In Conjunction With
AFIA CHINA AGRICULTURAL TOUR
12 DAYS
Dep: 02 June 2017
DAY 1
Fri 02 Jun
CHECK IN FOR YOUR FLIGHT
(Inflight meals)
Meet your tour escort and fellow passengers and check in for your Singapore Airlines flight at Melbourne Tullamarine
International airport late this evening. Once you have checked in please proceed through immigration and security, this can
be a lengthy process hence the 3 hour check in. Please check your boarding card and airport monitors for information
relating to your gate and boarding time. Overnight: In Flight
DAY 2
Sat 03 Jun
MELBOURNE – FLY TO BEIJING
(D)
Depart Melbourne just after midnight on board our Singapore Airlines flight to Beijing via Singapore. On arrival into the
capital of People’s Republic of China this afternoon we are met and transferred to our hotel for our three night stay in this
bustling city and the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to rest. Overnight: Beijing
DAY 3
Sun 04 Jun
BEIJING SIGHTSEEING
(BLD)
This morning is an introduction to the imperial city with a stroll around renowned Tiananmen Square, bordered by the Great
Hall of the People. Afterwards walk to the Forbidden City, the complex of the imperial palace which was home to the
Emperors for over 500 years. Grand halls and courts gradually give way to more intimate domestic quarters, giving an insight
into the pampered isolation of the emperors. This afternoon visit the remarkable Great Wall of China. First built in the
Warring States period (475-221BC) as a series of earthworks, the wall was erected by individual kingdoms as a defence
against each other as well as from invasions from the north. The current wall remains from the Ming dynasty. This evening
enjoy a traditional Peking Duck banquet dinner. Overnight: As Above
DAY 4
Mon 05 Jun
BEIJING FARM VISITS
(BLD)
This morning drive approximately 1½ hours to visit a dairy with 3500 cows along with its feed storage and talk with the
manager about their technology and management. Afterwards visit a cattle farm with 2000 - 3000 head of beef cattle and
walk around the feedlot including its small feed workshops. Time spent talking with manager about his formula for feed used
at this particular farm and enjoy a special beef hot pot lunch here. This afternoon we drive back to downtown for
dinner. Overnight: As Above
DAY 5
Tue 06 Jun
BEIJING – XI’AN
(BLD)
Today visit an Agricultural Machinery Factory and talk with experts about livestock and fodder machinery, harvesters and
potato specific machinery. This afternoon take the bullet train to Xian, arriving at approximately 8:45pm for a late dinner.
Xi’an was the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization dating back to 4000 BC and the capital of China for 11 dynasties from 1046
BC to 907 AD. It is from here that caravans started on the Silk Road to Europe, changing the Western world forever.
Overnight: Xi’an
DAY 6
Wed 07 Jun
XI’AN – TERRACOTTA WARRIORS & HORSES
(BLD)
First thing this morning visit the Museum of the Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses. This is one of the greatest
archaeological discoveries in the world with three exhibition halls, the largest of which is 180 metres by 60 metres, housing
the continuing excavation of an army of 8,000 terracotta soldiers and horses that guard the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first
emperor of the unified China and it is a stunning exhibition of ancient artefacts. Afterwards visit the City Wall with the
opportunity to ride bikes along it. This evening enjoy the spectacular Tang Dynasty Show with dinner. Overnight: As Above
DAY 7
Thu 08 Jun
XI’AN – FARM VISITS
(BLD)
This morning drive to Shanxi County located on the Wei River, one of the main tributaries of the Yellow River. Visit two
wheat farms including a cereals processing plant and meet with local officials and farmers to talk about agricultural
administration and agricultural commerce. Lunch will be arranged at one of the local farms. This afternoon on the way back
to the hotel (time permitting) we visit some peasants’ villages and families including time to discuss how the local farmland
has been irrigated from both the river as well as underground and how much it costs for one family to irrigate their fields
each year. A late dinner at the hotel this evening. Overnight: As Above
DAY 8
Fri 09 Jun
XI’AN – FLY TO GUILIN
(BLD)
Board a morning flight to Guilin, a city in southern China located on the west bank of the Li River known for its interesting
landscape of strangely shaped limestone karst (hills) which border the city. At the centre are two lakes, the Cedar and
Banyan, which remain from a Tang Dynasty moat that once surrounded the city. This afternoon visit an animal feed
processing factory guided by experts and afterwards enjoy an evening river boat cruise to see the traditional Cormorant
fishermen at work and receive a demonstration on how the farmers teach the cormorant birds to catch the fish.
Overnight: Guilin
DAY 9
Sat 10 Jun
GUILIN
(BLD)
After breakfast depart from the hotel for a cruise along the Li River which runs through the heart of this region, and have the
opportunity to see the water buffaloes working in the fields. Following this is an interesting visit to a water buffalo dairy
farm where the focus of the visit will be talking about their feeding system with the dairy manager to compare the
differences between this and those in northern China. Overnight: As Above
DAY 10
Sun 11 Jun
GUILIN – FLY TO SHANGHAI
(BLD)
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, China’s largest city with a population of approximately 16
million people. On arrival visit the original waterfront area of the city known as the Bund. The river is the main shipping
artery for the whole of southern China and the main form of transport for goods to and from the interior of the country and
is China’s largest foreign trade port. Time for shopping on renowned Nanjing Road and afterwards a tour to the Pudong New
Developed Area on the Huangpu River viewing the third highest TV Tower in the world as well as the Jinmao Tower.
Overnight: Shanghai
DAY 11
Mon 12 Jun
SHANGHAI – FLY HOME
(B)
An early breakfast then visit the beautiful Yu Gardens, an island of tranquillity amid the hustle and bustle of the city.
Covering nearly five acres it contains over 30 pavilions and has numerous features characteristic of the architectural style of
the Ming dynasty. Late morning transfer to the airport for your early afternoon flight home via Singapore.
DAY 12
Tue 13 Jun
ARRIVE HOME
Arrive home early this morning, so ending a wonderful journey through China.
** Stopover packages are available in Singapore on the return journey; enquire for details **
Tour Cost: $6,925.00 per person twin share*
*Tour cost is subject to air/tax increases plus currency fluctuations
Based on a minimum of 10 passengers travelling
(-)
Non-refundable deposit required:
$1,000.00 per person (Refundable if tour does not operate due
to insufficient passenger numbers)
Balance required no later than:
07 April 2017
Single Supplement:
$695.00 per person
Cancellation: In the event of cancellation, levies will apply. See Booking Conditions
Tour cost includes:
•
Economy airfares and pre-payable taxes Melbourne to Beijing and Shanghai to Melbourne with
Singapore Airlines.
•
Two domestic China airfares (Xi’an-Guilin & Guilin-Shanghai). Bullet train from Shanghai to Xi’an
•
Deluxe air-conditioned vehicle throughout.
•
Twin share 4 star accommodation throughout with en suite facilities.
•
All meals as per itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
•
All entry fees to sightseeing activities and farm/technical visits as listed in the itinerary.
•
An experienced and knowledgeable English speaking national tour guide, with local guides in each city.
•
Comprehensive Standard Travel Insurance for those aged up to and including 70 years (surcharge applicable
for passengers with a pre-existing health condition or aged 71 or over).
•
Gratuities for services included in the itinerary, including tips to the driver, guides and luggage porters.
•
China visa fee and courier/processing fee.
Tour cost does NOT include:
•
Items of a personal nature (eg telephone calls, laundry) and any optional extras listed in the itinerary.
•
Drinks.
•
Cost of passport or medication.
MULTIPLE NIGHT STAYS:
* Beijing – 3 nights
* Xi’an – 3 nights
* Guilin – 2 nights
* Shanghai – 2 nights
IMPORTANT NOTES:
The tour cost is subject to change due to currency fluctuations, visa fee increases, airfare/fuel surcharges and/or tax increases. As
this is a group package, all passengers must travel on the same outbound flight to Beijing. Post touring options are available and
will incur an amendment fee of $75.00 per person (plus extra touring and insurance costs).
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
All travellers will require a full valid passport, and it is your responsibility to ensure that you have valid visas for all countries visited
on your holiday, and/or sufficient blank pages for any visas and for entry/departure stamps. Your passport must be valid for at
least six months after the end of your holiday. If you have more than one passport, we recommend that you use one passport only
for the entire journey. This will save problems and potential delays at border crossings. Requirements differ depending on your
nationality - check with the appropriate embassies for details. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the
correct visas for your holiday and onward travel. Swagman Tours cannot accept responsibility for anyone who is refused entry to a
country because they lack the correct documentation. Please check the actual requirements with the necessary embassy or your
Travel Agent. Please also do not assume that any inaccuracies within your documentation will be detected or can be rectified - you
must ensure, that your "paper-work" is in order. There will be times during the trip, when your passport will be collected e.g. by
your tour leader, hotel reception staff, or police.
HOLDERS OF FOREIGN PASSPORTS: Travellers holding non Australian passports must have the relevant re-entry permit to return to
Australia and must check with their National Consulate of any visa requirements to your holiday destination country(s).
VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR AUSTRALIANS: Australian passport holders – a China visa is required for this tour. Swagman Tours will
be organising these on behalf of passengers. Application forms etc will be arranged in due course.
NOTE: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements
with their embassy or consulate.
FARM & TECHNICAL VISITS: A fully furnished list of confirmed visits both to farming properties and technical stops will be
given with your ticket wallets approximately 3 weeks prior to your departure.
Changes and alterations may take place from details listed in the itinerary.
FOR BOOKINGS CONTACT:
P: 1800 808 491
SWAGMAN TOURS
Level 1, 182 Latrobe Terrace (PO Box 7473)
GEELONG WEST VIC 3218
E: [email protected]
W: www.swagmantours.com.au