Beijing New Year Celebration Tour

Day 1   Feb 4, 2008

Place & Transport: Arrive in Beijing, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing)
Meals: Chinese Dinner at Roasting Duck at Wangfujin
Detailed Itinerary: On the first day of your special Beijing Spring Festival tour, our guide will meet you at flight arrival, give you a warm welcome and escort you from the airport to the carefully chosen hotel. Your unique China experience begins now - a tailor has already awaited you in the hotel to take your measurement for a new Tang suit. As in Chinese tradition, everyone will have on new clothes and put on his best behavior on New Year’s Day. After this, dine and be entertained in traditional Chinese fashion - enjoy world famous Peking Duck, an absolute must-do experience in Beijing. You’ll discover the culinary secrets in carving the duck and eating it 'Beijing style.' After savoring the delicious dinner, return to your hotel and take a good rest.

Day 2   Feb 5, 2008

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: The Forbidden City, Hall of Clocks and Watches, The Tian'anmen Square
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Today’s itinerary highlights the most famous scenic spots in Beijing. It begins at Tian’anmen Square, the largest one in the world and the symbol of Beijing. Then it’s on to the legendary Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace Museum, with all the art and splendor available for your eyes. What makes this Forbidden City tour special is the Hall of Clocks and Watches visit. This exhibition hall houses about 200 clocks and watches from the imperial collection. Those watches and clocks are mostly made in Switzerland, England, France, the U.S and Japan, with some Chinese made timepieces on display as well. Some of them can even still run! With the clock tick away the golden time of Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, your second day of unique China experience rings down the curtain.

Day 3   New Year's Eve

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Temple Fair(Ditan Park Fair), Hutong tour by bicycle
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner at Courtyard Houses
Detailed Itinerary: Today will certainly be a highlight of your whole tour. You will experience Chinese New Year's Eve just as locals in Beijing. First visit a famous Beijing temple fair which becomes part of residents’ life during the Spring Festival. Folk performances, snacks of different flavors, all kinds of decorations… the atmosphere is typical - noisy, crowded but always fun! Then, ride bike in Hutong, the oldest residential area for the local citizen lived in Beijing now. Beijing Hutong is an ancient city alley or lane typical in Beijing. This maze of narrow alleyways winding around the Forbidden City is fast disappearing, and you'll get a precious glimpse into their distinctive culture as you zigzag through them. There you may enjoy Yangge dancing, lion and dragon dancing, which are the traditional Chinese folk dances.
The Spring Festival, more than any other Chinese holiday, stressed the importance of family ties. Next you will be assigned to stay with a hospitable family and join them to prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner. You will learn how to make jiaozi, one of main dishes must be served. After the big dinner, you will be taken out to burn firecrackers. And go to the Bell and Drum Towers. Every New Year Eve, the drum is beaten with the bell 108 times to send a blessing to the people. You will be transferred to your hotel later in the evening.

Day 4    Feb 7, 2008

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Longqing Gorge, Ice sculpture of Longqing Gorge
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Do you want to enjoy the ice and snow sculptures? Without going to Harbin, the city of ice, today you are driven to the Longqing Gorge (Ravine), 90km (56 miles) northwest of Beijing, which is famous for its Beijing Ice Lantern Festival. During the festival, the area is transformed into a winter wonderland. Huge lanterns are carved from ice and colored lights are placed within creating a glowing spectacle that is particularly stunning at night. Children and adults alike can also enjoy sliding down the ice slides in this magical environment. Here you can also enjoy a series of folk activities such as Yangge dancing and land boat ride. Transfer back to your downtown hotel in the late afternoon.

Day 5    Feb 8, 2008

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: Wangfujing Street
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Dinner at Bai Family Courtyard
Detailed Itinerary: Your new Tang suit will be ready today and you may try it on. The day is free for you to explore more of Beijing. Wangfujing Street may be a good choice for shopping. It is a pedestrian street with English language bookshops, shopping malls, galleries, street performers, and food stalls, and silk and garment shops. The farewell dinner will be arranged in the Bai Family Mansion which is like traveling back more than 100 years to the Qing dynasty. The waitress are dressed head-to-toe in traditional and colorful Manchu outfits, like classical Manchu ladies to greet every guest. It has not only recreated the splendor of the Qing dynasty in atmosphere but also with its menu - what you dined on is imperial court cuisine. Dining at the Bai Family Mansion is a feast for all of the senses.

Day 6   Feb 9, 2008

Place & Transport: Depart Beijing, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Beijing)
Meals: Breakfast
Detailed Itinerary: Your time is your own, until you are ready to be transferred to the airport for your departure.

Note: If you choose to stay on in Beijing for a few extra days, or arrive a few days earlier, please let us know, and we’d be happy to extend your hotel bookings, or arrange additional tours for you.