Big 5 African Safaris, accommodated, camping and fully escorted

1: ARRIVE BEIJING

Depart Melbourne mid-morning and board our Singapore Airlines flight to Beijing via Singapore (Sydney passengers join in Singapore). On arrival in Beijing late this evening, we are met and transferred to our hotel for our four night stay in this bustling city.
Meals Included: In flight

2: BEIJING

Awake this morning in Beijing, the capital of the Peoples Republic of China and also the political, economic, cultural and scientific centre and host of the 2008 Olympic Games. After a leisurely breakfast in our hotel, drive to Beijing Zoo to see the Pandas and other animals. After lunch we take a look at old Beijing with an easy rickshaw tour through the old Hutong district. This is where you will get the feel of the real China. Away from all the tourist attractions you will have a chance to experience real Chinese life and culture first hand, speaking with the local people about work and family life here in Beijing. Afterwards enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Houhai Lake with traditional Chinese musical accompaniment
Meals Included: BLD

10: XIAN

This morning drive to Shanxi Lintong County located by the Wei River, one of the main tributaries of the Yellow River. Visit two wheat farms including a cereals processing plant. June is the winter wheat harvest season in this region. We have a meeting with local officials and farmers to talk about agricultural administration and agricultural commerce. Lunch will be arranged at one of the local farms. This afternoon on the way back to the hotel (time permitting) we visit some peasants’ villages and families.
Meals Included: BLD

8: HOHHOT - XIAN

This morning visit a wool and cashmere processing factory, then visit the Zhaojun Tomb, famous because the lady Wang Zhaojun - one of the four most distinguished beauties of ancient China - was married to the Emperor of the Huns to maintain the peaceful relationship between China and the Huns. This afternoon visit Meng Niu dairy factory and dairy farm with very modern processing facilities. This is another ambitious dairy company. After dinner fly to Xian.
Meals Included: BLD

9: XIAN - TERRACOTTA WARRIORS

Xian was the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization dating back to 4000 BC and the capital of China for 11 dynasties from 1046 BC to 907 AD. It is from here that caravans started on the Silk Road to Europe, changing the Western world forever. First thing this morning enjoy a tour to the City Wall and then visit the Museum of the Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses. This is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world with three exhibition halls, the largest of which is 180 metres by 60 metres, housing the continuing excavation of an army of 8,000 terracotta soldiers and horses that guard the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of the unified China and it is a stunning exhibition of ancient artefacts. This evening enjoy the spectacular Tang Dynasty Show with dinner.
Meals Included: BLD

7: HOHHOT

It’s a short drive this morning to the beautiful grassland Xilamuren, idyllic pasturelands, to visit two different sheep farms and herdsmen families to learn about their sheep breeding and what measures are being taken to prevent overgrazing of the grassland. One of the farms has sheep raised in fenced areas and another has a herd of sheep roaming freely in natural grassland. Enjoy a typical Mongolian lunch of roast mutton with the local family and learn about their way of life on the farm. After lunch enjoy traditional Mongolian folk dance and singing, wrestling and horse racing. Return to our hotel late this afternoon.
Meals Included: BLD

3: BEIJING

Today is one of the highlights of our tour: climbing the Great Wall of China. First built in the Warring States period (475-221BC) as a series of earthworks, the wall was erected by individual kingdoms as a defence against each other as well as from invasions from the north. The current wall remains from the Ming dynasty. After lunch drive to visit a modern ecological farm which was founded in 1982, and became the first "ecological village" in China. In 1987, it was selected as one of the United Nations' 500 environmental models for the world. Now, it is a diversified farming enterprise with grain production, greenhouses for vegetables, an orchard, nursery and facilities for animal husbandry. The farm makes use of organic wastes, solar energy and other ecological approaches. This evening enjoy a Peking Duck banquet dinner.
Meals Included: BLD

4: BEIJING

As our introduction to the imperial city take a stroll in Tiananmen Square, bordered by the Great Hall of the People. Then walk to the Forbidden City, the complex of the imperial palace, which was home to the Emperors for over 500 years. Grand halls and courts gradually give way to more intimate domestic quarters, giving an insight into the pampered isolation of the emperors. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure; perhaps do some private sightseeing or shopping in the markets.
Meals Included: BLD

5: BEIJING

Today drive to visit a large cattle farm with 3,500 head of beef cattle and walk around the feedlot as well as talking with the manager of this farm. Be prepared for a surprise! For lunch on the farm you will have high quality individual Beef Hot Pot. In the afternoon return to Beijing with time for shopping and to learn about traditional Chinese medicine. This evening board our Chinese first class Express Train to Inner Mongolia.
Meals Included: BLD

6: HOHHOT, MONGOLIA

Arrive early and transfer to our hotel for breakfast. Hohhot is the capital city of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with a population of 1.41 million. The region has the biggest production of milk in China and the city now is honoured as China’s Milk Capital. Visit one of the biggest milk processing companies in China, Yili Industrial Group Co., Ltd. and its dairy farm. The company aims to be one of the top 10 dairy companies in the world by 2015. Its milk products are found throughout China. This afternoon visit the famous Dazhao Temple, which was built in 1580 in the Ming dynasty. It is one of the biggest and best-preserved temples in Hohhot.
Meals Included: BLD

13: URUMQI

Today visit Nanshan Livestock Farm located among the mountains. Springs flow in the deep valleys, horses run on the green fields and you can see livestock scattered here and there around this beautiful and clean natural pasture land extending through its numerous long valleys. Towards the south of Urumqi City, the Nanshan Pasture is located in Kelawucheng Mountain range, a branch of the Heavenly Mountain range. Upon arrival drive up to a grassland farm that is 1,300m above sea level and have a talk with the owner. Then enjoy a special Kazakh lunch in the Yurts and see the sheep being shorn by local blade shearers. Return to the hotel for dinner.
Meals Included: BLD

12: URUMQI

After breakfast depart for Shihezi for a day of visits. The city is honoured as the manmade oasis in the desert as well the major base of breeding the Chinese merino super-fine-wool sheep and industrializing the fine-wool sheep in China. The high-quality A, B and C series of fine-wool sheep, which are now raised on 80 percent of the Xinjiang's pasturelands, are the choice of local herders seeking to improve profitability. After lunch visit a sheep farm to see shearing and wool preparation. Besides sheep, Shihezi has become an important centre for the production of grain and cotton. Notable among these crops is Yinli Cotton, which enjoys a good reputation both at home and abroad. The output of cotton from the oasis city accounts for one-ninth of the total for Xinjiang as a whole. Later board the coach to return to the hotel for dinner.
Meals Included: BLD

11: XIAN - URUMQI

An early start this morning. Following breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to the modern industrial metropolis of Urumqi. Urumqi literally means “beautiful pasture” and is the capital city of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the most 'inland' city in the world, which lies 2,248 kilometres away from the nearest ocean! With a population of two million gaily-dressed ethnic inhabitants, the city was strategically important on the ancient Silk Road - the great trade route between eastern and western countries. On arrival, transfer to our hotel to check-in for our four night stay. After lunch meet with an official from the Xinjiang Bureau of Animal Products.
Meals Included: BLD

14: URUMQI

Enjoy breakfast before departing in our coach for a look at Heavenly Lake, a volcanic lake which is nestled below Bogda Peak, 110 km east of Urumqi. Covering 4.9 sq km, this crescent-shaped lake deserves its name. With melted snow as its source, the lake enjoys crystal clear water. When the snow peaks and the clouds are mirrored in the glittering water, it is extremely beautiful presenting a spectacular view. After lunch, return to Urumqi, stopping off to visit the China Coloured Cotton Technology Park.
Meals Included: BLD

15: URUMQI - CHONGQING

After breakfast transfer to the airport and fly to the scenic mountain city of Chongqing. Enjoy a guided tour of the Three Gorges Museum and a city tour this afternoon. The city is also famous for its hot Sichuan Cuisine and world-famous hotpot dishes. Street vendors as well as restaurants feature exciting spicy delicacies for the adventurers. Dinner will be in a restaurant to have local cuisine before boarding our cruise ship to start our three night cruise on the Mighty Yangtze River. At 6,300 kilometres long it is the world’s third longest river, passing through three gorges on its way through the breathtaking and beautiful mountain scenery. Much of this spectacular scenery is changing as a result of the world’s largest dam project, which we will be visiting as we make our way downstream.
Meals Included: BLD

16: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

The Yangtze, which snakes its way from western China’s Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the East China Sea, is a very important means of transport and we will see ships carrying all sorts of merchandise. Our first port of call is the remarkable city of Fengdu, believed in days gone by, to be the abode of devils. The 700 temples with their bizarre statuary on Mingshan Hill bear testimony to the city’s notoriety as the “City of Ghosts”. This evening enjoy the Captain’s cocktail party followed by entertainment.
Meals Included: BLD

17: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

Today navigate the magnificent Yangtze Gorges. In the morning at about 7:00am, pass through the shortest and narrowest gorge, Qutang Gorge (8km). At 8:15am enter the second gorge, Wu Gorge, (44km) with peaks rising to dizzy heights above the river. At 10:00am, take an exciting ride by small craft along the swift waters of the Shennong Stream, one of the many tributaries in this fertile area. Here the imposing mountains, dramatic precipices and crystal clear waters form a spectacular scene. Return to the boat around 4:00pm and enter the Xiling Gorge, which is the last and longest of the three Gorges, its 75km renowned for swift currents and dangerous shoals.
Meals Included: BLD

18: YANGTZE - SHANGHAI

After breakfast leave our cruiser behind at Yichang and disembark at 8:00am. Drive to visit one of mankind’s greatest engineering feats to date: the damming of the Three Gorges area. The construction formally began in 1994 and the body of the dam was finished in 2003 and the whole construction completed in 2007. The dam wall is 2,335 metres long, 185 metres high and 130 metres wide at the bottom, tapering up to 18 metres at the top. Spectacular views and scenery from the top of the dam wall constantly change as the water level continues to rise and this area offers some of the most magnificent natural scenery in China. After lunch transfer to Yichang airport for our flight to Shanghai, which is China’s largest city with a population of approximately 16 million people. On arrival transfer to our hotel.
Meals Included: BLD

19: SHANGHAI

This morning go to the Shanghai Old Town, whose history dates back some 400 years. Visitors love this area due to the variety of commodities and shops available. Visit the Yu Garden, an island of tranquillity amid the hustle and bustle of the city. Covering nearly five acres, it contains over 30 pavilions and has numerous features characteristic of the architectural style of the Ming dynasty. Outside the Yu Garden there is an interesting market, the Yuyuan Bazaar with everything that you can think of for sale. Then visit the original waterfront area of the city known as the Bund. The river is the main shipping artery for the whole of southern China and the main form of transport for goods to and from the interior of the country and is China’s largest foreign trade port. Time for shopping on Nanjing Road and afterwards a tour to the Pudong New Developed Area on the Huangpu River viewing the third highest TV Tower in the world as well as the Jinmao Tower, the third tallest building in the world. This evening enjoy a Chinese Acrobats Show – an amazing performance of skill and agility.
Meals Included: BLD

20: SHANGHAI - SUZHOU

This morning travel to Suzhou, the city with over 2,500 years of history and regarded by Marco Polo as the "Venice of the Orient". Suzhou is also known as the Silk Capital of the World and a Land of Rice and Fish in China. En-route drive through some villages to see some rice fields and visit some rice growers. Then visit a big agricultural products wholesale market where you will see anything from live chickens and ducks to eels and a variety of fruit. Suzhou has long been famous for its canals and gardens. The canals are all linked to the Grand Canal, believed to be the largest internal waterway in the world. After lunch, take a sightseeing tour cruising on the canals to view people’s daily life. We then visit a Silk Mill to see how silk is produced from the silk worms and made into the finished articles both in traditional and modern ways. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel.
Meals Included: BLD

21: SHANGHAI - FLY HOME

After breakfast visit the Master of Nets Garden, one of the oldest existing gardens in the city and one of the four most famous classical gardens in China built in the Song Dynasty 900 years ago. Transfer to the airport early this afternoon for our flight back to Melbourne via Singapore.
Meals Included: BL

22: ARRIVE MELBOURNE

Arrive in Melbourne at approximately 9:00am, so ending a fascinating journey through China.

Trip Start	Trip Finish	Twin Share Price	Local Pymt Currency	Single Supp	Trip Notes
28 Jun 2010	19 Jul 2010	$6650	$	$985	View Notes