Spring Garden Tour 2009

Home safe! We had a wonderful time and met some interesting people, saw some beautiful gardens. Read the highlights of our trip here.

Day 01 27/03/09 Friday Home/Melbourne

Leave for Melbourne.

Day 02 28/03/09 Saturday Melbourne/Shanghai

Arrive at the aitport at 8:15.Departure for Shanghai by CQ178 at 10:45. Arrive Shanghai at 18:20. Upon arrival met by local guide and transferred to hotel to check in. Dinner arranged by ourselves.

Day 03 29/03/09 Sunday Shanghai

See the Bund in the morning. Visit Yu Garden which was built 4 hundred yars ago and located in the old residential area. This is a beautiful city garden surrounded by a wall- along which crawls a dragon sculpture. The Yu Garden Market is well known and we will have time to chek it out. Have a break at the old teahouse at the Yu Garden market. After lunch visit Xin Tian Di and the Shikumen old house ( old Shanghai-style house). Shopping later in the afternoon may include a trip to a pearl factory. (B.L,D)

Day 04 30/03009 Monday Shanghai/Suzhou

Picked up from hotel lobby at 8:30 and depart for Suzhou by coach. Upon arrival taken for lunch. Garden Tour in the afternoon. This is what Suzhou is famous for! Depending on time, we should be able to see The Humble Administrator's Garden, The Fisherman's Garden, The Pavilion of Surging Waves, etc. Often the garden tours are spread over two days. Optional night tour will be arranged if available.B,L,D)

.Day 05 31/03/09 Tuesday Suzhou

More beautiful gardens! The Garden to Linger in, the Panmen area. After lunch, visit the silk factory and shop. Suzhou is famous for its silk prouction. It has been connected with silk manufacturing for over 4,000 years. See live silk worms, spinning machines, and learn about production of silk comforters.(B,L,D).

Day 6 01/04/09 Wednesday Suzhou

After breakfast visit a horticultural college ( like a technical college) and see how young gardeners are taught. Frre to rest or explore the city in the afternoon. (B,L)

Day 7 02/04/09 Thursday Suzhou/ Tongli

Visit Tiger Hill in the morning, which has been a tourist attraction for around 2,000 years! There are dozens of scenic spots- each has its own story. After lunch, Shantang St. In the afternoon, Grand Canal cruise to Water Town- Tongli. The water towns are a step back in town with houses facing the Grand Canal.It is wonderful to travel by water-a little like Venice. No cars are allowed in the town, but you can take a rickshaw ride.The streets are narrow and picturesque. We will see several old buildings and explore the town. (B,L,D)

Day 8 03/04/09 Friday Tongli/Hangzhou

Full day in Tongli. Leave Tongli at 16:00 for Hangzhou ( by coach) (B,L,D)

Day 9 04/04/09 Saturday Hangzhou

. In the morning, visit the Ling Yin Temple. This ancient temple was built in 326AD during the Jin Dynasty but the temple at the site has been restored 16 times. The buildings you see today are restorations made during the Qing Dynasty.A nice break from the lake is the Longjing tea plantation area. You will see slopes covered by tea bushes, the only movement the workers pruning and weeding.A very pleasant complex at the plantation has rooms were you can take a break and have a tea tasting. Look for the giant teapot in the central pool. Song Dynasty village ( a recreation of a town in ancient times) and fabulous show in the evening. (B,L,D)

Day 10 05/04/09 Sunday Hangzhou/Shanghai

Visit beautiful West Lake in the afternoon.The lake is fringed with willows which look pretty in their Spring foliage. Have lunch in Hangzhou and depart for Shanghai at 14:00. Arrive Shanghai aroun d 17:00 and after check in, take a break.After dinner enjoy an acrobatic show. (B,L,D)

Day 11 06/04/09 Monday Shanghai/Melbourne

Check out after breakfast and leave your luggage at the hotel. Visit Shanghai Botanic Garden in the morning ( including a special room). After lunch take free time to catch the last minute shopping. Back to the hotel at 14:00 to pick up luggaged leave for Melbourne by CA177 at 19:15 .(B,L)

Day 12 07/04/09 Tuesday Melbourne

Arrive Melbourne at 8:00 .

Cost of the Tour :

AUD 3,085.00 pp twin share. AUD 700.00 pp single supplement.

Including :

                  * International air ticket by Air China ( Economy Class)
                  * Accommodation in China
                  * Meals and sightseeing as per the itinerary
                  * English speaking tour guide
                  * Visa fee
                   * Transportation for the group as per the itinerary

Not including

                   * Departure tax and related surcharge- at around $350, this may change
                   * Insurance
                   * Tipping

Special price for garden club members and garden-lovers - also for those who've travelled with China Birds before.

An Optional Tour to Xi'an and Beijing is available to Tour Participants on the above trip.

Day 11 06/04/09 Monday Shanghai/Xi'an

Day 12 07/04/09 Tuesday Xi'an

Visit Terracotta warriors in morning. After lunch, visit Hua Ting pool: hot springs where the emperor went to bathe with his favourite concubine.For dinner enjoy the famous Dumpling Banquet. (B,L,D)

Day 13 08/04/09 Wednesday Xi'an

Visit City Wall and Bell Tower, and Wild Goose Pagoda. City tour for the rest of the day. (B,L,D)

Day 14 09/04/09 Thursday Xi'an Beijing

Leave for Beijing by CA1206 at 8:55 and arrive at 10:40.Visit Forbidden City, Tian an men Square and National Theatre. After lunch, Hu Tong tour ( rickshaws thru old lanes, you will visit a house in the old part of Beijing). Dinner arranged by ourselves. (B,L)

Day 15 10/04/09 Friday Beijing

Great Wall and Ming Tombs and Spirit Way.You will see the Olympic Stadium and Swimming Pool on the way to or back from the Wall. (B,L,D)

Day 16 11/04/09 Saturday Beijing

Visit to Summer Palace in afternoon, where the Royal Family went to escape the summer heat. You will find reference to Empress Cixi here, and see the famous marble boat.Visit Wang Fu Jin area.Dinner arranged by ourselves (B,L)

Day 17 12/04/09 Sunday Beijing

In the morning visit the Temple of Heaven.The blue-tiles roofs of the buildings are shaped like emperers hats complete with gold button. In the afternoon, visit Silk Street or Ya Show for shopping.Dinner arranged by ourselves. (B,L)

Day 18 13/04/09 Monday Beijing/ Melbourne

Free shopping day.Lunch arranged by ourselves. Tour guide will pick us up from the hotel around 12pm. Transferred to airport. Depart for Melbourne at 15:35.

Day 19 14/04/09 Tuesday Melbourne

Home Sweet Home! Arrive at 8:00

Cost of Optional Tour :

AUD1657.00/pp twin share (Based on 10 passengers or over*)
* Prices could be different if less than 10 passengers. Price may change subject to international financial conditions.

AUD 589pp single supplement

Includes :

Airtickets
Accommodation
Meals and sightseeing as per the itinerary
English speaking tour guide
Transportation for the group as per the itinerary

Does not include:

Tipping
Insurance

Notes: On both Part 1 and Part 2 itineraries.

The itinerary may change due to unforseen circumstances. Cost may change because of international financial conditions.
A non- refundable deposit of $500.00 can be paid as soon as possible. Cheques should be made out to Premier Towns Travel and can be posted to China Birds, Box 210, Port Fairy, 3284 Vic. Alternative methods of paying the deposit can be made- to discuss, please phone Di Clanchy on 0355681343.
The balance is due 6 weeks before departure.
An information session will be held prior to departure.
Small group travel- maximum 16 people.
Men and women are welcome.

China Birds Pty Ltd, Box 210, Port Fairy, 3284, Vic ( Di Clanchy)
Phone : 03 55681343, 0408361552
Email : mailto:diclanchy@chinabirds.com.au:
Website: http://www.chinabirds.com.au/

Trip organised with Premier Towns Travel, Melbourne, China Travel Specialists

Suzhou garden

Shanghai. Near Yu Market

Shanghai. The Bund at night

Terracotta Warriors, Xi'an

Great Wall

Temple of Heaven