| Day |
Travel
Segment |
Stay (nights) |
| 1 |
Australia
to Hong Kong |
1 |
| Hong
Kong today is a flourishing international metropolis,
which is well run, clean and beautiful. Explore the natural
beauty of the islands, get in some serious shopping or
just relax. If you need more time we can arrange for you
to arrive a few days early for more exploring. A group
dinner will be held during the evening to kick off the
trip. |
 |
|
| 2 |
Hong
Kong to Guilin (air) |
3 |
| Guilin
is a world famous tourist city for its picturesque scenery,
as well as a well-known cultural and historic city. It
is home to 12 nationalities and sits in a valley carved
with stunning Karst formations. |
 |
|
| 5 |
Guilin
to Shanghai |
1 |
| Shanghai
is one of the most vibrant cities in all of China and
our gateway to travels on the East coast. You will have
the afternoon and evening to explore this metropolis and
enjoy the amazing evening lights before we escape to another
world. |
 |
|
| 6 |
Shanghai
to Suzhou (land) |
1 |
| Suzhou
is almost an outer suburb of Shanghai, but may as well
be on a different planet. Considered to be the Venice
of the East, a local saying goes "Above there is
Heaven, below there is Suzhou and Hangzhou." |
 |
|
| 7 |
Suzhou
to Nanjing via Shanghai (air) |
2 |
| Nanjing
(or "Southern Capital") was the Imperial centre
of China during four separate dynasties. It is an ancient
city still with numerous historic sites. Today, it is
also a bustling city with some fantastic scenery in the
surrounding countryside. |
 |
|
| 9 |
Nanjing
to Kunming (air) |
2 |
| Kunming
City is arguably China’s the most cultural city.
Everywhere you look, you will see magnificent greenery
- in the trees, flowers, and plants. Located throughout
the city are fascinating ruins consisting of tombs, monasteries,
and temples. The city itself is surrounded by beautifully
rolling hills and plains, all of which form an intricate
part of this city's 2,000-year history. |
 |
|
| 11 |
Kunming
to Dali (land) |
1 |
| Dali
City is the centre of the Dali Bai Nationality Autonomous
Prefecture and is a cultural gem. The city and surrounding
villages provide a fascinating window into the Bai nationality.
Furthermore, there are awe-inspiring natural attractions
such as Erhai Lake and the Cangshan Mountains. |
 |
|
| 12 |
Dali
to Lijiang (land) |
2 |
| Lijiang
is a truly special place and is one of China’s National
Scenic Areas. Because of its well preserved cultural city
architecture and attractions, the Ancient Town of Lijiang
has been inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO
|
 |
|
| 14 |
Lijiang
to Lahsa via Kunming (air) |
5 |
| Lahsa,
the social and cultural heart of Tibet, rarely fails to
stimulate the imagination. Surrounded by majestic mountains,
the city lies at the feet of the Potala Palace. We will
have plenty of time to explore Lahsa and the surrounding
villages. |
 |
|
| 19 |
Lahsa
to Chengdu (air) |
2 |
| Chengdu
is a stunning city and capital of Sichuan Province. Surrounded
by stunning scenery, this city was first built in 316
BC and was considered a cornerstone of Chinese society
by the Tang Dynasty. There are many cultural and historic
sites throughout the city and surrounding region. The
city is also home of the Giant Panda Research Centre. |
 |
|
| 21 |
Chengdu
to Wolong (land) |
1 |
| Wolong
is a stunning nature preserve not far from Chengdu. This
preserve is the heart of China's efforts to save the Giant
Panda and provides an opportunity to see these unique
creatures in there natural habitat. |
 |
|
| 22 |
Wolong
to Chongqing via Chengdu (air) |
0 |
| Chongqing
is a bustling city at the upper end of the famous Three
Gorges on the Yangtze River. We will fly in to the city
and have half a day to visit the highlights before beginning
our cruise down one of the most famous stretches of river
in the World. |
 |
|
| 22 |
Chongqing
to Wuhan (Yangtze River) |
3 |
| This
section of the trip is bound to be a highlight. The Yangtze
River from Chongqing to Wuhan contains some of the most
stunning river scenes you are likely to see. |
 |
|
| 25 |
Wuhan
to Xi'an (air) |
2 |
| Xi'an
served as the capital of 12 dynasties over 1,000 years.
The city has more than 4,000 historical sites and tombs
that have been excavated and it is estimated over 120,000
historical relics remain unearthed. The most famous site
within the city is the Terra Cotta Warriors, but there
are many others that are a "must see" during
our stay. |
 |
|
| 27 |
Xi'an to Beijing
(air) |
1 |
| We
will arrive in Beijing in time for the opening ceremony
of the 2008 Olympic Games. The opening ceremony will signal
the end of the official tour. From here, participants
can stay and attend the many events of the Olympiad, continue
there travels within Asia (or the rest of the World) or
begin the journey home. |
 |
|
