China Treasures
 

Itinerary
 

Day 1  Arrive at Beijing
Your tour guide will meet you at Peking (Beijing) Capital International Airport and escort you to your deluxe hotel located near historic sites in the city center.

Day 2     Beijing                                                                                   B, L, SD
An exciting day starts with a stroll along the ancient promenades of one of the world’s great wonders, the Great Wall. Built to protect China from invaders, this winding barrier of brick and stone could circle the world with a wall eight feet high. Later, visit the legendary Ming Tombs, resting place of 13 emperors. After lunch you will visit the Summer Palace, a former summer resort for the royal family, and take a boat ride on its Lake Kunming. This evening you are invited to a “Peking Duck” dinner.                                                                                                                    

Day 3     Beijing                                                                                   B, L
Today you will ride on a trishaw through the back streets of old Beijing. Enjoy tea with a local family. After lunch, visit impressive Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world, and the Palace Museum, known as the Forbidden City. The complex of imperial palaces was home to the emperors for over 500 years during the Ming and Qing dynasties.            

Day 4    Beijing                                                                                   B, L
Your sightseeing this morning brings you to the Temple of Heaven, where the Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvests. It is the largest temple complex remaining in China today. The remainder of the day is at leisure to shop or discover more of the city on your own. 

Day 5    Beijing / Xian                                                                         B, L, SD

This morning, take a two-hour flight to Xian, the great ancient capital and the eastern end of the Silk Road. Upon arrival, meet your tour guide at the airport and be transferred to your 5-star hotel. After a short rest, tour the Drum Tower.

Day 6    Xian                                                                                       B, L, D
This exciting day of sightseeing will include the famous Terra-cotta Army and Bronze Chariots. More than 6,000 pieces of  2,200-year-old  life-size figures – individually sculpted from real-life models – represent soldiers, horses, and ministers who guard Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb.  Later visit a village at Lintong where former President Clinton enjoyed his visit. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda built in 652 AD. It contains a large number of Buddhist scriptures obtained from India by the eminent monk Xuanzang. This evening, be our guests for a special 12-course Dumpling Dinner.

Day 7    Xian/Guilin                                                                              B, L, D

This morning you will visit Shaanxi Provincial Museum of History. After lunch, fly to Guilin, a landscape that has inspired poets and artists for centuries. 

Day 8    Guilin                                                                                      B, L

A highlight of any trip to China is the full-day cruise on the Li River.  As you cruise down the river, the rain-washed, pastel-colored landscape unfolds. You’ll pass valleys, rich fields, green plains and jagged cliffs with unusual names like Elephant Trunk Hills. Disembark at Yangshuo, a typical local small town. You will visit local markets before returning to Guilin.    

Day 9    Guilin / Shanghai – Hangzhou                                                 B, L, D

Morning tour to the Reed Flute Cave where the unusual stalactite and stalagmite formations along with colored lights conjure up images of trees, ferocious animals and human forms. Later you will visit Fubo Hill for a panoramic view of the city. Fly to Hangzhou – “Paradise on Earth.” 

Day 10          Hanghzou                                                                         B, L, D

Today’s tour begins with a boat trip on the beautiful West Lake, a favorite subject for Chinese artists for centuries. Then visit Linying Temple, home of the “Laughing Buddha,” and Flying Peak. Sample a cup of Dragon Well green tea at a Tea Orchard.

Day 11          Hangzhou – Suzhou                                                          B, L, D

Tour the Six Harmonies Pagoda before you depart for Suzhou. Often referred to as the “Venice of the East,” Suzhou is famous for its gardens and canals.

Day 12          Suzhou / Wuxi                                                                    B, L, D

Tour Tiger Hill and the Master’s Net Garden in the morning. Then you will visit a silk factory, where you will see silk fibers being separated from cocoons and wound onto spools. Transfer to Wuxi, another historical “water town” located on the Grand Canal.

Day 13          Wuxi / Shanghai                                                                 B, L

You will sample the local cuisine and take in the views around beautiful Tai Hu Lake from Turtle Head Islet and Li Garden. You will visit a clay-figure institute that has been operating for over 400 years.

You will be transferred to Shanghai, China’s most cosmopolitan port city. In the evening, explore Shanghai on your own or just enjoy the hotel’s amenities and rest up for tomorrow’s adventures. 

Day 14          Shanghai                                                                             B, L, D

Discover the metropolis while touring the fabled Bund --  the lively waterfront; Yuyuan Garden – the old area of the city; and the Shanghai Museum, which houses a 120,000-piece collection of cultural relics. Meet students at the Children’s Palace, an art, music and dance center. Tonight, enjoy a thrilling acrobatic show after the farewell dinner.                   

Day 15   Departing Shanghai                                                                       B

Bid farewell to Shanghai and transfer to the airport for your flight home or to your next destination.