|
Day 1: Arrive Beijing
 Arrive at Beijing, China's exciting and cultural heart. Your private guide and driver will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel. Rest of the day is for recovering from jet-leg.
Day 2: Beijing B,L,D (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
The day begins at Tiananmen Square, the largest City Square in the world. From there you will enter The Forbidden City, a powerful maze of ancient palaces and courtyards from which the emperor ruled the land for 500 years. You also see the Emperor's clock collection and the Qing Dynasty Jewelry, Robes and Relics collection (which westerners rarely see).
After lunch at local Chinese restaurant, we will take you to The Temple of Heaven, where the emperors of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties prayed for good harvests. It is an architectural wonder because not a single nail was used for its construction. You will be surprised how many senior people singing, dancing and demonstrating their wonderful skills there. Enjoy Peking Opera show after dinner.
Day 3: Beijing B,L,SD (special dinner)
Today you have an excursion to The Great Wall (Badaling section with cable car), the symbol of China. You have a chance to take a hike along one of the most beautiful sections and learn of its construction 2000 years ago. On the way, you visit the workshops of a Jade Carving factory to see workers practice this unique art.
After lunch at local Chinese restaurant, you will visit Ming Tombs, including the Sacred Way and the Ding Ling Museum. You will be able to enter one of the tombs. In the Ding Ling Museum you can see artifacts and replicas from the tomb itself. The Peking Duck dinner will be at famous Quanjude Restaurant.
Day 4: Beijing/Xi'an B,L
Today you visit The Summer Palace, a grand and sensual imperial palace complex set around the beautiful Kunming Lake, is a favorite summer residence of Empress Cixi.
After lunch at local Chinese restaurant, you take trishaw into Hutong, which is an ancient city alley, to experience the life of the local people. Visit the old quadrangles inhabited by Beijing residents. You have an opportunity to visit a local family in the Hutong and learn how to announce time in the past at Drum Tower. Take afternoon flight to Xi'an, China's former capital, and gateway to the legendary Silk Road. Meet and transfer to your hotel.
 Day 5: Xi'an B,L,SD (special dinner)
Today's highlight is the most spectacular and important places in China: the Archaeological Museum with more than 6000 life-size terra-cotta warriors and horses excavated from the tomb of the first emperor of Qin Dynasty. Afternoon explore the bustling Muslim Quarter or seek serenity in the grounds of the Grand Mosque. Enjoy Tang Dynasty dinner show in the evening.
Day 6: Xi'an/Guilin B,L
This morning, you will stroll along the South Gate, a lively pedestrian quarter where you'll see street artists demonstrating their wonderful skills. Sightseeing today features the ancient city wall, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Shanxi Provincial Museum. You have opportunity to ride bicycle at the top of the wall.
Take afternoon flight to Guilin, whose romantic scenic beauty has inspired centuries of poets and painters. Meet and transfer to hotel.
Day 7: Guilin/Yangshuo B,L
 The day begins with a half-day cruise on the meandering, crystalline waters of the Li River. This is one of the most beautiful areas in the whole world, showing the magnificent limestone mountains rising along the river bank. Buffet lunch will be on boat. As the cruise ends, you will disembark in Yangshuo, a quaint village with a very nice street market. You might want to have a pot of tea in a side cafe.
You are very close to the beautiful mountains and you will take a bicycle ride along the country road to visit Banyan Tree Park and Moon Hill. You may also visit a local villager’s home on the way. Enjoy night show of “Impression Sanjie Liu” after dinner.
Day 8: Yangshuo/Guilin/Shanghai B,L
Return Guilin in the morning. Today’s sightseeing tour covers such points as Fubo Hill, Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill, it is quite a remarkable example of the hand of nature upon the landscape. Lunch will be served at Tea Banquet Restaurant (local favor).
Take afternoon flight to Shanghai, China's largest city and vibrant commercial heart. After finishing Hotel check-in, our guide will take you to visit the Xin Tian Di, which is a newly developed recreation area in Shanghai with old styled buildings. You may find a cafe, bar or western-styled restaurant to have your own dinner.
 Day 9: Shanghai B,L,D
You get up early and visit local people’s morning exercise of Taichi in the Bund. Today’s city tour starts with Yuyuan Garden, formerly a private garden with rookies, pavilions, halls and ponds. Then walk around the Chenghuangmiao Area (old town), the most-lively place in Shanghai. In the afternoon, you visit world-class Shanghai Museum with its many fine exhibits (especially of note is the Chinese Minority exhibit). Take a cruise on the Huangpu River to get a good view of Pudong and Puxi area. Enjoy Portman Acrobatic show after dinner.
Day 10: Shanghai B,L
You get up early and visit local people’s morning exercise of Taichi in the Bund. Today you go to Pudong Area to see the socio-economic changes that are occurring in China and get a over view of Shanghai city on the oriental Pearl TV tower. Then you will meander through the bustling Nanjing Road for some shopping. Rest day is free on your own.
Day 11: Leave Shanghai B
Departure transfer to airport. Fly for home
|
