China Heritage, Gardens and Culture Ross Garden Tours Asian Collection

China Heritage, Gardens and Culture Ross Garden Tours Asian Collection

13/04/2009 – 3/05/2009
Fully escorted throughout

Please note our years of experience means that our tours are timed to exactly coincide with the peak times for Gardens and Flowers around the world and so if you have missed this years tour – you can still contact us to ensure you have all the information possible for our next tour – simply CLICK HERE

Day 1 Monday, 13 April 2009

Shanghai (D)

Check in to your luxury hotel near the famous Bund district. Relax today and recover from the flight. Your tour of China commences in this exciting metropolis undergoing massive expansion, one of the world’s greatest growth centres. For centuries Shanghai has been the gateway to China. Prior to the 19th century it was a mere large fishing village. Foreign investment in the 1900’s and a ready supply of labour changed Shanghai, this "Pearl of the Orient".

Meet your tour leader and fellow travellers at the Welcome Dinner tonight at your hotel.

Accommodation: The Salvo Hotel, Shanghai

Day 2 Tuesday, 14 April 2009

Shanghai (B/L)

Morning visit to the 16th century Yu Gardens (Yu Yuan). Cross the Zig Zag Teahouse Bridge into an exotic landscape & architectural masterpiece from the Ming Dynasty. Visit a silk factory to observe the ancient craft of silk woven rugs. After lunch explore the prestigious Shanghai Museum.

Accommodation: The Salvo Hotel, Shanghai

Day 3 Wednesday, 15 April 2009

Shanghai (B/L)

Morning visit to the Shanghai Botanic Gardens, designed & constructed by Wang Dajun now Director Emeritus and long standing colleague of Graham Ross. Orchid exhibitions, bonsai & floral displays are featured. Jade Buddha Temple is next to see the two most valuable Buddha’s in China.

Free time this afternoon. Evening performance of the Shanghai Acrobats.

Accommodation: The Salvo Hotel, Shanghai

Day 4 Thursday, 16 April 2009

Shanghai – Suzhou (B/L/D)

Morning visit to the 1000 year old village of Tongli. Visit the garden of Seclusion & Meditation & the classical Tuisiyuan Garden, World Heritage listed by UNESCO. Lunch is included.

Travel to Suzhou, the ancient "City of Gardens" & named by Marco Polo as the Venice of the East.

Accommodation: Bamboo Grove, Suzhou

Day 5 Friday, 17 April 2009

Suzhou (B/L/D)

Morning visit to the Garden of the Master of Nets, first laid out in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) with corridors & pavilions of architectural merit.

Lingering Garden is next, considered the finest garden in Suzhou. Visit Tiger Hill with seven-story Yanyansai Pagoda that crowns the hill.

Evening canal cruise is followed by dinner.

Accommodation: Bamboo Grove, Suzhou

Day 6 Saturday, 18 April 2009

Suzhou – Hangzhou (B/L/D)

Morning visit to the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the largest garden of its kind in Suzhou; the Penjing bonsai collection is included. Depart by train for Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, regarded as one of the most beautiful in East China. Rich fertile land & plentiful water have brought the city an abundance of rice, tea & fish. See the Pagoda of Six Harmonies, which was built in 970 & originally used as a lighthouse. Dinner tonight in your hotel.

Accommodation: Grand Metro Park Hotel, Hangzhou

Day 7 Sunday, 19 April 2009

Hangzhou (B/L)

Morning visit to Lingyin Monastery, circa AD326. Stroll through the Guozhang or Fenyeng Villa gardens on the shores of West Lake. This private garden is considered to be one of China’s finest and is adjacent to large plantings of rare & endangered metasequoia trees. Later today visit a famous tea plantation.

Accommodation: Grand Metro Park Hotel, Hangzhou

Day 8 Monday, 20 April 2009

Hangzhou – Beijing (B/L/D)

Morning flight to Beijing, the nation’s capital. On arrival transfer to your hotel.

Explore the Gongwangfu Garden, once Prince Gong’s Palace now a garden filled with rare trees. Tonight enjoy a celebratory dinner of Peking Duck.

Accomm: Guobin Presidential Plaza Hotel, Beijing

Day 9 Tuesday, 21 April 2009

Beijing (B/L/D)

Morning visit to the Summer Palace (UNESCO 1998) 800 years old with the largest & the best preserved of all Imperial Chinese Gardens. A cruise on Kunming Lake is included to enjoy the view of the Palace from the water. See the restored Marble Boat. Imperial style lunch included in a private room inside the Summer Palace.

Walk the Long Corridor, 728m long, decorated with thousands of classic paintings featuring Chinese landscape & poetry: romance, legends & mythology.

Afternoon visit to Beijing Botanic Garden where the Last Emperor Pu Yi served out his days as a gardener. See the architecture of the 2008 Olympiad, the ‘Birds Nest’ Stadium & ‘Watercube’.

Dinner & Kung Fu show tonight.

Accom: Guobin Presidential Plaza Hotel, Beijing

Day 10 Wednesday, 22 April 2009

Beijing (B/L)

Full day visit to the Great Wall (UNESCO 1987) at Mutianyu. Begun in the 7th century BC, but mainly dating from the 14th & 15th centuries. Next visit to the Ming Tombs & the museum housing Ming Emperor’s treasures. Thirteen Ming Tombs date from 1409 to 1644. Walk the Sacred Way – an avenue of giant sculptured animals.

Accom: Guobin Presidential Plaza Hotel, Beijing

Day 11 Thursday, 23 April 2009

Beijing (B/L)

Morning visit to the Temple of Heaven, a fine example of Chinese architecture.

Next stop is Tiananmen, the world’s largest square overlooked by Mao’s Mausoleum.

Accom: Guobin Presidential Plaza Hotel, Beijing

Day 12 Friday, 24 April 2009

Beijing (B/L)

Visit the Forbidden City (UNESCO 1987), the former residence of the Ming & Qing dynastic families. Walk through some of the 9999 rooms & magnificently decorated halls, to the secluded garden of the Last Emperor, Pu Yi.

Accommodation: Guobin Presidential Plaza Hotel, Beijing

Day 13 Saturday, 25 April 2009

Beijing – Xi’an (B/L/D)

Mid-morning flight to the ancient capital Xi’an, the eastern end of the Silk Road. Traditional cultural performance of the Tang Dynasty Theatre this evening with dinner included.

Accommodation: Shangri-la Golden Flower Hotel, Xi’an

Day 14 Sunday, 26 April 2009

Xi’an (B/L)

Visit the famous tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang to see the Terracotta Warriors & Horses (UNESCO 1987), which have symbolically guarded his burial place for 2,000 years. Enter the three sites containing thousands of larger than life figures. Lunch at Liyuanchun Restaurant to sample local cuisine.

Accom: Shangri-la Golden Flower Hotel, Xi’an

Day 15 Monday, 27 April 2009

Xi’an – Chengdu (B/D)

Visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum (Xi’an’s National Museum). Once the Temple of Confucius, the museum houses a fine collection of artefacts devoted largely to the history of the Silk Road. Visit the Ancient City Wall, one of the best-preserved historical buildings in Xi’an. Walk in the great Mosque where the Muslim headquarters are located. Afternoon flight to Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province.

Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel, Chengdu

Day 16 Tuesday, 28 April 2009

Chengdu – Chongqing (B/L/D)

Morning visit to the Panda Breeding Centre for captive conservation of Giant Pandas, where Linda & Graham Ross sponsor a panda born in 2003 named Sydney.

After lunch drive to Chongqing. Situated in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River – at the confluence of Yangtze & Jialing Rivers in Southwest China, Chongqing is a port city with the largest area & population in China. Sichuan style cuisine in a local restaurant before a transfer to the pier to pre-board your deluxe Yangtze River Cruise Ship.

Accommodation: Yangtze River Deluxe Cruise Ship – President No.1

Day 17 Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Yangtze River Cruise (B/L/D)

Your Yangtze cruise begins this morning. Excursion to Feng Du city – also named the city of ghosts. Welcome banquet on board & entertainment.

Accommodation: Yangtze River Deluxe Cruise Ship – President No.1

Day 18 Thursday, 30 April 2009

Yangtze River Cruise (B/L/D)

Sail through the passage of Qutang Gorge, the shortest & the grandest of the Three Gorges, passing the Wu Gorge, with lofty & misty peaks. Disembark at Badong for an excursion to the Shennong Stream.

Accommodation: Yangtze River Deluxe Cruise Ship – President No.1

Day 19 Friday, 1 May 2009

Yangtze River Cruise – Shanghai (B/L)

Disembark to visit the Three Gorges Dam that is approaching completion, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. Afternoon transfer to Yichang airport for a short flight to Shanghai. Evening visit to Jin Mao Tower to see the Shanghai lights.

Accommodation: The Salvo Hotel, Shanghai

Day 20 Saturday, 2 May 2009

Shanghai (B/D)

A day at leisure to explore Shanghai. Farewell Dinner tonight at a local restaurant.

Accommodation: The Salvo Hotel, Shanghai

Day 21 Sunday, 3 May 2009

Shanghai (B)

After breakfast your tour ends. Arrangements will be made for your transfers to the airport in accordance with your onward travel plans.

KEY: (B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner

Please complete the online booking form and forward a deposit of £350.00 to Ross Garden Tours International, 17 Sycamore Lodge , 1 Gypsy Lane ,London SW15 5RH United Kingdom or call us on +44 (0) 208 878 9384