Get a glimpse of China
01/09/2006
A nine day holiday will open your eyes to the wonders of the world’s most populous – and ancient - nation.
China is such a vast country, the great majority of which has been shut off from Western eyes, that no trip there can hope to give you more than a flavour. But the tour organised by Collette Worldwide will open your mind to this phenomenal land with its huge, wide open spaces, teeming cities, ancient culture and astonishing architecture.
The trip to Beijing takes nine days and, during that time, you’ll see The Great Wall, watch the Peking Opera, visit Beijing Zoo and even take an unforgettable Rickshaw Tour.
You’ll be flown direct from Heathrow, with door-to-door transfers within 100 miles, and the opportunity to fly to Heathrow from your regional airport. Other delights include a trip to explore Beijing's Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China - a nation that takes the cultivation of its gardens very seriously indeed.
A sightseeing tour of the city also takes in Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.
But the culinary delights of this ancient nation are not forgotten either, and you will sample gourmet Chinese cooking - as it was meant to be prepared!
No visit to China would be complete without seeing The Great Wall. Not only will you behold this awesome site, but also have the chance to walk along a portion of this 3,700-mile marvel.
Over the years, archaeologists in China have unearthed some of the most remarkable artefacts ever created. You will travel through the Valley of the Ming Tombs, where you will visit the burial site of one of China’s past emperors. Your repast that evening, a Beijing dumpling dinner, is followed by a very special treat: the Peking Opera show.
On Day Six of your tour, you spend the morning visiting the Temple of Heaven to witness the locals doing their morning Tai Chi. Enjoy a time-honoured and favourite pastime of the Chinese when you go kite-flying on The Temple of Heaven grounds.
This evening you may choose an optional tour to the world-famous Beijing Acrobatic Show. But not all your time there is structured, and there are plenty of opportunities to discover parts of Beijing on your own. On Day Seven, for instance, you can enjoy a full day of leisure to relax or independently explore this wonderful city. You may take an optional tour to Xian, which includes a visit to the Terracotta Warriors Museum.
On Day Eight, your last full day, there are the pandas to see at Beijing Zoo. Afterwards you have the opportunity to experience ancient Beijing on a rickshaw tour through its narrow streets and alleys. With help from an interpreter, you will learn about a local family’s history and way of life when you share lunch with them in their Hutong home. They will also teach you the art of traditional dumpling making!
This afternoon you may enjoy one last walk through the bustling streets of the city before joining your fellow travellers for a farewell dinner.
Beijing, perhaps more than any other city in the world, is changing at a phenomenal rate. With the 2008 Olympics almost here, the ultra-modern face of the city will be on show to the world. This is an unparalleled opportunity to see the 21st century Beijing, as well as the colourful, lively and vibrant side of old Beijing too. For a colour brochure on this and other Collette tours, call us on 08700 170 605.