Tale of Two Cities - Beijing & Shanghai

Trip Length	Trip Code
6 days	PCTT

Countries Visited
China

Start City	End City
Beijing	Shanghai

A tale of two cities are revealed on this tour through the ancient citadel of Beijing and the modern metropolis of Shanghai. First we experience what China is famous for, the impressive historical sites such as the magical Summer Palace, the awe inspiring Great Wall and the mystical Forbidden City. Amongst all of these iconic sites we take in a culinary market tour through Beijing followed by a cooking class in Chinese cuisine in a traditional hutong house. We then board China's new engineering feat, the luxurious bullet train as we make our way to Shanghai. From the Art Deco buildings of the early 1900s to the modern architecture of the Pudong area – Shanghai is truly a city of contrast. We depart our train and enjoy an evening drink in the famous Jazz Bar of the Peace Hotel. In Shanghai, we explore the old town and the Bund, and marvel at the impressive Jin Mao Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world. On our final night we enjoy a feast at the famous Yin restaurant, where French and Chinese cuisine meet as it did in the late 1800s.

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1: Beijing

Accommodation: Dong Fang Hotel or similar, Beijing

On arrival in Beijing you are transferred to your hotel. At high noon you will meet your Tour Leader who will escort you to the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace is the most well preserved royal gardens in China and we spend an afternoon exploring this wonderful site. This is generally followed by an optional group dinner at a local restaurant - Peking Duck is often a popular choice.

Day 2-3: Beijing

Meals included: 2 breakfasts

Accommodation: Dong Fang Hotel or similar, Beijing

Beijing offers endless opportunities for exploration. The enormous Forbidden City, built more than 500 years ago and off limits to commoners for almost all that time, is a truly amazing place. Its size might surprise you (it is huge!), but what makes it fascinating is that every square metre is interesting, ranging from intricately carved walkways to colourful, painted ceilings. We also travel to Mutianyu, a section of the Great Wall a few hours out of Beijing. Being perched on this incredible engineering feat and surveying the spectacular surrounding countryside is an unforgettable experience. On the afternoon of Day 3 we enjoy a cooking class in authentic Chinese cuisine run out of a ancient houtong in downtown Beijing. There is also ample free time in the itinerary, allowing you to make your own discoveries. Our hotel is located in the south of the city and a walk in any direction will unveil all sorts of wonderful surprises. There are good shopping opportunities at the various markets around the city, such as the centrally located Dashilan Market. In the evening, you have the chance to enjoy a performance of the unique Beijing Opera (optional).

Day 4: Beijing - Shanghai

Meals included: 1 breakfast

Accommodation: Metropole Hotel or similar, Shanghai

There is also ample free time in the morning, allowing you to make your own discoveries. Our hotel is located in the south of the city and a walk in any direction will unveil all sorts of wonderful surprises. There are good shopping opportunities at the various markets around the city, such as the centrally located Dashilan Market. Today we are transferred to the bullet train that will take us to Shanghai in just over 4 hours. We arrive in the electric city of Shanghai and check into our hotel. From here we take a stroll along the Bund were we can witness distinct times in history for this great city. One side is the art deco buildings of the turn of the century the other is the futuristic architecture of the business district of pudong. The sides stare across from each other like brooding relatives. We stroll along to the world famous Peace Hotel which was built in a time when Shanghai was the most famous city in the world at the turn of the century. It is here we can enjoy a drink at the Jazz Bar.

Day 5: Shanghai

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Accommodation: Metropole Hotel or similar, Shanghai

We wake in Shanghai and enjoy the famous Yuyuan Gardens and Bazaar, a fascinating highlight of the city and worth exploring for its tranquil Chinese garden and wonderful food stalls. It is here we experience a tea drinking ceremony at an authentic teahouse. . Later in the day we venture to Jinmao tower for the expansive views of Shanghai from the 88th floor. In the evening we enjoy a grand dinner at Yin restaurant which incorporates western and eastern cuisine thus reflecting what shanghai represents east meeting west.

Day 6: Shanghai

Meals included: 1 breakfast

The tour ends after breakfast. You should arrange an evening flight out, or stay an extra day, if you wish to have time to explore more of Shanghai. A transfer to the airport is not included, however, your tour leader will be on hand to advise you as to the options available.

Your Trip

What's Included

Local tour leader, local guides, arrival transfer, transport, sightseeing and entrance fees.

Summary of accommodation, transport & meals

Transport

Minibus
Plane
Sleeper train

Accommodation

5 nights Comfortable hotel

Meals

5 breakfasts
1 dinner

Not Included

International flights, international and domestic departure taxes, departure transfer, visas, insurance, other meals, any optional tours and activities during free time, tips and items of a personal nature.

What to know

Vaccinations

Vaccinations may be required for this trip. Talk to your doctor about the up-to-date information for this region.

Visas and Permits

It is your responsibility to ensure you have all required visas for your trip. Rules and regulations governing the issuance of visas are constantly changing, and vary for different nationalities and you should check visa requirements with your travel agent or relevant consular authority well before travel.

China

Please note that visa requirements can and do change. It is essential that you confirm requirements with the nearest relevant embassy or check with your travel agent before you travel. At the time of writing, most nationalities require a visa for China. Chinese visas can only by obtained at Chinese Consulates prior to your arrival in China.

Please note if you are travelling from China into Hong Kong (a Special Economic Region) or Kyrgyzstan then back again into China, you will need a double entry Chinese visa. Please be warned that on some occasions people transiting through mainland China on their way to Hong Kong have been made to go through Chinese immigration and had their single entry visa stamped, thus making it invalid. Do not allow your visa to be stamped if you are only going through transit. The Chinese authorities restrict visas for those working in media, government or the military - please contact us for further information.

Insurance

You are required to have travel insurance before heading off on a Peregrine trip. Insurance can be organised by your Peregrine representative or your travel agent.

Responsible Travel

Our Responsible Travel ethos is at the heart of everything we do, from getting the basics right like respecting local cultures and the environment, to initiating projects that make positive contributions to communities, to our staff’s fundraising efforts and offsetting our carbon emissions.
Please visit our Responsible Travel (http://www.peregrineadventures.com/rt) page for more information.

Customs and Culture

Our Pre Departure Information or Travel Dossier (provided upon booking a trip) provides tips on how you can show respect for the local customs and culture in the country you are travelling in.

The information listed above is a brief description of some things you may need to consider when booking a trip. Once a tour is booked you will be provided with a link to your Travel Dossier which will contain detailed Pre Departure information.

Important Information

Infrastructure and Itinerary Changes

China is a developing country whose infrastructure, values, customs and standards differ from what you are used to at home. Please bear this in mind as you are travelling in this exciting country and respect the fact that you should not impose your standards and expectations on the culture there. The driving habits in China are something for which you ought to prepare yourself for!

Occasionally it may be necessary to amend this itinerary for reasons beyond our control, such as bad weather and poor road conditions. Changes to and train schedules can sometimes occur, which may also lead to changes to this itinerary.

Travelling During Holiday Periods

When travelling during local holiday periods, be prepared for some inconveniences. This is especially so during the Spring Festival holiday period (Chinese New Year) and the National Day Golden Week.

2013 is the Year of the Snake. In 2014 Chinese New Year day will be on Friday 31st January, ushering in the Year of the Horse. All days from 30th January to 5th February 2014 are designated as public holidays. In 2015 Chinese New Year will be on 19th February (Year of the Sheep) and in 2016 it will be on 8th February (Year of the Monkey). The greeting in Mandarin for ‘Happy New Year’ is ‘Gong Xi Fa Cai’, whilst the greeting in Cantonese is ‘Gong Hey Fat Choy’. China’s National Day is on 1st October and this ushers in a 7-day national holiday known as Golden Week. During these holiday periods, most businesses will be closed as the local people usually spend this period returning to their homes and celebrating with their families. This will involve a major burden on all forms of transport, and despite booking in advance, tickets for planes and trains especially are extremely difficult to obtain. Even if bookings are obtained, transport services during this period will be overcrowded and heavy delays are to be expected, so you will need to make sure that you pack your sense of humour. In order to facilitate your travels during these holiday periods, we may need to substitute your train/plane journey with a private bus trip, if required.

Train Travel in China

Overnight train accommodation on this tour is in 4-berth ‘soft-sleeper’ class, which are four beds in a compartment. Bedding is provided and wash basins and toilet facilities (usually one with a toilet seat and one squat-style in each compartment) are available on all trains, but there are no showers or baths. There are urns or thermos flasks for making hot beverages. It is quite possible that we may be divided over a series of separate compartments and some of us may have to share our compartment with other train travellers. There is no single supplement available for the train. Train travel is an integral part of the China travel experience and offers some of the best chances of meeting and making friends with the locals.

Local Tour Leaders

By employing and training local tour leaders to lead our group holidays, there is a two-fold benefit. Firstly, we provide employment opportunities for the local community. Just as importantly is the benefit to you, the traveller. Your tour leader’s friendship, humour, passion and intimate knowledge of the region will be key factors in making your holiday a success.

Adventure in China

This is an ‘adventure’ trip and we hope to expose you to all aspects of the local culture. Please be open-minded.

About this Information

The information provided here is given in good faith and has been compiled with all reasonable care. However, things change and some of the information may become out of date. Please keep this in mind when you read it and check with us if you want to be sure about something. The document was correct at time of printing, but you can check online for the most up to date version. If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or our staff in Australia. We are here to help you!

Last Updated

12 April 2013