Our Taiwan Discovery Tour combines three truly unique and major cities. First the dynamic capital city of Beijing provides insights on the historical, political and social aspects of China. Next Shanghai, the "Pearl of the Orient" will astound you with its architecture, fashion sense and ability to blend the old and new of China. To complete this wonderful tour you visit Taipei - a city that combines East and West cultures with a profound focus on enterprise and the future. Your visit to these cities will provide an understanding of their influence on Asia, and, indeed the world.
Guided China & Taiwan Tour
Including flights, hotels, meals, tour guides and more
Re-live the 2008 Olympics. The Bird Nest is a remarkable place to visit if you want to remember the incredible events that took place there at the 2008 Olympics, and admire its stunning architecture.
A truly fascinating sight. Its design combines modern technology with Chinese traditional values. Popular Science magazine chose it the Best of What's New of 2006.
One of the eight great wonders of the world. Spectacular, immense, a must-see attraction. Take a walk along various sections of the wall, while admiring the beautiful views that China has to offer.
Is the world's largest public square. This site of great Chinese historical significance lies within the heart of Beijing. The Tiananmen Square is a world-renowned plaza that was named after the Tiananmen, which literally means, "Gate of Heavenly Peace".
China's largest and well-preserved complex of ancient buildings. The Forbidden City exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture. See with your own eyes what the imperial palace was once for 24 emperors.
Is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design that overlooks the tranquil waters of Kunming Lake. Long ago, the Summer Palace was known as "the Garden of Clear Ripples", and it still has the tranquility that it possessed long ago.
This temple once visited by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonial prayers for Good Harvest to Heaven, is still a place for prayer and worship. Its carefully designed buildings reflect Chinese culture, tradition and beliefs.
Chinese pearls account for approximately 96% of pearls sold everywhere in the world. The Pearl Market attracts both Chinese and international visitors from all the corners of the world. The jade factory offers very beautiful pieces and everything is hand-made. Seeing these objects is truly fascinating.
They say gardens to the south of the Yangtze River are the best in the world, and without a doubt Suzhou Gardens are the best among them. Come discover for yourself their charming natural beauty and you will not be disappointed.
He Lu, King of the Wu perished and was buried within the hill. Three days after the funeral, a white tiger came and sat upon the grave as though he was guarding it. From then on it was known as Tiger Hill. Although the hill may be considered to be small (118 feet high and over 3 acres), the history behind it is fascinating.
Lingering Garden is one of the four most famous gardens in China. It contains stunning natural landscapes within a limited amount of space. A place you will remember for many years to come.
Founded in 1962 as a state-owned factory, within this tour, you will come to know the whole life of the silkworm. What is fascinating about the silk-making process is that the silkworm creates its cocoon out of a single silk thread that is continuous for approximately 3,600 feet. You'll see workers operate the machines that spin silk from cocoons.
This Plantation is the only one in the country with the tea theme. It has no external walls but is enclosed by vegetation giving the unique impression that the halls and the tea plants inside depend upon each other. Additionally, one hundred distinctive Chinese characters relating to tea are enchased in the road to add color to your trip.
The presence of a temple on this site can be traced back to the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317 - 420AD) when, according to local legend, Huili an Indian monk came to the area where he was inspired by the spiritual nature of the scenery to be found here. To his mind this had to be a dwelling of the Immortals and so he gave the temple a name Temple of the Soul's Retreat. The Chinese name is translated into English as either "Temple of the Soul's Retreat' or 'Temple of Inspired Seclusion' for the setting has a quiet and beautiful grandeur that encourages a feeling of peace and for contemplation.
These are the words composed by the famous Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo (960-1127) when he compared the West Lake to Xi Zi, the most beautiful woman in ancient China. These poetic sentiments leave one in no doubt of the glory of the scenery that inspired them.
Originally a shallow sea inlet, due to the laying down of silt this 5.68 square kilometers (about 1,404 acres) of water became the famous West Lake. The cultural landscape of the lake initiated in the 9th Century, took shape in the 13th Century and had been thrived since the 18th Century. For about ten centuries, it has always been the spiritual home of Chinese culture elites, the paradise for all strata of Chinese people and a well-known lake in China with the longest history and biggest influence. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List on June, 24, 2011, by the committee of the 35th World Heritage Conference in Paris
Built during the Ming Dynasty, the Yuyuan Garden is the most famous classical garden in Shanghai. The gardens are exquisitely arranged and feature the gardening styles of South China during Ming and Qing Dynasties. Yu Yuan (meaning "Garden of Peace and Comfort", is a maze of Ming dynasty pavilions, elaborate rockeries, arched bridges and goldfish ponds, all encircled by an undulating dragon wall.
Step back in time.....visit the Huxinting Teahouse built on stilts amid a garden lake in 1784. This is the historic Chinese area of the city, where much of the old wooden architecture of ancient Shanghai is still preserved. The old district is a combination of ancient winding streets, with some modern high-rise buildings.
Is the symbol of modern Shanghai This colonial riverside of old Shanghai has dozens of historic buildings lining the Huangpu River. 52 high rises of all styles in the West showcase the art of world architecture and the history of contemporary Shanghai.
uilt in 1987, the National Chiang Kai-Shek Cultural Center at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is the first national-level cultural venues in Taiwan. In addition to hosting major performances, the two major buildings of the center¡Xthe National Theater and National Concert Hall¡Xare major Taipei landmarks. The two buildings are designed in a traditional Chinese palace style, with distinctive yellow tiled roofs and red pillars adding to their stately elegance.
The National Palace Museum houses the world's largest collection of priceless Chinese art treasures, one which spans China's nearly 5,000-year history. Most of the museum's 620,000 art objects were part of the Chinese imperial collection, which began over 1,000 years ago in the early Song dynasty
Taipei 101, with a mass of shops on the lower floors, incorporate many top brands under the LVMH group, such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Celine, etc. The fourth floor houses the Page One bookstore from Singapore, with the highest-roofed coffee house in Taipei and many fine restaurants.
The Taipei Confucius Temple is modeled after the original Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong Province of China. It is located on Dalong Street,Datong District, Taipei City, Taiwan. Among the Confucius temples in Taiwan, Taipei's is the only one adorned with southern Fujian-style ceramic adornments. At the main hall of the temple one can see a black plaque with gold lettering which was inscribed by Chiang Kai-shek that reads "Educate without Discrimination." Every year on September 28, a ceremony with traditional music and stylized dancing is held at the temple in honor of Confucius.
Huaxi (Huasi) Street Night Market is located nearby Longshan Temple. The night market, together with night markets on Guangzhou Street, Wuzhou Street and Xichang Street, has formed a large unique market. Various commodities are sold here and it is one of the favored sites of tourists. In the early years, Huaxi (Huasi) Street is famous for congregated porno shops. After prostitution is banned by Taipei City Government, the sightseeing quality is greatly uplifted and the place becomes safer.
