9-day China Tour - Spring Special (2010)
Shanghai - Suzhou - Beijing

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Day 1/Thu: Departing Vancouver
Depart Vancouver at 12:50 pm aboard Air China non-stop flight CA992 for Beijing. Inexpensive Add-on fares from other major Canadian cities are available on request. We cross the International Date Line and "lose" a day.

Day 2/Fri: Arrival in Shanghai
We land at Beijing Capital International Airport at 4:30 pm and connect CA1549 (6:30 pm - 8:40 pm) for Shanghai. Meet the guide on arrival and transfer to the hotel.

Day 3/Sat: 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. The evening acrobatic show is optional. (B/L)

Day 4/Sun: Shanghai - Suzhou - Shanghai
Enjoy a day trip to Suzhou, 85 km northwest of Shanghai. The 25-century-old city is best known for its traditional Chinese gardens, silk industry and well-preserved canal system. Our schedule today includes Master-of-Nets Garden, a short cruise on the Grand Canal, the Silk Embroidery Research Institute and a silk spinning mill. We return to Shanghai before dinnertime. The evening cruise in Huangpu River is highly recommended as it affords the visitor the best vantage point to take in the neon-light skyline of Shanghai. (B/L)

Day 5/Mon: Shanghai - Beijing
This morning is set aside for you to explore China's most populous city on your own. We gather in hotel lobby in early afternoon and transfer to the airport for late afternoon flight for Beijing. Meet the guide and transfer to the hotel on arrival. (B/L)

Day 6/Tue, Beijing
Beijing is China's capital and the country's second largest city after Shanghai, with more than 17 million people living in the city proper and suburban areas in its jurisdiction. The ancient city is recognized as the political, educational, and cultural center of the People's Republic of China. The city currently claims six UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  

We begin our day with a visit to Tian'anmen Square, followed by Forbidden City and a leisurely walking tour of a hutong area - hutong is an alleyway lined on both sides with traditional residential courtyards. The Forbidden City, also known as Palace Museum, 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/Wed: 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 late afternoon we stop by at the cloisonné factory to marvel at this traditional Chinese work of art. (B/L)

Day 8/Thu: Beijing
This morning we visit the sprawling complex of Temple of Heaven. Situated in southeastern Beijing the Temple of Heaven is China's largest extant sacrificial temple where, during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the emperors conducted the elaborate and most exalted sacrifices addressed to "the Supreme Ruler of the Universe." Construction of the temple started in 1406, during the reign of the Ming Emperor Yongle, and took 14 years to complete. The temple was expanded under the Qing emperors Qianlong (1736-1796) and Jiaqing (1796-1820). Occupying 2,668 hectares (6,670 acres), the area of the Temple of Heaven is more than twice that of the Imperial Palace. After lunch we set out to explore the city on our own or go souvenir shopping. We wrap up the day with a delicious farewell dinner featuring Beijing's delicacy, Peking roast duck. (B/L/D)

Day 9/Fri: Beijing - Vancouver
Spend the morning packing and relaxing. Transfer to the airport at noon for non-stop return flight CA991 departing at 3:50 pm. We arrive in Vancouver at 11:30 am the same day after crossing the International Date Line. Today is a free day for Seattle bound travellers. Our guide will provide you with a list of interesting places to visit.  (B)

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City	Nights	Hotel	Star Rating
Shanghai	3	Four Points by Sheraton
Beijing	4	Four Points by Sheraton or similar

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