China Tours: Magnificent China 23 Day Tour

Accommodation: 20 nights 3-4 star accommodation.

Trip Leader: Local leader.

Transport: Return International economy class airfares from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, domestic transportation.

Meals: 20 breakfasts, 19 lunches & 20 dinners.

Included activities: Walk through Tiananmen Square and into the magnificent Forbidden City.

Later, enjoy a leisurely stroll through the warren-like hutongs where you will meet a local family, before enjoying a traditional Peking duck dinner; Great Wall of China, Originally built under the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, The Great Wall of China is the country's most iconic sight.

Snaking through the northern countryside from the Gobi Desert in the west into the Bohai Sea in the east, the Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the world and was used as a fortification against northern nomadic tribes.

The current structure dates back to the Ming Dynasty - over 700 years old; Soak up the harmonious ambience of the Temple of Heaven,Set in a 267-hectare park surrounded by a long wall and with a gate at eachcompass point, the Temple of Heaven is absolutely unique.

It is one of the most perfect examples of Ming architecture, created as a place of worship for the Emperors, who would ask for prosperity, longevity and good harvest for the people; Terracotta Warriors, One of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, this unearthed terracotta army is comprised of over 7,000 soldiers, horses and chariots.

The army was built in life-sized form by thousands of workers and designed by Emperor Qin Shi Huang to defend himself in the afterlife; Panda Conservation Centre, With over 80 pandas holding residence, the Chengdu Panda Research Base is equipped with the latest technology and research materials to gain a further understanding in how we can protect the panda and maintain, if not increase, its numbers.

The park is set up to resemble the mountain and forest regions in north Sichuan, the original home of the Giant Panda, with extensive bamboo trees and large green spaces.

Red Pandas, the Giant Panda's lovable cousin, and flamboyant peacocks too roam the park, making for an interesting mix; Yangtze River, One of the world's great and legendary waterways, this 6,300km river has its origins high up in the snow-covered mountain of Tanggula, in the southwestern Qinghai Tibet Plateau, and runs into the ocean in Shanghai.

It is estimated that the banks of this river are home to almost a third of China's population; Mt.

ShuangGui, A national forest park known for its picturesque scenery and has for centuries been a favorite destination for literati and artists.

There are cliff brush writings of calligraphists here from the Song Dynasty to the present day, and pavilions are named for notable historic figures; Yangshuo sits in an exquisite rural location, surrounded by landscapes of jewel-green paddy fields and dramatic limestone karsts.

Spend the morning exploring the countryside, before having an afternoon at leisure; Shanghai Museum, One of the most esteemed and acclaimed museums in China, the Shanghai Museum has a comprehensive collection of ancient Chinese art; The Bund, Recognised as Shanghai's former 'Wall Street', the Bund is home to an impressive collection of buildings from the early trade houses of the 1850s to the glamorous Art Deco modernism of the 1920s.

Originally the home of the foreign population of Shanghai, the Bund's architecture has.

inherited much western influence and is a stark contrast to the Pudong skyline, sitting across the Huangpu River; Huangpu River Cruise, There is no better way to see the juxtaposition of eras than taking a cruise on the Huangpu River.

At night, the dazzling colours and lights from Pudong shine bright onto the more.

modest twilight of the Bund.