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Welcome 欢迎 ! Huan Ying ! - 14 Days - Beijing to Shanghai Pass The Beijing to Shanghai Pass begins in Beijing and ends in Shanghai with arrival into Beijing being your choice. We do suggest that you give yourself few days early to fully explore the majestic and historic City prior to starting the trip, however make sure that you double up on included activities. You can enquire with us about what to do in the days prior to your departure if you arrive in Beijing early. However, during this Pass you should experience the diversity of China’s people, its history, foods and real Chinese Cities.

Day 1 - Starting your Dragon Bus Experience
Arrive any time during the first day as there no activities planned until a welcome briefing at 6pm held at the hostel. Your (western) trip leader will be at the Hostel from late afternoon, make sure you say hello, they’ll be the ones wearing a Dragon Bus shirt!. If you can’t find them enquire with hostel staff and if they’re busy take 5, have a drink or go for a walk around this area (luggage can be left at the Hostel). As the capital of China and host of the 2008 Olympic Games Beijing has shed some of its past to become a much more modern City. There is much to explore, including Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City as two (2) of the better known sights, however there are many others. A great way to explore Beijing is by bike. As a group or individual you can cruise the streets to get a real sense of the city. If adventuring via bike is not your thing consider using the newly built metro. This will allow you to travel around much of the city very cheaply (around 50 US cents per trip). Taxis are also plentiful, cheap and safe, and if you’re part of a small group you can make trips to outer lying areas such as the Summer Palace (former Imperial residence used during the summer months) or the Silk Road Markets for bartering, clothes and bargain hunting. All this and more will be covered in the introduction undertaken in the Hostel Bar at 6pm. After this the hardest choice may be deciding where to eat (of course consider Peking or Beijing duck).

Day 2 - Traditional Hutongs
Today you can spend the morning visiting some of the many free museums in Beijing. Early risers should head to one of Beijing's parks to watch or take part in some Tai Qi with the locals. Before lunch your Trip Leader will meet the group at the hostel, where you’ll head off for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch you’ll soak up the history of the laneways, back alleys and family compounds that are Beijing’s residential Hutongs. After returning to the hostel, you should have worked up an appetite for dinner and if so perhaps head off to one of Beijing’s many restaurants, bars or both! Dine like Emperor while enjoying some of the many bars of this modern metropolis should not be missed. The Hostel also has a well stocked bar, where many have had a great night, perhaps ask your Trip Leader about heading out to an Acrobat show, and get them to secure your tickets.

Day 3 – Beijing to Great Wall. The Great Wall awaits!
Today we head to one of the more "as is" sections of the Wall. Hike, climb, sit or just stare, but we’re share it will be a rewarding day! The 2011 schedule now means you'll now be staying in the shadows of the Wall itself, in a clean and well positioned little hotel. Visiting this part of the wall will give you a greater understanding of the enormous presence of the Wall, and perhaps why it was built? Please note the Wall is quite steep in places and the surrounding area quite remote, so don’t venture off the track (or Wall as it is). While trekking, all baggage will be safely kept in the bus. You’ll have enough time to fully hike and explore the Wall before heading to the nearby Hotel where you can relax before dinner. This new overnight stop means not just fresh air, but also allows you to greet the morning sunrise creeping over the Wall as a new day arrives.

Day 4 – Capital to the Sea
Returning to Beijing, and with time permitting, we’ll stop at the National Sports Stadium, otherwise known as the “Birds Nest” and site of the Beijing Olympics. After this we’ll return to the Hostel to pick up any additional clients before continuing onto Beijing south railway Station. Wave goodbye to Beijing as we speed through the countryside on the “bullet” train to Qingdao. On arrival in Qingdao we'll head straight to the hostel where you can take a break in the bar/cafe before beginning your adventure in this seaside city. Qingdao is home to the famous beer carrying the same name, and it’s also where you can buy beer in plastic bags to drink with a straw or pour into your glass! (really!) Beer Street is a must and with its numerous food stands can make for a great night.

Day 5: Qingdao & a German built brewery!
So with no package tour schedule to worry about, exploring Qingdao the way you want is what we offer! There is much to see and do in Qingdao and no lack of options. Your Trip Leader will have all of them on hand for you, so be sure to ask them any questions you have. One of the more enjoyable day trips is heading out to the famous and sacred Laoshan Mountain (about 45 minutes). The fresh water from the Mt Laoshan is exclusively used to make China's most famous beer (Qingdao) & it’s also a sacred Buddhist site renowned for its natural beauty. Maybe wander down to the beach for a lazy day with a book or hit the streets of the former German Concession section of the city for a glimpse days gone by, when it was administered by the Germans.

Day 6 - Beaches, bars & sand
Qingdao is renewed for a few things, but two of its most important are the originally German built brewery and its beaches. The City has an enormous amount of history just waiting to be uncovered, and most not far from the hostel. The Hostel also has a great café / bar area to relax in, perhaps before hitting the streets. You should also prepare yourself for the nightlife of the City, which has some very good bars & nightclubs. These nights can end up at karaoke, but hey its holidays and after a few beers everyone sounds better right? Another option is to take a tour of China’s most famous brewery – Tsingtao (or Qingdao) Brewery, where the tour finishes with a fresh beer! Qingdao is also a great city for walking and it’s the best way to explore the old German concession area or perhaps just walk to the beach. We’re sure that your time will fly by as you kick back and enjoy this cosmopolitan seaside city.

Day 7 – Qingdao to Qufu
After breakfast we’ll make the trip to Qufu, which will take around 5 hours. The trip is undertaken by intercity direct Coach, which is both quicker and more effective then offering smaller bus transport. Leaving Qingdao the bus joins the highway southward along the coast before heading inland through the mountains to the hometown of Confucius, Qufu. After checking into the Hostel, hit the streets on foot, which again is the best way to explore this city. Easily navigated with only a few main roads, it’s also flat and pretty easily laid out. There are also plenty of 3 wheel human powered rickshaws to jump into for a small cost of only 5 RMB (.80 US cents) per trip. The options for dinner are everywhere and not far from the hostel. Get together and share some great dishes at one of the many local restaurants. You also won’t find any modern bars or cafes in this historical city, so after dinner take a walk around the town as, like many Chinese cities, they come alive after sunset. Another option is to stay in at the Hostel and catch a movie in the lounge, or test your skills on the in house Wii. If you’re looking for some culture, consider heading out the Confucius temple where you can catch a show about life and times in ancient Qufu.

Day 8 – Qufu
Confucius is a well known part of Chinese history; however the City is not so well known. Qufu is a great place to get a sense of “real China.” Venture out to explore some of the beautiful Chinese style gardens and experience some of the local restaurants, but of course the main attraction of this stop is the Confucius family mansion & Temple. They are situated within an easy walk from the hostel. You can purchase tickets to enter each site individually or the three (3) for a cost of 120 RMB. If you continue onto the Confucius Forest, where you’ll find the tomb of the great man, you should take a rickshaw (5 RMB) or horse drawn carriage (10 RMB) for the 3 Km ride. If you hire a rickshaw there is no need to keep it on hand on arrival as they are plentiful. Tonight is another leisurely night, but most of our groups have previously made for one of the many outdoor Chinese (BBQ) restaurants, where a jug of cold local beer should set you back only around 10 RMB and the food is cheap and plentiful.

Day 09 – Qufu to Nanjing
 Awake early in the morning and join the locals in some exercise as before lunch we'll head to nearby Yanzhou for the train to Nanjing. The train should give you time to kick back and continue that book before we arrive into Nanjing in the late afternoon and transfer to the hostel. On arrival kick back, relax or head to its cafe bar for a drink. The hostel is located near to the centre to enable you to walk, and very close to the Nanjing Soccer stadium where there might be a game on? However, night time is when the Chinese come out & Nanjing has some great places to explore all different types of regional and international cuisine. With so many gems out there it’s hard, however we've found one restaurant specialising in dishes from Nepal & Tibet. So if you can't make it to Tibet, get a taste of Tibet at this Nanjing Restaurant. Nanjing is also home to numerous bars, including one of the more popular expat westerner bars near the hostel, where Dragon Bus passengers are always welcome

Days 10 - Nanjing
The former capital of the Republic of China, Nanjing is an historical, but also quite modern city. Second only to Shanghai in terms of economic output, its past place in Chinese history means it’s full of cultural and historical sites. The 600 year old city wall is a good option to explore as are some of its excellent museums (entry prices vary), including the confronting, but memorable “Massacre Museum”, which outlines the Japanese Invasion of Nanjing. Dragon Bus will provide you with plenty of options while in Nanjing. The City is a great walking city, and we can provide you with. Consider hiring a boat on the lovely and centrally located Xuanwu Lake to paddle your cares away, although perhaps not in winter! The famous Purple Mountain is a must see as is the Sun Yat Sen Mausoleum, located at the foot of the beautiful Purple Mountain. As you are staying in Nanjing for 3 days and if you decide to visit a number of scenic parks then it may be worth looking into a Purple Mountain Pass and/or a city pass. The Purple Mountain pass can be bought at the entrance to Sun Yat-sen's Memorial and provides you with free entry to nine parks within the mountain. If you are going to visit more than 3 of the parks on the mountain buying pass. The city pass can be bought at the entrance to any of the big parks in the city, such as the Zoo or Yu Hua Tai Memorial Park and provides you with free entry to 21 different locations. You need to provide a passport photo for each pass and they are valid for one calendar year, but you’ll get value over two full days as well.

Day 11 – Nanjing
After a big night out, sleep in? Ok, so you’re up? Outside of the your trip leaders suggestions you must make it to the Nanjing Museum, City Wall and Imperial Palace, which can all be explored by yourself and quite easily. As your last day of exploring Nanjing make something of it and hot one of the numerous sights, shops or bars! Again tonight you're spoiled for choice and if you haven’t yet ventured to the Bar called 1912, a great place to drink and dance any night of the week, you should!

Day 12 - Suzhou
Renowned for its beauty, Suzhou is a famous garden city laced with wonderful gardens and pagodas. Of the sites in Suzhou, several are UNESCO listed as World Heritage sites, so you should re-join the bus as we travel around them (30 RMB), which is a full afternoon. The city is also an important location for a world famous silk industry which we'll directly experience the following day. However perhaps of equal importance is it's "Bar & Restaurant Street", one of the best in China, so most of the group make tracks for the Shi Qian Jie Lu and explore it's bars and restaurants.

Day 13 – Shanghai
In the morning you'll head off to explore an ancient, but not over run, small canal town. Your entry is included into this amazing Venice style canal city, where you can take boat rides or just explore it on foot. In the afternoon you'll re-board the bus for Shanghai. On arrival in Shanghai and after checking in to the Hostel hit the streets on foot as the Hostel allows for easy access to the most exciting parts of Shanghai. You should head out and party in this amazing city, and the bars around Yueyang Lu (near Dongping Lu) in the French Concession area, including The Beaver Bar, managed and run by a friend of Dragon Bus, and an expat Aussie! Shanghai is the commercial hub of China and a great place to spend a few extra days! The Shanghai World Expo has set this city on fire and combines that with its wonderful nightlife. Blending Eastern & Western cultures this city should be an ending highlight.

Day 14: Shanghai
Today is your last full day with Dragon Bus. You should finish off in style in this great city and continue to explore its many sights. We offer you the chance to explore the city on foot with a printable walking tour that takes in the classical French Concession and Shanghai Bazaar areas. Another option is the world's highest observation deck within the Shanghai Financial Tower - 474m high! The shopping mall on Nanjing Lu for some incredible shopping and bargains is another option as is a walk along the Bund or a boat ride on the Huangpu River. Awaking to the sadness of knowing your Dragon Bus experience is over can be tempered by getting out and further exploring Shanghai. You should not miss Taikang Lu (see News on Website) for a great taste of old and new. Perhaps head to the World Expo and see how this site is bigger, and we believe, better than all others. Perhaps rise early and join the Chinese elders dancing, exercising or doing Tai Chi in a park or on the Bund, and then enjoy a local breakfast of Xiao Long Bao! (hmm beautiful). If you wish to make a train booking on ANY trains you should pre book with your Trip Leader on arrival (As in first day!) or prior to arrival.