WED 17 OCT 07 Depart USA

THUR 18 OCT 2007 - Beijing
Arrive Beijing, capitol of the People's Republic of China and the nation's political, economic and cultural center as well as a hub of transportation and international exchange. Its rich cultural and artistic heritage is brought to life by burgeoning urban development.

After immigration and customs, transfer to Grand Beijing Hotel. This centrally located, deluxe 5 star hotel has the Wangfujing Shopping Street on the East and the Forbidden City on its West. Your room will have a Forbidden City view.

FRI 19 OCT - Beijing
9:00 AM - Tour of Tian’annmen Square, the center of Beijing and the world’s largest city square with 440,000-square-meters that can hold 1 million people. We’ll then visit the Forbidden City, a 720,000-square-meter former Imperial Palace for the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Built during the 1406-1420 period, it is the largest complex in existence in China and is a UNESCO world cultural heritage site.

Lunch is at the Xuxiangzhai Restaurant, a Buddhist Vegetarian restaurant. Many of their dishes are cooked with bean curd which can taste like pork, beef or lamb.

Afternoon visit to the Yonghegong (Palace of Harmony and Peace) Lamasery Temple (Lama Temple) that was the mansion of Emperor Yongzheng during his days as the crown prince. After he ascended the throne he had it converted into a lamasery.

Our evening Welcome Dinner, at the Duck King Restaurant, will feature Roast Duck, a Beijing specialty. Overnight at the Grand Beijing Hotel. (B,L,D)

SAT 20 OCT - Beijing
9:00 AM – Morning drive to tour the Great Wall, an emblem of Chinese civilization and a cultural phenomenon that is a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. The 6350km Great Wall served in China’s feudal years as a mammoth defense bulwark that serpentined its way across mountains and valleys in the northern part of the country.

Lunch is at Dazhimen Restaurant, a Beijing cuisine restaurant serving local Beijing food..

Tour includes visit to a Jade Carving Factory to learn about the Chinese Jade Culture. Afternoon and dinner is on your own. Overnight at the Grand Beijing Hotel. (B,L)

SUN 21 OCT - Beijing
9:00 AM - Tour of Hutong, back alley residential areas of quadrangle dwellings where old traditions remain very much alive. Touring these hutongs is a special travel experience in Beijing. The tour will include the Residence of Madam Sun Yat-sum who had a great influence on Sino-American relations during World War II, visiting Drum Tower (including a Drumming Performance), touring a Courtyard House and chatting with the residents.

We will have lunch with local families where the neighborhood hosts will cook authentic local Beijing dishes for us.

After lunch we will visit a Pearl Work Shop before touring the Summer Palace (Yiheyuan), built in 1750 and containing the best-preserved imperial garden in China. The tour will include a boat ride on Kunming Lake. Our final dinner in Beijing will be arranged for the evening. Overnight at the Grand Beijing Hotel. (B,L,D)

MON 22 OCT - Beijing/Xian
7:00 AM - Transfer to airport for a 8:40 AM flight to Xian. We’ll arrive at 10:20 AM and transfer to the Xian Hyatt Regency Hotel, a 5 star hotel in a good location near the main shopping street.

12:00 Noon - Mutton Soup Lunch, a very popular local dish where a pancake is also served to break into the mutton (or beef) soup.

In the afternoon, we will tour the Great Wild Goose Pagoda where we can mount the grand Dayan Tower, to look over the entire ancient city. We then proceed to the Shaanxi Historical Museum, a modern museum displaying cultural relics that show the history of Shaanxi province area from 1,150,000 years ago to 1840. Free Evening with overnight at the Xian Hyatt Regency Hotel. (B,L)

TUE 23 OCT - Xian
9:00 AM - Visit to the famous Terra Cotta Army Museum and Workshop to see how the famous Terra Cotta soldiers and horses were made. These giant figures were first discovered in March 1974. They were buried in Emperor Qinshihuang's Tomb and the museum is now a UNESCO world cultural heritage site.After lunch at the museum’s Friendship Restaurant, we will continue with a tour of the Grand Mosque.

That evening we will visit the Tang Dynasty Dumpling Dinner Show where more than 30 varieties of dumplings are served. After dinner, we’ll watch a singing and dancing performance from the Tang Dynasty.
Overnight at the Xian Hyatt Regency Hotel. (B,L,D)

WED 24 OCT - Xian/Guilin
Free morning.
11:45 AM – Meet for hotel check-out and transfer to Wannian Restaurant for lunch.
2:00 PM – Transfer to Airport for 4:00 PM flight to Guilin, a scenic city with a fabulous landscape that is characterized by green mountains, sparkling waters, strange cave formations and statuesque monoliths. We’ll arrive Guilin at 5:40 PM and transfer from the airport to the Guilin Waterfall Hotel. This deluxe 5 star hotel has views of the Li River and is conveniently located. The exterior of the hotel has a waterfall running down it that is beautifully lit each night. That evening we’ll enjoy a Rice Noodle Dinner, one of the most popular local dishes in Guilin. Overnight at the Guilin Waterfall Hotel. (B,L,D)

THUR 25 OCT - Guilin
8:00 AM – We drive to the port to embark on a Li River Cruise. This is the Chinese river that has inspired so many poems and paintings. Sites along the way include the “Three Hills," "Nine Horses in Picture Hill," "Xingping, " "Green-Lotus World,” and the Reed Flute Cave, the ”art hall created by nature."

A Buffet Lunch will be served on board the boat. Dinner is at the Longze Tea Restaurant, where different kinds of tea are used as spice. Overnight at the Guilin Waterfall Hotel. (B,L,D)

FRI 26 OCT - Guilin/Shaghai
8:00 AM transfer to airport for 10:20 AM flight to Shanghai, China's leading industrial and commercial city and a major financial center that is located on the southern shore of the Yangtze River estuary. We’ll arrive Shanghai at 12:25 PM and proceed to
Lunch at the Jade Buddha Temple, built in 1882 and still in perfect condition as a sanctuary of Zen Buddhism.

Afternoon visit to Yuyuan Garden, perhaps the best classical garden example in Shanghai. The neighboring Yuyuan Bazaar, known as the "Old City God's Temple Market," is a rising shopping area. We’ll also visit the picturesque Bund, an emblem of the new Shanghai. Extending 1.5 km on the western shore of the Huangpu River, 52 tall buildings tower over the river appearing like a museum display of modem architecture. The wide riverfront promenade along the eastern side of the Bund provides a captivating view of Shanghai. Our tour will include a visit to the sophisticated Nanjing Road shopping complex of specialty stores, exotic restaurants and cultural and recreational facilities.

We’ll check into the Salvo Hotel. This five star hotel is about a 5 minute walk to the Bund and 10 minute walk to the Nanjing shopping street. Our deluxe rooms are like suites with separate bedroom and living room. Free evening/dinner on own. (B,L)

SAT 27 OCT - Shanghai
9:00 AM - Day tour to Zhujiajiao.a traditional water town that is intersected by flowing rivers and streams with 400 year old buildings and a leisurely slow pace to life. This is a wonderful location for photos of “old China. After lunch we’ll visit a Silk Factory. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city. That evening we’ll have Farewell Dinner in Family Xi’s Garden Restaurant in Shanghai. The restaurant was originally a villa of the Koumingtang governor before 1949. Overnight at the Salvo Hotel. (B,L,D)

SUN 28 OCT - Shanghai
Transfer to airport for flight back to USA arriving the same day. (B)