Detailed description. China: Beijing to Shanghai. Welcome. Day to Day schedule. Day to Day description. Highlights and high-speed trains!

Transcription

1 China: Beijing to Shanghai Highlights and high-speed trains! Trip code: Group size: Number of days: SCZ Detailed description Welcome During this new China tour, you will visit highlights such as the Terracotta Army, The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, nostalgic Pingyao, the karst mountains of Yuntaishan and ultramodern Shanghai. To save time, you travel three times by high-speed train during this China tour. You sleep in attractive hotels and spend an overnight on board the night train, an experience in itself! Shoestring welcomes you warmly to China! Day to Day schedule Below is a summary of the day-to-day description. Transport Route Overnight stay 1 Beijing Beijing 2 Beijing Beijing 3 Beijing Beijing 4 Train Beijing - Pingyao Pingyao 5 Pingyao Pingyao 6 Train Pingyao - Xi an Xi an 7 Xi an Xi an 8 Bus,Train Xi an - Luoyang - Longmen Caves - Dengfeng 9 Bus Dengfeng - Shaolin Temple - Mount Yuntaishan Dengfeng Mount Yuntaishan 10 Bus,Train Mount Yuntaishan - Zhengzhou - Shanghai Night train to Shanghai 11 Train,OnFoot Shanghai Shanghai 12 Shanghai Shanghai 13 Shanghai End of tour Day to Day description

2 Day 1: Beijing Welcome to China! Your journey begins in Beijing where you can use your hotel room from check in time (12.00 hrs at noon) on day 1. Your travel companions will also arrive this first day, the exact time will be depending on their flight schedule. You will meet your English-speaking tour leader at hrs noon on day 1 in the lobby of your hotel in Beijing. You will have plenty of time to explore this incredible city. Beijing has stood as capital of one of the greatest realms in the world for centuries. The tragic memories of Tiananmen Square contrast sharply with its present tranquility, but a visit to this iconic square is a must. Around it is the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, the Mao Zedong memorial Hall and most importantly, the beautiful Forbidden City. Day 2: Beijing Beijing is also home to the stunningly ornate summer palace on the outskirts of the city and a large marble boat, which was commissioned by the Empress Dowager Cixi for her dinner parties. Another must-see is the Temple of Heaven, which was built entirely without nails in the middle of a park. If you come early enough in the park, you'll often see people who practice tai chi and other martial arts. In the evening, a visit to the Peking Opera and its beautiful costumes is a real highlight. Day 3: Beijing It is of course self-evident, that no trip to Beijing would be complete without visiting the Great Wall of China. The wall winds its way through the mountains to the north of Beijing and there are some places where you can climb the wall and admire this colossal construction. The Chinese cuisine is very varied, every region and city seems to have its own culinary specialty. Peking duck is obviously the dish of Beijing; with a history of more than 600 years. The roast duck is traditionally eaten with pancakes, vegetables and a tasty sauce. Definitely one to try! Day 4: Beijing - Pingyao This morning you travel by high-speed train from Beijing to the charming town of Pingyao, listed as an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The ancient Chinese town of Pingyao is encircled by imposing town walls with their original gates. In the 19th Century, Pingyao was the financial trading centre of China and some of the remaining mansions have been turned into tearooms and restaurants. Enjoy wandering around the maze of car-free streets and alleyways, among old buildings with picturesque patios. Day 5: Pingyao Free day. You can spend more time in the town itself. Those interested can go and visit the tranquil Shuanglin Temple and see its beautiful yet eerie 2000 clay statues dating from the Song and Yuang dynasties. You could also make an excursion to 'Wangjia Dayuan', the fortress of the Wang Family, which encircles countless beautiful archways and lavishly decorated courtyards and is regularly featured in Chinese movies!

3 Day 6: Pingyao - Xi an Are you a fan of Chinese cult films? Pingyao featured as the backdrop for the beautiful film 'Raise the Red Lantern'! which many will have already seen. A number of the monumental buildings are decorated with intricate paintings and red lanterns dangle all over the place, giving the town an atmospheric glow at night. In the afternoon, you go by high-speed train to Xi'an, the capital of China during the Tang dynasty ( ) where you arrive in the evening. Day 7: Xi an The historic city of Xi an is famed for the Terracotta Army, thousands of man-sized clay soldiers were created to guard the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang, who during his reign united China and standardized weights, measures and the written language. Xi an was also the beginning of the Silk Route, connecting China to the Roman Empire. Caravans transported silk, lacquer ware and spices to the west, and earthenware, glass and fabrics to the east. In Xi an you can roam the Islamic area of the city, a lively district with the old mosque in the middle. From the seventh to the ninth centuries Xi an experienced another µgolden Age and developed into one of the biggest cities in the world. The 14 kilometre city wall from this period is still largely intact and offers great views. Day 8: Xi an - Luoyang - Longmen Caves - Dengfeng In the morning, you board the high-speed train from Xi'an to Luoyang. You visit the Buddhist caves of Longmen. The complex includes 2,100 grottoes and niches and over 100,000 Buddhist images and statues and it stretches for a kilometre along the west bank of the Yi River. The Vairocana Buddha, standing at 17 metres, is particularly impressive. After the visit, you go to your hotel in Dengfeng, where you overnight. Day 9: Dengfeng - Shaolin Temple - Mount Yuntaishan This morning we visit the 1500-year-old Shaolin Monastery. Located in Dengfeng City, it is long famous for its association with the Chinese martial arts. The complex consists of a number of buildings such as temples and an attractive garden with stupas. Nowadays, pupils are taught in, among other things, (Zen) meditation and martial arts. After this visit, you go to Mount Yuntaishan, where you spend the night. Day 10: Mount Yuntaishan - Zhengzhou - Shanghai Have you ever seen the movie "Avatar"? Today you can experience a similar landscape (if it is a clear day). The Yuntaishan Global Geopark is a beautiful hiking area with spectacular karst cliffs, rivers and waterfalls. The 400 meter long, glass bridge that runs in a U-shape along the Fenghuangling Mountain is an architectural masterpiece and one for the daredevils! The floor of the bridge consists of a steel construction with three layers of glass plates. In the afternoon, you transfer to Zhengzhou, where you board the night train to Shanghai. You have reserved sleeping places with six people in a compartment.

4 Day 11: Shanghai Free day. After arriving at the station, you walk to your hotel in about 15 minutes. Shanghai is a huge, busy Chinese port city with more than 24 million inhabitants. The growth started after the Second Opium War (1842). The European powers had forced trade concessions and each established their own trading post in Shanghai. Walking in the streets near The Bund, it can feel as if you are in the old center of Boston, London or Berlin. Just behind these buildings is the Chinese district with small low-rise houses and hundreds of shops. Futuristic skyscrapers complete the skyline. In the evening, you can go to an acrobatics show in one of the many theaters. To finish off the evening stop-in at the legendary Jazz Bar at the Peace Hotel or dance at one of the high-tech discos. Day 12: Shanghai Free day. Today you have the time to do all those things that you have on your wish list. Presumably, there is a visit to the beautiful Shanghai museum, where you get a good overview of the Chinese culture. It is not named the best museum in China without good reason! You can also visit the Yuyuan Gardens or the Temple of the Jade Buddha. In addition, it is very nice to take a river cruise on the Huangpu. Shanghai is a fascinating city with lots to see. Overcrowded buses, teeming crowds and all kinds of bicycle-style vehicles squeeze through the narrow streets. Young people, dressed in their modern get-up, stroll about China's busiest shopping street, Nanjinglu, where old women sell soy ice creams along the roadside. In the evening, you can take a walk along the boulevard, which is the meeting point for couples, friends and families alike. Day 13: Shanghai The last day of your tour. You can use your hotel room in Shanghai until check out time (most times at hrs noon). We wish you a comfortable journey home and are sure you will take with you some wonderful memories of China. Your personal my.shoestring page on our website is the perfect way to make contact with other travellers before and after your trip. You can read and create journals from trips and upload your photos onto the photo gallery. Visit my shoestring today. When booking your tour, please check to see whether you need any posttour nights, bearing in mind that accommodation for the night of the final day of the tour (Day 13) is not included. More info What's included: transportation with (mini) bus; high-speed train Beijing-Pingyao; high-speed train Pingyao-Xi'an; high-speed train Xi'an-Luoyang; night train Zhengzhou-Shanghai; hotel accommodation; Longmen Caves visit (including entrance fees); Shaolin monastery visit (including entrance fee); Mount Yuntaishan entrance fee; English speaking tour leader. What's excluded:

5 International flights; all meals; tips; visas; optional excursions; all other entrance fees; airport transfers; booking fee; travel insurance. Attention A single room is not possible on the night train. Travel documents Travelling with the correct travel documentation is your own responsibility. Please ensure your passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the finish date of your trip. For China, a visa is required for many nationalities in order to gain entry. Please check this information in good time before your trip commences as this information is always subject to change. You can check this information through a site such as this one. To arrange your visa, you should either contact your nearest Chinese embassy or use an agency such as CIBT. Accommodation and transport

6 Transport During this journey through China, we have access to a private bus, so we can stop at beautiful places along the way. All transfers between hotels and between train stations and hotels are included in the fare. Airport transfers are not included. For the optional excursions to, for example, the Chinese Wall in Beijing or the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, we will arrange on-site transportation or a ''join-in'' excursion on site. This is done in consultation with the participants of the group. A few routes will be by high-speed train, both timesaving and comfortable: these routes are from Beijing to Pingyao, from Pingyao to Xi'an and from Xi'an to Luoyang. During this trip, you take one night train, from Zhengzhou to Shanghai. You have a reserved bed in second class. There are 3 beds on either side of the compartment (above one another). The lower bed serves as a seat during the daytime. Linen is provided. There are (not too clean) toilets and washbasins. NOTE: After your arrival at the station in Shanghai, you walk to your hotel (10 to 15 minutes). You take care of your own luggage. NOTE*: We need your passport info in order to reserve the train tickets. Please make sure these are up to date. You can do this via your my.shoestring account. Our slideshow gives a good impression of the transport that Shoestring use in China. *Please ensure we have your correct passport data no later than 6 weeks before departure. This is necessary for reserving the train tickets. These tickets are reserved by our agent referring to your legal name as it appears in your passport (maiden name for married women) and passport number. If these are not completed correctly, this causes problems because the tickets are not changeable and often can not be booked again. NOTE: It is forbidden to carry a pocket knife on the trains. If found, this will be confiscated. Travel distances Beijing Airport to Beijing: 45 km / 1 hour Beijing to Pingyao: 606 km / 4½ hours (high-speed train) Pingyao to Xi'an: 486 km / 3 hours (high-speed train) Xi'an to Luoyang: 380 km / 1½ hours (high-speed train) Luoyang via Longmen Caves to Dengfeng: 65 km / 1 hour Dengfeng via Shaolin monastery to Mount Yuntaishan: 180 km / 2½ hours Mount Yuntaishan to Zhengzhou: 105 km / 2 hours Zhengzhou to Shanghai: 998 km / 12 hours (night train) Shanghai station to hotel: about 10 to 15 minutes walk Shanghai hotel to airport: 55 km / 1 hour *The above listed times are approximate and can of course change depending upon local conditions. Accommodation During this tour of China you'll stay in two-and three-star hotels in a 2-person room with a private bathroom. Travellers who book alone will share a 2-person room. When we pair people in this way, we of course take into account that pairings should be of the same sex. You can also choose to sleep in a single room during the entire trip (excluding the night train). There is then a single supplement to be paid, added at time of booking.

7 During your trip, it is possible to participate in 'single' excursions offered locally by the tour leader. These excursions are optional. To allow you to plan a budget for your trip we have provided you with an idea of the cost of these excursions. The price can change due to currency fluctuations. The amounts are therefore only meant to give you an indication of the cost. Entrance fees will often change and therefore are excluded from the prices displayed (unless explicitly stated). We display the prices in Euros/GB Pounds/US Dollars. When you are in your destination, it is possible to pay for the excursions in local currency. Single excursions Excursion Details Price Beijing - Beijing Opera (only mid-class tickets) Beijing - Great Wall at Mutianyu and Summer Palace (1 day) Visit the cosy Liyuan Theatre to see the traditional Beijing opera being performed. The show lasts approximately one hour and combines music, dance, acrobatics, breathtaking makeup and spectacular costumes. There are stories portrayed in Chinese history and folklore. To avoid the masses we leave early in the morning by bus to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. At the end of the morning we drive in about two hours to the Summer Palace where you can admire the "Marble Boat", or just wander around the beautiful gardens. Includes transportation by private bus, excluding entrance fees (about 75 yuan, price subject to change) and lunch Pingyao - Tour Wang Jia Dayuan & Shuanglin Temple (transfers only) We set off by bus to the old aristocratic house of the Wang family. The complex covers an area of 250,000sqm! Then we visit the Shuanglin Temple with more than 2,000 ancient sculptures, mostly from the time of the Ming dynasty. Entrance fees (around 106 yuan, price subject to change) are not included. This excursion takes about 6 hours. 19 Shanghai - Acrobat show (including ticket and transfer) Shanghai - Huangpu river cruise You will visit the stunning acrobatics show in Shanghai, where you will be amazed at the flexibility shown by the artists. Man appears to be able to do more anatomically than you ever could imagine! The show lasts about 80 minutes. A must during your visit to Shanghai! The cruise over the Huangpu River departs from The Bund (Zhongshan Road) and sails to the Huangpu Bridge in the south. After this you head north to Wusongkou before arriving back at The Bund. Including: cruise ticket and transfer 31 31

8 Xi'an - Tour of Terracotta Warriors, Giant wild goose Pagoda and medicine market (transfers only) You are brought in the morning to visit the spice and medicine markets. Then you drive over one hour to the famous Terracotta Army, where you will stand face to face with the army of Emperor Qin. On the way back you drive via the Giant wild goose Pagoda back to the hotel. Including: private transfer Excluding: entrance fees (about 200 yuan, price subject to change) and lunch are not included. This excursion takes about 6 hours. 23 Festival info News General information Tour leader Our tours are led by trained, local English speaking tour leaders. We know that our travellers appreciate being accompanied by these local tour leaders who, compared to their counterparts (living outside of the destination) have more detailed knowledge of their country. He/she knows the area well, can provide background information and ensure that the trip goes smoothly. He/she knows what to do if something were to go wrong, but is not a "walking encyclopedia". Therefore we would like to refer you to study a good travel guide (book) in advance of travel. Your tour leader understandably expects a tip at the end, if she/he has completed the job well. Shoestring pay the tour guides a wage which is higher than that of most adventurous travel companies. Our guideline for tipping is between 1, - and 2, - per passenger per day (the equivalent thereof). Sustainability We know that travelling to remote corners of this planet has its effects. At Shoestring we really try to make an effort to keep our impact to a minimum. We try to avoid the use of plastic water bottles on our treks through Nepal and we do not dump our litter during our trips through Africa. All of our staff have been trained to take special care to ensure we make as little impact on the environment as possible. Furthermore we support a lot of local projects which are mostly related to clean drinking water or making sure that children get vaccinated against illnesses such as tuberculosis. On most tours you will be able to visit some of the projects we support through our local agents. Find out more about the different projects Shoestring are involved with, how you can make a difference and our environmental policies here Further important info...

9 We recommend preparing well before you go on this trip so please read about your destination and carefully check which vaccinations and other medications you might need. Here are a few important points. Prior to the trip After making your booking, if you have not heard whether your trip is definitely going ahead then it is safe to assume that this is the case. If we unexpectedly have to cancel the trip, we will let you know no later than three weeks prior to your departure. It is not common for a trip to be cancelled, so please do not worry unduly. Incidentally, even if the minimum number of participants is not reached, Shoestring can still choose to let the trip proceed anyway. Guarantee Shoestring offers a unique guarantee, but what does a "guaranteed price" mean? It simply means that you pay the price that appears on the website at the time of booking. We guarantee that price. Any price increases made later will not be passed on to you! Personal Information Make sure when completing your booking to fill all details in correctly. This includes your passport and personal information (such as gender, date of birth and first and last name as stated in your passport). These details are necessary for confirming any domestic flights or transportation tickets and at some hotels that form part of your itinerary. Check your (digital) receipt of your booking confirmation details to make sure they are listed correctly. You are responsible for providing correct information. Incorrect information can lead to you not being admitted onto a train or into a hotel! Further information for your trip No later than one week prior to departure you will find your departure letter on your personal myshoestring site. Any tickets for local flights/other transportation will be controlled by your tour leader and provided locally. Single travellers About a third of our travellers are single travellers. This does not have to cost more as you can share with one of the other travellers in your group. We of course keep in mind to pair you with someone of the same sex. If you would prefer a room to yourself then this is usually possible. Please indicate this when booking and the applicable supplement will be added. Feedback While we put a lot of effort into the execution of your trip, it still occurs that travellers have comments about various aspects. To ensure that these observations can be addressed immediately we ask that they are notified to the tour leader in writing whilst on tour. If comments are not communicated in writing to the tour leader during the trip then this will affect how we are able to handle any potential complaint after the trip has concluded. Newsletter We regularly send out a digital newsletter, our E -zine. Here you can read stories, offers, tips and latest news about our travels. Do you receive this newsletter? Sign up easily through this link. Kuoni Specialists Ltd Shoestring is part of Kuoni Specialists Ltd, a group of adventure travel companies that interact in various ways to ensure that the traveller gets true value for his/her money. Behind the scenes, there is cooperation in the field of purchasing and handling of the trips and for the traveller, it means that we have an enormous amount of extra resources behind us, in the event they should be required. Have fun with the preparations for your trip! Insurance

10 Travel insurance, including medical repatriation insurance, is mandatory. It is not included with our packages and it is your responsibility to purchase suitable travel insurance. Make sure that it covers all the activities that you are likely to undertake, such as rafting and trekking. Many free insurances that come with banking packages, credit cards etc, are quite often inadequate to cover you on our tours, so make sure you check the policy before you travel. You should enter your travel insurance details via your my.shoestring account and you are required to give a copy of your insurance policy to your tour leader upon arrival. Without proper insurance like this, you will not be allowed to join the tour as we will not be able to respond adequately in case of an emergency if you do not have the right insurance. Address Shoestring International Entrada AA Amsterdam-Duivendrecht, The Netherlands. You can call us on number or +44 (0) and us at info@shoestring.com Opening hours Monday to Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM (Local times in Netherlands).