9-day Shanghai, Xi'an and Beijing (2009)

Shanghai - Xi'an - Beijing

Day 1/Sun: Departing from North America
Depart home city and cross the International Date Line.

Day 2/Mon: Arrival in Shanghai
Arrive in late afternoon and transfer to hotel upon meeting your guide.  

Day 3/Tue: Shanghai
Paris of China, Pearl of the Orient, city of quick riches, paradise of the adventurers - those were some of the names by which Shanghai was known before the Communists took it over from the Nationalist Government in 1949. Like of the rest of the country Shanghai is currently undergoing one of the fastest economic expansions the world has ever seen, having experienced 19% GDP growth per year for the past 16 years.

Our sightseeing today begins with a walk on the Bund, a waterfront promenade famous for its landmark neoclassical buildings of European style. We then visit Shanghai Museum and the bazaar at the Temple of Town God. Evening entertainment is a dazzling acrobatic show. (B/L/D)

Day 4/Wed: Shanghai - Xi'an
Free morning to explore on your own. Transfer to the airport in the afternoon to fly to Xi'an. (B/D)

Day 5/Thu: Xi'an
Eastern terminus of the fabled Silk Road and one of the ancient capitals of China, Xi'an is home to the Terracotta Army designed to follow the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) into eternity. Visit the excavation site of the Terracotta Army located 30km east of the city. A stroll on the ancient wall before dinner is also on our schedule. Tonight we enjoy a spectacular music and dance show reminiscent of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), a period generally considered a golden era of the Chinese civilization. (B/L/D)

Day 6/Fri: Xi'an - Beijing
Morning flight to Beijing. Visit Tian'anmen Square and adjacent Forbidden City following lunch. Also known as Palace Museum or Gu Gong in Chinese, the Forbidden City was the place where the emperors of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties lived and carried out their administration. (B/L)

Day 7/Sat: Beijing
Enjoy a full-day excursion to the legendary Great Wall, 70km northeast of the city. Zigzagging over 6,000 kilometres from east to west along the undulating mountains, the Great Wall, said to be visible from the moon, was built to hold off tribal invaders from the north. On the way back to the city in the afternoon we stop by at the Spirit Way at Ming Tombs. The Spirit Way, serving at the entrance to the Ming Tombs, is lined with statues of guardian animals and officials. (B/L)

Day 8/Sun: Beijing
Today we visit the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, and a hutong - traditional alleyway flanked with courtyard residences. We then wrap up the day with a sumptuous Peking Roast Duck dinner. (B/L/D)

Day 9/Mon: Beijing - North America
Spend the morning packing and relaxing. Transfer to the airport to board return flight in the afternoon and arrive home the same day after crossing the International Date Line. (B)

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Hotel list
City	Nights	Hotel	Star Rating
Shanghai	2	Sheraton Shanghai Pudong
Xi'an	2	Sheraton Xi'an
Beijing	3	Sheraton Beijing

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