Worldwide Holidays

Print this Page

China and the Giant Pandas

About the booking processOnce you click the Continue button an 'option' booking will be made for you. Your booking should be a continuous process, please do not 'bookmark' or 'Add to favourites' any of the subsequent pages. Returning to these pages at a later time will produce an error as your 'option' will have expired.

Beijing, Shanghai and the Pandas of Chengdu

Experience the wonders of this spectacular country - the Forbidden City in historic Beijing, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors and cosmopolitan Shanghai - and see the endangered Giant Pandas at the world-renowned Chengdu Panda Base.

Day One

Fly overnight to Shanghai.

Day Two

Upon arrival, you'll meet your guide and transfer by coach to your overnight hotel, before enjoying a guided introduction to this amazing city. The colonial grandeur of the buildings that line the famous Bund hint at past glories despite the towering skyscrapers that surround them, and the rocket-shaped Pearl TV Tower (a visit to which is included in the tour, and from which the views are simply breathtaking) soars above them all from the opposite bank.

Day Three

This morning you'll tour the bustling bazaars of Shanghai's historic Old City, at the heart of which is the 16th-century, classical Chinese Yuyuan Garden, with its pools, walkways and bridges. After a fascinating morning, you'll return to the airport to board the internal flight to Chengdu for a one-night stay.

Day Four

The highlight of your stay has to be today's visit to see the pandas. The future of these gentle creatures remains bleak and it is estimated that less than 1000 exist in the world today, and centres like that at Chengdu preserve their habitat while also running programmes studying their behaviour and encouraging breeding.

After your visit, enjoy tea at a local tea house and visit the typically Chinese walking area, Jingli Street, before your evening flight to Xi'an.

Day Five

Today you'll visit the now legendary Terracotta Army of the first Chinese emperor, Qin Shi Huang. An estimated 8,000 lifelike foot-soldiers, horsemen and charioteers were discovered in their vaults in 1974, and now are one of the world's greatest attractions.

Returning to Xi'an, you'll explore the ancient city, centred on its enormous bell-tower, visiting the Muslim Quarter with its Great Mosque, and marvelling at the Tang dynasty monuments.

Day Six

Fly to Beijing and join our guide for a fascinating city tour. First stop is massive Tiananmen Square, site of Chairman Mao's Mausoleum and the Great Hall of the People, and which faces the best-known image of Imperial China, the huge complex of palaces known as the Forbidden City.

This evening, an optional excursion is offered to the world-famous Beijing Opera.

Day Seven

See for yourself part of what is famously (though not entirely accurately) the only man-made structure visible from space, the Great Wall. At Badaling, amid steep, forested hills, part of the wall has been lovingly restored, and it's easy to appreciate the immensity of this marvellous feat of engineering.

Your day will also include a visit to the majestic and tranquil Summer Palace (Yihe yuan), and to Beijing Zoo, whose most celebrated inhabitants are the Giant Pandas. Later you'll celebrate with a 'Peking Duck' dinner.

Day Eight

A final morning in Beijing gives you the opportunity to take a trip back in time on an optional tour by traditional rickshaw into the ancient hutongs, the labyrinth of narrow alleyways, fast disappearing, that epitomises 'Old Peking'. A final afternoon in Beijing sees you visiting the beautiful Temple of Heaven in Tiantan Park, the great Ming Dynasty shrine that was the heart of ceremonial life for five centuries.

Day Nine

Transfer to the airport for your flight south to Shanghai for a final night. Enjoy an optional night-time cruise on the Huangpu River - a fitting way to end your tour of this great country.

Day 10

Transfer back to the airport for your flight home.

 
 

Book Online Now!

Book by telephone