Imperial China

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                      Imperial China
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                      Imperial China
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                      Imperial China

The Concept

Experience contemporary and historical China in our fully immersive 10-day educational tour program. Students will experience the modern wonders of Shanghai and Beijing technological advancement, balanced with guided tours of key historical sites and ancient wonders. Students will be able to practice first hand their language skills through accessing public transport, visiting historic site and museums.

Highlights include the stunning Terracotta Warriors of Xian, the glorious palaces and gardens of the Forbidden City and Summer Palace, the local Hutong area of Beijing and its laneways, businesses and museums and walking on the Great Wall of China.

Secondary school students will increase their understanding of and respect for Chinese history and culture. Chinese language students will improve their language skills. 

Exclusive to G.E.T, students will visit one of the world’s great Palaeontology Museums and clean and prepare their own fossil in the museum’s laboratory – a highlight of their visit.

History
Language

Itinerary Day By Day

DAY 1 AUSTRALIA – SHANGHAI

Fly from Australia to Shanghai. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Includes a snack on arrival.

DAY 2 SHANGHAI (B, L, D)

After breakfast, visit the Shanghai World Financial Centre with your guide and enjoy the view from the observation deck. Then onto the classical Yu Gardens, created as a magnificent private garden in the Ming Dynasty before taking your lunch at a nearby restaurant. After lunch visit the impressive Shanghai Museum and wander around the many interesting exhibits Later this afternoon return to your hotel and freshen up for dinner, followed by a cruise along the Huangpu River with spectacular views of Pudong and The Bund, before returning to your hotel.

DAY 3 ZHUJIAJIAO (B, L, D)

After breakfast, your coach will take you to the famous water town of Zhujiajiao and enjoy lunch on the river before returning to Shanghai’s French Concession mid-afternoon. You will have some time to wander around and enjoy the history of this beautiful area before dinner, followed by an acrobat show in the evening.

DAY 4 SHANGHAI – XIAN (B, L, D)

Check out after breakfast and transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Xian. On arrival, transfer to your hotel to drop your bags before visiting the Wild Goose Pagoda and nearby Muslim market street for some souvenir shopping. Return to your hotel and check in before dinner this evening – a dumpling banquet.

DAY 5 XIAN – BEIJING (B, L, D)

After breakfast and check out, your private coach and guide will take you to visit Xian’s Terracotta Warriors and Horses, which were sculpted to guard Emperor Qin upon his death. Enjoy lunch nearby, then return to town and visit the impressive Xian City Wall where students can bike ride along the City Wall. Transfer by private coach to the station (stop off for dinner on the way) and check in for your bullet train to Beijing. On arrival transfer to your hotel.

DAY 6 BEIJING (B, L, D)

After breakfast set out to explore Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, the centre of the world for the Chinese during 24 Ming and Qing dynasties. Today you can wander through the pavilions, palaces and courtyards of the Imperial Palace, the emperors only rarely emerged from behind the red walls of their 72 hectare home. Lunch will be taken nearby at one of our favourite Beijing restaurants, before returning to your hotel to check in and enjoy some free time at your teacher’s discretion. Tonight’s dinner is a Beijing specialty - Peking duck. *note that some groups like to take the Hutong Rickshaw tour this afternoon before returning to their hotel – it is highly recommended and close to Forbidden City, therefore easily added to your program.

DAY 7 BEIJING (B, L)

After breakfast, a true highlight of your trip to China. Travel by coach to The Beijing Palaeontology Museum and commence your fossil laboratory program, where students are provided with a rock containing a fossil, and the appropriate tools to extract it. Once completed wander around the museum and be amazed at the dinosaur (and human!) remains on display across the two floors. Students take their fossil and a tee shirt as a memento of their experience. Travel to the nearby Beijing Zoo to see the Panda enclosure, then take lunch nearby en route to the Summer Palace, with its ornamental gardens, lake and characteristic pavilions and take a cruise. Return to your hotel for some free time - dinner is at your own arrangements this evening, and we recommend one of the nearby food courts in the department store close to your accommodation.

DAY 8 GREAT WALL (B, L, D)

After an early breakfast, travel to the 2,000 year old, 6,350km long Great Wall, Mutianyu Section. The wall was originally built-in sections by individual feudal states, the sections were then connected by Emperor Qin Shi Huang when he unified China. Return to Beijing, arriving around 4pm and rest up before tonight’s dinner and entertainment, presented by the Shaolin Monks’ Kung Fu show.

DAY 9 BEIJING – AUSTRALIA (B)

Morning at leisure after breakfast, before an afternoon transfer to the airport. Check in for your flight home. Board your flight home.

DAY 10 Australia

Arrive home.

Inclusions
  • Return international economy airfares, including pre-paid taxes and charges
  • Domestic economy class airfares and 2nd class bullet train fares
  • 8 nights twin or triple share accommodation, with private facilities
  • Breakfast daily
  • Lunches and dinners as specified
  • Evening entertainment as specified in itinerary
  • Beijing Fossil Laboratory experience
  • Transfers and tours throughout with English speaking, hand-picked local guides
  • Entrance fees as required and as per itinerary