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The China Experience
We
recently spent a
month exploring China in order to organize a great trip there for you, and it
was a fabulous experience. In addition to delicious food, fascinating arts &
culture and amazing history and scenery, the element we were most impressed with
were the Chinese people--they are warm, friendly, and very happy to meet you.
We have now finalized the details of our trip, and are
proud to present it to you now--a fully bilingual guided, very complete and
diverse itinerary, with our trademark attention to detail and special surprises!
We look
forward to traveling in China with you--please send us an
email for more information or to reserve your space!
A Grand China Adventure
Next dates to be determined:
When do YOU want to travel?
From the Great Wall
to Xian
 to Chengdu and the
magnificent Li River
(sample dates listed)
November 4/Day 1:
Depart from US west-coast gateway cities (international airfare
included).
Meals included: (several on the flights over!)
November 5/Day 2: ARRIVE BEIJING (in the evening)
Arrive at Beijing International Airport and clear Chinese customs
and immigration.
Transfer to Capital Hotel (4-star, and only 5 minutes to Tiananmen Square and the
Forbidden City).
Meals included: none (since you will
likely arrive after dinner--and after many meals on the plane!)
Chairman Mao at the entrance to the Forbidden
City
November 6/Day 3: BEIJING/ TIANANMEN SQUARE AND
THE FORBIDDEN CITY
You will start your China adventure with a guided visit to Tiananmen
Square (the Gate of Heavenly Peace). This large public
square represents the heart of Imperial Beijing. You will then tour the Forbidden City, an
architectural marvel completed after a decade of work and
symbolizing Imperial power for over 500 years.
The last emperor's nephew doing calligraphy in
the Forbidden City
After lunch, you will have 2-3 hours to explore the
nooks and crannies of the Forbidden City on your own. Visit a Jade factory later in the
afternoon.
An amazing golden jade sculpture (a solid
piece of jade!)
Meals: B, L and a gala welcoming dinner banquet
November 7/Day 4 MING TOMBS/GREAT WALL
AM: Drive to the magnificent Ming Tombs,
burial site of Ming Emperors. You will also visit the underground Tomb, as well as the Stone
Animals and the site museum. After, visit a friendship store to learn more about Chinese
shopping opportunities!
Palace at Ming Tombs
PM: Private escorted excursion to the Badaling section
of the Great Wall. The construction of The Great Wall started in the 7th century BC during
the Qin Dynasty, making the Great Wall over 2,500 years old and more than 3000 miles long!
The Badaling Great Wall
Meals: B, L and a special Beijing Duck dinner
November 8/Day 5 PEKING MAN SITE
A depiction of the 500,000 year old Peking Man
AM: Private escorted drive to Zhoukoudian Village to explore the
Peking Man Site, an important archaeological discovery which added much to our
understanding of prehistoric man. After visiting the fascinating museum, you can leisurely
explore the caves, dwellings for thousands of years to early man.
LATE AFTERNOON: Return to Beijing. Remainder of the day is free for
private explorations (perhaps a fried scorpion snack from a nearby street vendor?)
Meals: B, L (scorpions NOT included!)
November 9/Day 6 BEIJING
Today you have free to explore Beijing as you wish--perhaps a visit
to the Silk Market, Prince Gong's Palace and Tea House or the Winter Palace? The
choices are endless!
Tea ceremony at Prince Gong's Palace
For those interested in archaeology, we are offering an optional
tour today to the recently opened Fengtai Han Tomb site and Beijing University's Sackler
Museum (includes guide, transportation and lunch). $45 per person.
Incense burning at Lama Monastery
Meals: B (and L if you choose the optional excursion)
November 10/Day 7 BEIJING/ XI'AN
AM: Private transfer to the airport for early morning flight to Xi'an.
Airport reception/ private transfer to the restaurant for lunch.
Tang dynasty sculpture at Sha'anxi Museum
PM: Private escorted tour to Sha'anxi Provincial
Museum, one of the world's great storehouses of ceramics, painting, and
textiles. Then transfer to Xi'an Garden Hotel (4-star, in a beautiful Chinese
garden setting).
Meals: B, L, D
November 11/Day 8 TERRA COTTA WARRIORS
Terra Cotta Warriors
Private all-day escorted tour to see the world-famous
Terra Cotta Warriors.
One of the greatest archaeological
discoveries of the 20th century, the Terra Cotta Warriors are also one of 27
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China.
PM: There will be 2 hours free time for you to explore
the site on your own.
Afterwards a visit to a spectacular Terra Cotta Warrior/ Lacquer/ Silk Factory.
Return to Xi'an in the late afternoon.
Fantastic workmanship
Meals: B, L and a special Sha'anxi style dinner.
November 12/Day 9 YANGLING MAUSOLEUM AND XI'AN
Private all-day escorted tour to Yangling Mausoleum,
with its fascinating collection of smaller terra cotta warriors, musicians,
animals and items of daily life.There will also be an opportunity to explore the
nearby tomb site.
A (very) little dog on the big walls of
Xi'an's old city
PM: Return to Xi'an in the afternoon. Remainder of the
day is free to explore places like Xi'an's city walls, the Forest of Stelae or the Muslim
Quarter.
Tang Dynasty music and dance show
Meals: B, L and a special Dumpling Banquet and Tang
court dance and music show at
Sha'anxi Theater.
November 13/Day 10 XI'AN/ CHONGQING/ DAZU
AM: Private transfer to the airport for flight to
Chongqing.
Reclining Buddha at Dazu
PM: Arrive at Chongqing. Leisurely drive through
ancient Yangtze River Valley
hamlets to Dazu Grotto sculptures (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Dazu is home to more
than a thousand carvings representing Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian
beliefs. After your visit, you will transfer to the Dazu Hotel, your lodging this
evening.
Meals: B, L, D
November 14/Day 11 DAZU/ CHENGDU
Sculpted figures at Dazu
AM: Continue visiting Baoding Shan to visit the second
cave, home of new discoveries and the impressive recumbent
Buddha.
PM: Private escorted drive to Chengdu (about 4 hours). Arrive at the unique Tibet Hotel in
late afternoon.
Hot Pot!
EVENING: Enjoy a Sichuan style Hot Pot Dinner.
Meals: B, L, D
November 15/Day 12 PANDA BREEDING CENTER/ SANXINGDWEI MUSEUM
Panda "teenagers" at lunch
AM: We get an early start this morning for feeding time
at the Panda Breeding Research, just north of Chengdu. See
both Giant and Red pandas at play!
1500 year-old+ brass faces
PM: Private escorted tour to Sanxingdwei Museum,
home of large Bronze
images of deities, lively human figures, fantastic ritual vessels, exquisite jades, and
spirited ceramic sculptures.This museum is a hidden treasure that most visitors do not
see!
EVENING: Sichuan Bianlian Opera at Shufang Yayun Tea House. Performance
accompanied by tea.
Meals: B, L, D
November 16/Day 13 CHENGDU
AM: Private escorted tour to Wenshu, a Buddhist temple
dating back to 1691. In the main buildings you will not only enjoy traditional Buddhist
architecture, but also more than 100 bronze Buddhist figures, most of which were cast
during the Qing Dynasty. You will also enjoy a special Buddhist Vegetarian lunch while at
the temple.
PM: At leisure to further explore Chengdu; some good options include a visit to the
beautiful gardens at People's Park or the Du Fu's Thatch Cottage (really, it is a pretty
place!).
Meals: B, L
November 17/Day 14 CHENGDU/GUILIN
AM: Transfer to the airport for morning flight to
Guilin. Once there you will be met and taken on an escorted tour city of Guilin.
The Li river from Seven Star Park
PM: Visit Seven Star Park. Explore the peaks and caves
to see the
stalagmites, stalactites and other natural formations.Private transfer to Park Hotel (4-star, in a beautiful park
setting).
Seven Star Park Cave
Meals: B, L and a special Guangxi style dinner with an
ethnic dance performance and show.
November 18/Day 15 LI RIVER CRUISE/ YANGSHUO
The beautiful and magical Li River
AM: One of the prettiest
areas in China, a tranquil cruise on Li
Jiang (Li River) is the best way to absorb the superb beauty of this area. Sail along and
pass through the fabled karst mountain landscape while you sip tea, wine and
enjoy your lunch on board.
PM: Ship disembarks at Yangshuo. After transfer to your
hotel, the remainder of your day is free to explore this magical town.
A tranquil moment on the Li River at Yangshuo
EVENING: Experience a private small boat excursion in
the evening to watch the ancient method of fishing with trained cormorants--this is
unforgettable!
A man and his cormorant!
Meals: B, L
November 19/Day 16 YANGSHUO
Today you have free to enjoy this scenic city and
surrounding area at your leisure. Hikers will love the walk to the top of Moon Hill,
especially for the sunset, while others may like the butterfly sanctuary, shopping on
Pantao Road, or simply wandering amidst the karst landscape that is everywhere you look.
Moon Hill at sunset
Meals: B
November 20/Day 17 YANGSHUO/GUILIN TO SHANGHAI
AM: Private transfer to the Guilin airport for a late
morning flight to Shanghai.
PM: Arrive at Shanghai at around 1:10pm. Private escorted tour to Shanghai
Museum, home to the best collection of public art in China.
Bustling, cosmopolitan Shanghai
EVENING: Enjoy a farewell Shanghai-style banquet at
a Shanghai landmark
restaurant--a great meal to end a
great trip! Private transfer to hotel afterward. Stop at
The Bund and Waterfront Park of Shanghai to enjoy the fantastic night view.
Meals: B, L, D
November 21/Day 18 RETURN TO US WEST COAST
AM: Private transfer to the airport to board return
flight to the US, where you will arrive the same morning you left (you gotta love time
zones!). This will give you the whole weekend to organize your photos, shopping and
memories before showing them to your family and friends on Thanksgiving!
Meals: B
Thanks for joining us on this very special
adventure!
Trip price includes:
Airfare from Seattle, Los Angeles or San
Francisco
to Beijing and return to US
from Shanghai,
All lodging (four star or best available),
Special cultural shows as listed,
39 meals (as noted, including special meals such as Peking Duck, the Dumpling
Banquet and Sichuan Hotpot),
All internal Chinese airfare (Beijing to Xian, Xian to Chongqing, Chengdu to
Guilin and Guilin to Shanghai),
All listed excursions,
All entrance fees,
All transfers and transportation (land and water),
A detailed trip information package with maps and supporting documentation, and
The services of a bilingual guide throughout the trip.
Trip Prices, per person, double occupancy (dependent on final group size):
6-9
$3995
10+
$3375
15 (max)
$3050
Single supplement, if you want your own room throughout: $550
Not included in trip price:
Chinese entrance visa processing (approximately $100--we can help you get this
done painlessly),
Tips for guides, host, drivers, waitresses, hotel staff, etc.
Personal purchases such as souvenirs, handicrafts, snacks and alcoholic beverages.
Meals not included (as noted in the itinerary),
Optional excursions such as the Beijing excursion to the Fenghai Tomb and Sackler
Museum,
Chinese airport tax for domestic flights (totaling approximately $15),
Chinese departure tax ($30 per person),
Trip insurance (highly recommended--not for
things that CCA can control, but for those things no one can!). We
recommend CSA--click below for an online quote:
We look
forward to traveling in China with you--please send us an
email for more information or to reserve your space!
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Copper
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