This unique journey provides a memorable experience of visiting the most famous treasures and wonders of China - the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Great Wall, plus a chance to view the life-size terra-cotta army in Xian, consisting of 8,000 individual figures, each a unique work of art.
04MIDTSN-A In the Footsteps of Marco Polo
Departure: Tianjin
Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights
Re-join ship: Shanghai
Reserve by: At least 90 Days Prior to Sailing
This Mid-Voyage Land Adventure requires advance booking with Silversea Reservations no later than 90 days prior to sailing. Requests received after this date may be accommodated on a space-available basis and the programme price is subject to change. Payment in full is due within 120 days prior to sailing. This programme is non-refundable if cancelled within 90 days of sailing. Operation of this tour is subject to minimum participation.
Guests must obtain their own visa for China prior to joining the cruise. Guests should note that the week of Oct. 1 - 8, 2017 is a week-long national holiday (Golden Week). As such, one should be prepared for trains and tourist sites to be very congested.
Explore Beijing in-depth with visits to the Forbidden City(Palace Museum), Tiananmen Square, and local restaurants. Visit the Great Wall and walk the wooden promenade at Lake Kunming and the Summer Palace. Travel to Xian to see the emperor's terracotta army, buried in underground vaults for centuries. End your exploration with an overview of Shanghai.
DAY ONE - Tianjin / Beijing
Upon disembarking the ship at Tianjin International Cruise Home Port, transfer to the Tianjin train station and commence your overnight excursion to Beijing with a 30-minute ride on the high-speed train. Once you have arrived in the capital of the People's Republic of China, transfer to a five-star hotel for a buffet lunch.
After lunch, proceed to Beijing's national symbol, Tiananmen Square. Known as 'Gate of Heavenly Peace', the square is dominated by a gigantic portrait of Chairman Mao. Since imperial times, Tiananmen Square has always provided an impressive stage for declarations and key events in local history. In modern times, the solemn flag-raising ceremony has become a revered daily celebration. It was from the giant gate that Chairman Mao proclaimed the People's Republic on October 1, 1949.
Your next stop is a walking visit of the legendary Forbidden City. Off-limits to the public for 500 years, the vast complex of this World Heritage Site was opened in 1949 as the Palace Museum. Within its walls lies a maze of palaces built between 1417 and 1420 as the residence of China's emperors. With some 800 buildings and 9,000 rooms, maintenance and restoration are an on-going process.
Leaving the Forbidden City, drive to the Four Seasons Hotel for check-in. The hotel features luxury accommodations as well as fine dining venues. There is time to relax and freshen up before dinner. You will have the choice to dine at one of the hotel's three restaurants: Set menu dinner at Cai Yi Xuan (Chinese), Opus (Western), or Mio (Western). All meals include choices of two drinks including soft drink, local beer or house wine.
Overnight accommodation at the Four Seasons Hotel - Beijing.
DAY TWO -The Great Wall / Beijing
After breakfast, begin today's sightseeing program traveling out of the city and toward the Great Wall, reached following a drive of about two hours. With portions dating back nearly 2,000 years and an overall length of some 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers), this spectacular structure remains a testament to the strength and perseverance of the Chinese people, justly deserving to be named as one the New Seven Wonders of the World. The roundtrip cable car ride (weather permitting) provides a leisurely and less strenuous way to take in the stunning scenery and the beauty of the Great Wall of China.
Leaving the wall, proceed to a local restaurant for Chinese style lunch and then head back to Beijing. En route, pass the Olympic Park for a view of the "Bird's Nest" and "Water Cube", the new ingenious landmark structures built for the 2008 Olympics.
Discover vestiges of Old Beijing away from the bustling city during a pedicab trip through narrow alleyways of the hutong, where only awning-covered vehicles and bicycles can manoeuvre. Some of these neighbourhoods date back to the Qing dynasty and residents still maintain a traditional lifestyle within walled courtyards. Step inside a family home and take a look behind the scenes. At the end of your hutong tour, rejoin your coach and return to the hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure and dinner will be on your own this evening.
Overnight accommodation at the Four Seasons Hotel - Beijing.
DAY THREE - Beijing / Xian
After you have enjoyed breakfast and checked out, depart the hotel and transfer to the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace is 7.4 miles (12 kilometres) northwest of the downtown. It is the largest imperial garden in the world and a veritable museum of classical Chinese garden architecture.
The initial construction of the Summer Palace began in 1750, commissioned by Emperor Qianlong as a gift for his mother's birthday. The construction took 15 years to complete. It had the name "Qingyi Yuan" (Garden of Clear Ripples) at that time. The plundering by foreign troops in 1860 destroyed most of the buildings. However, in 1888 Empress Dowager Cixi embezzled the funds of the Imperial Navy to renovate the garden.
After Chinese style lunch at a local restaurant, transfer to Beijing's Capital Airport, where an afternoon flight takes you to Xian, home to the famed Terra Cotta Warriors.
Upon arrival at Xian Airport, you are met and transferred via coach to the downtown Xian and visit to one of the city's landmark - the Ancient City Wall. The City Wall's sheer mass, 39 feet (12 meters) high and nearly 9 miles (14 kilometres) long, may explain why the wall is considered the most complete fortified structure still standing. After a short drive arrive at deluxe Wyndham Grand Xian to check-in. In the evening, enjoy a buffet dinner at hotel.
Overnight accommodation at Wyndham Grand Xian South - Xian.
DAY FOUR - Xian
After breakfast, drive to Xian's most famous attraction - the museum that houses one of China's supreme treasures, an army of a life-sized funeral honour guard. Nothing prepares the visitor for the amazing sight of a stunningly well-preserved, life-size honour guard standing in ranks near the tomb of Emperor Ch'in Shih Huang-ti, who died in 210 BC. The soldiers were first discovered in 1974 by a local farmer who was digging a well. So far, three vaults have been excavated, the first alone containing more than 6,000 men and horses arranged in an imposing formation. Every soldier differs in facial features and expressions and most carry actual weapons of the day. The find is regarded by many as the most sensational archaeological discovery of the 20th century. A protective hangar constructed overhead now serves as the Museum of the Terra Cotta Warriors.
Time permitting, a stunning audio-visual show can be viewed in a separate building and shops offer a wide variety of souvenir items.
After lunch at the Friendship Restaurant in the Museum, proceed to the downtown area where your guide will introduce you to the city's major attractions, including the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Great Mosque.
Start your afternoon tour with a visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This 1,300-year-old structure from the golden days of the Tang Dynasty has long been the hallmark of Xian. The pagoda, along with the Drum Tower and Bell Tower are part of the Buddhist Temple of Grace complex located in the centre of Xian. At the Great Mosque, you can admire the pagoda-style architecture of this beautiful building which dates from the Tang Dynasty.
From here, return to Wyndham Grand Xian South to freshen up before departing for a dumpling dinner and the cultural Tang Dynasty Show. This wonderful performance and classical entertainment depicts a variety of historical relics, providing insight and keeping alive the splendid culture of the ancient Tang Dynasty.
Overnight accommodation at Wyndham Grand Xian South - Xian.
DAY FIVE -Xian / Shanghai
Following breakfast, check out and transfer to the Xian Airport for two-hour flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival in Shanghai, transfer to a local restaurant for a Chinese style lunch. Next, proceed to the 16th-century Yu Yuan Garden. This cultivated oasis captures the essence of the landscape art and architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It has also served as the inspiration for the famous willow-pattern chinaware. High walls adorned with huge, stone dragons shelter teahouses, pavilions, rockeries and carp ponds. Make your way back to the coach by way of a small lake that is spanned by a picturesque zigzag bridge.
After the visit to Yu Yuan Gardens transfer to pier where the ship welcomes you back.
Please note: This Mid-Voyage Land Adventure requires an extensive amount of walking and climbing of many steps at most sites. Therefore, it is not suitable for guests with limited mobility or those who utilise a wheelchair. Comfortable shoes and dressing in layers is recommended. A warm jacket or sweater is necessary this time of year. Dress code throughout the trip is casual with sturdy walking shoes. It is recommended to leave jewellery and valuables on board. The order of the itinerary may be amended due to flight schedule changes or other unforeseen factors. In case of flight changes, the tour sequence may be reversed or amended. Access to certain areas of the Forbidden City are restricted by the Chinese government. The cable car ride is subject to favourable weather conditions and can be cancelled. Remember to bring your camera. There are baggage restrictions as follows: Hand Baggage gross weight is limited to 11 lbs. (5 kg) and size is limited to 20*40*55 cm. One checked bag is permitted however it must be less than 44 lbs. (20 kg). A minimum number of participants is required to operate this programme. Guests must obtain their own visa for China prior to joining the cruise.
Programme Includes:
· Two-night stay at Four Seasons Hotel (or similar) - Beijing
· Two-night stay at Wyndham Grand Xian South (or similar) - Xian
· Four breakfasts, five lunches and three dinners
(Lunch and dinner include choice of two glasses of local beer, house wine, soft drinks, and water)
· One way by high-speed train Tianjin/Beijing (Bags are transferred by luggage truck directly to the Beijing hotel)
· Flights in Economy Class Bejing/Xian and Xian/Shanghai. At an additional charge, upgrade to First Class may be requested (subject to availability). There is no Business Class available on these flights.
· All sightseeing and transfers as per itinerary
Not Included:
Chinese visa, any meals and drinks not specified above, charges incurred by the airlines for excess or overweight luggage, gratuities to drivers and tour guides, laundry, telephone calls, cancellation insurance and other personal items
All Land Adventures require a minimum number of participants in order to operate as described. If this minimum number is not met, Silversea reserves the right to offer the programme at a different rate based on private arrangements, or to cancel the specific departure. Silversea's published cruise cancellation policy will remain in effect. All Land Adventure fares are subject to change and are not guaranteed until payment is received in full by Silversea. Onboard Spending Credit may not be applied to the purchase of this programme. All Land Adventures are non-transferable and non-refundable for any reason, within 90 days of sailing and are recommended to guests 18 years of age and older. This description is a general overview of this programme. Our local operator reserves the right to substitute other sites if local situations, including holidays, changes made by airlines, government/citizens' activities, and weather, require. The programme described in this brochure is provided by independent contractors. Silversea acts solely as ticketing agent. Silversea shall have no obligation or liability of any kind to guests for the business practices, acts or omissions in connection with or arising out of arrangements with independent contractors, including but not limited to airline carriers, ground-tour operators, and hotels since they are neither agents for nor employees of Silversea Cruises. Silversea's liability does not extend beyond the vessel.
