Day 1 – Australia to Beijing
Fly with Singapore Airlines to Beijing. Meet your guide and transfer to your hotel for an indulgent stay. Stay four nights at the Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel.

Day 2 – Gate of Heavenly Peace
Begin with a visit to Tiananmen Square, before walking under Chairman Mao’s iconic portrait into the depths of the Forbidden City, home of the Ming and Qing Imperial families from 1492 until the Last Emperor Puyi left in 1925.
After a buffet lunch at the Blue and White Porcelain Restaurant, visit the Temple of Heaven, where Emperors consulted the gods, prayed for good harvests and received their mandate to rule. Take part in a private Tai Chi lesson if you wish. Visit the ruins of Beijing’s original city wall and take in some contemporary Chinese art at a studio located in the last remaining watchtower.
Dinner this evening is in pavilions on Hortensia Island in Beihai Park. Here former chefs from the Forbidden City founded a restaurant in 1925 called ‘Emulating the Imperial Table’. Sample a lavish Manchu or Chinese banquet. (B,L,D)

Day 3 – Tombs, Temples and Tradition
Depart early to visit the Olympic Green including the Australian designed Water Cube and the beguiling Bird’s Nest. After time to explore, lunch will be at Da Zhai Men Restaurant – you will feel like you’ve travelled back in time to the Qing dynasty. Drive north of Beijing to the resting place of Empresses, Emperors and their concubines in the picturesque Ming Tombs. Walk the Sacred Way of exquisite marble sculptures depicting pairs of mythical animals.
End the day with an unforgettable meal in the courtyard restaurant Huajia Yiyuan located among the red lanterns of Ghost Street. Watch local performers or take a quiet seat in the rear courtyards and sample some home style cooking. (B,L,D)

Day 4 – High Art and Hidden Lanes
The morning begins with a tour of Beijing’s hutongs around the back lakes of the Forbidden City – these were once home to princes, eunuchs and imperial servants. Take a pedicab through the narrow streets before stepping off to the Yuan dynasty marble bridge that was once part of the Grand Canal. Visiting Madam Song Qingling’s residence where the Last Emperor, Puyi, was born.
After hunting for some eclectic bargains in laneway boutiques at Nanluogu Xiang, lunch is at Green T. House, a modern and chic dining destination in downtown Beijing. Visit the Yonghegong Lama Temple where Tibetan Buddhism is still practiced and the nearby Confucian Temple. Next, visit the 798 Arts District where contemporary artists have set up studios and galleries in a former factory.
Complete the day with four regional cuisines at Xi He Ya Ju Restaurant serving Sichuan, Shandong, Cantonese, and Huaiyang dishes. (B,L,D)

Day 5 – Wall to Wall Wonders
Pack your bags for an overnight stay with a difference. Travel out to the remote Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China, visit a delightful old farmhouse surrounded by orchards, eat delicious hand pulled noodles in the shadow of the Great Wall then move off the beaten track through wild farm country of the Manchurian foothills to un-restored sections of the Wall. Stay overnight close by for the rare opportunity to see the sun set and rise over the Great Wall. Sample wild gourmet cuisine and soothe your soul with Tibetan tea after an exhilarating day. Stay one night at the Brickyard at Mutianyu. (B,L,D)

Day 6 – Great Wall and Beyond
A leisurely morning to further explore the incredible Great Wall, perhaps before the sunrise! In the afternoon, transfer back to Beijing. Spend the late afternoon bargaining for antiques in Qing Street, Liulichang – followed by a magnificent Beijing dining experience at the Capital M. The creative food and striking interior design reflect both contemporary good taste and a certain cheeky flair, combined with an iconic view of Beijing. Stay two nights at the Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel. (B,D)

Day 7 – Old and New
Visit the Zoo to see the Giant Panda before taking a pleasant stroll in the grounds of the Summer Palace, built as an exclusive retreat by the Empress Dowager Cixi. You’ll be impressed by the ornate temples, pavilions, and covered corridors set amidst a manicured landscape. Buffet lunch will be served at Beijing CTS Plaza Hotel before an afternoon at leisure to shop at the Silk Market. End the day with traditional Peking Duck served in a restored Ming dynasty imperial granary – continually voted as the best duck in Beijing, Dadong Roast Duck delivers divine duck cooked over fruit scented firewood with an endless choice of condiments. (B,L,D)

Day 8 – Depart Beijing
Drive past some of the city’s amazing architecture en route to Beijing Airport and your flight home. (B)

Day 9 – Arrive Australia

SKU: IJDB-SGJ-14-2024 / 2025 / 2026

Exclusions:

• International air taxes and fuel surcharges of approximately $790 and subject to change – the actual amount at time of ticket issue will apply. 
• Visa fees
• Gratuities

Tour prices and inclusions are based on a minimum of 2 passengers. Sole traveller prices available on request.

Group Departure Dates and Prices

Vietnam in Style