helloworld TRAVEL THE TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS DISCOVER CHINA Gail was fortunate enough to be invited by Air China and CTS Tours to attend the Shaanxi Tourism Promotion Seminar which celebrated the China-New Zealand Year of Tourism and looks to strengthen ties between the two countries. The tour started in Beijing, which has a population of 21 million people. It is a city full of tradition, ancient history, culture, delicious cuisine, and modern architecture. First stop was a rickshaw ride through ancient alleyways (or "hutongs"), where we visited a typical Chinese courtyard home to experience local life. Then it was on to Tiananmen Square (the second largest public square in the world) and the Forbidden City - the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming to Qing dynasty which is home to successive Emperors for more than 500 years. The next day started with a 90-minute drive to the iconic Great Wall of China which took over 3000 years to build, and, perhaps, the highlight of my tour. We went to the Badaling section of the Wall and took a cable car to the top. It was an amazing experience; an amazing day. The next two days were spent in Xian. The group enjoyed the Chang an Impression Show and the Tang Dynasty Grand Welcoming Ceremony - an incredible production of lighting, music and dancing. It is highly recommended. Not to be missed is a tour of the Terracotta Warriors. An experience that aways attracts big crowds, so try and arive early in the day. Entry is CNY120 ($27) and can take up to half a day to explore. It's still an active working excavation site so you will see archaeologists at work. Later that day, we visited the Shaanxi Provincial Museum and took a walk through the lively Muslim Quarter, the Grand Mosque and market. The day was made complete with a Dumpling Banquet for dinner Final stop on the itinerary was Shanghai which has a skyline to rival New York and a multitude of attractions for everyone. The Shanghai Tower is located in the Financial district and is the second tallest building in the world. The lift which takes you to the top of the tower travels at 78kms per hour and takes 55 seconds. The 360 degree view at the top is spectacular. Other attractions include the elegant and tranquil Yu Gardens, a popular spot for tourists which spans across two hectares and is divided into six areas separated by tall walls. The evening was spent enjoying a Huangpu River Cruise which showcases Shanghai by night and includes a high-tech light show. The trip to China was amazing, unforgettable and is highly recommended. Gail says: CTS Tours have an 1day tour for 2020 starting at $2399.00 per person, twin share including your flights from Auckland. Please contact the store if you would like more details. Subject to Terms and Conditions. Proudly locally owned and operated for 42 years Cnr of Victoria& Duke St 07 827 5100 helloworld Travel Cambridge gail.rutherford@helloworld.co.nz Ho619- helloworld TRAVEL THE TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS DISCOVER CHINA Gail was fortunate enough to be invited by Air China and CTS Tours to attend the Shaanxi Tourism Promotion Seminar which celebrated the China-New Zealand Year of Tourism and looks to strengthen ties between the two countries. The tour started in Beijing, which has a population of 21 million people. It is a city full of tradition, ancient history, culture, delicious cuisine, and modern architecture. First stop was a rickshaw ride through ancient alleyways (or "hutongs"), where we visited a typical Chinese courtyard home to experience local life. Then it was on to Tiananmen Square (the second largest public square in the world) and the Forbidden City - the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming to Qing dynasty which is home to successive Emperors for more than 500 years. The next day started with a 90-minute drive to the iconic Great Wall of China which took over 3000 years to build, and, perhaps, the highlight of my tour. We went to the Badaling section of the Wall and took a cable car to the top. It was an amazing experience; an amazing day. The next two days were spent in Xian. The group enjoyed the Chang an Impression Show and the Tang Dynasty Grand Welcoming Ceremony - an incredible production of lighting, music and dancing. It is highly recommended. Not to be missed is a tour of the Terracotta Warriors. An experience that aways attracts big crowds, so try and arive early in the day. Entry is CNY120 ($27) and can take up to half a day to explore. It's still an active working excavation site so you will see archaeologists at work. Later that day, we visited the Shaanxi Provincial Museum and took a walk through the lively Muslim Quarter, the Grand Mosque and market. The day was made complete with a Dumpling Banquet for dinner Final stop on the itinerary was Shanghai which has a skyline to rival New York and a multitude of attractions for everyone. The Shanghai Tower is located in the Financial district and is the second tallest building in the world. The lift which takes you to the top of the tower travels at 78kms per hour and takes 55 seconds. The 360 degree view at the top is spectacular. Other attractions include the elegant and tranquil Yu Gardens, a popular spot for tourists which spans across two hectares and is divided into six areas separated by tall walls. The evening was spent enjoying a Huangpu River Cruise which showcases Shanghai by night and includes a high-tech light show. The trip to China was amazing, unforgettable and is highly recommended. Gail says: CTS Tours have an 1day tour for 2020 starting at $2399.00 per person, twin share including your flights from Auckland. Please contact the store if you would like more details. Subject to Terms and Conditions. Proudly locally owned and operated for 42 years Cnr of Victoria& Duke St 07 827 5100 helloworld Travel Cambridge gail.rutherford@helloworld.co.nz Ho619-