From an iconic skyline overlooking a glorious harbor to lush green mountains and sprawling parks, Hong Kong has all you could want (and more) in a world-class city. Gain a deeper understanding of Hong Kong’s culture and history at Man Mo Temple, ride the world’s steepest funicular to Victoria Peak and cruise through a fishing village by sampan. Escape the urban bustle with a walk along the soft, golden sands of Repulse Bay. Dive into classic favorites like dai pai dong (street-food stalls) and yum cha (tea and dim sum) after conquering a dizzying assortment of shopping venues in this commercial hub of Asia.
During your voyage, enjoy a rare opportunity to explore the world’s most fascinating destinations in small, private groups, with knowledgeable guides to help you discover off –the-beaten- path gems. On an Overland Program, you’ll disembark the ship for one-night or more to enjoy a more authentic insider’s view, experiencing firsthand the colorful cultures, dramatic landscapes and exquisite landmarks before rejoining your ship.
Explore the spectacular icons in two of China’s greatest cities, including the Terracotta Warriors Museum, the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.
Special Note: Any guests travelling with Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines should read further below for airline stipulations with regards to bringing this equipment on tour.
Day 1 – March 31, 2022
Following breakfast on board, meet your guide and transfer to the Hong Kong airport for your flight to Xian. Upon arrival in Xi’an, proceed to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is at leisure and dinner is on your own.
Day 2 – April 1, 2022
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will enjoy a picturesque drive to the Terracotta Warriors Museum, a repository for thousands of clay soldiers that were buried with China’s first emperor to accompany him in his eternal rest. Considered one of the world’s greatest archaeological treasures, the 7,000 life-size terracotta warriors and horses were buried for centuries until excavated in 1974.
The warriors are grouped in battle order, rank by rank, some mounted on horse-drawn chariots and others in infantry groups armed with spears, swords and crossbows. Each figure was individually created with unique characteristics.
After lunch at local restaurant, continue your trip to visit Xi’an’s landmark city wall, the most complete city wall surviving in China. The first emperor of the Ming Dynasty created it by enlarging an existing one constructed during the Tang Dynasty. Stretching around the entire old city, the 8.5-mile-long wall boasts 98 ramparts, stands 40 feet tall, and is 60 feet thick at its base.
Continue your trip to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. One of China’s most revered pagodas, it was built in 652 A.D. to house the sutras and figurines of Buddha that a Chinese monk brought to Xi’an. The building was eventually expanded to ten stories, although only seven stories remain, as the others were damaged in various wars. Nevertheless, the pagoda is recognized as a symbol of Xi’an.
Your day concludes with dinner and the Tang Dynasty Show which is a lively performance of ancient music and dance which provides guests with an insight into the peaceful lifestyle of the Tang Dynastic period.
Day 3 – April 2, 2022
Following breakfast in the hotel, transfer to the Xi’an Airport for your flight to Beijing. Lunch will be served on flight. Upon reaching Beijing the group visits the Forbidden City - home to the emperors in the Ming and Qing dynasties and a 250-acre complex of pavilions, halls, courtyards and gates showcasing some of the most important treasures of China’s imperial past.
This is followed by a visit to the impressive Tian’anmen Square, the largest public square in the world and site of many important events in Chinese history.
Once checked into your hotel, the day concludes with an evening at leisure and dinner on your own in China’s capital city, Beijing.
Day 4 – April 3, 2022
After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a scenic ride to the Great Wall at Juyongguan. Explore the amazing Great Wall, actually a series of walls first constructed over 2000 years ago in an attempt to ward off northern nomads.
NOTE: you will need to climb a series of steps to access the Great Wall.
Enjoy a traditional Chinese-style lunch at a local restaurant and then pay a visit to the Summer Palace, which is on the northwestern outskirts of Beijing, some 20 km away from the city proper.
Covering an area of more than 2,90 hectares, the Summer Palace is the best preserved and the largest imperial garden in China. The main features of the Summer Palace are Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. Like most imperial palaces in China, the summer palace is divided into three parts: the hall of benevolence and longevity for political affairs, the hall of joyful longevity for residence, and the Tower of Buddhist Incense for religious use. In December 1998, UNESCO included the Summer Palace on its World Heritage List, regarding it as "a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design”. The natural landscape of the hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value.
After this visit, transfer back to your hotel to freshen up before being treated to a traditional Beijing roast duck dinner.
Day 5 - April 4, 2022
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before checking out and driving to the Temple of Heaven. Initially built in 1420, this is the site where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worship heaven and pray for a bumper harvest. It was listed as a World Heritage site in 1998. The main structure in the vast compound is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a magnificent triple-gabled circular building. Completely wooden, without any nails, it is one of the architectural wonders of ancient China.
Your program concludes with a transfer to the Beijing airport where you will check in for your flight to Shanghai. In Shanghai you will be returned to the ship.
Land Program Step by Step:
Please note: The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. This program is subject to flight confirmations which are beyond our control. All program details including timings and any flights indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Direct flights are never guaranteed. Final itineraries with the most up to date details will be provided by the Destination Services Team once you board the ship. Please review your final itinerary carefully for any amendments.
Day 1 Timings subject to change based on flight details once confirmed
11:00am Depart from the pier in Hong Kong
12:00pm Arrive at the airport
2:35pm Flight Hong Kong to Xi’an (Flight details TBA and subject to change)
5:50pm Arrive in Xi’an
7:20pm Check in at your hotel
Evening at leisure and dinner on your own
Overnight at the Wyndham Grand Xian South Hotel or similar hotel
Day 2
7:00am Buffet breakfast at your hotel
8:00am Depart from the hotel
9:00am Visit the Terracotta Warriors Museum
12:00pm Lunch at a local restaurant
2:00pm City Wall visit
3:15pm Big Wild Goose Pagoda visit
4:30pm Return back to your hotel
6:20pm Depart from hotel for dinner & Tang Dynasty Show
9:30pm Return back to the hotel
Overnight at the Wyndham Grand Xian South Hotel or similar hotel
Day 3 Timings subject to change based on flight details once confirmed
7:00am Buffet breakfast at your hotel
8:00am Depart for the airport
9:00am Arrival at the airport
10:35am Flight Xi’an to Beijing (Flight details TBA and subject to change), lunch served on the flight
12:25pm Arrive in Beijing.
2:00pm Visit the Forbidden City
4:00pm Visit Tian’anmen Square
5:30pm Check in at your hotel
Evening at leisure with meals on your own
Overnight at the China World Hotel or similar hotel
Day 4
7:00am Buffet breakfast at your hotel
8:00am Depart from the hotel
9:30am Visit the Great Wall at Juyongguan Pass
12:00pm Lunch at a local restaurant
1:00pm Depart from the restaurant
2:30pm Visit the Summer Palace
4:30pm Return to your hotel
7:00pm Depart for a Beijing Roast Duck dinner
9:30pm Return to the hotel
Overnight at the China World Hotel or similar hotel
Day 5 Timings subject to change based on flight details once confirmed
6:30am Buffet breakfast at your hotel
7:30am Check out and depart from the hotel
8:00am Visit the Temple of Heaven
9:30am Depart for the airport
10:30am Arrival at the airport and check in
12:00pm Flight Beijing to Shanghai (Flight details TBA and subject to change)
2:20pm Arrive in Shanghai
3:15pm Approximate arrival at the pier and board the ship
Expected Weather:
The weather in Beijing and Xi’an is typically sunny in early April, with temperatures ranging from 68° Fahrenheit (20° Celsius) to 50° Fahrenheit (10° Celsius).
What to Bring: Warm comfortable clothing including a jacket as well as an umbrella and comfortable walking shoes. The attire is casual for the entire program.
Note about restrooms: Restrooms in China vary from having toilets to holes in the floor and their cleanliness standards are not always up to par with those of the western world. You will encounter both types of restroom facilities on your travels in China. It is advisable to have hand sanitizer and extra tissues /toilet paper at all times just in case they are needed.
Local Currency: The Chinese Yuan, denoted by CNY, is the official currency in China. You can use US dollars / Euros/ English pounds in hotels, in friendship stores, to buy things from vendors in the scenic spots, to pay for any optional tours and to tip porters of the hotels, tour guides and drivers or whomever you want to tip. You cannot use US dollars or other foreign currencies in department stores or small convenience stores, local restaurants, or if you try to buy things from some street vendors.
Electricity: The electricity in China is generally 220V, 50HZ, AC. A transformer is necessary. Most of the hotels in China have both 110V and 220V electrical outlets in the bathrooms, though in the guest rooms usually only 220V sockets are available. We recommend bringing your own travel adaptor should you have electric devices.
Luggage allowance for flights:
Each passenger flying coach class can bring one piece of carry-on luggage, plus one checked bag. Carry-on luggage should not exceed 55x40x20cm (22x16x8 in) in size and 5 kg (11 lbs) in weight; Checked-in luggage should not exceed 100x60x40cm (39x24x16 in) in size and 20kg (44lbs) in weight.
These dimensions include wheels, handles and side pockets.
Carriage of Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines on internal flights per airline regulations (subject to change as each airline has their own regulations)
1. Guests must obtain a Doctor’s Certificate mentioning their medical condition and the need to carry this equipment with them on their flights.
2. The certificate should have attached a picture of the equipment with its description/specifications especially with regards to the type of batteries used (lithium/dry or any other type)
3. These documents need to be sent to the Land Program Team via Reservations at RSSC at least one month prior to travel so that our local operator can begin the notification process with the airline(s).
4. Failure to comply with the above regulations may result in a denial of this equipment at the airport for which Regent Seven Seas Cruises nor our local ground operator be responsible for.
Documents and Visa Requirements:
A Chinese Visa is required for this overland program as well as a valid passport.
VERY IMPORTANT – The name on your cruise booking, passport and any visas if required, must all be exactly the same for flight ticket purchase for this program otherwise guests may be denied travel by flight. Please ensure that all documents are identical in spelling to the names provided for your cruise reservation including first, middle and last name. Manifests generated by the cruise line must match your travel documents.
Failure to have the required documents ahead of time will result in denial of travel and guests will have to pay for any expenses incurred in order to not proceed with the program.
Hotel address:
Xian
Wyndham Grand Xian South Hotel
208 Ci’en East Road, Qujiang New District, Xi'an, Shannxi, China
TEL: 86-29-6821 9999
Beijing
China World Hotel, Beijing
1 Jianguomen Outer St, Jian Wai Da Jie, Chaoyang Qu, China, 100004
Phone: +86 10 6505 2266
*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure, then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.
Program Includes:
•2 nights at the Wyndham Grand Xian South Hotel in Xian or similar – Deluxe Room
•2 nights at the China World Hotel Beijing in Beijing or similar – Deluxe Room
•4 breakfasts, 2 lunches served at local restaurant, 1 Tang Dynasty show & dinner and 1 Beijing Roast Duck dinner
•Lunch and dinner to include a choice of one soft drink, local beer or local mineral water
•All transfers, sightseeing and entrance fees as per program
•Economy class flights between Hong Kong – Xian - Beijing – Shanghai - direct flights not guaranteed
Program Excludes:
•Any meals and drinks not specified above
•Gratuities to drivers and tour guides
•Hotel incidentals and other personal items
•Chinese Visa
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include: inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.
All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Mid cruise overland programs must be purchased no later than 60 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 60 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty.
