Itinerary of the Classic China tour

What makes this tour different?

• 100% individual tours: private guide speaking your language and car with chauffeur during the whole trip!
• We have selected 60 charming & luxury hotels amongst over 11000 hotels in China.
• A 24/7 hotline by ChinaVeo's western team based in China to offer you local assistance.
• International flights are included and negociated for you.

For all customization on dates of arrival and departures or length of this tour, please contact our trip advisors or leave a comment in the free quotation.

Day 1: Departure on regular Air China flight

Departure from Paris airport (please contact us if you wish to depart from another city to confirm availability and price) on regular Air China flight.
Check-in formalities (don't forget your visa!) and take-off for Beijing in the afternoon.
Lunch or dinner on the plane.

Flight schedule: departure from Paris CDG at 20h20, arrival in Beijing at 12h20 the next day. If you want to modify the date or hour of departure, please contact us for flights schedule.
Dinner and breakfast on the plane.

Chinaveo's informations:
If you'd like to fly on Air France (or other company): supplement fee.
We can propose you to depart from other cities with Air France, please contact us.

Day 2: Beijing – The Hutong, Temple of Heaven and Wangfujing Street (L, D)

Arrival in the morning in Beijing. You will be greated by your guide and transfered to your hotel in Beijing: Rainbow (****). Your guide will be the first contact with chinese culture, so don't hesitate to ask any question on China.

With a population of over 10 million, Beijing "Capital of the north," remains imbued with the rich history of the Royal China. Beijing also has an incredible collection of art and historical objects and expresses a kind of ideal city, and for the Chinese, is the Promised Land.

• The Hutong, made of Siheyuans (enclosure with four houses around a square courtyard), have disappeared in favor of modern high buildings.
• The temple of heaven is a masterpiece of the Ming architecture and one of the most photographed buildings in the world because of its beauty and its elegant symmetry.
  
• Wangfujing street is a symbol of China's move towards the western culture. You will find shops, fast foods, a foreign book shop, lots of tourists... This is one of the oldest and most famous commercial streets in Beijing.

Dinner and night at the hotel | ChinaVeo's activities in Beijing (not included but can be booked by us, please consult our « activities » tab) :

• Roasted duck dinner in a traditional restaurant
• Kung Fu show
• Ride in rickshaw in the Hutong
• Mandarin lesson

Day 3: Beijing – The Great Wall Mutianyu, Factory of "cloisonné", the Ming Tombs and the Sacred Path (B, L, D)

• Factory of "cloisonné" (enamel)*. Beijing is the cradle of the art of cloisonné. The first ones appeared under the Yuan dynasty (1271 - 1368).The cloisonné is a special technique applied to jewels, vases and other decoration objects in enamel. The objects produced with this technique are also called cloisonné.
• Mutianyu Great Wall is located more than 70km north-east of Beijing. It has 15 two-storey fortresses and an alarm tower. The architectural design of this section comes from the northern Qi dynasty.
• The Ming Tombs host the tombs of thirteen of the sixteen emperors of the Ming dynasty. The first tomb was built in 1409 while the last one was built 200 years later, just after the beginning of the Qing dynasty.
• The sacred path can be reached through a marble portico of five marble arches of 14 meters high and 29 meters wide, and was built in 1540.

ChinaVeo's activities in Beijing (not included but can be booked by us, please consult our « activities » tab) :

• Opera show at the Liyuan Theatre
• Traditional chinese massage
• Apéritif in Wangfujing street (1 drink)

Day 4: Beijing / Xian – Tian An Men Square, The Forbidden City and The Summer Palace (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel, meeting with the guide at your hotel's reception in the morning. Another exceptionnal day begins, with visits you will not forget:

• Tian An Men is in the heart of Beijing, in front of the forbidden city. The square is home to a blend of modern and ancient monuments.
• The Forbidden City is a real city within the city, and was seen as the center of the earth. This is why the place was also called the "Forbidden Purple City."
• The summer palace was built in 1750. It is a masterpiece in the art of Chinese gardens. It features the natural landscape of hills and open water with pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges of the Qing era.

Night in the train from Beijing to Xian (1st class - Soft Sleeper) | ChinaVeo's activities in Beijing (not included but can be booked by us, please consult our « activities » tab) :

• Ride on the canals to the Summer palace
• Tea ceremony

Day 5: Xian – The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the calligraphy, the Chinese Medicine Market and the Terracotta Warriors Army (B, L, D)

Arrival early in the morning in Xian where you will be welcomed by your guide. Transfer to the Garden Hotel (****) and breakfast.

Xian. The region is inhabited for more than a million years. This was where China opened these gigantic roads to Rome and thus, opened China to unprecedented military, religious, philosophical, commercial, technical exchanges.

• The big wild goose pagoda is one of the oldest structure in China. It is located inside the Temple of benevolence (Da ci so), whose foundation dates back to the mid-seventh century.
• Calligraphy: find out with a Chinese professor, the different styles of calligraphy techniques bases, and learn how to handle a brush and ink.
• The medicine market sells typical preparations based on salamanders, dried snakes, scorpions, mushrooms and so on.
• The terracotta army is regarded as the eight wonder of the World and consists of a group of terracotta imperial guards and their horses, which are arranged in a battle formation.

Dinner and night at the hotel | ChinaVeo's activities in Xian (not included but can be booked by us, please consult our « activities » tab) :

• Dumplings dinner and Tang dynasty show
• Calligraphy in the gardens of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
• Visit of an old pharmacy

Day 6: Xian / Shanghai – Shaanxi History Museum and the Great Mosque (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel, meeting with your guide at the reception. This last day in Xian, you will discover exceptional sites :

• The History Museum of Shaanxi is located in the southern suburb of Xian , the capital of Shaanxi and the ancient capital of China. The museum occupies an area of 65,000 sqm and counts 370,000 objects.
• The mosque and the Muslim district. Ten of the 55 communities that China counts are of Muslim faith. The mosque in Xian was founded under the Tang in 732, but the current oldest buildings date from 1404.

Transfer to the airport - Flight Xian/Shanghai | Night at the Shanghai Mansion Hotel (****), Shanghai

Day 7: Shanghai – The Jade Buddha Temple, The Museum of Art and History, The old Town, Yu Garden (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel, meeting with your guide at the reception.

Shanghai is the economical capital of China. At its origins, Shanghai was a small fishing village. Today, it has become the Chinese center of business and finance, while being one of the most active ports in China.

• The Jade Buddha temple. Two of the most famous Buddhas are housed in this temple. One is in white jade, in a sitting position while the other is in green jade in a rare lying position.
• The new museum of art and history was founded in 1952. It is one of the biggest museums in China.
• The old town offers a local bazaar with traditional crafts; you may cross the pond to eat or to have a tea in the Hu Xing Ting tearoom.
• Yu garden's name stands for pleasing and satisfying. It was built to provide tranquility and happiness to the parents of Pan Yunduan.

Dinner and night at the hotel | ChinaVeo's activities in Shanghai (not included but can be booked by us, please consult our « activities » tab) :

• Drink at the top of the Jin Mao tower
• Tai Chi lesson
• Shanghai Center Theater's acrobatic show
• Teppanyaki dinner (japanese barbecue)
• Meet a Chinese artist
• Ride to the airport in the Maglev (the fastest train in the world)

Day 8: Flight back to France (other countries, please consult us)

Early in the morning, breakfast at the hotel (depending on your flight schedule) then transfer to the Pudong airport. departure to Paris on a regular Air China flight, via Beijing.

Flight schedule  :
Departure from Shanghai at 9h30, arrival in Paris at 17h55 the same day. Attention: if you want to modify the date or hour or departure, please consult us for the flight schedule.

Good idea  : If you fly with Air France, departure from Shanghai are at the end of the day. You win one more day in Shanghai (please consult us)!

* Price per person "from", based on double standard room, subject to availability at time of booking.

Suggested activities for your Classic China tour (not included)

Our China tour specialists have carefully selected unique activities (here under) for your tour.

This selection was made in order to help you discover a more authentic China, to meet with its inhabitants and to discover its culture & history with the best quality/price ratio!

You may get a glance at those activities by watching the video screeners and photo galleries. We wish you to fully experience them in reality with ChinaVeo's team!

Unique Activities :
		Mandarin lesson When you will arrive in China, you will have the opportunity to benefit from one hour Mandarin lesson. Thanks to this fun introduction, you will learn the basis to practice a bit of Chinese during your journey !
		Meet a Chinese artist The new art scene of Beijing and Shanghai is one of the most vivid in the world. Come and discover the art galleries of Moganshan lu in Shanghai or the 798 Dashanzi in Beijing and meet the artists who will talk of their art with passion.
		Ride in the Maglev Take the Maglev, or magnetically levitating train, the fastest of the world ! With a speed of more than 400km per hour, you will reach the Shanghai airport in about 10 minutes ! A performance not to be missed !
		Drink at the Jin Mao On the top of the Jin Mao tower, in the highest bar of the world, enjoy a cocktail and a panoramic view on Shanghai ! A magic moment...
		Chinese night : hot-pot and karaoke Share a warming moment by tasting a chinese hot-pot. You will cook your meat and vegetables in a soup. After dinner, show your singing talent in a KTV where you will become a pop star for a night !
		Apéritif on Wangfujing street, Beijing While visiting the biggest food market of the city, you will have the opportunity to taste the local specialties, also new for westerns palates! From scorpios' skewers to chicken feet, you will be surprised by the varieties of dishes !
		Teppanyaki dinner The Teppanyaki is a Japanese barbecue with stir-fried meat and vegetables cooked and eaten off a large, table-top grill. This all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink is a unique and mouth-watering experience !
		Ride on the canals to the Summer Palace In the heart of Beijing, take a traditional small boat which will lead you to the Summer Palace. This is a romantic and original way to rediscover the capital of China !
		Visit of an old pharmacy In Beijing or Shanghai, you will have the opportunity to discover Chinese medicine and the different medicinal herbs. Visit an ancient pharmacy and be introduced to Chinese traditionnal medicine !
		Calligraphy in the gardens of the Big Wild Goose pagoda Be initiated into calligraphy in the gardens of the Big Wild Goose pagoda in Xian ! Brushes and ink will be at your disposal for your firsts steps into the traditional universe of chinese calligraphy.
		Tai Chi lesson In the early morning, Chinese like to practice Tai Chi, which helps to regulate the body's energy and brings well-being. You will be welcome to practice this ancient art with the locals, on the Charcoal hill in Beijing or in the Fuxing Park of Shanghai !
		Tea ceremony Tea plays a main part in Chinese people's life and its tasting require a unique ceremony. This it what you will discover during the visit of an authentic tea house where you will attend a tea ceremony and a tasting.
		Sled ride on the Great Wall Marvel at the Great Wall like you will never see it ! Climb with a chairlift and take a sled on the Mutianyu section of the wall. Be guided in an original visit of the Great Wall !
		Ride in rickshaw and lunch in the Hutong Traditionally, the Chinese also use the rickshaws to move around. An authentic way to discover the city ! In the Hutong, you will have lunch in a Chinese family which will welcome you to watch them cooking the meal you will share with them !

Traditional Activities :
		Traditional Chinese foot massage Discover the benefits of plantar reflexology which is a technique of massage of the foot's arch. This traditional Chinese method is based on the principle of the internal meridian lines used in Chinese medicine for 5,000 years.
		Opera Show in Beijing Beijing Opera is a form of singing drama and an ingenious and colorful combination of elements from many sources: traditional music, poetry, singing, recitation, dancing, acrobatics, and martial arts.
		Portman Acrobatic Show at the Shanghai Centre Theater Chinese Acrobatics is one of the oldest performing arts in China and absorbs elements from the opera, dance and Chinese Kung fu. You will enjoy many breathtaking and stunning programs such as hoop diving and suspending from silk, performed by very skillful artists.
		Traditional Beijing Roast Duck banquet According to a Chinese saying, no visit to Beijing is complete if you miss seeing the Great Wall or dining on roast duck. A well-known and delicious food with very long history, Beijing Roast Duck is an excellent choice if you want to know more about Chinese cuisine, culture and customs.
		Songs and dances about the civilization under the Tang Dynasty Xian is a city where 13 dynasties established their capital. Among them, the Tang Dynasty has enjoyed fame throughout history. "Songs and Dances of the Tang Dynasty" is one of the symbols of its culture when the dynasty was at the pinnacle of its power and splendor.

(Please note that this tour includes many more activities and visits which are listed within the “Itinerary” tab).

* Price per person "from", based on double standard room, subject to availability at time of booking.

Hotels of Classic China

ChinaVeo presents a unique selection of luxury and character hotels destined for travelers who are looking for distinct and original hotels.

		Rainbow Hotel - Beijing **** This lovely hotel boasts elegant and well-organized rooms. The restaurant offers Sichuanese, Japanese, Cantonese cuisines. You will be at only 4 km from the city center and thus, not far from every facilities.
		Garden Hotel - Xian **** The Xian Garden Hotel captures the spirit of the Tang Dynasty. Standing besides the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the hotel features a spacious garden, museum, and theater restaurant. The Xian Garden Hotel brings you closer to the heart of ancient China, winning the Architectural Gold Medal of Chinese Symbol Hotel in 1997.
		Shanghai Mansion - Shanghai **** In the heart of the French concession, the Shanghai Mansion is a refined hotel where the colonial charm meets the traditional chinese aspects, The Art Deco decoration of the room and of the hotel features the thirties and you will benefit from a spacious garden

Beyond a question of mere style, our aim is to combine luxury and comfort with architecture and ambience.
A perfect match of lifestyle and travel.

Nowadays, finding a tour in China with classic hotels, is within everyone's reach, but unlike the rest ChinaVeo offers unique and memorable hotels:  a traditional Courtyard in Beijing (offered by Mao to his third concubine), a boutique hotel designed by Philippe Stark in Shanghai, a Modern Art Hotel in Shanghai …

* Price per person "from", based on double standard room, subject to availability at time of booking.

Your international flights with CHINAVEO

Daily departures
* We offer daily departure on Air China for this program (Chinese national airline company). We also offer many others airline companies with negotiated fares, ask ours trip advisors.
Special departures with Air France
*Some of the departures dates are calculated upon Air France fares, especially those departing on October 30st, November 6th and January 2nd. For these dates, there is no supplement fee to fly with Air France (subject to availability).
Tariffs modifications
Attention, our rates were calculated on the basis of classes of booking predetermined in the daytime by the publication of this program, we can be brought to modify the price of your program if this class of booking is not available at the time of the confirmation of your booking..
Departing from province
*For all the departures from French provinces, flights are operated by Air France with a supplement: please consult us.
Tariffs modifications
*The flights schedule given is a rough guide, these last ones can be brought to be modified without advance notice, we shall inform you as soon as possible.

Good to know  !
Lenght of stay
* We can modify this program by adding nights, activities and also modify the category of hotels: please contact us for further details.
*Attention: in the event of an Air France flight, the flight back is a night one. You will arrive in Paris on day 9.
Meals
*The list of meals' prices which we communicate in our selection of activities are supplements to be added to the basic rate of the meals included in your package. On no account, we shall be brought to pay you off the meals of the program if you choose these activities.
Children
* The child rate is valid only for 1 child from 2 to 11 years old sharing the room of two adults. Attention, the child will also share the bed of the parents. Please contact us if you'd like a supplementary bed.
The good idea  : leave with a group and pay cheaper !
*If you leave with more than 5 persons, we propose you tapering rates: please contact us for further details..

Included Features:

• The International flights Paris/Beijing and Shanghai/Paris via Beijing on Air China (supplement for Air France flights)
• Domestic flights Xian/Shanghai on Air China or China Eastern.
• Train between Beijing and Xianin first class (soft bed)
• Local private guides
• Transfers and transport in private air-conditionned vehicles
• The 5 nights hotels in local 4 stars hotels in Beijing (2 nights), Xian (1 night) and Shanghai (2 nights), double standard room
• Sightseeing tours as listed in the itinerary (except supplement) with entrance fees
• Meals which are listed in the itinerary (those not listed are not included, some can be taken in the train or in the plane).
• Airport taxes (fuel surcharge included), solidarity taxes.
• Assistance of our local correspondant in China
• A complete Itinerary schedule with a Marcus Guide with all the information you might need.

Not Included Features:

• Personal expenses and insurances (please contact us)
• The visa expenses are not included in the price. However, according to your city of departure, we can take care of the formalities for you.
• Activities not mentionned in the program.
• Drinks during meals (can be booked by us)
• Air France flights supplement

Supplements

5* Hotels
For 160€ per person, our China specialists can book 5* hotels carefully selected.

Air France flights
For this program, you have the opportunity to select Air France for direct flights. Supplements depend on the date of departure you will choose. Please contact us for further details.

Drinks (33€/pers.)
Drinks are not included. The supplement (1 soft drink per meal, water or beer) is of 33€ per person.
50% of reduction for children from 2 to 11 years old..

Activities (324€/adult and 243€/child)
We have mentioned several activities in this program that are proposed to you in a package. If you want to choose a few of these activities, please contact our trip advisors. The 17 excursion package is at 324€ per person and includes the following activities:

In Beijing :

• Ride on the canals to the Summer Palace
• Tea ceremony
• Opera show at the Liyuan Theatre
• Chinese traditional massage
• Apéritif in Wangfujing street (1 drink)
• Roasted duck dinner in a traditional restaurant
• Kung Fu show
• Ride in the rickshaw in the hutong
• Mandarin lesson

In Xian :

• Dumplings dinner with the Tang Dynasty songs and dances show
• Calligraphy in the gardens of the Big Wild goose Pagoda
• Visit of an old pharmacy

In Shanghai :

• Drink at the Jin Mao tower
• Tai Chi lesson
• Shanghai Center Theater's acrobatic show
• Teppanyaki dinner (japanese barbecue)
• Meet a chinese artist
• Ride in the Maglev

(A full description and illustration of these activities can be found by clicking on the tab).

* Price per person "from", based on double standard room, subject to availability at time of booking.

Tour Sum up

• Day 1: Departure from Paris (or other city, please contact us)
• Day 2: Beijing – The Hutong, Temple of Heaven and Wangfujing Street.
• Day 3: Beijing – Full day excursion to the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs.
• Day 4: Beijing / Xian – The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Chinese Medicine Market, the calligraphy and the Terracotta Warriors Army.
• Day 5: Xian – The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Chinese Medicine Market, the Terracotta Warriors Army.
• Day 6: Xian / Guilin – Shaanxi History Museum and the Great Mosque.
• Day 7: Shanghai – The Jade Buddha Temple, The Museum of Art and History, The old Town, Yu Garden.
• Day 8: Flight back to Paris

Not enough reviews for this tour...
This tour has been reviewed 2 times. To ensure the quality of the tour information, reviews are only displayed when there are at least 5 reviews for a tour.

* Price per person "from", based on double standard room, subject to availability at time of booking.