22-day Treasures of China Tour (2011)

Beijing - Taiyuan - Pingyao - Chengdu - Leshan - Mt. Emei - Dazu - Chongqing - Yangtze Cruise - Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) - Shanghai

Only from Laurus Travel this unique tour strings together a collection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites not often found in mainstream itineraries designed mostly for first-time visitors.

Day 1/Sat: Departing Home City

Day 2: Arrival in Beijing
The journey begins with our transpacific flight aboard Air Canada (Vancouver) or United Airlines (San Francisco/Chicago). Cross the International Date Line. 

Day 3: Beijing
Join us on an optional tour to the Great Wall and Forbidden City or simply spend the day relaxing. (B)

Day 4: Beijing - Taiyuan
Morning flight to Taiyuan, capital of Shanxi Province. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, 24-century-old Taiyuan boasts a significant number of historic monuments to show for its past glory. Our sightseeing this afternoon features 50-metre-high Twin Pagodas, long considered symbol of Taiyuan. (B/L/D)

Day 5: Taiyuan
Visit Jin Temple and Buddhist rock carvings at Tianlong Mountain. (B/L/D)

Day 6: Taiyuan - Pingyao
Drive 90km to Pingyao and en route stop by the imposing Residence of the Qiao Family. The family's fortune reached its peak in late Qing Dynasty under the guidance of its patriarch Qiao Zhiyong whose business acumen and generosity won wide admiration. (B/L/D)

Day 7: Pingyao
The history of Pingyao dates back 2000 years. The town, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, is "an outstanding example of a Han Chinese city of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (14th-20th centuries) that has retained all its features to an exceptional degree and in doing so provides a remarkably complete picture of cultural, social, economic, and religious development during one of the most seminal periods of Chinese history". Spend the afternoon exploring the small town on your own after a guided tour of the major sites in the morning. (B/L)

Day 8: Pingyao - Taiyuan - Chengdu
Free morning. Drive back to Taiyuan to fly to Chengdu. (B/L/D)

Day 9: Chengdu
 Tour of the Giant Panda Breeding Centre is followed by a visit to the excavation site of Sanxingdui, one of the most significant archeological discoveries in modern China. First chanced upon by a farmer in 1929, Sanxingdui continued to surprise the archeological community in the decades to come. In 1986, two major sacrificial pits were found and the breakthrough aroused widespread academic attention from around the world. The Sanxingdui finds are exciting, but they remain enigmatic. So far no written records of this 5,000-year-old civilization have ever been found. (B/L/D)

Day 10: Chengdu - Leshan - Mt. Emei
One hundred and sixty two kilometres south of Chengdu lies Leshan Giant Buddha. Carved out of a hillside in the 8th century, the statue measures 71 metres in height and looks down on the junction of three rivers. After lunch, we continue on to Emei, one of the most sacred Buddhist mountains in China. (B/L/D)

Day 11: Mt. Emei - Chengdu
Return to Chengdu in the afternoon and enjoy a spicy hot pot dinner. (B/L/D)

Day 12: Chengdu - Dazu
Morning drive to Dazu (270km), a town famous for its ancient Buddhist rock carvings. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the more than 50,000 stone sculptures provide a faithful and complete record of how Buddhism gradually gained popularity in Southwest China. (B/L/D)

Day 13: Dazu - Chongqing
Drive to Chongqing (162km) in the afternoon and visit General Joseph Stilwell's former residence (location of the US Forces' headquarters in China during World War II). (B/L/D)

Day 14/Fri - Day 17: Yangtze Cruise
Four-day downstream cruise on the mighty Yangtze begins in the morning of Day 14. Shore excursions: Fengdu, Lesser Three Gorges on Daning River, Three Gorges Dam Site and Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan. Tour price includes all meals and shore excursions. (B/L/D)

Day 18: Huangshan
Disembark in the morning and transfer to Huangshan (Yellow Mountains). Overnight at a 4-star hotel on the summit. (B/L/D)

Day 19: Huangshan
The day is dedicated to exploring the scenic mountain, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. Descend by cable car in late afternoon. (B/L/D)

Day 20: Huangshan - Shanghai
Visit ancient Hongcun and Nanping. These two traditional villages represent a type of non-urban settlements that largely disappeared or was transformed during the last century. Their street plan, architecture and decoration, and the integration of houses with comprehensive water systems are unique surviving examples. Evening flight to Shanghai. (B/L/D)

Day 21: Shanghai
Half-day city tour includes the Bund, Yu Garden and the Urban Planning Exhibition Centre. (B/L)

Day 22/Sat: Shanghai - Home City
Free morning to pack and relax. Transfer to airport to board return flight. Arrive home the same day. (B)

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