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Eastern Chinese Treasures: Lakes & Canals
China in 12 Days, 10 Nights in Destination
Book now for a £400 reward
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+ info
-50%
From
£ 2,799
/person
Hannah
Travel crafter
Relish in the eastern region of China as you sail through its historic canals and waterways while contemplating the mix of ultra modern and traditional cities, sites and landmarks of the rest of the country.
Trip Highlights
- Beijing
- Hangzhou
- Shanghai
- Suzhou
- Wuxi
Included
All flights
Accommodation
All transfers.
Activities
Some meals
Availability
Departures available until December 2024
Available Group tours
Solo travelers from + £ 490
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Categories available
superior included
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Categories Available:
superior
From £ 1,399
Selected
Accommodation: 10 Nights
Itinerary
Experience some of China's most iconic destinations in this tour highlighting the country’s eastern region! Explore Beijing’s Forbidden City and walk on the mighty Great Wall. Let Shanghai amaze you with its mix of new and old, as you visit the highlights of the city and dive into the natural wonders of Wuxi and Hangzhou’s lakes and canals.
Arrive at your UK/Ireland departure airport, ready to board your flight to Beijing. Night on board.
If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.
Arrive in Beijing, the enormous capital of China, famed for its ancient sites such as the iconic Forbidden City, and as being the gateway to some of the most visited portions of the Great Wall. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Beijing.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
Beijing Marriott Hotel Ch... or similar
50 Reviews
See our full selection
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the entire day at your own leisure. Perhaps you can use this time to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. Alternatively, we recommend taking part in our optional activities which include a full day excursion tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City* and/or a Golden Mask Dynasty show**. Overnight stay in Beijing.
* Optional Full Day Tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City: Visit some of the most emblematic sites of the city, including the Tiananmen Square, where most of the national ceremonies are held before making your way to the splendid Forbidden City, the world’s largest palace currently in existence. From here, enjoy lunch and finally make your way to the stunning Summer Palace.
** Optional Golden Mask Dynasty Show: Enjoy an original Chinese drama play telling the fairytale-like story of war, royal banquet and romance in which a golden mask-wearing queen creates a splendid dynasty, set in the Golden Mask Dynasty, a legendary age in China.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
Beijing Marriott Hotel Ch... or similar
50 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Full Day Beijing City Tour
Light
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Golden Mask Dynasty Show
See more
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, embark on an excursion of a lifetime as you make your way to the majestic Great Wall, constructed in the 17th century to protect the Chinese empire from invaders. It is arguably the most visited landmark in the entire country and a definite must-see when in China. En route, visit a Chinese Herbal Institute to learn about traditional Chinese medicine.
After the Great Wall, you will make your way to the one of the largest Jade Exhibitions in the whole continent. From here, you will stop for lunch before continuing on to the Olympic park to gaze at the majestic Bird Nest & Water Cube from the outside. Return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Alternatively, take part in our optional Pekin Duck dinner and tour*. Overnight stay in Beijing.
* Optional Peking Duck Dinner & Tour: Enjoy a delicious feast of traditional Chinese food where one of the highlights will be the country’s famous ‘Peking Duck’ recipe and take part in a brief tour of the neighborhood where the restaurant is located.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
Beijing Marriott Hotel Ch... or similar
50 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Half Day Tour of the Great Wall of China
Light
See more
Peking Duck dinner
Light
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Breakfast at the hotel. Self-transfer to the railway station to embark a fast train to Wuxi, considered to be the birthplaces of modern industrialization in China. After arriving at your destination, spend the rest of the day at your own leisure. We recommend joining our optional excursion to the Temple of Heaven and Hutong* before leaving Beijing. Overnight stay in Wuxi.
* Optional Excursion to the Temple of Heaven and Hutong: Learn about traditional Chinese medicine by visiting the Chinese Herbal Institute, Tong Ren Tang. Later, explore the Temple of Heaven, a Unesco World Heritage site, considered to be an architectural masterpiece built between 1406 and 1460 AD used by the emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties for ceremonies honoring the god of harvests.
From here, hop on a rickshaw for a tour of Hutong where you will get to visit a local family and learn about their traditions and customs. A typical Beijing Zhajiangmian (“Fried Sauce noodles”) lunch will be included.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
Holiday Inn Wuxi Taihu Ne... or similar
611 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Half Day Tour of the Temple of Heaven and Hutong with Lunch
Light
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Breakfast at the hotel. Embark on a tour of Wuxi where you will get to visit Lake Lihu, part of the famous Lake Taihu, the third biggest freshwater lake in China known for its abundance of aquaculture farms. You will then visit a freshwater pearl farm.
From here, stop by the Grand Buddha at Ling Shan, one of the biggest Buddha statues (289 feet tall) in the world located in a magnificent park with an area of 74 acres—a true Buddhist wonderland.
The park also features wonderful attractions including the Brahma Palace, Five Mudra Mandala, Xiangfu Temple and many other Buddhist sites. Finally, enjoy the spectacular Ling Shan Buddha water fountain show. Overnight stay in Suzhou.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
Holiday Inn Suzhou Taihu ... or similar
1637 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Tour of Wuxi Landmarks
Light
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Breakfast at the hotel. Take part in a fascinating tour of Suzhou, an ancient city known as the Paradise on Earth, particularly famous for its exquisite classic private gardens and crisscross man-made canals. Tour the Lingering Garden, built 500 years ago and not only one of the top 4 gardens of China but also a Unesco Cultural Heritage Site.
From here, visit the Suzhou Silk Factory, the largest silk factory in the country and learn about the mesmerizing process of silk-making. After lunch, you have the option of taking part in a cruise along the ancient canal*.
From here, take a bus to Hangzhou, described by Marco Polo as "the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world". Arrive at your hotel for check-in and enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure. Alternatively, enjoy an optional performance of ‘Romance of Song Dynasty’**. Overnight stay in Hangzhou.
* Optional Canal Cruise: Embark on a cruise along the canal to experience the true daily life of locals and discover the Venice of the East and all its beauty.
** Optional ‘Romance of Song Dynasty’ performance: This is a performance reflecting the long and splendid culture of the region. Songs, dances, opera, acrobatics and stunts are integrated in this performance to present Hangzhou's rich ancient civilization and remarkable customs.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
Holiday Inn Hangzhou Airp... or similar
21 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Tour of Suzhou's Lingering Gardens
Light
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Romance of Song Dynasty Show
Light
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Suzhou Canals Boat Tour
Light
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Breakfast at the hotel. Get to know more about beautiful Hangzhou as you take a tour of its centerpiece, the famous West Lake, surrounded by mountains on three sides, listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site and considered by many to be the most beautiful lake in the country. Optionally, take a boat ride on the serene West Lake*.
To finish off the tour, you will stop by the Tea Plantation in Meijiawu, considered to be one of the most important Longjing tea productions in China. Enjoy the scenic environment and beautiful village landscape while learning more about their special tea culture and how to appreciate the sophisticated taste and aroma of Longjing tea.
After lunch, you will transfer to Shanghai. Upon arriving, check-in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Alternatively, take part in an optional Chinese acrobatic show**. Overnight stay in Shanghai.
* Optional Boat Ride on West Lake: Take part in a boat ride on the serene West Lake, the most renowned feature of Hangzhou, noted for its scenic beauty which blends naturally with many famous historical and cultural sites.
** Optional Acrobatic Show: Experience one of the world's oldest performing arts as you are immersed in an evening of classic Chinese culture and entertainment.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
Novotel Shanghai Qingpu E... or similar
879 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Hangzhou and Tea Plantation Tour
Light
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Boat Tour on Hangzhou's West Lake
Light
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Chinese Acrobatic Show
Light
See more
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy a tour of the city where you will get to walk along the famous Bund, lined by Western-influenced colonial architecture, today called the ‘Wall Street. You will also visit Shanghai Museum, one of the biggest museums in the country to relish in the beauty of Chinese art.
As an added option, we recommend you hop on a maglev train to experience its amazing speed. It is also the world’s first and only commercialized maglev train line in operation.
From here, visit the Silk Embroidery exhibition center before stopping by the City God Temple Bazaar composed of specialty stores, selling traditional Chinese arts and crafts, medicine and souvenirs. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you see fit. Alternatively, take part in our optional Huangpu River Night Cruise*. Overnight stay in Shanghai.
* Optional Huangpu River Cruise: Get a glimpse of the dazzling and charming skyline of Shanghai from the very comfort of a cruiseship that is sure to leave you with memories for a lifetime.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
Novotel Shanghai Qingpu E... or similar
879 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Shanghai Cultural Tour
Light
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Huangpu River Night Cruise
Light
See more
Maglev Train ride
Light
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Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day at your leisure, shopping, exploring the city's sights or simply relaxing in one of the city parks. We recommend an optional complete full-day tour of Shanghai.* Overnight stay in Shanghai.
* Optional Shanghai Full day city tour: The tour will start with a train ride of Meglev train in Shanghai, the first and only commercial rail line of its type in the world. The train is the fastest one in the world with a top speed of 431 kilometres per hour, which is much faster than the Bullet Train in Japan. Then we will have an admission to the Observation Deck on the 88th Floor of Jinmao Tower where you will have the best view of the entire city of Shanghai. Next stop will be A.P Plaza. A.P. Plaza is Shanghai’s biggest market and is famous for “fake branded good”. Located underground, it has more than 1,000 stores where you can find purses, suitcases, watches, jewelries and much more. You will have 2 hours of shopping time to find many bargains you can ever imagine. Final stop will be Xintiandi Area. As a world-class restaurants, business, entertainment, culture, leisure walking Street, Shanghai Xintiandi in Shanghai is an historical and cultural character of the city.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
Novotel Shanghai Qingpu E... or similar
879 Reviews
See our full selection
Activities
Shanghai Full day city tour
Light
See more
Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the railway station to catch a fast train Shanghai-Beijing with second-class seats. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel and enjoy your last evening in China to purchase some bargains and last-minute souvenirs. Overnight stay in Beijing.
Accommodation
ONE OF OUR SELECTED HOTELS
Beijing Marriott Hotel Ch... or similar
50 Reviews
See our full selection
Breakfast* at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight back to the UK/Ireland.
* Depending on the flight departure time you might not be able to enjoy the included breakfast.
Included activities
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Available Activities
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The price includes
- Included in all our trips. more information
Departures from main UK/Ireland airports.
International Flights: UK/Ireland - Beijing, Shanghai - UK/Ireland.
Train: Beijing - Wuxi in 2nd class seats. *
more information10 nights accommodation in Superior category hotels. **
more informationSee hotels included10 breakfasts and 5 lunches. ***
more informationTransfers in an air conditioned vehicles.
Visits and entrance fees with english speaking guide as indicated in the itinerary.
See itineraryAll air taxes and fuel surcharge.
Invitation letter for Chinese Visa.
English-speaking guide during the whole trip.
Not included
Visa (mandatory), entrances not mentioned on the itinerary, drinks, early check in, tips and any other services not mentioned in what's included.
MANDATORY TIPS: Mandatory tips of 30 USD in cash per person are not included in the price and must be paid at the destination. These are the ONLY mandatory tips you will be required to pay during this tour and will be covering the guide tips during the whole tour.
IMPORTANT: In order to receive your invitation letter for your Chinese Visa (mandatory) it is important that all of your details and names are given to Exoticca exactly as they appear on your passport. Once you receive your invitation letter from us (approximately two months prior to departure) you will be required to make an appointment to go to the Chinese Visa Center in person with your passport with at least 6 months validity, a passport photo, a visa application form and the invitation letter to apply for your Chinese Visa. You will also be required to make another appointment to return to the Chinese Visa Center a second time to collect your Chinese Visa (it can be replaced for a home-delivery service with an extra fee). For more information about your nearest Chinese Visa Center, application form and appointment reservations please see: http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/visa/. Parallel to the embassy and consulate there are specialized China Visa service companies that can help with a more personalized service. Select UK and your closest center in this website for more information: https://www.visaforchina.cn/
The cost of a Chinese Visa can range from 85 to 150 GBP / person depending on added assistance services, express delivery upgrades, etc. It usually takes between 4 and 7 days to get a visa approval.
MANDATORY: Please send copies of the passports of all passengers to customers@exoticca.com once you have booked your trip in order for us to process your Chinese Visa Invitation Letter.
Please be advised that it is the traveler's responsibility to follow-up and be aware of any changes in either Visa requirements or entry conditions.
See important notes
* We cannot guarantee that you and your travel companions will be allocated seats together on the train. Some train journeys and flights can be early in the morning in order to successfully follow the schedule.
** The hotels stated in the letter of invitation do not need to be definitive; the hotels will be confirmed between 45 and 30 days before departure.
*** Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.
We recommend carrying cash in either the local currency or in US Dollars.
MANDATORY TIPS: Mandatory tips of 30 USD in cash per person are not included in the price and must be paid at the destination. These are the ONLY mandatory tips you will be required to pay during this tour and will be covering the guide tips during the whole tour.
IMPORTANT: In order to receive your invitation letter for your Chinese Visa (mandatory) it is important that all of your details and names are given to Exoticca exactly as they appear on your passport. Once you receive your invitation letter from us (approximately two months prior to departure) you will be required to make an appointment to go to the Chinese Visa Center in person with your passport with at least 6 months validity, a passport photo, a visa application form and the invitation letter to apply for your Chinese Visa. You will also be required to make another appointment to return to the Chinese Visa Center a second time to collect your Chinese Visa (it can be replaced for a home-delivery service with an extra fee). For more information about your nearest Chinese Visa Center, application form and appointment reservations please see: http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/visa/. Parallel to the embassy and consulate there are specialized China Visa service companies that can help with a more personalized service. Select UK and your closest center in this website for more information: https://www.visaforchina.cn/
The cost of a Chinese Visa can range from 85 to 150 GBP / person depending on added assistance services, express delivery upgrades, etc. It usually takes between 4 and 7 days to get a visa approval.
MANDATORY: Please send copies of the passports of all passengers to customers@exoticca.com once you have booked your trip in order for us to process your Chinese Visa Invitation Letter.
Please be advised that it is the traveler's responsibility to follow-up and be aware of any changes in either Visa requirements or entry conditions.
Useful information China
Entry requirements
Passport with a minimum of six months validity.
Visa
A visa is required to enter China. Issued by the embassy or consulate.
Currency
Chinese Yuan.
Language
Mandarin Chinese.
Electricity
220 V. Adapter required.
Health
Please consult your doctor regarding malaria prophylaxis.
Time zone
UTC + 08:00.
Other useful information
Different signs, numbers and symbols.
Tourist Office website
http://tourismchina-ca.com/
Offer conditions
Remember to download your e-ticket to confirm the times of your flights and to complete online check-in using the airline’s website, or directly at the check-in desk at the airport.
Accommodation at the hotels is as indicated. In the event of any changes to accommodation, they will always be of the same, or a higher category. The category of hotels is not standardized across all countries in the world. For this reason, the criteria may differ depending on the destination country's own standards.
In the case of adverse weather conditions, for safety reasons or for any other reasons deemed appropriate, the order and duration of the excursions included in the itinerary may be changed or cancelled without prior notice.
Triple room: the third bed will be a rollaway bed.
Children: 2 - 11 years.
If you have reduced mobility/require the use of a wheelchair and prefer to go at your own pace, please contact our customer service team at +44 20 8068 3176 or via our contact form.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office offer up-to-date travel advice by visiting https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
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