Day 1 West Coast - Beijing
Aboard your transpacific flight to Beijing.

Day 2 Beijing
Upon arrival in Beijing, China's capital, you will be greeted and escorted to the Capital Hotel (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 the Kunming Lake (weather permitting). Enjoy a fabulous welcome banquet featuring the famous Beijing Duck in the evening.

Day 4 Beijing (AB,L)
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. Continue on to visit a cloisonn factory on the way to lunch. After lunch, visit the Ming Tombs starting with a stroll along the Sacred Way guarded by the stone statues; then onto the Chang Ling Exhibition Museum.

Day 5 Beijing - Xi'an (AB)
After breakfast, fly to the ancient city of Xi'an. This afternoon you'll enjoy a tour of the Ancient City Walls, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Bell Tower. Overnight at the Grand New World Hotel (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 more than 6,000 life-size army 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 dumpling dinner and cultural show recreating the music, costumes and dance of the Tang Dynasty.

Day 7 Xi'an - Shanghai (AB,L)
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai - "Paris of the Orient". Afternoon sightseeing features the bustling shopping street Nanjing Road, and The Bund, famous promenade along the Huangpu River. Check in to the Crowne Plaza Hotel Fudan 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 Yu Garden, famous for its rock gardens, pavilions, halls and ponds, and Old Shanghai Bazaar, with shops filled with all manner of interesting curios.

Day 9 Shanghai (AB)
Spend today at leisure to explore this vibrant city on your own. Perhaps take an optional tour to one of the nearby picturesque water towns, known for their winding canals, arched stone bridges and well-preserved architecture from Ming and Qing Dynasty.

Day 10 Shanghai - West Coast (AB)
Farewell to Shanghai. Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the USA.