China Grand Tour 2007

Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in Beijing, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Airport to Hotel Transfer (Beijing)
Detailed Itinerary: You'll be met on arrival in Beijing. On the way to the Guangzhou Hotel, your guide will explain tomorrow's arrangements. Spend the rest of the day exploring the nearby streets, or resting and catching up on your jetlag. Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts – an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites, and a bustling modern metropolis getting ready to host the 2008 Olympics.

Day 2

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: The Tian'anmen Square, The Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Kungfu Show
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Early risers can join the locals at Taiji practice, and enjoy watching as they sing to each other. After breakfast our guide will brief the group before you head out for Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest public square, which is closely linked to Mao Zedong, and the Forbidden City, from which the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed for over 500 years. Later you'll visit the Temple of Heaven, where the Emperors prayed for good harvests and rain, or gave thanks for the harvest. Enjoy a spectacular Chinese kung fu performance this evening.

Day 3

Place & Transport: Beijing
Today's Activities: The Great Wall -Badaling Section, Sacred Way (Ming Tombs), Ming Tombs, Roasting Duck at Wangfujin
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch, Chinese Dinner
Detailed Itinerary: Leave town at 8am for the drive (a bit under two hours) to the Badaling Section of The Great Wall, which stretches for over 6000 km, and was originally built to protect China from the barbarians. You can walk and climb at your own pace, or enjoy spectacular views from the cable car. Before returning to the city you'll enjoy visiting the Dingling (one of the Ming tombs), and the attractive tree-lined Sacred Road, bordered by stone statues, along which the Emperors once trod to conduct their sacred ceremonies. Dinner tonight is at Qianmen Quanjude, where you'll eat the some of the best 'Peking Duck' in Beijing.

Day 4

Place & Transport: Beijing to Xian, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Beijing), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Xian), Hutong Tours in Rickshaw, Xi'an City Wall
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Your last stop in Beijing is a trip through the Hutongs by rickshaw. 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, drop into a primary school and a flea market, and have lunch with a local family featuring delicious Chinese dumplings. Those who are interested can learn how to make this traditional Chinese food. Later you will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Xi'an, where your guide will meet the group at flight arrivals (look for the China Highlights Travel sign), and take you to the Bell Tower Hotel, and, for the energetic, a half-hour's hike along the Ancient City Wall. (Bikes can be rented for around 20 yuan/hour).

Day 5

Place & Transport: Xian
Today's Activities: Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses(include golf carts), Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower, Evening Show at Tang Yuegong
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Spend today visiting some marvelous historical sites in and around this most ancient of cities, which was the national capital for over 1,000 years, and the starting point of the Silk Road. Despite a lot of modern development Xi'an remains a charming city, and you'll enjoy visiting the Bell Tower, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Then out to see the incredible Terra cotta Warriors. This evening there's an option to go to the colorful Tang Dynasty Show at Tang Yuegong, which features songs and dances from the Tang period.

Day 6

Place & Transport: Xian to Guilin, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Xian), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Guilin), Shaanxi Historical Museum, The Grand Mosque
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Spend the morning at one of the best museums in China, the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Among the 400,000 items on display are treasures from many of the Dynasties, including some magnificent bronzes and porcelain, many of which have never been on permanent display before. After a simple lunch at a local restaurant you'll visit the Great Mosque, one of the four grand Islamic mosques in China, before flying on to Guilin, and the Bravo Hotel.

Day 7

Place & Transport: Guilin
Today's Activities: Li River Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Guilin is famous for its stunning scenery, and the best way to see it is from the deck of a Li River Cruise boat. The boats leave from various wharves, according to river height at different times of the year, and you'll be transferred to the appropriate pier for an unforgettable trip downriver to the lovely old town of Yangshuo. You can spend the afternoon exploring the little town, or take an optional excursion to the local villages, before returning to Guilin by private bus.

Day 8

Place & Transport: Guilin to Shanghai, Flight No. TBA
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Guilin), Airport to Hotel Transfer (Shanghai), Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo(Whirlpool) Hill, Reed Flute Cave
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: Today you'll see a little more of Guilin. Elephant Trunk Hill (which really does look like an elephant drinking from the river), Fubo Hill (great views of the city), and Reed Flute Cave, which is a vast and impressive cave system, are three of the best attractions in this gentle city. Make sure you have plenty of small change with you at the caves – the children there sell flutes for about 1 yuan, and if you only have an American dollar, you're likely to end up with a whole basketful of flutes! This afternoon you fly on to Shanghai, where you'll be transferred to the Shanghai Ocean Hotel, and have the evening to yourself.

Day 9

Place & Transport: Shanghai
Today's Activities: Jade Buddha Temple, Yuyuan Garden, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Museum
Meals: Breakfast, Chinese Lunch
Detailed Itinerary: You'll be delighted by this, the largest city in China, with its phenomenal mixture of space-age buildings, gorgeous shops, and the remnants of the old Concession areas Nanjing Road and the Bund. Shanghai has a buzz that is all its own! Today you visit the lovely old Yuyuan Garden, the Shanghai Museum, which has rivals the Shaanxi Museum in Xi'an and is well worth a visit, the Jade Buddha Temple, and the famous Oriental TV Tower (also known as the Pearl Tower, for its distinctive shape). The second-highest platform provides wonderful views over Shanghai and the Huang Pu River, and those with a good head for heights can choose to buy a ticket to continue on to the very top.

Day 10

Place & Transport: Depart Shanghai, Flight not included
Today's Activities: Hotel to airport Transfer (Shanghai)
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 Shanghai for a few extra days, or arrive a few days early in Beijing, please let us know, and we'd be happy to extend your hotel bookings, or arrange additional tours for you.