Day 1 Beijing (D)
Arrive in Beijing, the capital and cultural center of China, where virtually every boulevard and building exudes an air of importance, Transfer on arrival to your plush hotel.
Day 2 Beijing (B L D)
Enjoy a full-day tour of the sights that make Beijing a spectacular destination: the sprawling Forbidden City, home to 24 Ming and Qing emperors and now a repository of precious art and antiques; the Temple of Heaven, famous for its elegance and symmetry; and the Summer Palace, an oasis of tea gardens, pavilions, painted corridors, and shimmering Kunming Lake with Empress Dowager's eccentric marble ship.
Day 3 Beijing (B L D)
One of the world's most awe-inspiring sights, the Great Wall snakes along nearly 4000 miles of impossibly steep hills and harsh, rugged plains. Today's excursion will give you ample time to explore it in leisure and marvel at the manpower that went into building the world's longest structure entirely by hand. Continue to the Ming Tombs, the graveyard of 13 emperors, before returning to Beijing for an imperial-style Peking Duck dinner.
Day 4 Beijing / Xi'an (B L D)
Linger at the sights and markets a bit before flying to Xi'an, a vital center of history, culture and archaeology.
Day 5 Xi'an (B L D)
It is impossible to overstate Xi'an's importance in China's history. Here began the fabled Silk Road, here a string of dynasties made their capital, here a Neolithic culture built a village 6000 years ago, and here lies a highlight of your trip: the excavation site of 8000 terra cotta soldiers, buried around the tomb of Emperor Qin, builder of the Great Wall and other massive endeavors. Round out your tour with stops at the old City gate, Provincial Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
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Day 6 Xi'an / Guilin (B L D)
Fly to the watercolor landscapes of Guilin and settle in at your plush hotel on the stunning Li River. This afternoon enjoy an orientation tour of the city, and a visit to Reed Flute Cave.
Day 7 Guilin (B L D)
Few could fail to be enraptured by the beauty of the Li River, with its delicate karst formations, beautiful rural scenery, and lush green hillsides with bizarre rock formations and caves. Centuries of poets and artists have immortalized the very scenes you'll savor on a full-day air-conditioned cruise along this unique and tranquil waterway.
Day 8 Guilin / Shanghai (B L D)
Fly to China's largest and most cosmopolitan city, as modern as any in the world. Immerse yourself in the culture and sophistication of Shanghai on a full day tour of the city's premier attractions. View all manners of Chinese arts, beautifully displayed in the astounding galleries of the new Shanghai.
Day 9 Shanghai / Suzhou (B L D)
China's glorious history unfolds as you depart to Suzhou, a remarkably intact, 900-year-old Song Dynasty town. See the graceful stone bridges and mansions of this little-traveled living museum. Experience the many moods of the intimate Garden of the Master of Nets on an evening visit, enhanced by classical music and dances performed by the city's finest artists.
Day 10 Suzhou / Shanghai(B L D)
Suzhou's inspiring gardens and silk-weaving traditions are showcased on a morning tour with a stop at the Embroidery Institute. Then return to Shanghai in the late afternoon.
Day 11 Shanghai (B)
With new insights and found memories of China, you embark on your homebound journey aboard your select airline. |
