China and Japan

Welcome to Beijing! Your private guide and the driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. After a short break, your 13-day China Japan tour kicks off. The attraction to be visited today is Hutong, the alleys lined with many old Beijing folk residences, Si He Yuan. A short rickshaw ride will be arranged. When crossing the Hutongs, you will know more about the history of Beijing and the lifestyle of Beijingers.

Accommodation: Penta Hotel Beijing or similar

Today, we will first go sightseeing at the Tiananmen Square and then walk north to the Forbidden City, the largest palace complex in the world. Being the residence of royal families during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911), the Forbidden City is known for the ancient buildings of various scale and a large collection of cultural relics. Next, you will be led to the Mutianyu Great Wall and the round-way cable car is arranged to visit this ancient fortification. Though not for military use any longer, this simple but majestic attraction won't let you down, which traverses like a giant dragon along the mountain ridges. After the visit, you'll be escorted back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Penta Hotel Beijing or similar

Today's morning starts with the Temple of Heaven. This historical site was where the emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties prayed for rains and bumper harvests. It is quiet and large, and you can see many retired people playing Taichi or doing other exercises. Next, we'll head for the Summer Palace, the best-preserved and largest imperial garden in China. The beautiful mountains, lakes and architecture here tell you why it was the royal's choice as a summer resort. After visiting, leave for the second city of your trip, Xi'an. You'll be escorted to the railway station for the high speed train bound for Xi'an North Railway Station. The duration is about 5h. Upon arrival, the guide and the driver there will wait for you at the exit and lead you to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an or similar

The whole morning will be spent at the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum. Considered the eighth wonder in the world, these terracotta statues made more than 2,200 years ago were the grave goods for Qin Shi Huang (259BC-210BC), who was the first emperor in China's history. They were not discovered until 1976. Next, we'll visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Next, you will visit the Great Mosque, a remarkable Islamic cultural relic, which perfectly combines Chinese traditional with Islamic architectural styles. Around the mosque is a lively Muslim bazaar, where you could explore for local snacks and handicrafts.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Somerset Xindicheng Xi'an or similar

This morning, we will first head to visit the City Wall Park. The life of the elderly in China is rich and colorful. Dancing, singing, playing Tai Chi, playing Chinese yo-yo, cracking a whip..., they will do various recreational activities. In the park, you will not only see these entertainment activities, but join in them if you want. Then we will ascend to the time-honored City Wall, which is a top wonder of the city, initiated by the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). Cycling on the City Wall is a very popular activity. Sightseeing car is also an option. You can let your guide know your preference and pay the rental fee on the spot.

Afterwards, you will be taken to the airport for a flight to Shanghai. Our local guide will greet you at the airport and take you to check in at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Ocean Hotel Shanghai or similar

In the morning, our guide will escort you to see the Shanghai Museum and the classical Yu Garden. As a distinguished museum of Chinese art, the Shanghai Museum is also one of the four famous museums in China, holding a rich and high-quality collection of ancient precious works of art. Once you enter the Yu Garden, beautiful scenes will delight you wherever you go; you feel that all the scenes are coordinated together by Mother Nature. Our professional tour guide will present the vivid introduction to you.

At noon, you will enjoy an a la carte lunch (valued at CNY150.00 per person and included in our price) of the true Shanghai and Cantonese cuisines at a fancy and famous local restaurant.

After lunch, you will take a one-hour Huangpu River cruise to appreciate the two representative profiles of the city along both sides of the river. It helps you understand the past, see the present and look into the future of this modern city. Then you will explore the Bund area. Free time will be given you there so that you can have a leisurely stroll and take nice photos. The last stop of your China Golden Triangle tour is a traditional street named Tianzifang, where is full of a sense of culture and arts.

Meals: Breakfast, A la carte lunch
Accommodation: Ocean Hotel Shanghai or similar

The first half of your holiday ends, and you'll set off for Kyoto today. The guide and the driver will pick you up at the agreed time and escort you to Shanghai Pudong Airport to catch your flight to Osaka. Upon arrival at Osaka KIX Airport, please take bus or local train to get to Kyoto by yourself. We have reserved a hotel near to Kyoto station, please walk to hotel and check in by yourself.

► How to get to Kyoto from KIX airport:
--Take Hankyu Kanko Bus from T1, the bus ride takes 1.5 hours at the cost of USD20 per person.
--Take Haruka train to Kyoto station, it takes 1.5 hours at the cost of USD30-USD35 per person, and they are available every 30 minutes.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto Ekimae or similar

In the morning, our English-speaking guide will greet you at the hotel and accompany you to visit three cultural attractions in Kyoto by public transportation. Firstly, we'll visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine which worships the god in charge of prosperous commerce and affluent life. Next, you will be led to the Kinkaku-ji Temple. Though it can only be viewed from outside, its splendid exterior makes this visit worthwhile. Later, we'll go on visiting the old Kiyomizu Temple, walk down Sannenzaka & Ninenzaka to experience ancient Kyoto, and then get to Gion area, where geishas gather here to work at tea houses and some of them may take a leisurely walk on the street. We prefer to leave the rest of the time free for you to explore by yourself as it is charming to feel this Japanese old capital when it is bathing in soft light.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto Ekimae or similar

This city is definitely worth your extra day. You can spend one day or half day to visit Arashiyama, or just stroll around the city to take an in-depth walking to the streets with traditional buildings. Find a good café, sit there and see visitors and geishas passing by. Good restaurants are available on the both sides of Kamo River or at Nishiki Market.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto Ekimae or similar

Please go to the Kyoto Railway Station by yourself and take Shinkansen (bullet train) to Tokyo. The train takes about 2h. Upon arrival in Tokyo, our guide will pick you up at the train station and will escort you to hotel by public transfers. In the afternoon, visit the most famous shrine in Tokyo, Meiji Shrine, and next the Senso-ji Temple with the history of nearly 1,400 years. Then, we'll roam along the most bustling street in Tokyo - the Nakamise Shopping Street, where the traditional foods, souvenirs and other specialties are easily accessible.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza Premier or similar

After breakfast, our English-speaking driver will lead you to the Mount Fuji. As one of the largest active volcanos in the world, Mount Fuji is the very symbol of Japan. We will head all the way to Mount Fuji 5th Station at the altitude of 2,305m (7,562ft). Then we'll come to the Lake Ashi. You can take a boat to enjoy its stunning waterscape. The driver will wait for you at the parking lot. After the boat ride, you can take the Hakone Ropeway from the Sounzan station to the Togendai station by yourself, on which you can enjoy a bird's eye view of the blue Lake Ashi and the lofty Mount Fuji. After that, meet the driver at the appointed place and our driver will lead you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza Premier or similar

Our guide will pick you up at the hotel and then get to Hinode pier, where you can take the Tokyo cruise - Himiko to Odaiba, Tokyo's newest entertainment venue. Upon Arrival after 50 minutes, stroll around Odaiba Seaside Park and have a look to the Odaiba Statue of Liberty Replica. You can find your favorite food at Toyosu Market, as the former famous Tsukiji Market has been moved here. After lunch, take local train to Imperial Palace, where the Mikado of Japan lives right now. Our guide will show you around and lead you to Nijubashi Bridge where you can take nice pictures. Finally, the tour ends at Kabukicho area, where you can find a restaurant for dinner or a bar for beer. Get back to hotel by yourself.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza Premier or similar

After breakfast, please check out the hotel and head for the airport on your own. Hope you are satisfied with your vacation to China and Japan!

From Hotel to Narita Airport: 
The best way is to take a taxi for about 10 minutes to Tokyo station, where you can connect Narita Express (N'EX) or airport shuttle bus to get to Narita Airport in one hour. 

From Hotel to Haneda Airport: 
Walk for about 9 minutes from the hotel to get to Yurakucho and then take Yamanote Line to Hamamatsucho in 4 minutes, where you need to change to Tokyo Monorail Line and get to aneda Airport Terminal 1, this leg takes about 22 minutes. 

Meals: Breakfast