| Day 1: Australia / Beijing | |
| Depart Australia to Beijing. You will be met and transferred to your hotel for three nights. |
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| Day 2: Beijing | Meal: B/L/D |
| Today you visit Tiananmen Square, the largest City Square in the world. From Tiananmen Square, visitors enter the gates of the Forbidden City. This massive complex was the centre of the Ming and Qing dynasties. With almost 10,000 rooms, this remarkable, well-preserved imperial palace is the largest palace in the world. After lunch, take a tour to the Temple of Heaven, a Ming Temple where the Emperors performed annual rites essential for the well being of their land. Dinner is served at your hotel. |
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| Day 3: Beijing | Meal: B/L/SD |
| Today you visit the Great Wall of China. This is the pride of China and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is one of the most amazing man-made structures. After climbing the Great Wall, you will head off to the 2008 Beijing Olympic venues of the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube for a photo stop. Then you will take trishaw ride to visit the Hutongs, which is an ancient city alley, to experience the life of the local people. Afterwards you take a traditional Chinese sculled cruise on Houhai Lake, where you can enjoy the beautiful scenery while listening to Chinese music played by a local on board (available from April to October). Dinner tonight is the famous Beijing Duck Banquet. |
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| Day 4: Beijing / Xian | Meal: B/L |
| This morning you visit the Summer Palace, which is the largest and best preserved of all the imperial palace gardens, and boasts such delights as the "Marble Boat" and the ornately painted "Long Corridor". Next you are transferred to the airport for flight to Xian, the most historic city in China and the capital of ancient China for 11 dynasties. |
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| Day 5: Xian | Meal: B/L/SD |
| Today’s touring is to the vast treasure of the underground army of the Terracotta Warriors. They are to be found at an archaeological site which so far has yielded some 8000 ancient terracotta soldiers and horses, each a unique, finely detailed sculpture. In the afternoon, you will visit to the famous ancient City Gate, followed by a delicious dumpling banquet and stage show at the Tang Dynasty Theatre. |
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| Day 6 Xian / Lanzhou | Meal: B/L/D |
| This morning you fly to Lanzhou, then an afternoon visit to Yellow River and White Pagoda Hill. |
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| Day 8 Lanzhou / Xiahe | Meal: B/L/D |
| Today you travel by coach to Xiahe, known as “Little Tibet”. It is famous for the leading Buddhist Lamasery in China – Lapuleng Lamasery. |
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| Day 8 Xiahe / Lanzhou | Meal: B/L/D |
| This morning you visit the Sanke Grassland, where you have a chance to meet with the local Herdsmen. In the afternoon you drive back to Lanzhou. Dinner is a buffet at your hotel then you board an overnight train to Jiayuguan, the western end of the Great Wall of China. |
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| Day 9 Jiayuguan Pass | Meal: B/L/D |
| Upon arrival this morning in Jiayuguan, you start your tour of the Jiayuguan Fortress, an impenetrable fortress surrounded by 3 inner and outer walls and several lines of defense, then a visit to the Great Wall Museum. |
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| Day 10 Jiayuguan Pass / Dunhuang | Meal: B/L/D |
| This morning, you travel by coach to Dunhuang, a strategic staging post on the Silk Road with a history of more than 2,000 years. You also visit Mingsha Hill and Crescent Moon Lake set in an amphitheatre of sand dunes. |
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| Day 11 Dunhuang / Turpan | Meal: B/L/D |
| Today you visit Dunhuang’s most famous monument - The Mogao Grottoes. These grottoes are popularly known as the ‘Thousand Buddha Caves’, and have a history of over 1600 years. The walls of the caves are lined with Buddhist frescoes, Scriptures, murals and sculpted figures. After dinner, board an overnight train to Turpan. |
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| Day 12 Turpan | Meal: B/L/D |
| Upon arrival in Turpan this morning, you visit, an oasis town famous for its melons and vineyards. Turpan is located in the Gobi desert and the lowest city in China as well as the driest and hottest. You visit the bazaar and experience the atmosphere of the Uygur way of life. You also visit the ancient city of Jiaohe and a Karez Well. The Karez Well is an underground irrigation system unique to the area. You spend one night in Turpan. |
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| Day 13 Turpan / Urumqi | Meal: B/L/D |
| Today you wander through the streets of the ruined city of Gaochang. Next you head to the "Flaming Mountain", made famous by Master Xuan Zang, an eminent monk and Buddhist scholar on his pilgrimage to India, then to the Thousand Buddha Cave. This afternoon a journey on the coach through the Gobi desert to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Province. A buffet dinner is served at your hotel. After dinner witness the Uygur Dance show. |
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| Day 14 Urumqi / Kashgar | Meal: B/L/D |
| This morning you cruise on Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), a deep blue lake surrounded by the snowcapped Heavenly Mountain (Tianshan), followed by a visit to the Museum of Minorities and History. This evening board your flight to Kashgar. You spend two nights in Kashgar. |
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| Day 15 Kashgar | Meal: B/L/D |
| Kashgar is an ancient oasis city at a strategic point dominating the ancient trade routes in far western China. This morning you visit the Moore Buddha Pagoda, then onto a Uygur village. Next stop the Id Kah Mosque. Your last stop is a local minority’s kindergarten. |
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| Day 16 Kashgar / Urumqi | Meal: B/L/D |
| Today you visit the Mohammed Kashigari Tomb, Abak Hoja (Fragrant Concubine) Tomb and the Sunday Bazaar. This afternoon you board your flight back to Urumqi. |
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| Day 17 Urumqi / Guangzhou | Meal: B/D |
| This morning is at leisure to explore more of Urumqi at your own pace before you are transferred to the airport in the afternoon for your flight to Guangzhou. You spend one night in Guangzhou. |
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| Day 18 Guangzhou / Australia | Meal: B |
| Today is at leisure. Late checkout provided till 6 pm then you are transferred to the airport for your flight back to Australia.. |
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| Day 19 Australia | |
| Arrive in Australia in the morning. |
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