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14-day Best of China Tour (2010)

Beijing - Xi'an - Guilin - Yangshuo - Shanghai

Scroll down to bottom for departure dates, prices and hotel list.

Day 1/Thu: Departing Home City
The journey begins with your transpacific flight departing from a city of your choice. We lose a day upon crossing the International Date Line.

Day 2/Fri: Arrival in Beijing
Meet our guide on arrival in late afternoon and transfer to the hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure.

Day 3/Sat: Beijing
Beijing, capital of China, is the country's second largest city in terms of population. Following a brief orientation we visit Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City and an old hutong - alleyway flanked with traditional residential courtyards. Welcome dinner features delicious Beijing roast duck, a local delicacy. (B/L/D)

Day 4/Sun: Beijing
Morning visit to the Temple of Heaven. Afternoon sightseeing at the majestic Summer Palace, a royal resort during the Qing Dynasty. We wrap up the day with a tour of Jingshan Park behind the Forbidden City. The evening Peking Opera show is optional if available. (B/L)

Day 5/Mon: Beijing
Enjoy a full-day excursion to the legendary Great Wall, 90km northwest 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 as the entrance to the Ming Tombs, is lined with statues of guardian animals and officials. (B/L)

Day 6/Tue: Beijing - Xi'an
Enjoy some free time before flying to Xi'an after lunch. 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. (B/L)

Day 7/Wed: Xi’an
Visit the excavation site of the Terracotta Army located 30km east of the city. Afternoon visit to the ancient City Wall. 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 8/Thu: Xi'an
Morning schedule takes in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Grand Mosque and the adjacent Muslim Quarter. Afternoon sightseeing at Shaanxi Provincial Museum. The modern, well-organized museum was completed in 1992 and traces the history of Xi'an from prehistory to the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The extensive galleries and exhibitions offer the visitor an excellent introduction to the area that greatly improves understanding of the numerous historical sites in and around the city. (B/L)

Day 9/Fri: Xi'an - Guilin
Morning flight to Guilin. A medium-sized city by Chinese standard, the city has long been renowned for its unique scenery. The name Guilin literally means "forest of sweet osmanthus", owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees in the city. We visit the Elephant Trunk Hill Park and scenic Fubo Hill after hotel check-in. (B/L)

Day 10/Sat: Guilin - Yangshuo
Day cruise on Li River. The 83km stretch of the river between Guilin and Yangshuo affords breathtaking scenery as the river snakes through tall karst mountains, gigantic bamboo sprays, and picturesque villages -- sights that have inspired countless poets and painters for generations. Disembark in Yangshuo in mid-afternoon. We spend the rest of the day exploring the charming small town on our own. You may also rent a bicycle to pedal into the countryside for the mesmerizing scenery. For evening entertainment we recommend the nightly show Impression Liu Sanjie - a light and sound spectacle directed by China's most renowned film director Zhang Yimou. (B/L)

Day 11/Sun: Yangshuo - Guilin - Shanghai
We drive back to Guilin in the morning to fly to 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 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 18 years. Afternoon visit to Jade Buddha Temple. (B/L/D)

Day 12/Mon: Shanghai
Our sightseeing in Shanghai begins with a stroll on the Bund - a waterfront promenade famous for its landmark neoclassical buildings of European style, followed by Shanghai Museum and Yu Garden. Evening entertainment is a dazzling acrobatic show. (B/L/D)

Day 13/Tue: Shanghai
Today is a free day. Exploring China's most dynamic city on your own has never been easier. Our recommended list includes a visit to Shanghai World Expo, a ride aboard the world's only commercially run Maglev train, and the popular evening cruise on Huangpu River to enjoy the city's spectacular neon-lit skyline. (B)

Day 14/Wed: Shanghai - Home City
Free morning to pack and relax. Transfer to airport by taxi (cab fare approximately $23 or 140 yuan) to board return flight. Arrive home the same day. (B)

Hotel list
City/Location	Nights	Hotel	Star Rating
Beijing	3	Sunworld Dynasty Beijing
the Great Wall	1	guesthouse by the Great Wall (nice & clean)	best available
Xi'an	3	Sheraton Xi'an
Guilin	1	Sheraton Guilin
Yangshuo	1	Green Lotus Hotel
Shanghai	3	Sheraton Shanghai Pudong

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