THE FOODIE TOUR

Day 1 : Arrival Beijing 

After arrival at Beijing International Airport, you will be greeted by a guide and transferred to the hotel.

Rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight in Beijing Novotel Peace Hotel 4*.

Day 2 : Beijing (B / L / D)

Today we visit the three top sites in the capital city.

After breakfast we head to Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of China and a gathering place for the masses. It is the largest public square in the world and can hold one million people. You will see notable landmarks, including a towering 125-foot granite obelisk, a monument honouring those who died in revolution.

Next up is the Forbidden City, the inner sanctum and palace where 24 emperors resided. This iconic site has a 9,000-room maze of courtyards and ceremonial halls.

The final stop of the day is the Summer Palace. Built in 1888, this was once a summer retreat and imperial park for emperors. We also enjoy a lakeside cruise on Kunming Lake, with views of the hills, bridges and pagodas that grace the Palace grounds.

Lunch is at a local restaurant.

In the evening, we take a tour of traditional hutong, courtyard houses to get a peek into the past. Get to taste various Beijing snacks where only local people will frequent in the neighbourhood, and end this evening with handmade craft beer.

Overnight in Beijing Novotel Peace Hotel 4*.

Day 3 : Beijing (B / L / D)

Soak up the history of the Great Wall with exploration of the Mutianyu section – the longest fully restored segment open to tourists.

This area is considered more quiet and remote, with vegetation, comprising pines and cypress, covering 90 per cent of the hillside. This portion of the wall was built over 1,400 years ago and strengthened in 1404. This section features parapets that enabled soldiers to fire arrows at the enemy from both sides. The granite design of the Mutianyu section is considered to be one of the most impressive architectural stretches open to tourists, with 23 watchtowers rebuilt in their original style.

Lunch at a local restaurant, followed by an exploration of 798 Art Zone in Beijing, discovering the inside spaces (surcharge applies), graffiti art adorned on the side of the buildings, sculptures and installation projects. Stop by one of the cafes, bars and restaurants for a drink or to refuel, followed by a browse in the shops.

To end the perfect day we enjoy a Peking duck dinner in the one of the leading restaurants in Beijing.

Overnight in Beijing Novotel Peace Hotel 4*.

Day 4 : Beijing - Pingyao (B / L / D)

Today’s tour takes us on a journey back in time.

After breakfast we transfer to the station and take the train to Pingyao. On arrival, we take a step back in time as we explore this 14th century destination.

Pingyao is one of four ancient cities that have been preserved in the country and it is an excellent example of a traditional Han Chinese city. In the Ming era it was an important trading centre and in the Qing period it was the nation’s most important financial centre.

After passing the entrance gates, we will encounter alleys that lead to traditional buildings and courtyard houses, as well as temples and abundant shops. These trading outlets bear witness to Pingyao’s economic predominance for over a century.

We end the day with a Chinese noodle cooking class. Lunch and dinner are at local.

Overnight in Pingyao Guesthouse.

Day 5 : Pingyao - Xi’an (B / - / D)

The evening promises to be a memorable occasion, with a food and beer tour of Xi’an, one of the most vibrant culinary destinations in China.

After the transfer to the station for a train to Xi’an, on arrival, the evening is all about eating and drinking (join-in activity). Xi’an is renowned for its cuisine, including classic dishes such as soupy dumplings, flatbread in mutton soup and hot and sour soup dumplings. You will enjoy unlimited beer and soda as you are whisked around the city in a tuk-tuk. You will try the best food at places only the locals know about. We finish at the lone craft brewery in Xi’an.

Please note: The train travel is in second class (a supplement is applied for first class)

Overnight in Xi’an Grand Mercure Hotel 4*.

Day 6 : Xi’an (B / L / D) 

Today we go back in time with a visit to one of the world’s greatest archaeological finds – the Terracotta Warriors.

This amazing site features sculptures of soldiers, chariots and horses of every shape and size, including rank, posture, height, uniform and facial features. They were created to accompany China’s first emperor to the afterlife. The site was accidently discovered in 1974 by a group of workers who were digging a well on the outskirts of town. This UNESCO listed attraction is one of the most popular tourism sites in China.

An afternoon visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda is followed by a trip to the historic walled centre of Xi’an to view the Drum Tower and Great Mosque.

The evening meal is a special Chinese ravioli dinner at De Fang Chang restaurant and overnight is in Xi’an.

Overnight in Xi’an Grand Mercure Hotel 4*.

Day 7 : Xi’an - Chengdu (B / L / D)

We set off after breakfast to get the fast train to Chengdu. On arrival, we explore Jinli Street, a thoroughfare known as the first street of the Shu Kingdom and this has become a favourite snacking hub. The experience is enhanced by regular street performances such as folk music, dramas, or costume shows.

Visit Chuancais Museum – Sichuan Cuisine Museum, this is the only museum in the world with the theme of the culture of local cuisine. Inside visitors have the chance to taste many famous local snacks. After seeing the recipes and raw materials, a professional cook is there to guide a cooking class to cook the dishes yourself, there you can master an authentic Sichuan dish.

Dinner is Chengdu’s signature hot pot dish at a local restaurant. This spicy culinary favourite contributed to UNESCO listing Chengdu as a city of gastronomy.

Overnight in Chengdu Tibet Hotel 5*

Day 8 : Chengdu (B / L / -)

Today’s fascinating tour combines adorable pandas, historical exploration and culinary enlightenment.

After collection from the hotel, we visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. This facility was founded in 1987 with six giant pandas rescued from the wild. The centre is now dedicated to the conservation of the wild population and the healthy growth of the captive population. We then visit the Sanxingdui Museum to view a remarkable collection of bronze artefacts.

Dinner is free at leisure.

Overnight in Chengdu Tibet Hotel 5*.

Day 9 : Chengdu - Shanghai (B / - / D)

After arrival at Shanghai Airport you will be greeted by the guide and transferred to the hotel with plenty of time to prepare for the evening taste extravaganza (join-in activity). The menu includes Shanghai classics such as soup dumplings, vegetarian pot stickers, rice cakes, braised pork belly, a dessert and a brewery item. Shanghai cuisine puts a premium on the use of condiments while accentuating the flavours of raw ingredients. Some describe it as a bit sweeter than food from other regions of China. A good example of Shanghai taste is sweet and sour and the region emphasises attractive presentation with a view to harmonising colours. Ahead of this gourmand experience, lunch is to your own arrangement.

Overnight in Shanghai Metro Park Hotel 4*.

Day 10 : Shanghai – Tongli - Suzhou - Shanghai (B / L / -)

Today’s inspirational tour has a green theme as we explore two of the most beautiful gardens of Tongli and Suzhou.

From the hotel, we transfer to Tongli Water Town, which is one of the most beautiful water towns in Suzhou. With a history of 1000 years, the picturesque and time-honoured town is embedded with a net of waterways, where people can see 49 ancient bridges and 7 small isles segmented by the rivers and their branches. We will visit the Retreat and Reflection Garden and take a cruising on small boats crossing the rivers of Tongli.

Continue to Suzhou and visit the Lingering Garden (Liu Yuan), originally a classical private garden, it’s one of the four most famous gardens in China. Possessing typical Qing style, it is well-known for the exquisite beauty of its magnificent halls, various sizes, shapes and colors of the buildings. In 1997, it was recorded on the list of the world heritage by UNESCO. Stroll on Shantang Street, an ancient riverside pedestrian road in northwest Suzhou. Try all kinds of local snacks and pick up some souvenirs before we drive back to Shanghai.

Overnight in Shanghai Metro Park Hotel 4*.

Day 11 : Shanghai (B / L / D) 

Today we seek serenity in a classic Chinese garden.

Yu Garden is the only fully restored classical Chinese garden in Shanghai. Although the 16th century Ming-style masterpiece occupies a relatively small area, it demonstrates perfectly the sophisticated art of combining several different natural elements to create a world in miniature, including ingeniously mingling pavilions, small hills, lotus ponds, ornate bridges and winding paths set among a blaze of greenery.

Lunch of xiaolongbao – steamed bun at local restaurant.

The Temple of the Jade Buddha has statues of precious rock imported from Myanmar. After absorbing this serene site, we continue with a tour of the famed Bund promenade, a former trading area with European influences and Nanjing Road to get an insight into the city’s past. We also take in the Xintiandi area which pays homage to the Shikumen-style housing of the 1920s. Farewell Dinner is at Lost Heaven, a unique restaurant that serves food from local ethnic minorities in Yunnan province.

Overnight in Shanghai Metro Park Hotel 4*.

Day 12 : Shanghai departure (B / - / -)

Today we transfer to Shanghai Airport for the flight to your home destination.

End of the Tour.