China Highlight Tour

Overview

This four-star tour takes you to the best sights of China's three "capitals," the modern political capital in Beijing, the ancient dynastic capital of Xian, and the commercial capital of Shanghai. You will visit the major tourist sites as well as experience some unique cultural aspects of these three cities, such as the Hutongs in Beijing and the Great Mosque in Xian.

What's Included

Transpacific airfare from San Francisco (SFO), New York (JFK) or Vancouver to Beijing
All China internal flight, train and ground transportation and transfers
4-star hotel accommodations with daily Western buffet breakfast
Comprehensive private sightseeing tours including entrance fees
Chinese meals in carefully selected restaurants
Professional English-speaking local guiding service in each destination

Day 01 USA or Canada / Beijing

Board international flight to Beijing. Your exotic journey to China begins. En route, cross the International Dateline and lose a day. You'll recover this day on your return trip.

Day 02: Beijing Arrival

Arrive in Beijing, the capital of China. You are greeted by your guide at the airport outside the luggage claim area with your name displayed and then transferred to the four-star Beijing Jianguo Hotel Qianmen or similar.

Accommodation: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel

Day 03: Beijing (B, L, D)

Morning program takes you to Tian'an Men Square and the Forbidden City, the residence of Chinese emperors for more than 500 years. Afternoon sightseeing features the Temple of Heaven, where emperors once prayed for good harvests and the Summer Palace, a summer resort for Empress Dowager Ci Xi.

Accommodation: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel

Day 04: Beijing (B, L)

The highlight today is to conquer the Juyongguan Great Wall, a symbol of the Chinese ancient civilization and to the Changling, one of the Ming Tombs, the burial grounds for the 13 Ming Dynasty emperors.

Accommodation: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel

Day 05: Beijing / Xian (B, L)

Enjoy a leisure morning to explore the city by your own. Meet your guide at noon and have lunch. Then have exterior visit the Bird's Nest and Water Cube of Olympic National Stadium. Travel to Xian by overnight soft-sleeper train.

Day 06: Xian (B, L, D)

Arrive in the ancient city of Xian. Meet your guide. Today you will take a city tour to the majestic Wild Goose Pagoda and the Shaanxi Provincial Historic Museum. After lunch proceed to the very heart of the city and visit Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarters. Check into the four-star New World Hotel or similar

Accommodation: Grand New World Hotel

Day 07: Xian / Shanghai (B, L)

Today's highlight is a visit to the burial site of an incredible army of 8000 lifelike Terra-cotta soldiers, where you will have a face-to-face visit to those historic heroes. Return to the city and proceed to enjoy a leisure stroll on the top of the Ancient City Wall, the best preserved in the world, followed by a wander on the famous Shuyuanmen Culture Street to appreciate the delicate traditional art crafts. Fly to Shanghai. Upon arrival in Shanghai, the commercial center of China, meet you guide at airport and transfer to four-star Shanghai Greenland Jiulong Hotel or similar.

Accommodation: Shanghai Greenland Jiulong Hotel

Day 08: Shanghai (B, L)

Full day visit the fabulous Yu Garden at the Old Quarter, the Bund, and the Shanghai Museum, one of the best in China on Renmin Square.

Accommodation: Shanghai Greenland Jiulong Hotel

Day 09: Shanghai (B)

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Your discovery China tour ends. Alternatively, you can extend your stay in China by taking extension private tours to some other cities.

Tour Fare: Fares are in U.S. funds, per person, based on double occupancy.

Additional Costs: China visa processing fee, add-on airfare from your home city to gateway (SFO,JFK & Vancouver) where applicable, optional travel insurance is additional to the tour fare. The gratuities of $8 per traveler per travel day to cover your tour guides, drivers, and porters are recommended and are at your discretion.

Cash Discount Rate: A $200 per person deposit is required to secure a reservation and is payable by credit card, Paypal, bank transfer or personal check. To take advantage of the cash discount rate, you must pay the balance due by personal check or bank transfer. The balance payment is due 30 days prior to the departure date. The cash discount is not affected by how you pay the initial deposit.

Unless otherwise stated you will be billed for the "Cash Discount Rate" as specified in your tour invoice. The credit card payment adds $200 on top of "Cash Discount Rate" per person. Please contact us at least one week prior to the balance payment due date if you would like to make the balance payment by a credit card, by doing so you are NOT eligible for the cash discount rate.

"Land Only" Packages: "Land Only" packages do not include international flights to and from China, and do not include airport to hotel transfers, which are straightforward and cost about $20 per ride by metered taxicab. More information about transfer by taxi and private transfer options are available upon request.

"Land Only" tour packages include all domestic transportation and transfers within China. Our "Land Only" packages start in Beijing on Day 2 and conclude in Shanghai on Day 9. If you would like to arrange your transpacific flights to China on your own, you should arrive in Beijing (PEK) on Day 2 of the tour with hotel accommodation included (the local tour starts in the morning on Day 3) and fly back home from Shanghai (PVG) on Day 9. The listed "LAND ONLY" rate includes all China internal taxes and fees.

Single Room Supplement: $240

Children Discount: Children of 11 years and under may have $100-$200 off adult rate depending on the tour and departure date. Children under 2 years are considered infants, and may travel in a parent's lap. Airlines do not usually offer a seat for infants and further discounts may apply. Please contact us for details for children under 12. Children 12 years and older are considered adults for fare purposes and the adult rate applies.

Hotel city: Beijing

Beijing Qianmen Jianguo Hotel

Beijing Qianmen Jianguo Hotel is strikingly elegant and set at the very heart of Beijing the commercial and business center of the city. The hotel is the hub of local and international social life. Nearby points of interest include the Temple of Heaven, Longtan Park, National Museum, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Beihai Lake and Jingshan Park. It is three blocks from a subway station and 35 kilometers from Capital International Airport.

Address: 175 Yongan Road Beijing China

Telephone: ( 8610 ) 6301 6688

Hotel city: Xian

Xian Grand New World Hotel

Grand New World Hotel is a 4-star joint venture. The hotel locates at central Xi'an, near to the West Gate of city wall, around the corner of the Sajingqiao and Lianhu Road. It is ten minutes' walk to Xi'an ancient city wall, Islamic Mosque and local people market.

Address: 172, Lian Hu Lu, Xian

Telephone: (8629) 8721 6868

Hotel city: Shanghai

Shanghai Greenland Jiulong Hotel

Greenland Jiulong hotel , located in the heart of Shanghai just 1 km north of the Bund , is an exceptional 4-star hotel. It neighbors on 1933 old millfun---Shanghai international creative industry center and fashionable venue, a multifunctional dining, retail and entertainment center flowing with restaurants, boutiques, cafes and bars of an international standard.

Address: 601 Liyang Road, Shanghai

Telephone: (8621) 6541 8228

2012-03-05 L. M. VISAGIE from South African

Dear Cherry,

The followings are my comments on the China Tour arranged by CCT.

1. Guide Service and Shops

In general, what did you think of our guide service?

Think they were amazing, when we asked to change the schedule they were very willing both in Xian and Shanghai. We didn't need any changes to our Beijing leg but Im sure they would have been willing too!

Did the tour guides speak clearly and politely to make themselves understood?

Yes, English was very good all around and the guides taught us a lot of the history we didn't know even though we read up on it through tour books beforehand.

Did any guides stand out for reasons good or bad?

I would recommend all 3 guides we had for any tour – Tiffany, Faye and Jimmy! Excellent job done.

How often did each guide arrange stops at souvenir shops or factories? Did the guide seek your agreement to make such stops or did you feel pressed to do some shopping?

We asked for non shopping tour and thats what we got. In Shanghai we did ask Jimmy for a stop at silk factory and he arranged that as well as tour through the factory. Bought nice silk pajamas and duvet for daughter.

2. Driver Service and Vehicle

How did you feel about our driver service?
Mr Leo, Mr Bai and our driver in Shanghai are all excellent drivers and we always felt safe. Much better than the taxi we needed to get in Shanghai due to the flight diversion to other airport.

Was your tour vehicle clean and equipped with air-conditioners?
Yes spotless clean and temperature fine.

3. Meals

What did you think of the meals arranged by us (especially after the vegetarian food in Xian)? Did you have any favorites? Did you strongly dislike any particular meal? Why?
Meals are different from what we're used to even the Western ones we had. But was good overall. Sometimes way too much food! We enjoyed the dumpling banquet most. Hotel breakfasts were very good.

4. Hotels

How did you feel about the hotels we selected for you? Which was your favorite? Were there any you wouldn't recommend to other travelers? Why?
The Xian and Shanghai hotels were brilliant. The Beijing hotel's beds were not as comfortable.

5. References
Would you mind serving as a reference and allowing us to post your comments on our website?
No problem, you can post comments
Again, thanks for your cooperation as always. By the way, would you like to send me some fantastic photos you took in China? It will be great sharing those wonderful moments with you.

Still need to go through the photos – will send to you and our guides asap
Wish you two and your beautiful phoenix and dragon a sweet and happy life forever. I am looking forward to your reply! Thx Cherry and same to you and your phoenix! Overall I must also say that Cherry your insistence on rather traveling a day earlier from Shanghai to Beijing saved us somewhat as the flights were cancelled due to weather as you warned us might happen. That advice and the advice on the scheduling of the rest of tour was brilliant. The shows that were arranged were also not mentioned on the questions above but can really recommend those too.

Itinerary:Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai

China Tour Reviews