China by Private Train:
Shanghai to Beijing
August 30-September 11, 2006
Click here for other available itineraries.
An exciting opportunity to experience the wonder and magnificence of China by both private train, aboard our exclusive China Orient Express.
Sightseeing highlights include: the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, the Terracotta Army in the ancient capital of Xian, Dunuhang's Magao Thousand Buddha Cave Complex, Camel ride to Crescent Lake and the sand dunes of the Gobi Desert, Kashgar's Sunday bazaar and Heavenly Lake.
The China Orient Express is a comfortable, well-appointed train, ideal for our adventure through China. Accommodation on the train is in modern air-conditioned first class sleeping cars, two people per twin compartment; single occupancy is available at a supplement.
DAILY ITINERARY
Wednesday, August 30: Shanghai (D)
Arrive Shanghai today and transfer to a centrally located five-star hotel for a two-night stay. Enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel with fellow passengers.
Thursday, August 31: Shanghai (B, L, D)
Today we spend touring Shanghai, including the Shanghai Museum, one of the best museums in the country. We’ll also visit The Bund. Here, superb colonial architecture and brash modernity face each other over the Huangpu River. Lunch in a city restaurant, followed by a visit the Old City with a stop at Yuyuan Garden, a well-restored Suzhou-style garden created during the Ming Dynasty.
Friday, September 1: Shanghai (B, L, D)
Shanghai is also a great destination for shoppers, and the best known shopping street in China, Nanjing Road, is located here. This exciting avenue is lined with well-known shops and department stores selling clothing, food and specialty goods. This morning allows free time for guests to explore this bustling metropolis independently. We’ll catch an afternoon flight to Urumqi and transfer to a four-star hotel for a comfortable one-night stay.
Saturday, September 2: Urumqi (B, L, D)
Our tour today includes Heavenly Lake, stationed 6,200 feet (1,900 metrs) high, and dominated by the 17,700-ft. (5,445-meter) high Bogda Feng, or "Peak of God." This idyllic setting looks like a part of Switzerland or Canada set in the midst of the Gobi Desert. Evening flights bound for Kashgar, where guests are transferred to one of the city’s top hotels for a two-night stay.
Sunday, September 3: Kashgar (B, L, D)
An important center on the Silk Road, the town of Kashgar is nestled beneath the Kongur Mountains at an altitude of 4,000 feet. Today is dedicated to visiting what Kashgar is known for: its Sunday bazaar. Farmers from all over the region flock to this city to sell their wares, continuing a tradition of 2,000 years ago when Kashgar was the center for merchants bound for China. Dinner in the city.
Monday, September 4: Kashgar (B, L, D)
This morning is dedicated to the impressive Id Kah Mosque, dominating the western side of Id Kah Square. It is a large and active mosque; you can hear the call to prayer booming around the city center. We advise modest dress when visiting the mosque. Lunchtime departure on board our private China Orient Express train. Settle into your cabin as we head east towards Turpan. Lunch and dinner served on board.
Tuesday, September 5: Turpan (B, L, D)
Afternoon arrival into Turpan, a former oasis city situated on the Silk Road. We visit the Flaming Mountains and the ancient city of Gauchang, capital of the Uigurs—founded in the 7th century and a major staging post on the Silk Road. Dinner in a local restaurant before an evening departure on board our private train bound for Liuyuang.
Wednesday, September 6: Dunuhang (B, L, D)
Early arrival into Liuyuang—the closest railway station to the 2,000-year-old town of Dunuhang situated on the edge of the desert. Our morning adventure includes a visit to the fascinating Magao Thousand Buddha Cave Complex, which contains almost 500 grottoes carved between 700 and 1,700 years ago. The complex is filled with an amazing collection of sculptures and murals depicting the evolution of Buddhist religious art over a 1,000-year period. Over 2,000 statues and 45,000 murals still remain. Afternoon visit by camel to Crescent Lake and the amazing sand dunes of the Gobi Desert. Evening folk show and dinner near the dunes before returning to the train for a late night departure.
Thursday, September 7: On board (B, L, D)
As our travel travels east, we’ll spend the day relaxing on board. You may attend a lecture, relax in the bar car or simply watch the passing countryside. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served on board.
Friday, September 8: Xian (B, L, D)
We arrive early this morning into the ancient city of Xian. We tour the city, including the Great Mosque, the 8.5-mile city walls, Drum and Bell Towers and Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The afternoon is dedicated to visiting the world famous Terracotta Warriors, discovered by peasants barely 30 years ago. The 6,000 Terracotta figures, arranged in row after row of warriors and horses, are one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century. If time permits we will visit Huaqing Lake and hot springs on the way back to the city for dinner and Tang Dynasty show. After dinner return to the train for a late evening departure.
Saturday, September 9: Luoyang (B, L, D)
An early arrival into Luoyang, a city of over one million, allows for a full day of sightseeing. Undoubtedly, the most spectacular sight in the vicinity is the Buddhist cave carvings at Longmen. Altogether in this vast "sculpture park" of 1,352 grottoes, there are more than 100,000 Buddha images, ranging in height from an inch to 60 feet. This afternoon we visit the Luoyang Municipal Museum where many relics from the city’s days of glory, including historical maps of the city and artifacts recovered from tombs, are on display. Dinner on board the China Orient Express as we spend our last night on board heading for the bright lights of Beijing.
Sunday, September 10: Beijing (B, L, D)
We arrive into Beijing this morning and transfer to the five-star Peninsula Palace hotel or similar for a one-night stay. Breakfast in the hotel before embarking on our city tour that includes Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City. Later that evening we have our final farewell dinner at a Peking Duck restaurant.
Monday, September 11: Beijing (B)
After breakfast in the hotel, guests are transferred to the airport for international flight departures.
FARES (in US $)
Twin share: $5,395 per person
Single occupancy: $7,495
GENERAL INFORMATION
Our private China Orient Express is a modern, air-conditioned train with first-class sleeping cars. There is a wash facility (sink/toilet) between adjacent compartments, and a new shower car will be added in 2005. The restaurant cars serve three meals per day when on the train (European breakfast, Chinese lunch and dinner). Each carriage has its own attendant who cleans the cabins, provides bed turndown service, plus tea and coffee 24 hours a day. A bar/lounge car is also included in the formation of the train.
This tour is offered in conjunction with GW Travel of England.
THE TOUR PRICE INCLUDES
· All meals, including all wine, beer, soft drinks and mineral water served during lunch and dinner onboard and off the train.
· The services of a tour leader throughout the tour.
· Chinese interpreters able to speak English.
· Comprehensive off-train sightseeing program as detailed in the itinerary.
· A doctor who will travel with the train throughout the tour.
· Complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water throughout the tour from your car attendant
THE TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
· Insurance (It is a booking condition that passengers have adequate insurance.)
· Charges of a personal nature on the train or at the hotels (laundry, telephone, bar account etc.).
· Visa and excess baggage charges, airport departure taxes, vaccination or medical costs.
Click here for tour terms and conditions.
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