Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Enchanting China - time to go…is now…..

Hello Beijing   

From the nomadic steppes of Kazakhstan to the frenetic streets of Hanoi, Asia is a continent so full of intrigue, adventure, solace and spirituality that it has fixated and confounded travellers for centuries. And, China might just be the most rewarding destination on Earth. Never fails to conjure up a myriad of feelings, images & a sense of mystery. Whether it’s your first visit or your 20^th , China is so big, so diverse & so fast-changing, it’s always an adventure. More than ever, intrepid travellers are making their way to the People’s Republic of China and there’s little wonder why.

China. The name alone makes you want to get packing. It is going places, so jump aboard, go along for the ride and see where it's headed. Come……experience China with us……

Ancient Civilisations |Vast Landscapes |Glimpse of the Future

From the nomadic steppes of Kazakhstan to the frenetic streets of Hanoi, Asia is a continent so full of intrigue, adventure, solace and spirituality that it has fixated and confounded travellers for centuries.

This continent has contributed a cast of villains & heroes to global history. Most of the significant achievements of the modern world had their infancy in Asia. Historic trading routes sliced across epic terrain as expanding empires competed to trade goods & ideas throughout the continent & beyond. Asia’s ambitious civilisations ultimately gave rise to some of the world’s most revolutionary ideas & important technology. Ancient wonders & sacred spaces abound across the continent, from the Great Wall of China & the temples of Angkor to lesser-known marvels in Myanmar, Nepal & Afghanistan.

Gleaming skyscrapers, whooshing magnetic trains, shiny smartphones: in Asia, the future is now. China is charging its way into the 21^st century with its economy developing at a head-spinning pace, while South Korea boasts some of the fastest internet speeds in the world & India is a hub of growing technology. A frenetic buzz surrounds urban Asia: the fashion, culture & business in the continent’s metropolises easily challenge the biggest European and American cities for their status as global hubs. This ever-evolving modernity can make for some incredibly special travel experiences: watch rice paddies flash by from a high-speed train, pick up a shiny new laptop in a Hong Kong electronics market or go to a robot cabaret show in Japan.

And now, on to China …

Breathtaking Antiquity | Stupendous Scenery | Cuisine | Diversity

The world's oldest continuous civilisation isn't all smoked glass & brushed aluminium and while you won't be tripping over artefacts - three decades of round-the-clock development & rash town planning have taken their toll - rich seams of antiquity awaits. Its modern face is dazzling, but China is no one-trick pony.

Eagerly assuming its place among the world’s top travel destinations, even more so since Beijing took centre stage at the 2008 Olympics, China is an epic adventure. From the wide open & empty panoramas of Tibet to the push & shove of  Shanghai, from the volcanic dishes of Sichuan to beer by the bag in seaside Qingdao, a journey through this colossus of a country is a mesmerising encounter with the most populous, perhaps most culturally idiosyncratic nation on earth.

The 3^rd largest country in the world, China is bounded to the north by the deserts of Mongolia, to the west by the Tibetan plateau & the Himalayas, and to the east by the East & South China Seas. China's 22 provinces & 5 autonomous regions are governed from Beijing, along with some 5000 islands. China isn't just a country - it is a different world.

Curator of the world’s oldest continuous civilisation, China will have you bumping into history at every turn. But it’s not just a museum of imperial relics: the frisson of development that has left China’s coastline glittering with some of the world’s most up-to-the-minute cities propels the land on with a forward-thinking dynamism.

Serve it all up according to taste: collapsing sections of the Great Wall, temple-topped mountains, villages that time forgot, languorous water towns, sublime Buddhist grottoes & ancient desert forts.

Few countries do the Big Outdoors like the Middle Kingdom. China's landscapes span the range from alpha to omega: take your pick from the sublime sapphire lakes of Tibet or the impassive deserts of Inner Mongolia, island-hop in Hong Kong or bike between fairy-tale karst pinnacles around Yangshuo; swoon before the rice terraces of the south, take a selfie among the gorgeous yellow rapeseed of Wuyuan or hike the Great Wall as it meanders across mountain peaks. Size up some awesome sand dunes in Gansu or get lost in forests of bamboo, sail through dramatic river gorges or, when your energy fails you, flake out for a tan on a distant beach & listen to the thud of falling coconuts.

China is vast. Off-the-scale massive. A riveting jumble of wildly differing dialects and climatic & topographical extremes, it is like several different countries rolled into one.

Take your pick from the tossed-salad ethnic mix of the southwest, the yak-butter-illuminated temples of Xiahe, a journey along the dusty Silk Road, spending the night at Everest Base Camp or getting into your glad rags for a night on the Shanghai tiles.

The Chinese live to eat & with 1.4 billion food-loving people to feed, coupled with vast geographic & cultural variations in a huge land, expect your taste buds to be tantalised, tested & treated. Wolf down Peking duck in Beijīng, melt over a Chongqìng hotpot or grab a seasoned roujiamo (shredded pork in a bun) before climbing Hua Shan. Gobble down a steaming bowl of Lanzhou noodles in a Silk Road street market, raise the temperature with some searing Hunan fare or flag down the dim sum trolley down south.

Beijing, Shanghai & Hong Kong are portraits of modern Chinese wherewithal & ambition. But, with its long & dramatic history, China offers endless cultural treasures. It is forever linked to its ancient civilization, friendly people, and many of the world’s most revered treasures, such as The Great Wall, Terra-Cotta Warriors & Horses & the Yangtze River.

But venture further afield & you will be rewarded.  Tibet's monasteries, Chengdu pandas, Guilin's Li River cruise through karst peaks, Yunnan's alpine kingdoms, cave Buddhas of Datong, preserved city of Pingyao, Yangtze river, the western desert cities of the Silk Road - all have unique appeal.

Delve into the unique world of China during this fabulous glimpse of Beijing.

Beijing is the capital & the second largest city after Shanghai. It was also the seat of the Ming & Qing dynasty emperors until the formation of a republic in 1911. China's foremost city has been the capital for twenty four successive emperors. Stop - start capital since the Mongol Yuan dynasty, Beijing is one of China’s true ancient citadels. It is also an aspiring, confident & modern city that seems assured of its destiny to rule over China ad infinitum.

A vast & symmetrical metropolis, Beijing is the orderly seat of the communist political power so its architecture traces each & every mood swing from 1949 to the present, from felled Hutongs to huge underground bomb shelters scooped out during the paranoid 1970s. One moment you are sizing up a blank Soviet-style monument, the next you spot a vast, shimmering tower rising up from the footprint of a vanished temple.

History may have been trampled in Beijing over the past half century, but there is still much more substance here than in other parts. You just need to do a bit of hunting & patient exploration to find the historical narrative. Colossal flyovers & multi-lane boulevards heave with more than three million cars but ample pockets of historical charm survive. It is the city’s epic imperial grandeur, however, that is truly awe-inspiring.

Beijing is the political, educational & cultural centre of the country and as such it is rich in historical sites and important government and cultural institutions.

As you would expect from a trip to China, a tour highlight is your visit to the Great Wall, known as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, it is the only man-made object that can be seen from space by the naked eye. As you walk along the wall, see how expansive it is & imagine what it was like to construct the wall - at a time without modern machinery to help! As if the Great Wall of China is not enough to amaze you, wait until you see the other major sights. Some of which include: Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs & the Pandas Garden.

You would also visit the famous Beijing City Planning Museum & the modern architectural wonders built for the Olympics. The complete range of Chinese cuisine can be found in the capital & evening entertainment is superb.

You are spoilt for choice: whether you’re an urban traveller, hiker, cyclist, explorer, backpacker, irrepressible museum-goer or faddish foodie, China’s diversity is second to none.

Breathtaking antiquity & stupendous scenery. Curator of the world’s oldest continuous civilisation, China will have you bumping into history at every turn. Plus great food & idyllic scenery are just the beginning Follow your nose in China & you won't want to stop travelling.……. Take the plunge now & yep…. People’s Republic of China is waiting. A warm welcome, historical secrets & an artistic paradise awaits you & The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery.

Come……be inspired & discover the World with us

Enchanting China - prepare to be charmed

Hello Beijing

* Guaranteed departures with minimum 2 guests. Seat in Coach. There may be other participants and group size may vary. Participants may come from all over the world & most of them will be English speaking. Private services with English speaking Tour-guide & vehicle can be arranged with a supplement cost.

 

**Please note that the Program highlights the main attractions that are to be visited each day. Some Monuments / places may require extra Entrance Fees to be paid for accessing some of the areas.

 

*** It is extremely rare that Programs need to be changed but it can occur. We reserve the right to change, amend or alter the Itinerary if required, for example, occasionally the tour sequence & duration of time spent in each place / city can change due to local conditions which are out of our control or due to heavy traffic conditions or bad weather. The Price will not be affected.

 

Conditions related to specific Tours will be advised in due course, if required.

 

 

 

 

Enchanting China - prepare to be charmed

Hello Beijing

And last but not least:

Departures:

Arrival in Beijing on specific Wednesdays (minimum 2 guests)

Validity:

→ December 2020  

Prices:

We offer several accommodation choices for this Journey. The price varies by selected accommodations. The itinerary remains unchanged.

Exchange rates fluctuate on a daily basis. Please contact us for current pricing and we will respond within 24 hours.

Some important notes

• Flights are subject to constant modifications / delays and cancellations.  In such cases, we will do all possible to find the best available alternative / solution but will not accept any liability, whatsoever.
• Our rates only include those items which are specified in the Itinerary / Inclusions.
• The cost has been calculated on the existing tariffs / conditions and in case of any currency fluctuations or amendment in local Government taxes, or any fuel hike, we reserve the right to revise the tour price accordingly.
• Our quotations are calculated on base category of accommodation at each property and are subject to modification, if the same hotel / category of room not available at the time of reservation. In that case, we will confirm a superior category of room at a comparable or better hotel and supplement charges, if any, shall be advised accordingly. Final Itinerary will illustrate updated information and / or it would be furnished at the time of confirmation.
• All prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability at the time of booking. The from price reflects the lowest available price at time of publication, which is valid for a specific start date or dates and also based on availability at the time of booking.
• Room availability is getting saturated due to heavy demands from the tourism industry, international Fairs and Congresses. Due to these constant sold- out situations the hotels are applying the cancellation rules more stringently. Once the reservation is guaranteed, the booking will be subject to full cancellation charges as per our Terms & Conditions (details will be advised at the time of deposit). We strongly recommend obtaining Insurance to protect yourself against any unforeseen scenarios.
• Additional services including Optionals, if any, can be paid directly by the clients to our local offices