Discover China
21 Day China Explorer
Discover China with Far and Away Adventures. From Shangri-La to Silk Road, this tour will appeal especially to folks who have travelled with us before and do not want a repeat of the highlights in Shanghai and Beijing.
Visit: Shanghai, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Xian, Dunhuang, Zhangye, Xining, Lanzhou, Beijing
From $6020.00* per person Single add CAD$1000
*Includes: Round trip air, hotels, sightseeing, meals as per itinerary, English speaking guides. Per person double occupancy.
Does not include tips CAD $150 or China Tourist Visa.
ITINERARY*
Day 1 (Your Date of Departure)
For those on the Land and Air package originating at Vancouver International Airport on your departure date, be at the Airline’s ticket counter in the International Departure Terminal three hours prior to departure for your seat assignment. Your great circle route usually takes you north from Vancouver, over western Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. After you leave western Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, you either enter Russian airspace or fly over the Pacific Ocean until you cross Japan. Sometimes on a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji. The jet stream determines both your route and the flight time, which usually averages 11 hours.
Day 2 – Shanghai
Crossing the International Dateline, you lose a day and arrive in Shanghai at approximately 2:30 PM. You are joined by your English speaking Chinese national guide (who is with you for the entire tour), as well as your English speaking local guide. On the way to your hotel you will stroll on Shanghai famous waterfront, “the Bund” and Nanjing road. After supper, you will be brought to your hotel for check-in. You will be ready for a good night’s sleep.
Day 3 – Shanghai
Today is a free day to discover China.
Day 4 – Kunming
This morning you fly to Kunming, the capital and largest city in Yunnan Province in Southwest China. Kunming is located at an altitude of 1,900 metres (6,234 feet) above sea level. Kunming enjoys a mild climate year-round and is often referred to as the “Spring City”. Your stay here includes a visit to the Provincial Museum and a stroll around the beautiful “Green Lake“. Wenhui Hotel
Day 5 – Kunming
Today you travel about 85 KM by coach to visit the truly amazing Stone Forest. This is almost 100,000 acres of stunning rock formations, labyrinths and caves, human and animal figures, lakes and waterfalls.
Day 6 – Dali
Today you will travel approximately 5 hours by coach to Dali which is located 300 KM northwest of Kunming. There are 25 ethnic minorities that live here. This picturesque area is surrounded by mountains to the East, West, and South, with Erhai Lake in the centre. It is the economic and cultural centre of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. You will visit the Ancient Town.
Day 7 – Dali
This morning you will visit the Three Pagodas and in the afternoon enjoy a three-hour cruise on Erhai Lake. Later you will have some free time to explore the Ancient Town
Day 8 – Lijiang
This morning you will take the coach to Lijiang. Upon arrival, you will visit the well preserved Old Town District designated a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1997. You will also visit the Nanxi Museum.
Day 9 – Lijiang
Your day will start with an hour coach ride to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Once there you will transfer to another bus that will bring you halfway up the mountain where you will be able to ride the cable car further up to Yak Meadow, the closest place to see the peak of the mountain. Later you will travel to a Baisha village where you will enjoy lunch then a visit to the village before returning to your hotel.
Day 10 – Xian
Today you will fly to Xian and visit the Wild Goose Pagoda, the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. Grand Metropark Hotel
Day 11 – Xian
Today is a free day to discover China.
Day 12 – Dunhuang
This morning you will fly to Dunhuang which was the trade centre between China and its neighbours in ancient times. With the growing trade along the Silk Road, it became the most open area in international trade in ancient Chinese history. Today the Mogao Grottoes stand witness to these ancient times. You will visit the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Moon Lake. Dunhuang Hotel
Day 13 – Dunhuang
Today you will visit the Mogao Grottoes and the local market.
Day 14 – Zhangye
Today you will take a soft sleeper train to Zhangye and visit the Grand Buddha Temple. Zhangye Hotel
Day 15 – Zhangye
Today you visit the amazing National Danxia Geological Landform Park. Erosion of red sandstone formed the isolated peaks and steep stratified outcrops found in this Park. Many artists admire this wonderful masterpiece of nature and its unbelievable colours. It is referred to as “the eye candy of Zhangye”
Day 16 – Xining
Your day will start with travel on the High-Speed Train to Xining. Once an important stop on the century-old Silk Road that ran through Tibet, Xining is the capital of China’s Northwest Qinghai province and is 2,260 meters above sea level. It borders the Tibetan Highland. Here the sky is blue and there are vast grasslands where flocks of sheep and herds of yaks graze. You will visit the Ta’er Monastery, one of the two most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries outside Tibet itself. Qinghai Hotel
Day 17 – Xining
Today you will visit Qinghai Lake, the largest inland salt-water lake in China.
Day 18 – Lanzhou
Today you will take the high-speed train to Lanzhou and visit the Provincial Museum and White Pagoda Hill and the Yellow River Park. Legend Hotel.
Day 19 – Beijing
This morning you will fly to Beijing and visit the Nan Luo Gu Xiang Old Street (the old Hutong area). Your dinner tonight will include Peking Duck Dinner.
Day 20 – Beijing
Today is a free day to discover China.
Day 21 – Beijing and Return Home
Today you will enjoy an easy morning and after lunch transport to the airport for your flight home.
Health /Cancellation/Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.
*Prices and Itineraries are subject to change if deemed necessary, or required by conditions beyond the supplier’s control.