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)
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|
Dates & Prices 2010 |
|
Depart (Thu) |
Return (Wed) |
Full Package
from Vancouver/San Francisco
air add-ons from other
cities |
Land Package
excluding int'l airfare |
Single Supplement
applicable to travellers
without a roommate |
|
Aug 26 |
Sep 08 |
$3750 |
$2900 |
$950 |
|
Sep 02 |
Sep 15 |
$3750 |
$2950 |
$985 |
|
Sep 09 |
Sep 22 |
$3750 |
$2950 |
$985 |
|
Sep 16 |
Sep 29 |
$3750 |
$2950 |
$985 |
|
Sep 23 |
Oct 06 |
$3750 |
$2950 |
$985 |
|
Sep 30 |
Oct 13 |
$3750 |
$2950 |
$985 |
|
Oct 07 |
Oct 20 |
$3750 |
$2950 |
$985 |
|
Oct 14 |
Oct 27 |
$3750 |
$2950 |
$985 |
|
Oct 21 |
Nov 03 |
$3750 |
$2950 |
$985 |
|
Oct 28 |
Nov 10 |
$3750 |
$2850 |
$950 |
|
Nov 11 |
Nov 24 |
$3650 |
$2800 |
$900 |
|
Nov 18 |
Dec 1 |
$3550 |
$2750 |
$900 |
|
Dec 2 |
Dec 15 |
$3500 |
$2750 |
$850 |
|
Dec 9 |
Dec 22 |
$3500 |
$2750 |
$850 |
Strikethrough indicates the departure has been
closed to new customers. If you like you may ask to be added to the
waiting list in case of last-minute cancellations.
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|
Costs
Not Included in Tour Prices |
|
Taxes & Surcharges |
Recommended Tipping |
Chinese Visa Fee |
| Full Package |
Land Package |
| please contact
us for |
current amount |
$10/client/day |
Click here for details |
|