Day 1 Beijing
Arrive Beijing by air today. You are met and transferred to your hotel
in downtown. Meet your tour manager and fellow travelers at the Evening Reception.
Grand Hotel Beijing
Day 2 Beijing
Start your China World Heritage Site exploration with a tour of the
magnificent Imperial Palace (WHS), also known as the "Forbidden
City", seat of China's imperial rule in the Ming and Qing dynasties. View
some of the priceless treasures of the emperors displayed in the exhibition halls.
After lunch, take an excursion to the Peking Man Site (WHS) at
Zhoukoudian, an archaeological site that displays evidence showing the existence of homo
erectus Pekinensis - a link between Neanderthal and modernman - who lived in the area
from around 500,000 to 230,000 years ago.
Return to the city and enjoy a traditional Peking Duck Dinner
tonight.
Grand Hotel Beijing <B-L-D>
Day 3 Beijing
Today, you will visit two other World Heritage Sites in Beijing. The
highlight is undoubtedly the excursion to the Great Wall (WHS) of China. You
will explore the Mutianyu section, where the Wall winds up and down on ridges of green
mountains.
Visit the Summer Palace (WHS) in the afternoon and see how
the imperial families indulged themselves in the past.
This evening, enjoy an Imperial Cuisine Dinner at the
famous local restaurant.
Grand Hotel Beijing <B-L-D>
Day 4 Beijing g Luoyang
A short morning flight takes you to Zhengzhou. Upon arrival, transfer by
vehicle to Luoyang, an ancient capital of China.
On the way, you will visit the world famous Shaolin Temple,
where even today hundreds of dedicated Buddhist monks still practice the thousand-year-old
tradition of meditation and martial art, which has attracted followers from around the
world.
Arrive Luoyang in late afternoon and check in at hotel.
Peony Grand Hotel <B-L-D>
Day 5 Luoyang
The major attraction in Luoyang is the magnificent Longmen
Grottoes (WHS), a Buddhist shrine that stands testimony to the prosperous Buddhist
culture and flourishing art in the Tang Dynasty. The details in the thousands of stone
sculptures have impressed every visitor from all over the world. You will spend a good
half day there.
Later in the day, stop by the charming White Horse Temple
on the edge of the city for a visit.
Peony Grand Hotel <B-L>
Day 6 Luoyang g Qufu |
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Experience Chinese train travel by taking a
day-time ride to Yanzhou. Then transfer by motor coach to Qufu, the hometown of
Confucius ("Kong Zi" in Chinese). Confucius is probably the greatest
philosopher and educator in Chinese history and his thinking has helped shape the Chinese
culture as it is and influenced the cultures of many East Asian countries such as Japan,
Korea, and Vietnam.
Take a brief walking tour in the city before a delicious Shandong
Cuisine Dinner.
Queli Grand Hotel <B-D>
Day 7 Qufu
The Temple, Cemetery and Family Mansion of Confucius (WHS),
the great philosopher, politician and educator of the 6th - 5th centuries B.C., are
regarded as one of the top heritage sites by the Chinese people.
Built to commemorate him in 478 B.C., the Confucius Temple
has been destroyed and reconstructed over the centuries. Today it comprises of more than
100 buildings.
The Kong Family Cemetery contains Confucius' tomb and the
remains of more than 100,000 of his descendants.
The small house of the Kong family developed into a gigantic
aristocratic residence - Confucius Mansion, of which 152 buildings remain.
The Qufu complex of monuments has retained its outstanding artistic and historic character
due to the devotion of successive Chinese emperors over more than 2,000 years.
You spend the full day exploring this huge complex and learn about the
teachings of the ancient Sage.
Queli Grand Hotel <B-L-D>
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Day 8 Qufu g Tai'an
Enjoy some free time in Qufu this morning before traveling to Tai'an on
motor coach after lunch.
Tai'an is the base for climbing the Mt. Tai (WHS), one of
the holiest mountains in Chinese beliefs, which soars up to 1,545 meters from the east
China plains.
Visit Tai Miao, a huge temple complex dedicated to the
mountain and with a blend of buildings from different belief systems. Prepare yourself for
the next day's ascend to the peak.
Tai'an Huaqiao Hotel <B-L-D>
Day 9 Tai'an
Mt. Tai ("Tai Shan" in Chinese) was the
haunt of emperors and earned numerous titles from the imperial court of various dynasties.
Climb up to Zhongtianmen (Halfway Gate to Heaven) and from here you
will take the cable car up to the top. Spend a couple of hours exploring the monuments and
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at the peak and get a gorgeous
view of the low land surrounding the mountain.
Descend the mountain along the western trail which offers some
impressive scenery.
Return to your comfortable hotel for a total relaxation.
Tai'an Huaqiao Hotel <B-L-D>
Day 10 Tai'an g Suzhou
Transfer to Ji'nan Airport this morning and fly to Shanghai on a late
morning flight. Immediate transfer by vehicle to Suzhou upon arrival.
Founded in 514 BC, the city was built around a network of canals and 300
crisscrossing bridges that fanned out from the Grand Canal.
Tour the charming Wangshi Garden, one of many Suzhou
Gardens (WHS), whose intricate designs and exquisite details represent the high
achievements by craftsmen of the Ming and Qing eras.
Sheraton Hotel Suzhou <B-L>
Day 11 Suzhou
Start the day with a nice walk to the Panmen Gate of the
old city wall and the classic Wumen Bridge. Then visit another two classical
gardens - Lingering Garden with its fine architectural design, and Zhuozheng
Garden, first built in 1522 during the Ming Dynasty.
You will also visit the Suzhou Silk Embroidery Institute,
where one can witness the creation of China's fine silk products. Later, we take you to
the legendary Tiger Hill to see more garden scenes and the Chinese version
of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Sheraton Hotel Suzhou <B-L-D>
Day 12 Suzhou g Huangshan
This morning, take a full-day excursion to Tongli and
Zhouzhuang, traditional villages surrounded by waterways and dotted with charming
old houses and bridges.
In the late afternoon, transfer to Shanghai Airport and fly to
Huangshan. Meet and check into hotel upon arrival.
Huashan Hotel <B-L-D>
Day 13 Yellow Mountain
You start the day by exploring Tunxi Lao Jie (Old Street)
- five hundred meters of nicely restored Ming style shops running parallel with the river.
Then go to visit two villages that are listed by UNESCO - Hongcun
and Xidi (WHS) in Yixian County. These villages possess some perfectly
maintained eighteenth-century houses. There are plenty examples of carved gilded wooden
screens and panels, as well as thin line paintings on front walls showing lucky animals
and characters. Traditional way of life and old customs are well preserved in these
villages. Walking among these old houses is like going back in time. |
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Travel to Yellow Mountain and ascend
by taking a gondola to Yuping Lou (Jade Screen Pavilion), a beautifully
positioned pavilion on the halfway of the journey.
Jade Screen Hotel <B-L-D>
Day 14 Yellow Mountain
Most Chinese people agree that "Huang Shan", the Yellow
Mountain (WHS), is the most beautiful among all of the sacred mountains. The
highest peak barely rises 1870 meters above sea level, but as you climb up the staircases
it could feel like much higher than that.
Continue your ascend to the peaks today by climbing up along the trails,
passing stunning scenery.
Later in the afternoon, arrive at your hotel, a perfect place to sip a
cup of tea and relax.
North Sea Hotel <B-L-D>
Day 15 Huangshan g Hangzhou
Descend the mountain via Yungu cable car and travel to Shexian,
once the regional capital city and an important trading center on the Xin'an River. The
region prospered in the seventeenth century after local salt merchants began raising
elaborate family houses and intricately carved stone archways, many of which still survive
today, a visible testimonial to their wealth.
Travel by road to Hangzhou in the afternoon and arrive by the evening.
Shangri-La Hotel Hangzhou <B-L>
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Day 16 Hangzhou g Shanghai
Enjoy a boat ride on the charming West Lake and see some
beautiful gardens. Take an early afternoon train to Shanghai and transfer to hotel upon
arrival.
In the evening, enjoy a fascinating Acrobatic Show after
delicious Shanghai Cuisine Dinner.
Portman
Ritz-Carlton Shanghai <B-L-D> |
Day 17 Shanghai
Visit the Bund, the promenade along the Huangpu River. A
splendid row of early 20th century European buildings lines up the west side of the
boulevard. Tour Yuyuan Garden, a well-restored Suzhou style garden
constructed in 1559.
After lunch, go to see the marvelous Shanghai Museum,
a leading attraction of the city since it opened in 1994, and its galleries contain
world-class collections of ancient arts and artifacts.
Your own exploration in the late afternoon and evening.
Portman
Ritz-Carlton Shanghai <B-L>
Day 18 Return Home
Transfer to the airport and board your homebound flight. Arrive in North
America on the same day.
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