2008 CHINA TOUR

Day 1 Friday 17 October - Melbourne to Shanghai
Depart from Melbourne on your economy class flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel to recover from your flight. An amazing city, Shanghai is also known as the 'Paris of the East'. Fifteen million people call Shanghai home and so will we over the next couple of days. Tonight we will have a welcoming function at the hotel, including our jumper presentation. We will also cover the rules of the infamous 'Downlow' medal and introduce you to 'Chopper'. Tonight will be a quiet one as tomorrow you will play your first match of the tour.

Day 2 Saturday 18 October - Shanghai
This morning we will embark on our Shanghai city orientation tour. This afternoon we will play our first match against the Chinese national team. Lining up in the green and gold for the first time while listening to the national anthem is an awesome experience and one that you will never forget. Tonight our after match party will be held in conjunction with Aussie Rules China, where the Convicts Cup will be presented to the winning team. Afterwards we will get amongst it and check out the local nightlife, hosted by our good friend Tsingtao. As we are in China we will also sample the local cuisine by grabbing a pizza.

Day 3 Sunday 19 October - Shanghai
Today is a free day to wander and explore Shanghai. Options include The Bund, French Connection, Shanghai Museum, Old Town and Jinmao Tower, China's tallest skyscraper. Motor racing fans may wish to attend the Shanghai Grand Prix.

Day 4 Monday 20 October - Suzhou
This morning we will step back in time and travel to the garden city of Suzhou. The famous explorer Marco Polo described Suzhou as one of the most beautiful cities in China. The gardens reflect the Chinese appreciation of balance and harmony. We will explore the gardens, pay a visit to the excellent Silk Museum and explore some of Suzhou's canals, pagodas and bridges. Early evening return to Shanghai.

Day 5 Tuesday 21 October - Shanghai to Tianjin
This morning we will board our flight to Tianjin. Situated 120km south-east of the capital Beijing, Tianjin is the largest coastal open city in North China. With over 9.5 million people, Tianjin is China's third largest city. Upon arrival we will embark on our sightseeing tour of Melbourne's sister city. Highlights include Old Town, Monastery of Deep Compassion and Ancient Culture Street.

Day 6 Wednesday 22 October - Tianjin to Great Wall
"He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man" - Mao Zedong.
This morning is free to do your own thing. It will be a sensational afternoon as we make our way to one of the seven wonders of the world - the Great Wall of China! The original wall was begun over 2000 years ago during the Qin dynasty (221 - 207 BC). The Great Wall stretches over approximately 6,700 km in total. At its peak, the Wall was guarded by more than one million men. It has been estimated that somewhere in the range of 2 to 3 million Chinese died as part of the centuries-long project of building the wall. Tonight will be an amazing experience as we camp out on the Great Wall!

Day 7 Thursday 23 October - Great Wall to Beijing
This morning we will be up bright and early to take part in a traditional Taichi class. We will then get out the footy and have a kick - all in all it's just another kick on the wall. In the afternoon we will depart for our train trip to Beijing, the historical and cultural center of China. After checking into our accommodation we will check out the world's largest public square, the famous Tiananmen Square.

Day 8 Friday 24 October - Beijing
Today we will visit the magnificent Forbidden City. So called because it was off limits for 500 years, the Forbidden City is the world's largest surviving palace complex. It served as the home of the Emperor and his household, as well as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government. Built from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 surviving buildings with 8,707 bays of rooms and covers 720,000 square metres. Strewth!

Day 9 Saturday 25 October - Beijing
This morning is free to rest and prepare for our second game against China. It's going to be another awesome experience as you don't get to do this every day! Afterwards we will have a few post-match beers with the Chinese boys, one of the great traditions of our great game. Tonight is our Beijing Beer Tour - not to be missed!

Day 10 Sunday 26 October - Beijing
Today is a free day. Olympic enthusiasts may wish to check out the Olympic Village and other sites of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Day 11 Monday 27 October - Beijing to Hong Kong
This morning we will depart Beijing for our flight to Hong Kong. After checking into our accommodation we will enjoy a catch a tram up to Victoria Park for great views of the city. After dinner we will head in to Lan Kwai Fong for happy-hour drinks, karaoke and dancing.

Day 12 Tuesday 28 October - Hong Kong
Today is a free day to recover from the night before and/or do some more sightseeing. For those looking for something for their better halves, Hong Kong is a shopping Mecca where you can find just about anything that your heart (or hers) desires. Just some of the many options include Pacific Place, IFC Mall and Harbour City, an enormous shopping centre with 700 shops!

Day 13 Wednesday 29 October - Hong Kong
Today we will enjoy a short trip by ferry to nearby Macau, the self-styled Las Vegas of the East. Upon arrival we will check out some of the famous sights of this former Portuguese colony. Highlights include the Ruins of the Church of St Paul, A-Ma Temple, Macau Museum and the great views from Monte Fort, where the cannons were fired on the invading Dutch in 1622. Afterwards we will check out what Macau is famous for - its mega casinos. Must sees include the Sands Macau, the largest casino in the world and Venetian Macau, the second largest building in the world, complete with canals and gondolas! Watch the punters lose their hard earned as we enjoy a few beers on our last full day in China.

Day 14 Thursday 30 October - Hong Kong
All good things must come to an end and unfortunately Convicts tours are no exception.
You will depart from Hong Kong Airport tonight with a bag full of great memories to join your connecting flight back to Melbourne. If you would like to spend more time in Asia before returning to Australia this is a good opportunity to do so.