|
13-day China Experience
Tour Package (2011)
Shanghai -
Xi'an -
Tai'an -
Qufu -
Jinan -
Beijing
Scroll down to
bottom for departure dates, prices and hotel list.
Day 1/Fri: Departing North America
Depart home city and cross the International Date Line.
Day 2/Sat: Arrival in Shanghai
Meet the guide on arrival in mid-afternoon and transfer to the hotel. Spend
the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 3/Sun: 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 20 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 Yu Garden. Evening entertainment is a dazzling
acrobatic show. (B/L/D)
Day 4/Mon: Shanghai - Xi'an
Free morning to explore on your own. Our recommended list includes
Jinmao Tower, a ride aboard the world's only commercially run
Maglev train, and Shanghai Urban Planning
Exhibition Center. Meet your guide in the hotel lobby in late afternoon and
transfer to airport to fly to Xi'an. (B)
Day 5/Tue: 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, the Terra Cotta Army located about 30km east of
the city represents one of the greatest archeological discoveries of the
20th Century in the world. After a tour of the excavation site, we return to
the city for a stroll on the ancient 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 6/Wed: Xi'an - Tai'an
Morning sightseeing takes in the Shaanxi Provincial Museum. The modern,
well-organized museum completed in 1992 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. We fly to Jinan in the afternoon and transfer to Tai'an
(80km) upon arrival. (B/L/D)
 Day
7/Thu: Tai'an
We dedicate the morning to exploring the historic
Mt. Tai or
Taishan. The most revered of the five sacred Taoist mountains of China,
Mt. Tai has since the dawn of Chinese history been a great source of
inspiration for poets, writers and painters. In 1982, the UNESCO designated
Mt. Tai a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site. We ride the cable car
and then walk about an hour to the summit for a rewarding view of the
surrounding countryside. The energetic may choose to skip the cable car and
conquer the entire 6000 steps on foot. The climb can be hard work but the
central route's bewildering catalogue of bridges, trees, towers, statues,
inscribed stones, caves, pavilions and temples combine to take your mind off
your aching calves. (B/L)
Day 8/Fri: Tai'an - Qufu - Jinan
Drive to Qufu (100km) after breakfast. Qufu is hometown of Confucius whose
philosophy, known as Confucianism, played and continues to play a vital role
in the evolution of the Chinese civilization. We visit the mansions
inhabited by Confucius' descendants, now a museum, the sage's last resting
place at Confucian Forest, and finally the massive Confucius Temple, which
features a series of impressive gateways, clusters of twisted pines and
cypresses, inscribed steles and tortoise tablets recording ancient events.
We return to Jinan later in the day and arrive around dinnertime. (B/L/D)
Day 9/Sat: Jinan
Jinan is the capital of Shandong Province and best known for its hundreds of
gushing springs. The name "Jinan" literally means "south of Ji River"
referring to the old river north of the ancient city. The Ji River
disappeared in 1852 when the Yellow River changed its course northwards and
took over its bed. We visit Baotu Springs Park and the Provincial Museum
before exploring the city on our own. (B/L)
Day 10/Sun: Jinan - Beijing
Travel to Beijing in the morning by air-conditioned
express train (495km, 3hr 10min) and
arrive in Beijing around lunchtime. The clean and comfortable train is
perfect for daytime travel. Afternoon sightseeing in Beijing consists of
Tian'anmen Square
and adjacent Forbidden City.
(B/L)
 Day
11/Mon: 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. (B/L)
Day 12/Tue: Beijing
Today we visit the Temple
of Heaven, the Summer
Palace, and a
hutong
- traditional alleyway flanked with courtyard residences. We wrap up the day
with a sumptuous Peking Roast Duck dinner. (B/L/D)
Day 13/Wed: Beijing - North America
Spend the morning packing and relaxing. Transfer to the airport to board
return flight departing in the afternoon. Cross the International Date Line
and arrive home the same day. (B)
Return to Top
Return to Top
|
Dates & Prices 2011 |
|
Depart (Fri) |
Return (Wed) |
Full Package
from Vancouver
air add-ons from
other cities |
Land Package
excluding int'l airfare |
Single Supplement
applicable to travellers
without roommate |
|
Oct 14 |
Oct 26 |
$3500 |
$2700 |
$930 |
|
Oct 21 |
Nov 02 |
$3500 |
$2700 |
$930 |
|
Oct 28 |
Nov 09 |
$3500 |
$2700 |
$930 |
Back to top
|
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 |
|
China tours
since 1998 
