Day 1 West Coast - Beijing
Board your transpacific flight to Beijing.
Day 2 Beijing
Upon arrival in Beijing, China’s capital, you
will be greeted and escorted to The RegentBeijing (or similar).
Day 3 Beijing (AB,L,SD)
After breakfast, visit Tiananmen Square and
the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City,
home of Chinese emperors for more than
500 years. After lunch, visit the Summer
Palace, taking a leisure stroll while admiring
the thousands of ancient murals along the
Long Corridor and a boat ride on Kunming
Lake (weather permitting). Toast your arrival
with a glass of wine and enjoy a fabulous
welcome banquet featuring the famous
Beijing Duck in the evening.
Day 4 Beijing (AB,L,WD)
The highlight today is an excursion to
the Great Wall. Enjoy the dramatic vistas
and marvel at the Wall as it climbs and
descends steep ridges and narrow valleys.
A scenic cable car ride enhances your visit
through the steep hills. Continue on to visit
a cloisonné factory on the way to lunch.
After lunch, en route back to city, drive
around the intriguing architecture of the
main Olympic venues: the National Stadium,
nicknamed the “Bird’s Nest,” because of
its unique design and the National Aquatics
Center, known as the “Water Cube”
(H2O3). Continue toward the Beijing Sport
University, where over 50 graduates have
won world championship titles, and more
than 60 have won Asian championship titles.
Visit the university’s museum, Garden of
Champions, indoor training gyms, outdoor
sports fields and courts, etc. After dinner at
your hotel, enjoy a mystical and amazing
show, “Legend of Kung Fu.”
Day 5 Beijing - Xi’an(AB,L,WD)
This morning, enjoy a pedicab
tour of the hutongs, the old-city
neighborhoods of narrow lanes
and courtyard houses hidden
behind Beijing’s modern façade.
Get acquainted with the local
residents on a family visit. Watch little
schoolchildren at play in their classes. Then
climb high atop the Drum Tower for great
city views. Fly to Xi’an and check in to the Shangri-La Golden Flower (or similar).
Day 6 Xi’an (AB,L,SD)
Today’s highlight is a visit to the Terra-Cotta
Warriors and Horses Museum, home to an
army of more than 6,000 life-size statues
excavated from the tomb of the first emperor
of the Qin Dynasty. After lunch, visit the
Shaanxi Provincial Museum, renowned for
its collection of Han- and Tang-dynasty
antiquities. In the evening, enjoy a special
dinner show at the Tang Dynasty Theatre
recreating the music, costumes and dances
of that era.
Day 7 Xi’an - Shanghai (AB,L,D)
After breakfast, you will enjoy a tour of
the ancient City Wall, the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda and the Bell Tower. Then transfer
to the airport for your flight to Shanghai,
the “Paris of the Orient.” Upon arrival, your
sightseeing features the bustling shopping
street, Nanjing Road, and the Bund, the
famous promenade along the Huangpu
River. Check in to The Regent Shanghai (or similar).
Day 8 Shanghai (AB,L,D)
This morning, you will visit the Shanghai
Museum, China’s most up-to-date museum showcasing the country’s ancient glory. In
the afternoon, pay a visit to the Jade Buddha
Temple, renowned for its huge statue of
the Buddha carved from a single
piece of white jade; and
the Children’s Palace
where you will enjoy
musical and cultural
performances by
children attending
classes. After dinner, you will attend a spectacular acrobatic show.
Day 9 Shanghai - Suzhou - Shanghai
(AB,L,WD)
After breakfast, take a scenic ride to Suzhou,
a charming city of canals filled with gardens
from the Ming and Qing dynasties–many
of them, UNESCO World Cultural Heritage
sites. Your sightseeing will include the
Garden of the Humble Administrator, the
Silk Embroidery Research Institute, Pan
Men City Gate and the North Temple
Pagoda. Return to Shanghai and enjoy a
glass of wine with your western dinner at
the hotel.
Day 10 Shanghai - Guilin (AB,L,WD)
You have the morning at leisure to explore
this vibrant city on your own before
transferring to the airport for your flight to
tranquil Guilin. Upon arrival, check in to the
Sheraton Guilin Hotel (or similar).
Day 11 Guilin - Yangshuo (AB,L,D)
Today’s excursion is a cruise along the
beautiful Li River. Experience the magical
beauty of limestone rock formations and
farmland commonly seen in Chinese
landscape paintings. Disembark at the
charming village of Yangshuo, which has
one of the best antique and craft markets in
China. Browse at the market, or relax at one
of the local cafes. After dinner, enjoy a grand
musical show, “Impression Liu Sanjie,”
set in the world’s largest natural theater,
featuring a cast of 600 and a backdrop of 12
peaks and the Li River (weather permitting).
Overnight at the Yangshuo Paradise Resort
(or similar).
Day 12 Yangshuo - Guilin -
Hong Kong (AB,L)
Transfer back to Guilin and spend your day on a city tour which includes the Reed Flute
Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill and the Fubo
Hill’s dramatic rock formation. Then transfer
to the airport for your evening flight to Hong
Kong. Check in to your deluxe, harbor-view
room at the Harbour Plaza Hong Kong
(or similar).

Day 13 Hong Kong (AB)
Today’s half-day sightseeing tour gives an
introduction to Hong Kong Island. Your tour
will take you through Repulse Bay, Stanley
Market and Aberdeen’s floating community.
Then ascend Victoria Peak to take in the
breathtaking, panoramic views of the city.
The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 14 Hong Kong (AB)
You have the whole day to discover why
Hong Kong is known as “The Shopping
Capital of Asia.” You may also consider
taking one of the optional tours.
Day 15 Hong Kong - West Coast
(AB)
Farewell to Hong Kong. Transfer to the
airport for your flight back to the USA.
|