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.
Day 6 Xi'an / Suzhou (B L D)
Fly to Shanghai and connect train to Suzhou, still a vibrant trade route after 1300 years of use. Arrive in Suzhou for a special evening at the Garden of the Master of Nets. Walk the lantern-lit paths with surprises at every turn, accompanied by live classical music. |
Day 7 Suzhou / Wuxi (B L D)
Wuxi's inspiring gardens and silk-weaving traditions are showcased on a morning tour with a stop at the Embroidery Institute. Embark on a coach to Wuxi, a large city of Jiangsu Province, as well as "hometown of fish and rice" by the the lake of Tai. Your sightseeing includes a boat ride on the lake.
Day 8 Wuxi / Hangzhou (B L D)
Continue your sightseeing in Wuxi, and embark on a train for Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang Province.
Day 9 Hangzhou (B L D)
The premier sights of this Song Dynasty city are scattered on West Lake, whose placid waters you'll tour today by boat, stopping to explore tranquil islands, gardens, reflecting pools and other colorful settings. Survey other highlights in town, and shop for Hangzhou's famous silks and teas.
Day 10 Hangzhou / Guilin (B L D)
Fly south to the green hills of Guilin, whose ethereal landscapes have been immortalized by poets and painters through the ages. This afternoon, tour the city sights and the immense Reed Flute Cave, filled with impressive grottos, pillars, and inscriptions over 1000 years old.
Day 11 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 12 Guilin / Kunming (B L D)
Fly to Kunming, the Spring City of China, also famed from the days of W.W.II.
Day 13 Kunming (B L D)
A rare experience today as you take a full day excursion to legendary Stone Forest, where you marvel at the enthralling labyrinth of jagged limestone crags.
Day 14 Kunming (B)
With new insights and found memories of China, you embark on your homebound journey aboard your select airline. |
