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Day
1
Beijing Arrival
Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
Upon your arrival in Beijing, you will be greeted by our local guide and then transferred to your hotel by a private air-conditioned car. For the rest of the day you will enjoy some leisure time.
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Day
2
Beijing (B, L)
Sightseeing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven
This morning our tour will begin with a visit to the Tiananmen Square, which is the symbolical heart of China and gathering place for the masses. It is the biggest public square in the world, which can hold one million people.
From here we will walk across the Golden River Bridge to visit the Forbidden City and experience the ancient Emperor's daily life. For 5 centuries Chinese emperors carried out their administration here. With almost 10,000 rooms, it was the centre of the Ming and Qing dynasties, a massive complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens where 24 emperors used to live. Forbidden City was the largest palace in the world, and in the past it was indeed a forbidden place for commoners. Your tour here will include private access to the Emperor's palace.
After lunch, continue to visit Temple of Heaven, which was completed in 1420, and expanded over the years by two Qing Dynasty Emperors. It was the place where the Emperor came every winter solstice to worship heaven and to solemnly pray for a good harvest. With the three blue-tiled cone-shaped roofs, a unique wooden and blue-tiled structure built without a nail, it has become a worldwide symbol of Beijing.
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Day
3
Beijing (B, L)
Sightseeing: Badaling Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Sacred Way
After experiencing the royal lifestyle, today we will be transferred to the surrounding countryside of Beijing and visit the Badaling Great Wall, the pride of China and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Whereas Genghis Khan contemplated it as a military obstacle, Richard Nixon described it as one of humankind's greatest achievements. You will be able to climb and walk one of the best preserved sections of the 2,000 years old ancient wall, admiring the splendid mountain views. Bring a jacket and layer- although it is breezy, the climbing is tough. So be in a good shape!
In the afternoon we will visit the legendary Ming Tombs, which are situated at the foot of Heavenly Longevity Mountain, Changping, northwest of Beijing. Since there are 13 Ming emperors buried there, this place was called the 13 Ming Tombs. You will walk along the Sacred Way, a road guarded by stone statues on both sides, as the ancient emperors did to hold a memorial ceremony for their ancestors. Finally, you will encounter the marble tombs of the Ming Dynasty emperors and visit one of the spectacular tombs, indeed an underground palace.
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Day
4
Beijing (B, L)
Sightseeing: Summer Palace, Hutong tour
This morning our tour will begin with a visit of the Summer Palace. Equally famous as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace is called 'Yiheyuan' (Garden of Nurtured Harmony) in Chinese. Until nowadays, it is the best preserved and the largest imperial garden in China. You will regret it if you leave Beijing without having visited this grand imperial garden.
We will experience a unique Hutong tour by taking a rickshaw this afternoon. Hutongs are a kind of ancient city alley or lane and are very typical for Beijing. Most of them can be found close to the Forbidden City, and many were built during the three dynasties of Yuan, Ming and Qing. Today, the Hutong is a living museum of Beijing history showing the traditional lifestyle of Beijing people.
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Day
5
Beijing / Harbin (B, D)
Transfer via: Flight on our arrangement
Sightseeing: the St. Sophia Orthodox Church, the Central Street
After breakfast, you will be transferred to airport to take flight and fly to Harbin. Meet your Harbin guide at airport and then be transferred to your hotel. Freshen yourself after a rest.
Then visit the St. Sophia Orthodox Church. It is the largest Orthodox church in the Far East. You can walk around the Central Street and view the Russian and European style architecture.
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Day
6
Harbin (B, L, D)
Sightseeing: Siberian Tiger Park, Sun Island Snow Sculptures, the Ice and Snow World (in the evening)
Today we will first see Siberian Tiger Park. And Sun Island Snow Sculptures is another highlight in your date time. Fanciful sculptures are made in the shapes of animals, plants, buildings etc. Some of the larger ones have included a crystalline ice bridge. It is an amazing ice and snow artwork. A spectacular banquet will be arranged for you! That is the "Harbin Ice and Snow World". As the dragon-head brand of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, it provides visitors with a good opportunity to appreciate a galaxy of unique ice and snow art. When night falls, the sculptures are illuminated from the inside with colored lights, turn the place into a temporary fantast-land.
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Day
7
Harbin Departure (B)
Transfer via: Flight on your own arrangement
Today will be free for your own purposes, until our guide will escort you to the airport for your next destination.