The Road to Shanghai Tour

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Maximum Group Size: 18
Arrival Transfer: Not included
Staffing: Escorted by Imaginative Traveller Tour Leader , services of local guides at selected sites.
Transport: Train, private bus, taxi.
Accommodation: 9 nights simple hotels, 1 night farm stay, 4 nights sleeper train.
Activities: Farm stay. Extensive walking at sites - especially along the Great Wall and climbing Mt Tai'an. Optional cycling in Nanjing and Hangzhou. (Note - Bike helmets are not provided with bicycles in China)
Meals: Not included except at farm stay. Allow US$8 per day.
Entrance fees: Not included. Allow US$80 for the duration of the trip for sites listed as part of the itinerary.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike along a less visited section of the Great Wall
• Visit the Forbidden City in Beijing
• See the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an
• Climb Mount Tai'an
• Optional cycling in Nanjing and Hangzhou
• Local farm stay - see the real China

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 2, BEIJING - GREAT WALL: A day at the Great Wall with a 3-5 hour hike along one of the less visited sections.

Day 3, BEIJING - XI’AN: Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Overnight train to Xi’an.

Day 4, XI’AN: Morning arrival and guided tour of the Terracotta Warriors. Afternoon at leisure to explore this ancient city. Perhaps visit the Great Mosque or the Muslim markets.

Day 5, XI’AN - TAI’AN: A free morning for more sightseeing before boarding the overnight train to Tai’an.

Day 6, TAI’AN - FARM STAY: Get a glimpse of life for some of the farmers in China. Although things are changing fast elsewhere, the way of life here remains simple. You can only be amazed at the generous hospitality shown by our hosts. (LD)

Day 7, TAI’AN: After breakfast return to Tai’an where there’s the opportunity to climb Tai Shan, one of China’s holiest mountains. Overnight train to Nanjing. (B)

Day 8, NANJING: Morning arrival and transfer to the hotel. Free day to discover some of Nanjing’s incredible past.

Day 9, NANJING: Option to take bicycles to the mausoleum of revolutionary leader Dr Sun Yat Sen and continue via the Ming city walls to Lake Xuanwu.

Day 10, HANGZHOU: We take a local train for the short ride to Hangzhou, a lovely lakeside city. Free afternoon for sightseeing; the stunning Feilai Feng temple complex is certainly worth a visit.

Day 11, HANGZHOU: Option to follow the classic ‘Nine creeks and eighteen gullies’ route by bike through the famous tea plantations of Longjing. Relax by the lakeside in the afternoon or take your bike and explore further afield.

Day 12, SHANGHAI: Another short local train journey brings us to Shanghai. Opportunity to take a river cruise.

Day 13, SHANGHAI: A full free day to explore this bustling city. In the evening we see the famed Shanghai acrobats.

Day 14, SHANGHAI: Tour ends.

DEPARTURE DATES

TRAVEL STYLE

You love the sometimes tough but ultimately rewarding nature of adventure travel and you want to spend more time enjoying every experience rather than wasting time on travel arrangements.

Maximum Group Size - 18: You love the whole concept of travel. Getting there is as much fun as being there and you love using public transport, local restaurants and small family run hotels where you get the best chance to really get under the skin of a destination. You love the sometimes tough but ultimately rewarding nature of adventure travel and you love spending more time enjoying every experience rather than wasting time on travel arrangements.
Included: All accommodation (usually twin share but occasionally multi share), transportation
Not included: Most meals, entrance fees
Single Supplement: Not available. [Read more about Imaginative Traveller travel styles]