kilometres ( 8.5 mi) in circumference, 12 metres ( 39 ft) in height, and 15–18 metres (49– 59 ft) in thickness at the base.
Terracotta Warriors - The Terracotta Army or the "Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses", is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife.
The figures, dating from 3rd century BC, were discovered in 1974 by some local farmers in Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi province. The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits nearby Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum. Other terracotta non-military figures were also found in other pits and they include officials, acrobats, strongmen and musicians.
Chengdu
Panda - The giant pandas are not only a Chinese national treasure but are also beloved by people the world over. They are found only in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. In total there are fewer than 1000, of which 80% are distributed within the territory of Sichuan province. Therefore, when visitors from home and abroad come to Chengdu, Sichuan Province one of their main objectives will be to see the giant pandas for themselves.
Leshan Giant Buddha
The Leshan Giant Buddha was built during the Tang Dynasty (618–907AD). It is carved out of a cliff face that lies at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers in the southern part of Sichuan province in China, near the city of Leshan. The stone sculpture faces Mount Emei, with the rivers flowing below his feet. It is the largest stone Buddha in the world and it is by far the tallest pre-modern statue in the world.
The Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. It was not damaged by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake
Fine Print for China Discovery– Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu
Tour Dates:
2014 Oct 23, Nov 6, 18 2015 Jan 30, Feb 13, 27, Mar 13, 27, April 10, 24, May 8, 22, Jun 19
• Voucher price is based on double occupancy
• High season surcharge applies per terms on promotion voucher
• US $90 per person tour tipping not included and payable upon booking
• China domestic taxes US $100 per person is payable upon booking
• Single supplement US $480 per person for this 7 nights tour
• Promotion tour is non-refundable from Merry Travel after air ticket is issued
HOW TO BOOK
1.
Complete Online Reservation Form at www.merrytravelus.com
2.
Choose a valid date based on option purchased.
3.
Mention your VOUCHER number and provide your credit card information to pay the balance of payment (tipping, single supplement (if applied), and other related fees
ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGE INCLUDES:
1.
Private air-conditioned Vehicle
2.
International airfare and airport taxes and fees
3.
Transportation to and from hotel, airports, and sightseeing places
4.
Standard room for accommodations
5.
Meals in the itinerary
6.
Entry fees for sightseeing places in the itinerary
7.
English speaking tour guide
ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGE EXCLUDES:
1.
China Visa fees (for regular service: AUS98.5 for Australian passport holder,USD140 for United States passport holder, CAD85 for Canadian passport holder)
2.
US$50 per person service charges (including return postage) for obtaining visas
3.
China domestic airport taxes and fees US$100 per person
4.
Tour tipping US$90 per person
5.
Single Supplement $480 per person
6.
Meals and beverages, other than specified
7.
Laundry and other items of a personal nature
8.
Trip delay, or interruption by airline schedule change
9.
Cost for anything not specifically mentioned in the listing above
10.
Optional insurance coverage is available for Baggage, Accident and Trip Cancellation/Interruption
11
Extra cost or missing tour caused by flight delay or cancel
12.
Luggage fee and other special request for in-flight service that incurs additional surcharge
13.
Additional fee caused by passenger's special request for date change, routing change and itinerary change.
You must fill in the boxes marked *
All Traveler information must match exactly what is on the government-issued ID you use when travelling. Passport photo page coy must be provided upon booking for ticketing.
PLEASE NOTE: CREDIT CARD DETAILS REQUIRED TO COLLECT MANDATORY TIPPING AND VISA CHARGES AS WELL AS ANY ADDITIONAL TOURS PURCHASED ABOVE.
TRAVELER'S NAME MUST BE EXACTLY SAME AS PASSPORT NAME. AIRLINE PENALTY FOR NAME CORRECTION $100 AND ANY OTHER AIRLINE FEES WILL BE APPLIED.
