China in the Spring
Shanghai - Suzhou - Nanjing - Yellow Mountains - Hangzhou - BeijingBegin in Shanghai, the dynamic financial capital of China, thence to the cities of Suzhou and Hangzhou, for a thorough look at the famous Ming Dynasty gardens. Continue to the historical capital of Nanjing, the wonderfully preserved ancient village of Hongcun ('a village in the beautiful Chinese picture') and the majestic Yellow Mountains, a source of inspiration to Chinese painters, writers and gardeners for centuries. Finish in Beijing for a discovery of the ancient wonders and contemporary architecture of this fascinating city.
Following the main tour of 20 days, there will be an optional 3-day extension to Chengde, the summer retreat of the emperors. On the way you will have the opportunity to visit a well preserved but less visited section of the Great Wall at Jinshanling.
Lingering Garden in Suzhou
ITINERARY:
Sun 03 April 2011: Arrive Shanghai
Depart SYD / MEL / BNE / ADL on QANTAS (or CATHAY) flight(s) to Shanghai. Arrival in Shanghai and transfer to your hotel, conveniently located in the middle of the city's business and shopping district.
Mon 04 April: Shanghai
Following a welcome breakfast with Fiona Ogilvie and fellow group members, start your exploration of Shanghai on the historic waterfront Bund, lined with grand European-style architecture from the early 20th century. Continue to the Pearl Orient Tower which houses an Observation Tower with spectacular views of the city and the Museum of the History of Shanghai. Finish the morning with a cruise on the Huangpu River.
Enjoy lunch in the Xintiandi area, known for its uniquely Shanghaiese architecture which blends European and Chinese styles. Afternoon visit of the French Concession, in the past designated as a home for the French traders and businesspeople resident in Shanghai. Thanks to its Art Deco architecture, tree-lined streets and thriving cafe scene, the French Concession is undergoing gentrification into a hip urban quarter. (BL)
Tue 05 April: Shanghai
Morning tour of the 400-year old Yu Yuan Garden. Originally constructed in 1559, and badly damaged during the Opium Wars of the 19th Century, the meticulously reconstructed garden preserves its classical beauty, featuring traditional Chinese architecture, miniature lakes, bridges and rock formations. Continue to the adjacent Chenhuang Temple (City God Temple) which forms the core of the old city. Today the City God Temple not only refers to the large temple complex, but also the traditional district of commerce in the city, surrounding the temple. Remainder of the day at leisure. (BL)
Wed 06 April: Shanghai– Tong Li - Suzhou
Morning visit to the Shanghai Museum. This extraordinary building is shaped like a bronze tripod and houses one of the world’s top collections of ancient and modern Chinese art and artefacts.
Later in the morning depart Shanghai for Suzhou. Stop at the well preserved ‘water township’ of Tong Li. Enjoy a tour of the town, including a canal boat trip. Continue to Suzhou, located on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Lake Taihu. Suzhou is renowned for its beautiful stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens. Since the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Suzhou has also been an important centre for China's silk industry. (BLD)
Thu 07 April: Suzhou
Today visit the ‘Lingering Garden’ and the ‘Master of the Nets’ garden. Originally a classical private garden, the ‘Lingering Garden’ is one of the four most famous gardens in China. Built in a typical Qing style, it is renowned for the beauty of its magnificent halls, and the various sizes, shapes, and colours of the buildings. In 1997, the garden was recorded on the UNESCO list of the world heritage.
After lunch visit the ‘Master of the Nets’ garden, the smallest of the Suzhou residential gardens, yet it is considered one of the most impressive because of its use of space which creates the illusion of an area that is much greater than its actual size. First designed during the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279) it was restored in the late 19th century by a government official from whom the garden got its name. It is said that in a moment of frustration with bureaucracy he declared that “he would rather be a fisherman than a bureaucrat”. Remainder of the day at leisure to further enjoy Suzhou’s many other gardens and attractions. (BL)
Fri 08 April: Suzhou
Morning visit to the ‘Garden of the Humble Adminstrator’ (also known as the 'Garden of the Unsuccessful Politician'). This is the largest classical garden in Suzhou and one of the most famous gardens in China. The garden's site was a scholar garden during the Tang Dynasty, and later a monastery garden for the Dahong Temple during the Yuan Dynasty. In 1513, a Ming Dynasty administrator named Wang Xianchen appropriated the temple and converted it into a private villa with gardens.
After lunch, continue to the Suzhou New Museum, designed by the renowned American Chinese designer I. M. PEI, who spent his childhood in Suzhou. It is an extraordinary contemporary interpretation of traditional Suzhou architecture. (BL)
Sat 09 April: Suzhou- Nanjing
Depart Suzhou for a full day’s drive to Nanjing. On the way, stop in Yi Xing for lunch and a visit to the beautiful Bamboo Forest. Located on the southern bank of the Yangtze River, the important city of Nanjing (lliterally 'Southern Capital') has served as the capital of China during several historical periods and was the capital of the Republic of China (ROC) before the Chinese Civil War. (BLD).
Sun 10 April: Nanjing
Today visit one of the most famous gardens of Southern China, Zhanyuan Garden. It is the only well preserved Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) architectural complex in Nanjing and over 600 years old.
Next visit the small but exquisite Xuyuan Garden, with water covering about half an acre of its total area. Its architecture is rather ingenious, exhibiting the unique beauty and charm of southern gardening.
Finish with a visit to Xuanwu Lake Park, well known for its picturesque scenery. The islets in the lake such as Lingzhou (Water Chestnut Islet), Cuizhou (Green Islet), Yingzhou (Cherry Islet) are linked with the shore by bridges, each islet is distinctive. (BL)
Sun 11 April: Nanjing
Morning visit to the mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, considered to be the ‘Father of Modern China’ both in mainland China and in Taiwan. Sun played an instrumental role in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in 1911 and was the first provisional president when the Republic of China (ROC) was founded in 1912. Continue to the Ming Xiao Tomb – the tomb of the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuan Jin and his wife.
After lunch see the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, the first bridge to be built across the Yangtze River in Nanjing. It was completed in 1968 and is the first double-decker, double-track highway and railway bridge designed and constructed by the Chinese without outside engineering assistance. (BL)
Mon 12 April: Nanjing
On December 13, 1937 Japanese troops occupied Nanjing and launched a six week long massacre during which, according to historical records, more than 300,000 disarmed soldiers and civilians were slain. Visit two sites which commemorate this historical atrocity, the Memorial Hall of the Victims killed in the Nanjing Massacre, and Flower Rain Altar in Yu Hua Tai Park.
Later visit the Nanjing Treasure Dockyard Relics, which mark the 600th anniversary of the voyages of famed navigator Zheng He. Visit the excavated shipyard where much of his ancient fleet was built and a replica of one of the treasure boats is on display. (BL)
Tue 13 April: Nanjing – Huangshan
Morning coach transfer from Nanjing to Huangshan or Yellow Mountains. The area is well known for its scenery, sunsets, peculiarly-shaped granite peaks, Huangshan Pine trees, and views of the clouds from above. The Yellow Mountain is a frequent subject of traditional Chinese paintings and literature.
Afternoon visit to Tunxi Old Street lined with 2 or 3-storey houses displaying the 800-year old design of ‘shop in the front, and house or workshop at the back’. Nowadays the street has been turned into a pedestrian street, and the shop keepers sell all kinds of local souvenirs like tea and the Four Treasures of Chinese study: brushes, ink sticks, ink slabs and rice paper. (BLD)
Wed 14 April: Huangshan
Full day tour of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Yellow Mountains. Take the cable car from Yungu Station to the top of the mountain. After lunch at the summit, visit the Brush Pen Peak, followed by a tour to Begin-to-Believe Peak to see its ancient twisted pine trees, Lion Peak, and Xihai Grand Canyon. Descend the mountain by cable car and return to the hotel. (BLD)
Thu 15 April: Huangshan
Half day excursion to Hongcun village. This picturesque village is a well-preserved example of a human settlement created during the feudal period and was based on a prosperous trading economy. The houses and other buildings in the village were all arranged according to the principles of Feng Shui (geomancy) and the whole village was originally laid out in the shape of an ox. The village was a location for the film ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ directed by the famous Hollywood Chinese director Ang Li. (BL).
Fri 16 April: Huangshan - Hangzhou
Coach transfer from Huangshan to Hangzhou. Stop at the Bao Family Garden, which was once the largest private garden in China. Built as a Bonsai garden, it showcases the best works of Bonsai from different schools of this art. Afternoon arrival in Hangzhou, one of the six ancient capitals of China. Hangzhou’s centrepiece is the picturesque scenery of the West Lake, beloved by emperors, poets, painters and Communist rulers alike. (BLD)
Guo's villa and garden, Hangzhou
Sat 17 April: Hangzhou
Full day sightseeing in Hangzhou beginning with a lake cruise followed by a visit to Guo’s Villa. Completed in 1861, this elegant garden villa was built as a private retreat for a wealthy Qing Dynasty silk merchant. It is a fine example of Chinese aesthetics in which the manmade and natural blend in harmonious balance.
End the day at the Longjing (Dragon Well) Tea Village, where some of China’s most famous tea – a favourite of emperors throughout the dynasties - is grown and processed. (BL)
Sun 18 April: Hangzhou - Beijing
Morning visit to the Xixi National Wetland Park, the first and only national wetland park in China.
The park is densely crisscrossed with six main watercourses, among which scatter various ponds, lakes and swamps. Xixi Wetland has a history of more than 1,800 years and an abundant cultural heritage, rich ecological resources and simple natural landscapes.
Afternoon flight to Beijing and transfer to your hotel. (BLD)
Mon 19 April: Beijing
Start your exploration of Beijing at the geographical heart of the city, Tiananmen Square. At over 40 hectares Tiananmen Square is the largest public square in the world. Continue to the nearby Imperial Palace. With some buildings dating back to the 15th century, the palace is an immense and magnificent complex of pavilions, courtyards, gates, ceremonial halls and imperial residences, gardens and lakes, with the Forbidden City at its heart.
After lunch, visit Jing Shan Park, a beautiful royal landscaped garden, with wonderful views over the Forbidden City. Finish the day with a tour of the hutong district surrounding the ancient Bell and Drum Towers, which were used to tell the time during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. (BL)
Tue 20 April: Beijing
Excursion to the Summer Palace. Located 10 km north-west of central Beijing, the Summer Palace was the summer retreat of the imperial family during the Qing Dynasty. It is renowned for its architectural grandeur and stunning natural beauty. The large man-made Kunming Lake makes up three-quarters of the total area of 290 hectares. Overlooking it on Longevity Hill is complex of imperial residences rebuilt by the Dowager Empress Cixi in the late 19th century.
Optional evening opera / music / ballet performance at the new National Centre of the Performing Arts, commonly referred to as ‘The Egg’ (not included in tour price, additional cost applies). (BL)
Summer Palace
Sun 21 April: Beijing
A morning tour to see some of the stunning new architecture in Beijing including the newly built stadiums for the 2008 Olympic Games - the ‘Water Cube’ and the ‘Bird’s Nest’- plus the Olympic Village, the CCTV Building and the National Centre of the Performing Arts (the ‘Egg’). The tour will finish at the new Capital Museum.
Afternoon at leisure for shopping at Beijing’s famous markets or exploring the burgeoning contemporary art scene, including Red Gate Gallery (founded in 1991 by Australian Brian Wallace) or the 798 Art Space. This evening, celebrate the conclusion of the tour with a special farewell dinner. (BD)
Mon 22 April: Beijing - Australia
Morning at leisure until check out and transfer to the airport for departure on CATHAY / QANTAS flights to Australia via Hong Kong. (B)
Tue 23 April: Arrive Australia
Early morning arrival SYD / MEL / BNE / ADL.
YOUR HOTELS****
Shanghai – Howard Johnson Business Club Hotel
Suzhou –Nanling Hotel (4-star section)
Nanjing – Central Hotel
Hangzhou – Victoria Regal Hotel
Beijing – Marriott City Wall Hotel
NB. Hotels of a similar standard may be substituted.
