Day 2, BEIJING - QIQIHAR A free day to explore Beijing; visit the Forbidden City, Tian'anmen Square or the other highlights of Beijing before we take the overnight train to Qiqihar, in China's far north.
Day 3, ZHALONG NATURE RESERVE Arrive in Qiqihar and transfer to the Zhalong Reserve, a huge and beautiful area of wetland that attracts a wide variety of bird life and is particularly famous for its cranes. We take an excursion by boat through the peaceful landscape. Later we return to Qiqihar for the night.
Day 4, HARBIN A morning train takes us to Harbin. The afternoon is free to explore this northern outpost with its strong Russian influences. There are Orthodox Russian churches with onion-domed roofs, cobbled streets and restaurants serving up a delicious mix of Chinese and Russian food.
Day 5, HARBIN - CHANGCHUN A free morning before catching the afternoon train to Changchun.
Day 6, CHANGCHUN - YANJI Although modern Changchun is industrial you wi
ll almost certainly want to visit the old imperial palace, home to Puyi, made famous in the film 'The Last Emperor'. Later we board the overnight train to Yanji.
Day 7, YANJI - CHANGBAISHAN A bus drive along the North Korean border region takes us to Baihe, in a spectacular setting at the base of the Changbai mountains.
Days 8-9, CHANGBAISHAN NATURE RESERVE This nature reserve is the largest in China, with great hiking opportunities through the stunning mountain scenery; there are miles of virgin forest, jagged peaks and the turquoise waters of the huge Tian Chi (Heavenly Lake). The park straddles the North Korean border so we must take care not to wander too far afield!
Day 10, CHANGBAISHAN - YANJI Return to Yanji for the overnight train to Shenyang.
Days 11 SHENYANG Free day to explore Shenyang. There are pagodas, an old imperial palace and the tomb of the founder of the Qing dynasty, the last of the imperial dynasties.
Day 12, DANDONG We take the morning train to Dandong on the mouth of the Yalu River and directly on the border with North Korea. There is time to take a boat trip along the border.
Day 13, DANDONG - BEIJING A free day to discover the strong Korean influe
nce in the city and to perhaps visit the local museum for a different perspective on the 1950s Korean War. In the evening we board the overnight train back to Beijing.
Day 14, BEIJING Arrive in the morning and have the rest of the day free to check out the sites or shops as you wish. In the evening we have the chance to sample a traditional Peking Roasted Duck dinner to celebrate the end of a great adventure.
Day 15, BEIJING Tour ends.
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