China Travel Plans

Day 1 - 19 Sep (Sat)

• 8.40 a.m. Depart on SQ802. Air Ticket @ S$888 per pax.
• 2.55 p.m. Arrive @ Beijing Int'l Airport.

Day 2 - 20 Sep (Sun)

• 8.00 a.m. Tiananmen Square (Flag Raising at 6 a.m., Flag Lowering at 6.16 p.m.).
• 8.30 a.m. The Great Hall of the People (RMB 15).
• 9.00 a.m. Chairman Mao's Mausoleum (Free).
• 9.30 a.m. The Forbidden City (RMB 60). http://www.beijingtrip.com/attractions/forbidden/
• 12.00 p.m. Jingshan Park.
• 2.00 p.m. Summer Palace, Yiheyuan (RMB 50). http://www.beijingtrip.com/attractions/summer/

Day 3 - 21 Sep (Mon)

• 8.30 a.m. Temple of Heaven, Tiantan (RMB 35). http://www.kinabaloo.com/temple_of_heaven.html
• 10.30 a.m. Beihai Park, Winter Palace - opens at 9 a.m..
• 1.00 p.m. Hutong http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/beijing/30547.htm
• 2.00 p.m. Lama Temple (RMB 20).

Day 4 - 22 Sep (Tue) - 2 Nights at Xi'an

• 7.30 a.m. Dep Capital Airport T3 (Beijing) on Air China. Return ticket costs (750RMB + 1050RMB) S$369 per pax.
• 9.20 a.m. Arrive @ Xianyang Int'l Airport T2 (Xi'an).
• 10.30 a.m. Arrive @ Hyatt Regency Xi'an. RMB 850 (approx S$182) per night.
• Hyatt Regency Xian 158 Dong Da Jie, Xian Shannxi, People's Republic of China 710001 Tel: +86 29 8769 1234 Fax: +86 29 8769 6799 http://xian.regency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
• Distance from Xianyang Airport to Hyatt - 43 km, 50 min. by car.
• Alternative: Citadine Xian @ 390RMB promotional rate.
• 12.00 p.m. The Greater Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayan Ta). Climb up for a good aerial view of the historic heart of Xi'an. Additional charge on top of the entrance fee.
• 3.00 p.m. The Forest of Stone Steles Museum.
• Walled City (Night scene is nicer) - climb up from the East Gate to take some good photos. South Gate is nicest. Can tour the 14 km perimeter wall by walking (4 hrs), cycling (2 hrs) & golf cart (1 hr).
• Shopping within the walled city.
• Options: Bell Tower, Drum Tower, The Great Mosque (Unesco site).

Day 5 - 23 Sep (Wed) - Xi'an

• 8.00 a.m. Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors & Horses.
• To beat the crowd to Lintong (30 km away), need to be at the front gate for the 8 a.m. opening. To photograph its full enormity, use a tripod or adjust exposure to more than ISO 800. Require 3 hours to view exhibits, including jostling with the crowd.
• May need to walk 1 km from the disembarking area to the museum. Or pay for golf cart ride.
• Underground Palace of Qinshihuang
• 2.00 p.m. Huaquing Hot Springs - northen foot of Mt Lishan in Lintong county, 30 km from Xi'an city centre.
• Options: Mt. Huashan (not enough time).

Day 6 - 24 Sep (Thu)

• 9.00 a.m. Hukou waterfalls of Yellow River.
• 12.00 p.m. Last minute shopping.
• 5.25 p.m. Dep Xianyang T2 (Xi'an).
• 7.20 p.m. Arr Capital Airport T3 (Beijing).

Day 7 - 25 Sep (Fri)

• 8.00 a.m. The Great Wall - Mutianyu. http://www.kinabaloo.com/great_wall.html
• 12.00 p.m. Lunch at The Commune by the Great Wall (provided we visit the Badaling section of the Great Wall).
• 3.00 p.m. The Ming Tombs.
• 5.00 p.m. Return.

Day 8 - 26 Sep (Sat)

• 9.30 a.m. Xiangshan (Fragrant Hill) Park. RMB 10 from 1 Apr to 31 Oct. http://www.xiangshanpark.com.cn/newEbiz1/EbizPortalFG/portal/html/index.html
• 28 km north west of Beijing city.
• 1.00 p.m. Bird's Nest (National Stadium for 2008 Olympics).
• Bird's Egg (National Grand Theatre) - near Great Hall of the People.
• Bird's Legs (CCTV HQ).
• Water Cube (National Aquatic Centre).

Day 9 - 27 Sep (Sun)

• 8.30 a.m. Beijing Zoo (RMB 15 + RMB 5 for Panda site). Recommended visit time - 1 Hr.
• 10.00 a.m. Beijing Capital Museum (RMB 30).

Day 10 - 28 Sep (Mon)

• 11.00 a.m. Shopping (Part 1).
• Artist Village Gallery. http://www.artistvillagegallery.com/ North Renzhuang Village, Songzhuang,Tongzhou District.
• Operating Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission Fee: RMB 20.
• 798 Art Zone. http://www.798space.com/index_en.asp

Day 11 - 29 Sep (Tue)

• 11.00 a.m. Shopping (Part 2)
• The Opposite House (an avant-garde boutique hotel) designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. Address: The Village, Building 1, No. 11 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing. http://www.theoppositehouse.com/

Day 12 - 30 Sep (Wed)

Day 13 - 1 Oct (Thu)

Day 14 - 2 Oct (Fri)

• 4.00 p.m. Depart Beijing on SQ805.
• 10.15 p.m. Arrive in Singapore.

Other Activities to Consider

1. Bike tour of Beijing city (within 2nd ring road).
2. Chaoyang park.
3. Having a meal at the Commune by the Great Wall, then view the houses and take photos at their private stretch of the great wall. http://www.communebythegreatwall.com/en/tuijian/channel/content1664.shtml
4. Watch traditional Beijing culture show (apparently a must-see). http://www.taopiao.net/theater.asp?id=108
5. Watch something at the National Grand Theatre.
6. Miyun district near Beijing. http://www.visitmiyun.com/
7. KungFu show. http://www.chaoyangjuchang.com/

Useful Information

1. Xi'an Tourism Guide. http://en1.xian-tourism.com/index.asp
2. China National Tourist Office. http://cnto.org/beijing.asp
3. Beijing. http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/beijing/30963.htm

By train from Beijing to Xi'an

1. Journey of 1200 km takes 11 hrs. Costs US$175 / pax on deluxe soft sleeper, one-way (2 berth).
2. 9.24 p.m. Depart Beijing Railway Stn. on Z19 train (Non-stop) to Xi'an.
3. 8.25 a.m. Arrive @ Xi'an Railway Terminal the next day.
4. Distance from Xi'an Railway Station to Hyatt - 3 km, 15 minutes by car.
5. 8.00 p.m. Depart Xi'an on Z20 train.
6. 7.00 a.m. Arrive @ Beijing Railway Stn. the next day.