In Pursuit of Pandas - Christmas Special

Physical Rating - Level1

Group Tour

Fully Inclusive

Celebrate Christmas in a new and exciting way in China – taking a Christmas Day walk on the Great Wall and bringing in the New Year in Chengdu, home to the magnificent Giant Panda.

Tour Highlights

The Great Wall

Beijing

Xian

Giant Pandas

The Great Wall

Christmas on China's greatest modern wonder

Beijing

Step back into China's dynastic past at the Imperial Forbidden City

Xian

Come face to face with the Terracotta Warriors

Giant Pandas

Spend New Years Eve with these majestic creatures at the Panda Conservations Centre

What's Included

11 Day In Pursuit of Pandas - Christmas Special Tour Itinerary

Days 1-2 Fly from London to Beijing

Fly overnight to Beijing, China’s historical capital. Depending on your time of arrival the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

Day 3 Christmas on the Great Wall

Enjoy Christmas Day with a walk on the Great Wall to appreciate 2,000 years of historical significance whilst admiring the panoramic views. The Great Wall is China's most iconic attraction, which stretches over 4,000 miles from the Shanhaiguan Pass on the east coast to the Gobi Desert in the west. In the afternoon we visit the exquisite Summer Palace. This evening, indulge in a Christmas meal made up of some of China's most famous dishes, including the local delicacy, Peking Duck.

Day 4 Imperial Beijing

Sightseeing today includes a stroll through Tiananmen Square, past Chairman Mao's Mausoleum to the treasure-filled Forbidden City, which has the largest and best preserved collection of ancient buildings in China. We also visit the unique Temple of Heaven. In the evening, see a fascinating Chinese Acrobatic show.

Day 5 Beijing - Xian

Fly to Xian, the former ancient capital and stroll around the beautifully-preserved 14th century city walls. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Shui Jiao dumpling meal followed by a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing.

Day 6 Terracotta Warriors

Visit one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century: the Terracotta Warriors. The figures were created over 2,000 years ago to accompany Emperor Qin Shihuang into the afterlife. Later, wander through the Muslim Quarter.

Day 7 Xian - Chengdu

This morning, visit the lovely Little Wild goose Pagoda and the Xian Museum. In the afternoon, take the bullet train to Chengdu.

Day 8 Leshan Grand Buddha

Travel to Leshan to visit the Grand Buddha, the worlds largest stone-carved Buddhist statue. We take a short boat trip to view the statue from the river. Return to Chengdu, visiting the old town of Huanglongxi en-route.

Day 9 New Years Eve with the pandas

On New Years Eve, visit the famous Panda Conservation Centre to see these charismatic animals being reared in wooded surroundings reminiscent of their natural habitat. Later, visit the ancient World Heritage Dujiangyan Irrigation project. Sample a delicious New Years meal this evening, inspired by the local Sichuan cuisine.

Day 10 Chengdu

Enjoy a free day to explore Chengdu independently.

Day 11 Fly Chengdu to UK

Transfer to Chengdu airport for your flight to the UK.

2018 / 2019 Tour Dates & Prices

All of our tour departures include international flights and taxes in the price. If the dates we have available for this tour don't suit your needs, or you are not sure travelling as part of a group is for you, maybe a Private Tour would be more ideal.

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Additional Price Information

Based on London Heathrow departures

Land only from £2090pp (Beijing - Chengdu)

Regional UK departures available

Single room option from £290

Flight upgrades available on request

Tipping payable locally RMB350pp

Price listed is based on new bookings only

Weather Information

Useful Information

Visas

A visa is required by all nationalities. A visa should be arranged in advance of travel. Unlike many other tour operators, we include your entry visas in the price of our tour. We handle the entire visa process – all you need to do is fill out the form and send your passport to us. We are always on hand to help you with any questions or queries you might have when completing the form.

Communication

To call the UK the international access code is 0044. Out of hours is 0044 1888 288 288. Mobile phones are quite popular in China and you will find high quality coverage. SMS and call rates can be expensive: we recommend that you contact your mobile supplier for more details. Some of our hotels have WIFI in the rooms and some will only have it in the lobby. There may be additional charges. Many websites, including Google, Facebook and Twitter are banned and inaccessible in China. If you need to access your email via Gmail whilst in China, please use an alternative email account whilst in the country.

Tipping

Tipping while on holiday is common in most parts of the world and China is no exception. In order to avoid any inconvenience Wendy Wu Tours operates a tipping policy where a stated amount is given to your national escort at the beginning of your tour and tips are distributed to local guides and drivers throughout your tour. Yangtze cruise companies operate a service charge policy and this is paid separately when boarding the vessel. We indicate tipping amounts in your final documents for guidance.

Shopping

Shopping can be a fun and entertaining component to any travel adventure, and China has a vast array of shopping opportunities for those who love to seek out a bargain. In keeping with most people’s interests whilst on holiday, your tour will include a reasonable number of opportunities to shop for local goods and souvenirs. We have included visits to establishments that not only provide an opportunity to purchase a locally produced, great-value souvenir; but you’ll witness first-hand how these local products are made, their history and how they support the local economy.

Food

The cost of meals is included in your group tour cost. Breakfast is served in the hotel and includes western dishes. As is traditional in China, lunch and dinner consist of small dishes of local cuisine which are placed on a ‘Lazy Susan’ for everyone to share. If you would like to drink beer, soft drink or bottled water with your meals, payment is to be made directly to the restaurant staff. If you have booked a tour that does not include all meals, your local guides will be able to recommend where to eat. Any food/diet requests MUST be specified at the time of booking.

Accommodation

Wendy Wu Tours inspect all of our hotels to ensure they meet the high levels of service which we require for our guests. We pick the right hotel for the specific destination, meaning your accommodation can range from a smart business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. Hotels in China are bound by Government laws which mean that air conditioning is switched on nationally in May and the central heating in November (this may vary slightly depending on the region).

SAMPLE TOUR HOTELS

We draw from a wide range of hotels on our holidays, each one is chosen to suit the tour you are travelling on meaning your accommodation can range from a smart business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. Here are some examples of the type of hotel you can expect to find on this tour.

Wangfu Hotel

Wangfu Hotel is located inside the Lijiang Old Town and it is good retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.