Suzhou

Beijing

Shanghai

CHINA Xi’an

Hangzhou

Luoyang

TOUR LEADER PAUL URQUHART

Paul is an immensely experienced horticulturist and lifelong garden lover. He has a contagious enthusiasm for China and peonies! He will be joined by our Chinese National guide Sam Lui.

+ Walk the Great Wall of China, the Sacred Way, Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors and Temple of Heaven

+ Catch the best of China’s collections of ancient treasures

+ Shop for silk, cloisonné, pearls and jade

+ Marvel at millions of blooms at the National Peony Festival

+ See the famous architecture from the Beijing Olympics

+ Enjoy the peace and composition of 2000 year old Chinese master gardens

+ Travel in a small group and make new friends

+ Relax – we’ll take care of everything!

For a detailed itinerary, please visit :www.rosstours.com/china

HIGHLIGHTS

We’ve been travelling to China for over 25 years and have loved seeing the country change. Spring is the best time to enjoy the gardens - majestic peonies, wisteria, and cherry blossom. Learn about silk, jade and pearls set against wonders of the world and a modern China.

Graham Ross, Founder

TO BOOK CONTACT

Visit www.rosstours.com

travel@rosstours.com1300 233 200

Let us take you to the most beautiful places in the world.

Journey back in time to the Middle Kingdom, a place where child emperors ruled, wonders of the world were built and the exquisite peony was the flower of royalty. Today’s China is an oriental mix of old and new, join us

to discover why.

THE GARDENS OF

CHINA

9 – 29 APRIL 2016

NATIONAL PEONY FESTIVAL

ITINERARY TOUR DETAILS

+ OUR TOUR INCLUDES

° Return group economy airfare Sydney / Shanghai / Sydney

° Internal flights Hangzhou / Zhengzhou and Beijing / Shanghai

° Air-conditioned motorcoach throughout

° Deluxe accommodation for 19 nights

° Breakfast daily, 13 lunches and 12 dinners

° Guided tours of Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou

° Entrance fees to all gardens and sightseeing detailed in the

itinerary

° Gratuities for local guides, porters and drivers

° Hotel porterage (one piece per person)

° Visa for Australian passport holders

° Fully escorted by a Chinese National Guide & Ross Tour’s

horticultural Guide - Paul Urquhart

+ OUR TOUR COSTS

° Twin Share per person, land only $6,995

° Twin Share per person, including airfare $7,995

° Single Supplement $2,395

+ FITNESS LEVEL

° This tour requires a moderate level of fitness

+ DISCOUNTS

° Early Bird $300 per person (Pay in full by 4 DEC 2015)

° Previous Traveller $100

° Garden Clinic Member $50

DAY 1 SAT 9 APRSYDNEY TO SHANGHAIMeet Paul Urquhart, your Ross Tour leader at Sydney airport. Qantas flight to Shanghai. Welcome dinner. Stay at the Broadway Mansions, Shanghai.

DAY 2 SUN 10 APRSHANGHAI TO SUZHOU Venice of the East today, the city of Suzhou. Walk through 1000 year old ancient water village of Tongli. Stay at Grand Pacific Hotel for 2 nights.

DAY 3 MON 11 APRSUZHOU Three examples of ancient Chinese garden design today: the postage-stamp sized ‘Master of Nets Garden’; Lingering Garden with its magical wisteria covered stone bridge; to the oldest pagoda in the city, Tiger Hill.

DAY 4 TUE 12 APRSUZHOU TO HANGZHOU We love the Humble Administrator’s Garden – the azaleas & wisteria. Travel to Hangzhou. Our hotel is the Grand Metro Park Hotel. Banquet dinner tonight.

DAY 5 WED 13 APRHANGZHOU There is an old Chinese saying: ‘In heaven there is Paradise, on earth there is Suzhou & Hangzhou’.

Today we understand Chinese style – bridges, walkways, pools, rocks & gardens in Guo’s Villa at West Lake. See Buddhism in action at Lingyin Temple.

DAY 6 THU 14 APRHANGZHOU TO LUOYANGFlight to Zhengzhou for the annual Peony Festival. Yaxiang Jinling Hotel for two nights.

DAY 7 FRI 15 APRLUOYANG Snap thousands of divine ruffled petals of peony flowers on show as part of The National Peony Festival. The peony, huawang, is the floral symbol of China – breathtaking!

DAY 8 SAT 16 APRLUOYANG TO XI’AN Visit the spectacular UNESCO listed Longmen Grottoes, the finest examples of Buddhist art in the world. High speed train to the ancient capital of China Xi’an, a walled city at the eastern end of the Silk Road. Our hotel for three nights is the Golden Flower Shangri-la Hotel.

DAY 9 SUN 17 APRXI’AN One of the Great Wonders of the World today, the Terracotta Warriors & Horses who have guarded this burial place for 2,000 years. Local speciality, wheat noodles at lunch.

All prices in Australian Dollars. All air taxes as at 1st May 2015. Price based on minimum 15 passengers. Departure from Sydney. Price from other Australian ports and New Zealand available on application. Group meals do not include beverages. Please refer to Ross Garden Tours standard terms & conditions. Ask us about other sightseeing and travel arrangements including pre and post tour accommodation, transfers, stopovers and other tours.

DAY 10 MON 18 APRXI’ANVisit Shaanxi Provincial Museum & Drum Tower.

DAY 11 TUE 19 APRXI’AN TO BEIJING The home of the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing. Start with a rickshaw ride to the old part of town, the ‘hutong’. Check in for five nights at the Regent Hotel.

DAY 12 WED 20 APRBEIJING The Forbidden City, the residence of the Ming & Qing dynasty Emperors, where the ‘Last Emperor’ was filmed. Enjoy Peking Duck tonight.

DAY 13 THU 21 APRBEIJING Visit 800 year old Summer Palace & walk the Long Corridor decorated with thousands of Chinese paintings. Enjoy Beijing Botanic Garden.

DAY 14 FRI 22 APRBEIJING Two beautiful strolls today; the Sacred Way; an avenue of giant stone sculptured animals, in the afternoon the Great Wall of China.

DAY 15 SAT 23 APRBEIJINGA day you will never forget, first the ethereal Temple of Heaven, a

postcard moment, with its unique lapis lazuli tiled roof then on to Tiananmen Square.

DAY 16 SUN 24 APRBEIJING TO SHANGHAIFly to Shanghai & stay four nights at the 5 star Westin on the Bund in the bustling downtown area.

DAY 17 MON 25 APR SHANGHAI The jewel of Shanghai is Yu Yuan, a 16th century Ming Dynasty garden with dragon topped walls, lakes & cloud rocks. Shopping time before the Shanghai Acrobatics Show.

DAY 18 TUE 26 APR SHANGHAI Shanghai Botanic Gardens has world class orchids & bonsai. Afternoon visit to precious Jade Buddha temple.

DAY 19 WED 27 APR SHANGHAI Shanghai Museum with its priceless antiques. 420m Jin Mao Tower with views across Shanghai. Farewell dinner in the French Concession.

DAY 20 THU 28 APR SHANGHAI TO HOMEFree time this morning. Afternoon transfer to airport.

DAY 21 FRI 29 APR HOME