China Value

This morning, arrive at the gate of the Forbidden City, the abiding symbol of imperial China. Truly one of the great achievements of civilization, its construction employed hundreds of thousands of workers between 1406 and 1420. Marvel at its expansive architecture, magnificent imperial gardens, and many museums of Chinese antiquities and treasures. Take a walk through Tiananmen Square on your way to a delicious lunch at the lovely Hua’s Garden Restaurant

• Accommodations:  Capital Hotel Beijing
  
• Meals Included: B,L

Head northeast for the Great Wall of China. Encounter this extraordinary rampart at Badaling, a rugged section of the wall that offers easy access by foot or cable car. The Great Wall presents a visual experience that dramatically exceeds visitors’ expectations every time. Construction of a few miles of the wall on such jagged peaks seems nearly miraculous, but the rampart stretches for 3,700 miles and passes through 16 provinces.

Visit the Sacred Way and the Ming Tombs nearby.

This evening, savor the imperial city’s most famous delicacy, Peking duck, along with other Beijing specialties.

• Accommodations: Capital Hotel Beijing
  
• Meals Included: B,L,D

This morning, explore the Temple of Heaven, one of the finest creations of the Ming dynasty. This stunning architecture realizes the eternal Chinese desire to incarnate heaven in material form and represents the most advanced principles of mechanics and geometry of the time.

Fly to the ancient Tang dynasty capital of Xian (about 3 hours, economy class). Meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel.

The rest of this day is at leisure.

• Accommodations: Holiday Inn Xian
• Meals Included: B,L

Our second day in Xian begins with a viewing of the extraordinary 2,300-year- old terracotta warriors in the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qinshihuang. The warriors still stand at the original site where farmers discovered them in 1974.

Visit the Wild Goose Pagoda, where the ancient Buddhist sutras from Tang dynasty (600-900AD) are kept. During this dynasty, the famous monk Xuanzang traveled to India and brought back great amount of Buddhist classics. He toiled for years translating and organizing the scriptures at the temple.

Enjoy a tour of Xian’s Ancient City Wall by bicycle.

This evening, enjoy an optional dumpling dinner and show at the Tang Dynasty Restaurant.

• Accommodations: Holiday Inn Xian
• Meals Included: B,L

This morning, transfer to the Xian train station for the high-speed train to Chengdu (about 4 hours, 1st class seats). Chengdu is the hub of classical Chinese culture with a vision towards the future. Above all Chengdu is known for its unbelievable Sichuan cuisine and the adorable Giant Pandas.

Meet your guide and transfer to your hotel. The rest of this day is at leisure.

• Accommodations: Dorsett Grand Chengdu Hotel
  
• Included Meals: B

This morning, visit Chengdu Panda Breeding Center beautifully landscaped with lush plants and lakes. Meet with 60 some pandas and their caregivers. The highlight comes at the kindergarten where panda cubs play with each other, climbing up and down trees, rolling and pushing and kicking like Kungfu masters. The Atlanta Zoo’s panda girl was returned to China in 2010 and has lived here since. Also, visit the Small Red Panda Center with 40 small pandas in residence who roam freely.

In the afternoon wonder People’s Park where throngs of locals gather to practice Taiji, fly kites, or do synchronized dance. Wonder the lovely Bonsai Garden in the park with beautiful tropical and native plants grown for decades in large ceramic pots. Visit Kuanzhaixianzi, a traditional district with restored courtyard houses from Qing dynasty. Lining the old alleyway, beautiful tea houses, art galleries, bookstores, boutique shops, and restaurants make this area a popular destination for locals.

• Accommodations: Dorsett Grand Chengdu Hotel
  
• Meals Included: B,L

In the morning, transfer to the Chengdu airport for your flight to Shanghai (about 3 hours, economy class). Meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel.

The rest of this day is at leisure.

• Accommodations: Ambassador Hotel Shanghai
  
• Meals Included: B

In the morning, tour the French Concession in historic district and stop by Taikanglu Road with galleries and fine boutique shops. Next, visit the Shanghai Museum and view its wonderful collection of Chinese ceramics, paintings and furniture.

After lunch at a local restaurant, tour Yuyuan Gardens, designed in six unique parts, making the garden seem much larger than it really is. You will find one of the best Ming rockeries here, and wending the zigzag bridge to Huxingting Teahouse is a delight.

This evening, enjoy an optional show of the world famous Shanghai Acrobats.

• Accommodations: Ambassador Hotel Shanghai
  
• Meals Included: B,L

• Meals Included: B

This morning, arrive at the gate of the Forbidden City, the abiding symbol of imperial China. Truly one of the great achievements of civilization, its construction employed hundreds of thousands of workers between 1406 and 1420. Marvel at its expansive architecture, magnificent imperial gardens, and many museums of Chinese antiquities and treasures. Take a walk through Tiananmen Square on your way to a delicious lunch at the lovely Hua’s Garden Restaurant

• Accommodations:  Capital Hotel Beijing
  
• Meals Included: B,L

Head northeast for the Great Wall of China. Encounter this extraordinary rampart at Badaling, a rugged section of the wall that offers easy access by foot or cable car. The Great Wall presents a visual experience that dramatically exceeds visitors’ expectations every time. Construction of a few miles of the wall on such jagged peaks seems nearly miraculous, but the rampart stretches for 3,700 miles and passes through 16 provinces.

Visit the Sacred Way and the Ming Tombs nearby.

This evening, savor the imperial city’s most famous delicacy, Peking duck, along with other Beijing specialties.

• Accommodations: Capital Hotel Beijing
  
• Meals Included: B,L,D

This morning, explore the Temple of Heaven, one of the finest creations of the Ming dynasty. This stunning architecture realizes the eternal Chinese desire to incarnate heaven in material form and represents the most advanced principles of mechanics and geometry of the time.

Fly to the ancient Tang dynasty capital of Xian (about 3 hours, economy class). Meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel.

The rest of this day is at leisure.

• Accommodations: Holiday Inn Xian
• Meals Included: B,L

Our second day in Xian begins with a viewing of the extraordinary 2,300-year- old terracotta warriors in the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qinshihuang. The warriors still stand at the original site where farmers discovered them in 1974.

Visit the Wild Goose Pagoda, where the ancient Buddhist sutras from Tang dynasty (600-900AD) are kept. During this dynasty, the famous monk Xuanzang traveled to India and brought back great amount of Buddhist classics. He toiled for years translating and organizing the scriptures at the temple.

Enjoy a tour of Xian’s Ancient City Wall by bicycle.

This evening, enjoy an optional dumpling dinner and show at the Tang Dynasty Restaurant.

• Accommodations: Holiday Inn Xian
• Meals Included: B,L

This morning, transfer to the Xian Airport for your flight to Guilin (about 3 hours, economy class seats). Guilin is world famous for its spectacular karst limestone formations, vertical mountains thrust up from the seabed some 300 million years ago.  Eroded over the millennia by water and winds, these picturesque mountains, immediately recognizable to anyone familiar with Chinese painting, have provided inspiration for countless Chinese artists.

Meet your guide and transfer to the Elephant Hill Park and Reed Flute Caves.

• Accommodations: Guilin Bravo Hotel
• Included Meals: B

This morning, cruise down the Li River, winding past Mural Hill, Folded Brocade Hill, Crescent Moon Hill, and many more.  The four-hour cruise navigates some of the region’s most stunning karst formations. 

Travel to Yangshuo and wander lively Xijie Street, filled with restaurants, crafts shops, and local inns. Xijie is the home away from home for numerous Westerners and so exudes a cosmopolitan air as well as an invitation for a rollicking good time.

After disembarking, tour Liugong & Mushan villages, a gorgeous agricultural valley surrounded by distant karst scenery.  Walk into the fields to enjoy another experience of rural China, this time in the middle of a visual paradise.

After dinner, transfer back to Guilin in the evening.

• Accommodations: Bravo Guilin Hotel
  
• Meals Included: B,L

In the morning, transfer to the Guilin airport for your flight to Shanghai (about 3 hours, economy class). Meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel.

The rest of this day is at leisure.

• Accommodations: Ambassador Hotel Shanghai
  
• Meals Included: B

In the morning, tour the French Concession in historic district and stop by Taikanglu Road with galleries and fine boutique shops. Next, visit the Shanghai Museum and view its wonderful collection of Chinese ceramics, paintings and furniture.

After lunch at a local restaurant, tour Yuyuan Gardens, designed in six unique parts, making the garden seem much larger than it really is. You will find one of the best Ming rockeries here, and wending the zigzag bridge to Huxingting Teahouse is a delight.

This evening, enjoy an optional show of the world famous Shanghai Acrobats.

• Accommodations: Ambassador Hotel Shanghai
  
• Meals Included: B,L

• Meals Included: B