12 Days Tour to Gourmet's Paradise

Day 1

Arrive Beijing
Arrive in Beijing, the capital city of China, be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.
Meals: No Meals
Accommodation: In Beijing

Beijing, the capital of China, and is one of the great travel destinations of the World, offers sights and cultural relics found no where else on Earth. The city has a character all its own; there are quadrangles, small alleys, tricycle, boiled mutton, roasted duck, arts and crafts, Peking Opera, The Great Wall, the 2008 Olympics venue and a vibrancy that is the distinctive flavor of Beijing.

Day 2

Beijing
Depart from your hotel in the morning to visit Tiana'nmen Square, the World largest urban square and the Forbidden City, the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world. Then visit the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon. Today lunch will be the Royal Cuisine.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Beijing
 
As the biggest city center square in the world, Tian'anmen Square covering 44 hectares in the heart of Beijing. It is the place where history-changing events and ceremonies occurred. A few steps away, come to visit the Forbidden City, which was the Imperial Palace for 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties and, it is one of the largest, and certainly the most completely restored, ancient architectural complex in the world. Walk in the footsteps of Emperors; come to the museum and see with your eyes, and feel with your hearts; you will begin understand what life in this richest of feudal realms was like for the Imperial Rulers, their concubines and their slaves.

After enjoying a delicious lunch, continue on to the Temple of Heaven. Departing from the Imperial vermilion and gold hues of the Forbidden City, The Temple of Heaven is decorated in blue, the color of the Heavens. The perfect harmony between the architectural environment and nature can be felt here; you might easily imagine the vivid spectacle of a great sacrifice to the Heavens for a good harvest. The magnificent Hall of Prayer of Good Harvest is one of the most important and impressive building in China.

About the Specialty
In China, there is another way to classify cuisines besides region, it is based on the origin of the dishes. This system includes dishes of the palace, official, common people, mountain and forest temples, and ethnic minorities, as well as dishes of foreign countries. This way of classification has a very long history. It was based on the rigid stratification of China feudal society, which lasted for thousands of years and forced different ways of living upon the people. The differences in the stratification of the foods were recorded in the Unofficial Annals of the States in the Spring and Autumn Period as follows, 'The emperor ate beef and sheep; officials ate pig; scholars ate fish; and the common people ate vegetables.' Feudal ethics and different living standards among the differing strata resulted in Chinese food being classified into the palace, official, and common people cuisines.
 

Day 3

Beijing
In the morning, take a driving for 75km to visit the Great Wall (Badaling Section) first, then Ming Tombs (Changling Tomb), the once lavish burial chambers of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty. In Beijing, the focal point of any gourmet here must be the Peking Roasted Duck.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: In Beijing
 
Just 75km North-west of Beijing, along a smooth and comfortable highway is the Badaling Section of the Great Wall, which is one of the best-preserved and most accessible sections. The Great Wall is an internationally admired structure, symbolic of the cruelty of the ancient rulers, and the stoicism and determination of the Chinese people. The construction of the Great Wall began in the 5th century BC.

Then, you will have chance to visit the The Ming Tombs which located in the northern suburbs of Beijing. Altogether there are thirteen tombs of Ming Dynasty Emperors from the period after the capital was moved from Nanjing to Beijing. You will visit the Changling Tomb, burial site of Emperor Yong Le, the biggest and first built at this historic site. The Lingsi Palace in Changling Tomb's second yard really deserves a visit. This is unique, a magnificent palace made of camphor wood. The ceiling is colorfully painted and supported by sixteen solid camphor posts. The floor is decorated with gold bricks. 

About the Specialty
From the whole roasted duck to the soup of duck tones, you enjoy a banquet of every part of a duck. Moreover, the chef shows his skill of cutting the skin of duck on live. A famous roast duck dish from Beijing that has been gained popularity since the Yuan Dynasty and now it is considered as one of China's national dishes. The dish is famous for the thin and crispy duck skin. Ducks are bred specially for cooking, which after 65 days are slaughtered and seasoned before it is roasted in a closed oven or a hung oven. Before the main course, there are some appetizers made of other parts of duck. When the roast duck comes up, the chef will use a sharp knife to slice the crispy skin and meat, and serve them on a pre-warmed dish. The duck is eaten hot with hoisin sauce and spring onions rolled in Mandarin Crepes.
 

Day 4

Beijing    Chengdu
In the morning, take a half-day Hutong Tour by rickshaw to visit the ancient lanes and alleyways of Beijing. Be transferred to the airport for the flight to Chengdu, on arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel to catch up on some rest.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Chengdu

If exploring the Forbidden City has improved your understanding of the lifestyles of China ancient Imperial Court, then this half-day Hutong Tour will give you an insight into the lives of ordinary Chinese people and reveal their social culture in today's Beijing City. The narrow streets of old Beijing are known as Hutongs. You will take a rickshaw tour along the Hutongs and see the 100-year-old houses, courtyards and a vanishing way of life in today Beijing.

Chengdu is the capital city of Sichuan Province. With a population of 11 million, it is an important commercial transportation, and communications hub of south-western China. The locals have a reputation for a laid back attitude and knowing how to enjoy life. Historically, Chengdu has a special place in the annals of finance. The world first paper money, the 'Jiao Zi' was minted in Chengdu in the year 1023.
 

Day 5

Chengdu
Today, you will enjoy your full day city tour to those famous spots, including Thatched Cottage of Dufu, Wuhou Temple and Wangjiang Park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Chengdu

Thatched Cottage of Du Fu is a beautiful garden and museum to honor Du Fu, one of the greatest Chinese poets of all times. Along with Li Po, he is frequently called the greatest of the Chinese poets. In 760 Du arrived in Chengdu, where he based himself for most of the next five years. He wrote more than 240 poems at this cottage.

Located in the southern suburb of Chengdu, Wuhou Temple was first built in 265 during the Western Jin Dynasty in memory of Zhuge Liang, prime minister in charge of the Kingdom of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). It is the largest museum of the site left over from the Three Kingdoms Period, and a very quiet oasis in the city.
 
Located in Chengdu City, Wangjiang Park sits on 120,000 square meters lush willows and bamboo along the bank of the Jin River. You can stroll along the path to the pavilion built in memory of Xue Tao, a famous female poet of the Tang Dynasty.
 

Day 6

Chengdu
Depart from hotel in the morning, today, to have another whole-day trip of Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Sanxingdui Museum in the suburb of Chengdu. In the evening you will enjoy Hot Pot in Sichuan Style for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: In Chengdu

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is the world-famous Panda breeding research located about 10km (6 miles) out of the city. This institution replicates the natural habitat of the giant panda and is dedicated to preserving and increasing their population. Visitors are able to hold lovely pandas and be photographed with them.

Sanxingdui Museum is the place where you can learn about the culture that existed between 2,800 and 800 BC. The museum houses ancient remains including bronze wares, jade and stone objects, gold articles, pottery and bone objects excavated near present city of Guanghan, a famous historic and cultural city 40km from Chengdu in the south.

About the Specialty
The big draw of Chengdu is delicious Sichuan Cuisine. Sichuan is famous for its spicy food, and one of its delicacies is the hot pot. Fortunately, you will have a chance to taste Sichuan Hot Pot today. The Sichuan Hot Pot is a bubbling cauldron of extremely hot oil and water. Dip your choice of the variety of supplied foods into the pot: meats, vegetables or tofu. It's a very social meal. People sit around to enjoy food and make a long evening out of it. 
 

Day 7

Chengdu    Guangzhou
In the morning, you will be transferred to the airport. On arrival, be met at the airport then, your guide will accompany you for a visit to Dr. Sun Yetsen Memorial Hall and Temple of Chen Family after the lunch of Canton Cuisine.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Guangzhou

Guangzhou is a civilized ancient city with a history of more than 2200 years, the same age as the ancient city of Rome in Italy. It was also the earliest trade port in China that opened to the world and was the starting port of the "silk road" on the sea since the Han and Tang Dynasties. The city is now the capital of Guangdong province, you can see there ultra-modern hotels and office blocks rub shoulders with traditional temples, wet markets and historic buildings.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is one of the most important historic buildings in Canton. It is built to honor Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the great architect of Chinese revolution. The hall was constructed between 1929 and 1931, on the site of the former Presidential Palace.

Temple of Chen Family is one of the most culturally unique complexes in Southern China. Built in the 1890s, the complex is comprised of 19 buildings which are known for great decorations, woodcarvings, and iron castings and so on.

About the Specialty
As the Chinese saying goes, eating in Guangdong. Catering has been a very important component in Guangdong's tourism development. The cooking skill pays priority to light, fresh, clear, slippery, and tender and nutrition.
 

Day 8

Guangzhou    Hangzhou
If you desire, you could get up earlier this morning and have a try of the Morning Tea. Then go to visit Xiguan Residence. After that, be transferred to the airport for the flight to Hangzhou.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Hangzhou

Located in Xiguan, today Liwan District, Xiguan Residence are built by the rich and powerful families at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Most of these residences are built with bricks and timber, and the layout follows Chinese traditional design. Xiguan Houses is regarded as treasure of Guangzhou traditional architecture.

Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, is located by the Qiantang River at the Southern end of the Grand Canal. As one of the most renowned and prosperous cities of China for much of the last 1,000 years, Hangzhou is also well-known for its beautiful natural scenery, with the West Lake as the most well-known location. The Venetian Marco Polo supposedly visited Hangzhou in the late 13th century. His book refers to the city as "beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world."

About the Specialty
In a wider definition, to go to drink morning tea does not just mean to drink one cup of tea after another without eating. Instead you will find many dim sums (snacks), which are quite tasty with the companion of tea. For Canton residents, it is an access to socialize rather than having a breakfast. They do not only mean to eat but want to spread news, exchange friendship and negotiate business. When negotiation is deadlocked, Cantonese people will find a decent teahouse to settle down their issues in a more relaxing atmosphere.
 

Day 9

Hangzhou
Enjoy your one day leisure trip in the city that covers the visit to West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Six Harmonies Pagoda and Huqingyu Traditional Pharmacy. Huaiyang Cuisine will be served as dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: In Hangzhou

"Rippling waters shimmering on a sunny day,
Misty mountains shrouded by the rain;
Plain or gaily decked out like Xizi;
West Lake is always alluring"
 
These sentiments by the famous poet Su Dongpo, comparing West Lake with Xizi, the most renowned beauty of the Song Dynasty, leave one in no doubt of the splendor of the scenery that inspired them. Enclosed by the hills on three sides, the West Lake mirrors the surrounding landscape to form a panorama of great beauty. The lake was originally part of the Qitang River until its outlet became silted up. It is now 15km in circumference with an average depth of 1.8 meters.

The Lingyin Temple is regarded as one of the four temples by the side of the West Lake.  The main hall, 33.6 meters high, is one of China tallest single-story buildings, further distinguished by double eaves. Within, a statue of Sakyamuni, carved out of 24 pieces of camphor wood and gilded with 104 ounces of gold, stands an impressive 19.6 meters high.

After lunch the Standing by the Qiantang River in Hangzhou, the Pagoda of Six Harmonies (Liuhe Tower) has for hundreds of years been praised by poets and men of letters. The pagoda was constructed first in 970 during the Northern Song Dynasty to suppress the tidewaters. It is nearly 60 meters tall with 13 stories outside and seven inside. From here you can have a good view of the Qiantang River meandering far into the distance.

Huqingyu Traditional Pharmacy was built in 1874 by Hu Xueyan, a "red-top official merchant". It is worth mentioning that Huqingyu Drugstore fully carried out the medicine-making techniques and industry standards stated in the Prescriptions of the Bureau of Taiping People Welfare Pharmacy drafted by the authorities of the Southern Song Dynasty. It is also fair to say that Hangzhou is the origin of "ancient Chinese pharmacopoeia" and Hu Qingyu Drugstore is an inheritor of the great tradition.

About the Specialty
While you are enjoying the beautiful sightseeing of Hangzhou, you can also try the well-known Huaiyang Cuisine which is the style prevailing in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Suzhou. The basin of the lower reaches of the Yangtze and the coast are blessed with the products of rivers, lakes and the sea; everything for seekers of fine food. Huaiyang dishes are characterized by the addition of a relatively high proportion of soy sauce. 
 

Day 10

Hangzhou    Shanghai
Be transferred to the railway station for the train to Shanghai. You will then have a Chinese cooking lesson upon arrival.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: In Shanghai

Shanghai is a city unlike any other in China. It is the bustling economic heartbeat of China that enjoys all of the comforts and amenities of a fully modern metropolis. Shanghai today looks to regain its former position at the turn of 20th of being one of the largest financial centers in the world behind New York and London. It is a city that seamlessly blends East and West.
 

Day 11

Shanghai
Depart from hotel in the morning, you will take a whole-day trip of Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Garden, the Old Street, Oriental TV Tower and the Bund. Today lunch will be Dim-sum Banquet.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: In Shanghai

Today you will find a Buddhism shrine - Jade Buddha Temple, which is located in a crowd of Shanghai City. It was first built in 1882 in Jiangwan on the southern outskirts of Shanghai. In order to make it convenient for the adherents to visit, it was bodily moved to Shanghai City at the present sire in 1918. It is named for its two bejeweled white jade Buddha. It receives thousands of visitors and worshipers everyday while keeps its sanctity and charming. Carved from a whole piece of white jade, the sitting jade Buddha statue is translucent with a solemn expression, displaying the excellent skill and extraordinary art of Chinese people.

Yuyuan Garden has a lot of stories for it was severely damaged in the 19th century and was restored in 1961. This garden was first built in the 16th century by provincial governor, Pan Yunduan, in honor of his father who was the then government minister. It has many scenic courtyards decorated with baroque rockery, pools, and flora that are all connected by corridors and passageways. The delicate design and exquisite layout of the whole garden reveals a strong impression of 'garden in the garden, whole in the part.

Completed in 1995 to a highly innovative design, Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower includes 15 spheres of different sizes at different levels creating an artistic conception of "large and small pearls dropping onto a jade plate" in ancient Chinese poem.  It has become a symbol of excellence in architecture and is a favorite sight for tourists in Shanghai. Viewed from the Bund at night, the tower's three-dimensional lighting creates an enchanting, brilliantly colored display. At 468 meters, it is the third tallest TV and radio tower in the World. Two of the six tower elevators can reach the highest sphere in 40 seconds; here the visitor will discover shops, a rotating restaurant and a sightseeing floor. The view of Shanghai from here is breath-taking. 

The Bund is the showcase with the old buildings of colonial-era leftover along Huangpu River. The renowned waterfront district is the city most famous landmark. The word BUND is of Anglo-India origin meaning embankment on the waterfront. It is also the popular site to enjoy the night view of the city.
 

Day 12