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China & Yangtze River
15 DAYS FROM £1720

This holiday has departures available between: 18th Mar 2011 to 14th Oct 2011
439Dr Gilbert BellUK My wife and I have just returned from a great holiday - China & the Yangtze River Cruise - everything was excellent apart from the weather and we can scarcely blame Archers for that. The holiday was, from our experience, not a typical Archers' Tour at all - it was more like a series of short city breaks connected by internal flights, albeit on the far side of the globe. We certainly saw some great sights in some great cities. If the sun had shone a bit more often it really would have been even more wonderful. As it was, we saw some great things, stayed in really good hotels and dined really well - it was a holiday to remember.

One we can recommend without hesitation. yes1439Mrs R GoodwinOxon I am writing this letter of thanks to the company to express my great satisfaction with the recent holiday that I booked with Archers Direct "Tour of China and the Yangtze River Cruise".

The entire organisation of the tour was excellent throughout. The tour guide in China was a pleasure to be with (Mr Allen Chen) and he made sure that our holiday ran smoothly and was enjoyable the whole of the fourteen days. Our hotels were excellent, as was the Yangtze River Cruise on the "President 4 Boat".

This is the first time that I have travelled with Archers Direct and if these standards are maintained then I am sure it will not be the last! It was good value for money. My thanks to the team who work to make this a successful holiday. no1439Dr HughesCumbernauld We are just back from a two weeks tour in China - superb.

First class five star hotels, six internal flights and a Yangtze cruise. I felt as if wee were in a very comfortable tourist cocoon and with bureaucracy completely removed by such an organised tour.

An extraordinary experience with outstanding highlights across a vast country. no1439Patrick & Jean HoltSolihull To acknowledge your welcome home letter and to say that we all enjoyed a memorable trip to China, every aspect of the holiday was superb and our courier, Helen Yuan, made visits and events just that more interesting, with her expert knowledge of the many places we visited. We have texted her since our return, to express our thanks, but would you please convey our gratitude to her, through your agency in Beijing, as she is certainly a great asset to her company.

All arrangements for travel, accommodation and excursions were ideal, we never thought we would ever see places in China, in the flesh, as one might say reading about such places was as much as we thought possible.

We have many happy memories of this trip and with the Olympics just being completed, the flowers and buntings were certainly a sight to see. Our dear friend, Mrs V. Colwill, who joined us on this holiday, was full of praise for all the arrangements and expresses her thanks too.

A few years ago we had the opportunity of travelling with you to New England in the Fall, which again was a superb trip, so we shall have no hesitation in booking a future holiday with your holiday.

Carry on the excellent work. no1439Angela & Lewis JonesSwansea Over the years my husband and I have been on a number of holidays with Archers Direct and really enjoy travelling to places of interest.

We have been fortunate enough to have travelled on your China and Yangtze River trip, which was a truly unforgettable tour. Everything was really well organised and we were particularly impressed by the luxury of the hotels, the quality of the food and the experiences of all the different cultures plus the breathtaking trip on the Yangtze River, which we will never forget. The Captain and crew mixed really well and everyone on the trip also got on well.

So, this year we are off on your treasures of Northern India trip … which, having had such wonderful quality and well organised tours before we are really looking forward to…

So a big "thank you" for all our holidays so far enjoyed and please keep up your good work! no1439Mrs V ParkerAngus This was the holiday of a lifetime for me and it surpassed all my expectations. Some days were long and exhausting but necessary for such a full itinerary.

The reps were excellent and taught us a considerable amount about Chinese culture and history.

My memory of this holiday and the co-operation of all Archer's staff will stay with me forever. Congratulations on an excellent trip. no1439H & C ButlerNottingham I feel I must write in praise of a wonderful 2 weeks my husband and I spent with Archers Direct on the "China and Yangtse River" tour. Everything was really well organised for which we must say a special thank you to our very pleasant, humorous and knowledgeable guide. We were particularly impressed by the luxury of the hotels we stayed in, the quality and quantity of food and all the various travel arrangements that went so smoothly. It seemed almost unbelievable that in the space of two weeks we visited so many famous places and had such a variety of different cultural experiences.

We really enjoyed the holiday and felt that with almost everything included, it was incredibly good value for money. Thank you all concerned, we will definitely be looking to Archers again for next year's trip. no1439P. GrahamUK Our tour of China with Archers Direct has been simply excellent. Everything has run incredibly smoothly with Alan, an extraordinarily good guide, who handled the group of 39 extremely well and given us personally great advice. The local guides too have been of a high standard with Michael in Shanghai and Chow in Xian standing out. The hotels have been of a uniformly good standard.

In terms of the itinerary highlights were the new …… at the Han Dynasty tombs in Xian, the Terracotta Warriors, the trip up Shenang Stream and the Great Wall. I guess the timings we enjoyed less were the Peking Opera and maybe we would have preferred more time walking on the wall rather than the Ming Tombs - but this probably would not have suited the rest of our more elderly party. We found it quite a hectic schedule but thought that was needed to fit in the wealth of China's attractions. We were pleased Alan was able to change the schedule at times to meet the group's wishes - for example, the trip to the imitation market.

Altogether we would not hesitate to recommend this tour and the service offered by Archers. It also seems amazingly good value. no1439Mrs NertneyCleveland If you want a holiday experience, which is so much more than a holiday, let me recommend the China & Yangtze River touring holiday.

Within fifteen days we were exposed to an ancient culture and all it had to offer, history so different from ours it could have been hard to comprehend had it not been for the excellence of the tour manager and the local guides whose knowledge and fluency in our language made it easy for us to fully appreciate and value our differences, each enriching the other.

The internal flights were superb and the management of our luggage was excellent. The included shows have to be experienced and the food was excitingly interesting. Visits to the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors were overwhelming, however, for me the cruise on the Yangtze River and the Three Gorges Dam was the high spot, for when the area is flooded the world will never be the same again. Incidentally, they are one year ahead on this enormous project; do we have more to learn from them?

Our hotel accommodation was as good as any we have stayed in and compare favourably with those in the USA, which are renowned for their standards. The silk, jade and pearl factory/outlets are a must to visit and of course buy from ridiculously low prices. The traffic conditions in Beijing are inexplicable but a memorable experience, as are the squat type toilets. The gardens, pandas, temples, tombs, pagodas but especially the people are what will draw us back to China.

My husband and I have travelled widely, however, this was our first holiday with Archers but will not be the last, and the departure from our local airport was a definite advantage and a pleasant start to our holiday.

Well Archers, I can only thank you for creating this opportunity for us to explore a new country and hope to travel with you again in the not too distant future. no1439Mrs J SaundersMiddlesex This letter comes a little late but I wanted to write to you and say "Thank you" for a fantastic holiday.

My friends Mr Irestone and my husband and I went on your China & Yangtze River tour in March. I would like to say what wonderful value for our money. Our guide Michael was very good and so helpful.

Again thank you for a most memorable and wonderful holiday and good luck on your future tours. no1439Mr & Mrs DayMid-Glam After 5 years of apprehension and being convinced by my wife we decided to visit China to cruise the Yangtze River before it was flooded to a height of 175 metres.

Passing through the Three Gorges Dam (was incredible and very relaxing) the visits to the various sites offered in the Brochure were amazing and the size of the Cities full of Neon Lights and with connecting motorways with lots of busy traffic and high rise buildings where ever you looked gave us a different impression of what we originally thought China would be like. Everywhere we went we found the people to be very friendly and wanting to speak and try out their English.

The tour guide and local guides were very informative and knowledgeable, Beijing was very crowded and busy although Xian was exceptional with vast open spaces and very tidy and clean, and to see the pandas was a delight. The food at the hotels and at all the chosen restaurants was of a very high standard. The Terracotta Warriors, the Hero Walk on the Great Wall and Yangtze were the Highlights of our tour although we enjoyed visiting the Summer Palace, Various Temples and Tiananmen Square.

We arrived back home with an entirely different view and hope to go back again in the future, we recommend China is now the place of the future for tourism so don't hesitate like I did. Go now and enjoy a different country with a different culture. You will not be disappointed. no1439Mrs C ChandlerLeeds I went on my holiday abroad in 1947 and have been almost every year since as well as taking cruise holidays. I have been with a lot of different companies and travelled in various ways, by coach, train, air, car and caravan. I feel well qualified to judge the quality of a holiday and rate the above Archers' Direct as first class value. Previously I considered a safari holiday in South Africa as my favourite all time holiday but it has now been relegated to second place after visiting China with this tour.

We were met in Beijing Airport by Lily who was our guide throughout the tour. Lily was very efficient and cared for everyone in an unobtrusive manner, which made the holiday so perfect. The itinerary was packed but arranged so that we did not become exhausted. We soon became familiar with the others in the group as we shared the experiences. My friend, Doreen and myself came in for a lot of teasing from the younger members of the party and one of them took a photograph of us posing near the "other old relics" (enclosed).

The first hotel we stayed in was a very imposing building with a beautiful ornamental fountain in front of it. The bedrooms were spacious and the public rooms elegant and vast. We expected less in subsequent hotels but were pleasantly surprised to find they were of the same high standard. Doreen was concerned about the food as she does not enjoy highly seasoned dishes but her fears were groundless and there was plenty of choice at every meal. We were provided with a buffet breakfast with every imaginable type of food including fresh fruit and at the other meals an assortment of dishes was served so she never went hungry. We were also surprised to find shops selling our favourite ice cream in most of the places we visited.

The cruise on the Yangtze River and visit to the Three Gorges Dam was worth the long haul flight in its own right and our Dam Guide had a wicked sense of humour. The other excursions to the Terracotta Warriors, the Forbidden City, the climb up the Wall of China and the visit to the zoo at Chongquing were an added bonus. We also saw the China Opera, an acrobatic show and visited some unforgettable Bonsai gardens as well as seeing the seething cities.

Our overall impression of China was one of beauty, harmony and peace and we were made welcome wherever we went by local people anxious to befriend us. It would be very difficult to pick out a particular highlight. Thank you Archers Direct for making these fascinating places accessible to us. Hats off to Archers Direct for this tour and cruise. no1439Mr S. HackettNorthants We have just returned from your touring holiday China and the Yangtze River. What a superb time we've had. So many wonderful experiences, that it's difficult to decide which one was the highlight of the holiday.

We were so well taken care of by our tour guide, Allen Chen. He was everything a tour guide should be. The whole holiday ran so smoothly that we were able to relax and enjoy every day without having to worry about anything.

When we arrived at Heathrow we found that one of our suitcases was still at Beijing airport. That could have dampened our experience of Archers, but the suitcase was delivered to our door within 48 hours and we were kept informed by Air China, of its whereabouts throughout that time.

We would have no hesitation in recommending this holiday to our friends. no1439Mrs. S. PrattUK I wanted to write and say that my husband and I have had a fantastic holiday to China with the Yangtze River Cruise and the Hong Kong option.

The whole tour was well organised and we saw all the places we wanted to see. We also had a bonus visit in Xian when our flight was delayed of seeing the Han Yangling tombs - this was amazing as this tomb is still being excavated and it is not yet on the tourist list of places to go.

The option of going to Hong Kong was beneficial as China was so busy that we needed some time to relax.

The accommodation was a good standard and the customer service exceptional.

The service to obtain visas from CIBT was seamless and the visa staff were knowledgeable and the service was quick. I was able to check the status of the visas via the web with our passports and visas being returned within 1 week.

I look forward to booking another holiday with Archers Direct sometime in the future. no1
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Travel to the very heart of the Orient and experience a vastly different world of exotic culture and colourful history.

Included highlights worth £235

Beijing Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven
Great Wall of China and Ming Tombs
Shanghai City sightseeing, evening acrobatics show
Wuhan Provincial Museum
Yangtze River Cruise Three Gorges Dam, Lesser Three Gorges (or Shennong Stream), Shibaozhai (or Fengdu Ghost City)
Chongqing City tour
Xian Terracotta Warriors, Tang Palace evening dinner show, Wild Goose Pagoda, City Walls

Included in the Price

Flights: UK - Beijing - Shanghai - Wuhan; Chongqing - Xian - Beijing - UK
Accommodation on tour in twin room with private facilities
Meals on tour 13 breakfasts (B), 12 lunches (L), 12 dinners (D)
Travel on tour by comfortable transport with air-conditioning
English speaking guide on tour
Porterage at hotels during tour (for one suitcase per person)
Transfers between overseas airports, hotels and cruise ship
All local and airport taxes
Not included in the price Tipping is at your own discretion - as a guide we recommend £3 per person per day.

Holiday Itinerary

DAY 1: Depart UK.

DAY 2: Arrive Beijing.
On arrival in Beijing you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to begin exploring this vibrant city, glorified by 13th century Mongol leader Kublai Khan as the capital of his empire. (D)

DAY 3: Beijing and Great Wall of China.
Today's included excursion takes you to the amazing Great Wall of China: approximately 4,000 miles long and at least 2,600 years old. You'll also visit the Ming Tombs, where 13 emperors are buried, and the Sacred Way - the road leading to the tombs, lined with statues of animals and human figures. The famous Peking Duck will be served for your evening meal. (B, L, D)

DAY 4: Beijing - Shanghai.
Get ready to experience some of the world's most awe-inspiring sights. Today's included city sightseeing tour begins with a visit to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. This afternoon, fly to Shanghai. (B, L, D)

DAY 5: Shanghai.
Once known as the 'Paris of the Orient', pre-revolution Shanghai was a rich and decadent metropolis and remains one of China's most sophisticated cities. Your included sightseeing tour features visits to The Bund - Shanghai's famous riverside boulevard, Nanjing Road, Yu Yuan Garden and the Jade Buddha Temple. In the evening enjoy an included acrobatics show. (B, L, D)

DAY 6: Shanghai - Wuhan.
After a morning visit to the Shanghai Museum take an afternoon flight to Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, for one night. (B, L, D)

DAY 7: Wuhan - Yichang - Yangtze River.
Start today with a visit to the Wuhan Provincial Museum. Afterwards travel to Yichang, where you'll board your cruise boat, President No. 2, for your exciting four-night cruise on the mighty Yangtze River. (B, L, D)

DAY 8: Yangtze River.
Your cruise boat passes through Xiling Gorge (known for its deep valley and serene beauty) and the Three Gorges Dam Five Stage Ship Lock. You will visit the Three Gorges Dam Project, one of the most incredible engineering projects ever undertaken. (B, L, D)

DAY 9: Yangtze River.
Enjoy a shore excursion to the Lesser Three Gorges (or Shennong Stream). Afterwards you will sail through Wu Gorge and Qutang Gorge. (B, L, D)

DAY 10: Yangtze River.
Today you will visit Shibaozhai, an ancient pagoda (or the Fengdu Ghost City), known as the shining pearl on the Yangtze. (B, L, D)

DAY 11: Yangtze River - Chongqing - Xian.
Disembark your cruise boat at Chongqing, situated at the junction of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers for a short city tour including the city zoo and the Old Town area, before your flight to Xian for a two night stay. (B, L, D)

DAY 12: Xian and Terracotta Warriors.
Today brings one of the highlights of your trip on a visit to the first emperor's funeral vault to see the amazing Terracotta Warriors. Nothing will prepare you for this awe-inspiring spectacle: 8,000 life-sized model warriors, chariots and horses. You will also see Xian's old city walls. In the evening, enjoy the Tang Dynasty show, which includes dinner at the Tang Palace Theatre & Restaurant. (B, L, D)

DAY 13: Xian - Beijing.
Begin today with an included sightseeing excursion to the Wild Goose Pagoda before flying to Beijing for two nights in this vibrant capital. (B, L, D)

DAY 14: Beijing.
Today, visit the Summer Palace, a park of lakeside pagodas and the site of the marble boat made for Empress Dowager Ci Xi. Later, visit the iconic Temple of Heaven, an excellent example of 15th century Chinese architecture. (B, L)

DAY 15: Beijing - UK.
Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK. (B)

Check prices and availability for this holiday

Accommodation on Tour

Beijing: Xiyuan (4*); Shanghai: Best Western New Century (4*); Wuhan: Holiday Inn Riverside (4*); Xian: Garden (4*).
Note: Tour hotels will be as specified or alternatives of a similar standard.

Visa Requirements

A visa is required for entry into China. This must be obtained prior to departure.

Not included in the price

Tipping is at your discretion, as a guide we recommend £3 per person per day.

  • President No. 2
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    President No. 2 DiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond

    The spacious yet elegant President No. 2, also known as 'Yellow Crane', is a deluxe river cruiser, purpose built for navigating the Yangtze River's mighty gorges and spectacular curves. Providing 6 spacious decks laden with a good selection of amenities and leisure facilities, President No. 2 offers accommodation for 201 passengers in 102 well-appointed, comfortable cabins and is an ideal base from which to explore the fascinating landscapes and cultures of central China.

    Public Rooms & Facilities
    Sun deck; restaurant; indoor observation room; bar and lounge; coffee bar; ballroom; reading and card rooms; fitness equipment; massage room; beauty salon; shops; clinic; internet access; reception.
    Dining
    Your cruise includes full board. Breakfast features a Chinese and Western style buffet. Lunch and evening meals feature traditional Chinese cuisine made and arranged by a high-class chef.
    Cabins
    All cabins are outside facing and have twin beds; air-conditioning; TV; fridge; shower and wc. Your holiday price includes a standard cabin with window.
    Options/Upgrades
    Single cabin.

    Note:
    Wonders of China & The Mighty Yangtze tour: The President No.2 is for 2011 departure dates.
    China & the Yangtze River tour: The President No.2 is for departures starting 26 Mar 2010 - 2011.

Holiday Extensions

  • A traditional junk in Hong Kong harbour
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    China & The Yangtze River + Hong Kong - 3 Extra nights from £214

    Experience the teeming streets of the Central District, Causeway Bay or Kowloon's 'Golden Mile'. Just an hour from the city's vibrant atmosphere are the paddy fields and mountain ranges providing a further dimension to this unique holiday destination.
    You can extend your tour with a 3 night stay in Hong Kong returning to the UK via Beijing. Your choice of hotels in Hong Kong are the Eaton or the Harbour Grand Kowloon.

Accommodation on Extensions

China & The Yangtze River + Hong Kong - 3 Extra nights from £214

  • Rooftop swimming pool, Metropark Hotel Kowloon
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    Metropark Hotel Kowloon DiamondDiamondDiamond

    The Metropark Hotel Kowloon is situated within the heart of the Kowloon district and provides easy access to Hong Kong's major shopping areas, yet is set back from the bustle of the city, making it a peaceful haven of comfort in the heart of Hong Kong.

    Location: Situated in the bustling area of Mongkok with numerous shopping arcades, and entertainment places just round the corner.
    Facilities: Rooftop swimming pool (closed between January and February); fitness centre; restaurants and bars; minibar in bedrooms.
    Price includes: Room with private facilities; individually-controlled air-conditioning; cable TV; radio; tea/coffee-maker; alarm clock; hairdryer; fridge; telephone.
    Options: Breakfast; single room.
    Official category: 3 star.

  • Eaton
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    Eaton DiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond

    This contemporary hotel offers well appointed and custom designed rooms, and is situated perfectly for exploring Hong Kong.

    Location: The Eaton Hotel is located on Nathan Road, in the heart of Kowloon's shopping and entertainment district and within close proximity of local transportation.
    Facilities: Outdoor swimming pool; restaurants; bars; gym; internet access; lounge; cocktail bar.
    Price includes: Room with private facilities; breakfast; air-conditioning; cable/satellite TV; hairdryer; fridge; tea/coffee-maker; telephone.
    Options: Single room.
    Official category: 4 star.
    Note: The Eaton Hotel will be renamed as The Eaton Smart from October 2010.

  • Harbour Plaza
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    Harbour Grand Kowloon, Hong Kong DiamondDiamondDiamondDiamondDiamond

    Ideally set overlooking Victoria Harbour, the Harbour Grand Kowloon is a perfect venue for relaxation.

    Location: Located on the Whampoa waterfront with panoramic views overlooking Victoria Harbour and the South China Sea. Close proximity to Tsim Sha Tsui area, Kowloon KCR Station, Cross Harbour Tunnel, Whampoa Garden's entertainment and shopping centre.
    Facilities: Roof-top swimming pool with outdoor whirlpool; pool bar; sun deck with landscaped garden; 7 restaurants; bars; lounge; fitness centre with gym, sauna and steam bath; florist; internet access; 24-hour room service; laundry & valet; minibar and safety deposit box in bedrooms.
    Price includes: Room with private facilities; air-conditioning; satellite TV; IDD telephone system; tea/coffee-maker; hairdryer.
    Options: Breakfast; single room; harbour view.
    Official category: 5 star.

To help you plan and make the most of your holiday, below is a list optional excursions available to you.
Please note that optional excursions and prices are subject to change.
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China & Yangtze River
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