Join this nine-day tour and visit the Forbidden City, home to emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasty for over 500 years. Have fun at the Snow and ice world, the largest ice and snow amusement park in the world. A fascinating place to experience the Ice and Snow Festival with different themes every wintertime.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Beijing: from ancient walled capital to showpiece megacity in barely a century, it spins a breathless yarn of history, culture, and innovation.
Harbin: Called "the Ice City", Harbin is one of the most popular destinations for winter tours, hosting the world's biggest ice and snow festival.
Day 1: ARRIVAL BEIJING (30km – 1hr)
Welcome to China! Upon arrival at Beijing Airport, you will be greeted by the guide and driver at the arrivals halls. You will be then transferred to the hotel, with the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Beijing.
Day 2: BEIJING
Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your tour guide in the hotel lobby. Drive to Tiananmen Square, gaze across it and take in the full weight of its historical and cultural significance. People travel from all over the world to see Mao’s portrait and visit his mausoleum, which lies on the opposite end of the Square. Walking towards to Forbidden City, where emperors ruled, concubines fluttered their fans, and eunuchs schemed for five hundred years. It is a life preserved in chambers, where emperors ruled, gardens, where empresses and concubines strolled and in the palace where the emperor's courtesans lived for centuries behind the towering red walls. Lunch at a local tourist restaurant (included). In the afternoon, venture to one of Beijing’s few remaining ‘hutongs’ or traditional lanes in the backstreets of the city to gain a perspective into fascinating and authentic ‘old’ Beijing. Hutongs, the narrow alleys and lanes first laid out during the Yuan dynasty (1268-1364AD), and the siheyuan, traditional courtyard homes that border these leafy streets, define old Beijing. Here, we can get an idea of what the entire city once looked like and experience the traditional way of life, the silhouette of imperial dynasties, Chinese local lifestyle, the impact of western countries. Visit the Buddhist Miaoying Temple, which has an iconic White Stupa that was completed in 1279, under the leadership of Kublai Khan.
Overnight in Beijing.
Day 3: BEIJING
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Huanghuacheng Great wall. Literally, the Yellow Flower Wall is considered one of the most scenic sections of the wall, and a great place to go for a not-too-strenuous hike along with the country's most iconic landmark. At either end of this stretch of the Great Wall are two lakes, made by dams built in the 1970s and ‘90s. Upon the wall, you’ll have unobstructed views of both lakes from high above, with the Great Wall dipping majestically down into the water. Lunch at a local tourist restaurant (included). After lunch, delve into the heart of Beijing’s contemporary art scene at the 798 Art District, based rather ironically within an abandoned industrial complex, built by East Germans in the 1950s, Chinese contemporary artists moved in the 1990s, transforming this decommissioned factory district into a hotspot of modern art, culture and design. From avant-garde galleries to cutting-edge food and drinks, make sure you set aside some time to explore what this area has to offer.
Overnight in Beijing.
Day 4: BEIJING – HARBIN (6.5hrs by high-speed train, included)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Temple of Heaven complex, situated in southeast Beijing, was built in the first half of the 15th century, for the use of Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors to worship the heavens and pray for a good harvest. The main architectural themes are: “on the earth” which is represented by the square-shaped 'Palace of Abstinence' in the west, much like The Forbidden City but on a smaller scale; whereas the circular-shaped Qinian Dian (Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests) and Huanqiu (Circular Mound Altar) are thought to be connected with heaven. The park serves as a recreational ground for local people. Dancing, fencing, flag-waving, and Tai chi are all part of locals’ morning rituals. Lunch on own arrangement. Transfer to train station 2nd class high-speed train to Harbin. You’ll be met and greeted by a guide and driver after arrival in Harbin. Transfer to hotel.
Overnight in Harbin.
Day 5: HARBIN
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to visit the Saint Sofia Church, which is the largest Eastern Orthodox Church in the Far East. The cathedral was firstly built in 1907 by Russian. It now houses Harbin Architecture Art Gallery. It is a perfect example of Neo-Byzantine architecture. Inside the church, there are thousands of photographs showing Harbin city’s past, present, and future. Stroll along Central Street, A Harbin tour will not be completed if you haven’t visited Zhongyang Street (Central Street). Called the No.1 Street in Asia, this drag since 1989 is a not-missing pedestrian street for exotic architectures. Its 71 different European styled buildings of Renaissance, baroque, Art Nouveau, Russian, French, etc. present the diversity of architecture in Chinese Harbin. Later, pay a visit to Flood Monument and Stalin Park. The Harbin Flood Control Memorial Tower is located in Stalin Park and is on the opposite side of the Zhongyang Pedestrian Center Street. It is a landmark in Harbin. It commemorates the victory of the fight against the 1957 flood and is finished construction on Oct. 1st, 1958. Stalin Park, faced with Sun Island in the north, is a park built along with Songhua River, stretching 1700 meters long. Entering the park, travellers can enjoy different kinds of sculptures, flowers standing among Russian buildings. In the winter season, the park is capped with snow that travellers can enjoy different kinds of ice and snow sculptures. Lunch at a local restaurant (included). After lunch, take a look at Gogol Street, Gogol Street spans back over 100 years ago and has a unique influence on Russian architecture, including the famous Qiulin Food Company Building and the St. Alekseyev Church. This street is on par with the bustling and beautiful Central Avenue, and it is also a “pub street” in Harbin. Set against a backdrop of ancient architecture, Gogol Street lights up with a unique kind of charm and excitement every night.
Overnight in Harbin.
Day 6: HARBIN
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, drive to watch Winter Swimming, Harbin's winter swimming sport can be dated back to the 1970s. Some local swimming enthusiasts carved the frozen Songhua River and took winter swimming attempts bravely in the river. Followed by a visit to Siberia Tiger Zoo, Close to Sun Island, this park is a man-made base mainly for the Siberian tiger. Travellers can have a good look at the Siberian tigers at the wild training area, adult tiger area, Tiger king area, observe White Lion, and view young tigers and young lions training together. You can also learn Siberian Tiger through specimens, pictures, and writing in Science Exhibition Hall. Lunch at a local tourist restaurant (included). After lunch, visit the Snow sculpture in Sun Island, it’s situated on the north bank of the Songhua River and surrounded by beautiful lakes, rockeries, flowers, and architecture. Every winter, it holds Sun Island International Snow Sculpture Art Fair which lasts for 60 to 70 days, when thousands of excellent large snow sculptures of diverse figures, buildings, landscapes, etc. are on show for a big visual feast of white. In the evening, get ready for the fascinating place? Snow and ice world, It's the largest ice and snow amusement park in the world. It is a fascinating place to experience the Ice and Snow Festival with different themes every wintertime. You can admire gorgeous ice and snow sculptures with amazing colourful neon, savour the exquisite art, enjoy interesting ice and snow performances and take part in exciting ice and snow activities. Back to the hotel.
Overnight in Harbin.
Day 7: HARBIN
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day tour to Volga Manor is a Russian-themed country park located in the southeast suburban district of Harbin. The area includes a large swath of grasslands and forests, many Russian-style buildings, including bridges and castles, and many European-style sculptures. The Russian-style landscapes have made the park a popular site for wedding photography. Located on the banks of the Ashi river, the park is full of greenery in the spring and summer months. In the winter, the grassy fields, trees, and rooftops are covered with pure white snow. It gives one an even stronger feeling of being in the outskirts of Moscow (snow and ice sport/activities are at own expense). Lunch at a local tourist restaurant (included).
Overnight in Harbin.
Day 8: HARBIN – BEIJING (6.5hrs by high-speed train, included)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to train station. 2nd class high-speed train to Beijing. Met and transferred by tour guide after arrival in Beijing. Transfer to hotel and the remainder of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Beijing.
Day 9: DEPARTURE BEIJING (30km – 1hr)
Breakfast at hotel and leisure time before transfer to the airport to catch your flight back home
Comfortable and light clothing is best suited to travel in the warm months and warm clothing in the colder months in China. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts, or sparse clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses, and a hat can be very useful during your stay.
