| 14 Days North China No Shopping Tour (Tour code: PT1420) | |
| Themes:History, culture | |
| Destinations: Beijing - Datong - Pingyao - Xi'an - Beijing | |
| From: $2350 |  |
| Destination | Beijing |
| Activities | After arrival in Beijing and having met with your private guide your adventures begin immediately when taking a Hutong rickshaw tour. The Hutongs are Beijings classic old alleyways, allowing you to get a glimpse of what Beijing was like before boulevards and large buildings began to dominate the cityscape. Later your guide brings you to your hotel for check in, and then it is time to rest after your journey here. |
| Attractions | Hutong Rickshaw Tour |
| Meals | Lunch |
| Accommodation | 3* hotel |
| Destination | Beijing |
| Activities | After breakfast you begin today's activities at the beautiful Temple of Heaven, a place that used to be very important to the imperial court. You also visit the surrounding park to see the thousands of people who come here every day to excercise. Then you continue to Tian'anmen Square, and from here walk to the nearby Forbidden City, from where China was ruled from 1421 to 1911. The Forbidden City is an incredible and intricate work of Chinese symbols. In the afternoon you return to your hotel. |
| Attractions | Temple of Heaven, Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 3* hotel |
| Destination | Beijing |
| Activities | The Great Wall of China stretches far into the western provinces but a stunning part of it can be seen at Mutianyu Section north of Beijing. Today's excursion takes you to this stretch of the wall. From the parking lot below you take the cable car up to see the great views of the wall itself and the surrounding landscape. Sometime in the afternoon you are back at your hotel and the rest of the day is free to explore on your own. |
| Attractions | Great Wall of China at Mutianyu |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 3* hotel |
| Destination | Beijing |
| Activities | Another exciting day awaits as you visit the Summer Palace, a place that used to be the home of the court during the hot summer months. You will also visit the park surrounding the Bird's Nest Stadium to see the Nest, which was the main theatre for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. From here you continue to the Lama Temple, a former royal residence that was turned into a Buddhist temple in the late 17th century. In the afternoon your guide delivers you back to your hotel. |
| Attractions | Summer Palace, Bird's Nest, Lama Temple |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 3* hotel |
| Destination | Beijing - Datong |
| Activities | It is time to leave Beijing and head towards Datong. You take a morning high-speed train to Datong, and after arrival around noon your new local guide takes you to the spectacular Hanging Monastery. This place is truly remarkable, hanging far above the valley floor on the side of a cliff. Later you return to Datong City and check in at your hotel. |
| Attractions | Hanging Monastery |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Datong - Pingyao |
| Activities | After breakfast you visit the stunning Yungang Buddhist Grottoes, a large area where pilgrims during the course of centuries carved thousands of Buddhist images out of the rock surface. The images ranges in size from a few centimetres to more than 20 meters tall. Later you once again board the train to go to Taiyuan, and from Taiyuan you drive to the charming old town of Pingyao on the North China plains. Pingyao has preserved much of its original way of life, which you will see when you check in at your comfortable hotel inside Old Town. |
| Attractions | Yungang Buddhist Grottoes, Pingyao Old Town |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Pingyao |
| Activities | Today you sightsee Pingyao Old Town by foot. As your hotel is very centrally located inside the old parts of Pingyao you can easily reach all the sights, including China's first bank and much more. When the tour is finished in the afternoon the rest of the day is free to explore on your own. Pingyao at dusk is a very charming place, and you can search out one of the small coffe houses with outdoor seating to sit and enjoy watching the locals pass by. |
| Attractions | Pingyao Old Town |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* Priority Hotel |
| Destination | Pingyao - Xi'an |
| Activities | In the morning your guide will bring to Taiyuan Airport. Ahead of you is a short one-hour flight south to the historic city of Xi'an, once the capital of China under several different dynasties of ancient China. Once arrived your new local guide meet with you and bring you to your very central hotel in downtown Xi'an for check in. The rest of the day is free, and there is lots to see just outside the hotel. |
| Attractions | None |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Xi'an |
| Activities | Xi'an is a historic city. Today you will visit two of the premier sights, beginning at the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a eyecatching structure sating back hundreds of years. From here you continue to the history museum, where some of the best relics from ancient China are one display. In the afternoon you return to your hotel and the rest of the day is free. |
| Attractions | Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Shaanxi History Museum |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Xi'an - Huaying |
| Activities | After breakfast you check out and leave Xi'an. You will be back tomorrow, so you can leave any unnecessary luggage at the hotel if you wish. The goal today is the city of Huaying at the foot of Mt. Huashan, one of China's sacred mountains. On the way there you stop at the truly incredible Terracotta Army where more than 7000 sifesized clay warriors was placed 2200 years ago. Before leaving the city you also visit the City Wall, dating back to the Ming Dynasty. |
| Attractions | City Wall, Terracotta Army |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Huaying - Mt. Huashan - Xi'an |
| Activities | The sacred mountain of Huashan awaits you today. Going up by cable car you soon reach the peak and can see the fantastic views of the surrounding countryside. There will be time to walk around or maybe even climb the spectacular Dragon's Neck staircase before it is time to go down again and head for downtown Xi'an. Once here you visit the central square and the Muslim Quarter before enjoying a dumpling banquet dinner and then experience the impressive Tang Dynasty Show. |
| Attractions | Mt. Huashan, Muslim Quarter, Dumpling Banquet Dinner, Tang Dynasty Show |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Accommodation | 4* hotel |
| Destination | Xi'an |
| Activities | The morning is free until it is time for check out and transfer to the airport for your flight back to Beijing. Once arrived your guide will take you to your hotel, and the rest of the day is free to explore on your own. Beijing still has many sights and interesting places, so please ask your guide for updated information. |
| Attractions | None |
| Meals | Breakfast and lunch |
| Accommodation | 3* hotel |
| Destination | Beijing |
| Activities | You have the whole day on your own to do some shopping or sightsee on your own. There are many good deals to be had at one of Beijing's many markets, or maybe you feel like a trip to Houhai, a beautiful area with cafes and restaurants. Or maybe just see what is hidden inside the alleys close to your hotel. The choices are many. |
| Attractions | None |
| Meals | Breakfast |
| Accommodation | 3* hotel |
| Destination | Beijing - home |
| Activities | Your flight home leaves sometime today. Until it is time to leave you can rest at your hotel and pack, and then your guide will bring you to the airport and help with check in formalities. Bon voyage! |
| Attractions | None |
| Meals | Breakfast |
| Accommodation | Not incl. |
| Price information | |
2-3 person group: $3290/person 4-6 person group: $2595/person 7-9 person group: $2355/person Luxury upgrade: available |
|
| Price including |
Domestic flights as in itinerary Train travel as in itinerary Private English-speaking guide Private ground transportation as per itinerary Accommodation as listed Entrances as listed Meals as listed Chinese travel accident insurance Guaranteed no shopping stops |
| Price not including |
Flights to/from China Personal expenses Tips for guides and drivers Anything not listed in itinerary |
| Important tour information |
Luxury Upgrade Policy: A luxury upgrade option is available with many of our tours. In accordance with our quality benchmark, upgrade options are divided into four categories: 1. Available - upgrade possible at all destinations in tour itinerary. 2. Partially available - upgrade not possible at one or more destnations in tour itinerary. 3. Not recommended - available or partially available, but not recommended (see Hotel Policy). 4. Not available - luxury upgrades are not possible on many of our trademark specialty tours to remote or developing regions. These tours are deeply genuine and authentic.
Keeping our guests' comfort in mind, we prefer to stay in a 2* or 3* hotel in or close to the attraction, rather than a 4* or 5* hotel much further away. Genuine China Tours' all-encompassing hotel policy is that we will never pick a hotel only because of its price. All our partner hotels must live up to a strict quality test that includes: 1. Geographical location - the location of our chosen hotel is of great importantce, both in large cities, where traffic congestion can play a vital role in the handling of the tour, and also on tours to remote villages, where the right choice of village or hotel can mean a world of difference to the tour. 2. Quality of hotel - including room size and cleanliness, quality of breakfast, ease of getting in/out and more. 3. Local environment - local environment should include local sights (when possible), be in the vicinity of local markets/night markets (if any) and have access to shops and convenience stores (if any). 4. Design and layout of hotel - we prefer hotels with history and atmosphere, especially if these have relevance with the sight(s) at the destination. 5. Value for money - any hotel must pass requirements 1-3 and 5. If a hotel passes all five requirements it becomes a Priority Hotel.
Also important: 1. Please perform a thorough health check before traveling. If your health is not good enough please refrain from traveling. Most major tourist destinations in China have good health care services, but on tours to remote or high altitude destinations you should make sure your health allows you to travel to these destinations. Genuine China Tours will bear no responsibility in case of any accident, relapse or discomfort. 2. Disabled persons should be accompanied by by their own aid instruments or an accompanying person. Genuine China Tours can not provide aid instruments. 3. While traveling please adhere to instructions from your guide and stay clear of any dangers and/or annoyances. 4. Genuine China Tours reserves the right to refuse participation on a tour if the traveler is deemed unfit to participate or will be a nuisance to other travelers. 5. On tours to remote areas or high altitude areas accommodation and restaurants may not be up to standart. You should be prepared for this if choosing a tour to these areas. 6. Please make sure to bring items that may be necessary, like windproof jacket, umbrella, sun screen (sun lotion), health related articles, items of personal nature etc. 7. On speciality tours to remote regions, Tibetan areas and mountainous regions Genuine China Tours will bear no responsibility if tour itinerary is changed due to government policies, weather or any other influencing factors outside GCTs control. |
| Genuine China Tours is an officially registered travel agency operating under the laws of the People’s Republic of China. Guests are required to follow rules and regulations set forth by existing laws of the country, including behavior respectful of local customs and manners. Tour designs and quotations may not be used in connection with other travel agencies. Genuine China Tours cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience caused by weather, traffic, government policies or other situations outside GCTs control. |