DAY 1, Sunday - Depart for China
Depart for China
Please note that your flight may depart just after midnight. In that case, you must check in at the airport the evening prior to your departure date
DAY 2, Monday - Arrive in Beijing
Arrive in Beijing and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure to rest, relax and acclimate to the new time zone
Overnight: Beijing
DAY 3, Tuesday - Great Wall of China & Summer Palace Tour
Embark on a full-day excursion to the Great Wall of China, the longest man-made structure on Earth, spanning nearly 4,000 miles of China's northern frontier. Walk along the promenades and admire the unrivaled scenic views of beautiful mountain passes, plateaus, and grasslands from this 7th century defensive fortification. Stop at a local jade shop to admire wares crafted with one of China's most famous materials. Afterward, savor lunch at a local restaurant. Next, visit the Summer Palace, former resort of the Empress Dowager and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As weather permits, take a relaxing boat ride across the lake and admire the stunning scenery. Stroll along the sprawling palace with its lakes and gardens before returning to Beijing. In the evening, join your Tour Manager for an orientation meeting followed by dinner featuring the famous Peking Duck with wine
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4, Wednesday - Forbidden City & Panda Visit
This morning, begin at Tiananmen Square*, the largest public plaza in the world. Erected in 1417 at the height of the Ming Dynasty, the square was renovated and renamed two centuries later at the onset of the Great Qing Dynasty. View several impressive monuments outlining the Square's perimeter, including the Great Hall of the People, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the square's famed ceremonial gateway. From here, venture north for a visit to the Forbidden City (Imperial Palace). Known today as the Palace Museum, the entire site is comprised of 800 buildings with more than 9,000 rooms. Later, have lunch at a local restaurant. Next, visit a local pearl shop before continuing to the Beijing Zoo** to see the famous Pandas
*For the Aug 31 departure, the Temple of Heaven will be visited in the morning, while Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City will be visited on Day 5 in the morning.
** This tour includes interactions with animals. Passengers may choose not to participate. Please note that no substitute or refund is available.
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 5, Thursday - High-Speed Train to Xian
This morning, travel via high-speed train to Xian. Upon arrival, trace the beginnings of Chinese civilization at the Xian municipal museum inside the small wild goose Pagoda Temple*. This evening, attend an optional Tang Dynasty 6-course dinner followed by a historical dance performance by the Tang Dynasty troupe
* For the Aug 31 departure, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda Temple will be visited on Day 7 in the morning, and the optional Tang Dynasty Dinner & Show will be replaced with the optional Dumpling Dinner, and vice versa.
Optional: Tang Dynasty Dinner & Show
Overnight: Xian
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6, Friday - Xian Antiquities Tour with Terracotta Army
This morning, after breakfast you will have the opportunity to visit Xingqing Park. Filled with culture, this local park is a hub of activity in the morning. You may witness and have the chance to participate in morning exercise, singing, and dancing. Next, view the bronze chariot and horses, part of the Terracotta Army Museum. Afterward, visit an arts and crafts workshop gallery. Highlights include finely crafted terracotta figurines inspired by the Terracotta Army and beautifully polished lacquer furniture. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before a tour of Xian's antiquities. Your tour includes the archaeological site at the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (259-210 B.C.), where more than 8,000 finely sculpted, life-size terracotta soldiers and horses were discovered by local farmers in 1974. The archaeological excavation of the three pits where the Terracotta Army was found continues today. At tonight's optional dumpling banquet, you can sample different varieties of dumplings
Optional: Dumpling Dinner
Overnight: Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 7, Saturday - Flight to Shanghai
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, the fastest growing city in Asia, with its dramatic ever-changing skyline. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. This evening, join your Tour Manager for a short walk to get familiar with the new city
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8, Sunday - Shanghai City Tour
This morning, take a tour of the major attractions of Shanghai. Experience the old-world charm of the Bund, the former "Wall Street" of the foreign powers. Walk along its park-like waterfront promenade between the Wusong River and Old Town. Stop at a silk carpet and embroidery shop. Next, wander the classical Yuyuan Garden, built during the Ming Dynasty by the high-ranking government official Pan Yunduan. The gardens' total area occupies approximately five acres, and features pavilions, ponds, rockeries, cloisters, and streams all within six scenic zones, including the Sansui Hall and Wanhua Chamber. In existence for 400 years, the gardens were specifically constructed for Pan's aging parents as a sanctuary in which to live out their lives. Continue with a visit the Jade Buddha Temple which is the most famous and one of the most active Buddhist temples in Shanghai. It was built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty to enshrine two beautiful jade Buddha statues that were brought from Burma. This evening, join the optional Shanghai by Night with Dinner
Optional: Shanghai by Night with Dinner
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9, Monday - Full Day in Shanghai
Spend a full day at leisure to explore Shanghai on your own, or join the optional full day tour to Suzhou, including lunch and a cruise on the Grand Canal. Morning departure from Shanghai for the drive to Suzhou, known as the "Venice of the East." Upon arrival in this charming city, relax on a boat ride along the narrow waterways of the legendary Grand Canal followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Then, continue to the beautiful and fragrant Garden of the Master of the Nets, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. End the day in Suzhou with a walk along bustling Pingjiang Road where the locals gather for entertainment and food. Return to Shanghai later this evening and bid farewell to your Tour Manager during dinner at a local restaurant
Optional: Full Day Suzhou with lunch
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 10, Tuesday - Depart China
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast
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