10-Day Tour of China

During this tour, you’ll jet between four of China’s most vibrant cities: Beijing, Xi’an, Suzhou, and Shanghai. At each stop, a guide will give you a tour of the city, and you’ll have a chance to get a closer look at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, Shanghai’s Bund District, and other famous landmarks. There will also be some free time to explore the cities on your own or take optional side trips (extra fees). Click here to see the full itinerary. The tour includes:

• Round-trip airfare from Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Houston (IAH), or New York (JFK) on Air China
• China domestic airfares: Beijing to Xi’an and Xi’an to Shanghai
• 3 nights of standard accommodations at the 4-star DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing
• 2 nights of standard accommodations at the 4.5-star Grand Noble Xi’an
• 1 night of standard accommodations at the 4.5-star Pan Pacific Suzhou Hotel
• 2 nights of standard accommodations at the 4.5-star Renaissance Shanghai Yangtze Hotel
• Daily breakfast
• Professional English-speaking tour guide
• Fuel surcharge and tax
• Round-trip airport transfers in each city
• Orientation tour in each city

Days 1–4: Beijing

An overnight flight takes you to Beijing, China’s capital and one of the world’s biggest cities. During your 3-night stint in this megalopolis, you’ll tour Qianmen Street—the city’s shopping hub—and the notable Bird’s Nest and Water Cube stadiums.

• Tiananmen Square dates back to the 15th century. It extends over nearly 100 acres, making it the world’s biggest public square. Among Tiananmen’s highlights are the Monument to the People’s Heroes, a 120-foot granite obelisk commemorating fallen Chinese soldiers.
• Forbidden City and Palace Museum: Once home to the imperial families of the Qing and Ming dynasties, this palatial complex has 800 buildings and thousands of rooms decked out with priceless artwork, antique furnishings, and precious jade.
• Optional tours: a guided tour of the Forbidden City ($28) or a day trip north to see the Great Wall of China ($49)

Days 5–6: Xi’an

The tour makes its way southwest to Xi’an, an ancient city that puts its 3,000-year history on full display. Most of the city is still surrounded by a moat and a 50-foot-thick stone wall dating back to the 7th century. At Xi’an’s center stand the Drum and Bell Towers, two pagoda-like structures equipped with giant drums and bells that were used to keep time during the Ming Dynasty.

• Big Wild Goose Pagoda was built during the 7th century and still stuns visitors with its elaborately carved Buddha statues. Climb the spiral staircase inside the pagoda for impressive views of the city.
• Optional tour: Xi’an’s Terracotta Army—thousands of terra-cotta soldiers, horses, and chariots—were carved during the 3rd century to protect the tomb of China’s first emperor. This marvel remained undiscovered until roughly 40 years ago; today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of China’s top tourist attractions ($55).

Days 7–10: Suzhou and Shanghai

En route to Shanghai, you’ll spend a day exploring Suzhou, called the “Venice of the East” for its elaborate gardens and meandering canals. The tour will stop at the Panmen Gate scenic area, visiting the Auspicious Luster Pagoda, the Water-and-Land City Gate, and the Wumen Bridge. The tour will then visit the Master of the Nets Garden, an exquisitely designed garden and pond surrounded by classical architecture.

You’ll head to Shanghai for the last leg of the tour. Here, you’ll take a guided tour of some of the city’s notable landmarks, including the Bund, the city’s riverfront district, where you can see examples of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. The Bund is right across the Huangpu River from the futuristic skyline in Pudong, offering picture-perfect views of its colorfully lit skyscrapers.

• The Shanghai Museum resembles a cooking pot on the outside; inside, you’ll find more than 100,000 artifacts, sculptures, and furnishings tracing back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.
• City God Temple has been in place since the 15th century. It’s surrounded by ornate pavilions, teahouses, and vendors hawking incense and jewelry.
• Optional tours: Take a short cruise along the Hung Pu river in the heart of Shanghai ($25) or enjoy an acrobatic dinner show ($40)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. From what airport does the deal depart? Alternate departure gateways available based on airline availability, surcharge may apply. Please call Affordable Asia Tours at 1-888-737-2742 to find out the exact price.

2. Can we extend our trip before or after the promotional dates for the deal? Yes, you have the option to extend your trip.

3. How do I find out if the dates I want to travel are available? As long as the Groupon shows the particular date can be purchased, then it is available.

4. Does my child need a Groupon, and can they stay in my room? The maximum number of people that can stay in one room is three total. One child can stay with two parents in the same room. Children will require a Groupon in order to travel with parents. Discounts apply during booking process. Children must be under 12 years old at time of travel. Please contact Affordable Asia for details.

5. What happens if I buy the Groupon and my travel dates are not available? After you purchase the Groupon, please redeem by making the reservation as soon as possible.

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