Highlights....
The Great Wall • Peking Opera
Beijing Zoo • Rickshaw Tour

Departs April 21, 2009

9 Days • 15 Meals:
7 Breakfasts • 4 Lunches • 4 Dinners

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Day 2: Arrive Beijing, China - Tour Begins
Experience one of the most fascinating cities in the world, Beijing. Over the next several days, you will experience the beauty and intrigue of this ancient culture.

Day 3: Beijing
LANGUAGE DISCOVERY: Today, your Tour Manager will help you discover the origin and history of the language(s) you will experience on your tour along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals. Start your journey into Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China, with a sightseeing tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Today breakfast, lunch and dinner will be included.

Day 4: Beijing
This morning visit the Summer Palace, which is ranked amongst the most noted classical gardens in the world. In 1998, it was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. After lunch, the remainder of the day is at leisure. Tonight, a delicious dumpling dinner is included. Today breakfast, lunch and dinner will be included.

Day 5: The Great Wall
No visit to China would be complete without seeing The Great Wall. Behold this awesome site and have the chance to walk along a portion of this 3,700-mile marvel. Travel through the Valley of the Ming Tombs, where you will walk along the Sacred Way. Enjoy a time-honoured and favourite pastime of the Chinese when you go kite-flying along the Sacred Way. Your dinner this evening, a famous Peking duck dinner, is followed by a special treat: the Peking Opera show. Today breakfast, lunch and dinner will be included.

Day 6: Beijing
This morning visit the Temple of Heaven where the emperor came twice each year to thank the gods for the good harvest and to pray for the new harvest. You will also see the locals doing their morning Tai Chi exercises, playing cards or board games. This evening you may choose an optional tour to the world-famous Beijing Acrobatic Show. Today breakfast will be included.

Day 7: Beijing
Enjoy a full day of leisure to relax or independently explore this wonderful city. You may take an optional tour to Xian*, which includes a visit to the Terra-Cotta Warriors Museum. Today breakfast will be included.

Day 8: Beijing
This morning, enjoy a visit to the Beijing Zoo, home of the famous Pandas. Afterwards you have the opportunity to experience ancient Beijing on a rickshaw tour through its narrow streets and alleys. With help from an interpreter, you will learn about a local family’s history and way of life when you share lunch with them in their Hutong home. They will also teach you the art of traditional dumpling making! This afternoon you may enjoy one last walk through the bustling streets of the city before joining your fellow travellers for a farewell dinner. Today breakfast, lunch and dinner will be included.

Day 9: Beijing - Tour Ends
Your tour ends in Beijing. On your return flight home you will cross the International Dateline. Today breakfast will be included.

Experience It!
The Peking Opera

The Peking Opera of China is a national treasure with a history of 200 years. It is a synthesis of stylized action, singing, dialogue and mime, acrobatic fighting and dancing to represent a story or depict different characters and their feelings. In Peking opera there are four main types of roles: male, young female, painted face male, and clown (male or female). The characters may be loyal or treacherous, beautiful or ugly, good or bad, with their images being vividly manifested. The repertoire of Peking opera is mainly engaged in fairy tales of preceding dynasties, important historical events, emperors, ministers and generals. The performance is accompanied by a tune played on wind instruments, percussion instruments and stringed instruments. The costumes are graceful, magnificent, elegant and brilliant, most of which are made in handcrafted embroidery. As the traditional Chinese patterns are adopted, the costumes are of a high aesthetic value. Join your fellow passengers for an incredible performance at the Peking Opera.

Please Note: To complete your vacation, we include roundtrip airport-to-hotel transfers when purchasing Collette airfare with your tour. If you have arranged for your own air, we are pleased to provide you the option of purchasing these transfers. Please note that all transfers will leave at pre-scheduled times. *The optional tour to Xian must be purchased a minimum of 45 days prior to departure and is non-refundable within 45 days of departure. Passport information is required at the time of booking this option. Internal flights that are purchased will be ticketed and distributed on tour by your Tour Manager. The cost of this option is 558.00 CAD per person. Should you decided to book this option inside of 45 days of departure, the cost will be approx. 658.00 CAD and is subject to availability. Order of days in China may change. Many dinners are Western. Many activities in this itinerary include walking on uneven terrain, or require significant walking at times. Some of the unique experiences, such as visiting historical areas, means accessing locations by foot because motorcoaches are restricted. If you require a walker or wheelchair, or have difficulty walking, you may not be able to access some of these areas and may want to consider an alternate Collette vacation. Our travel counsellors can provide additional information or assistance to help you determine the perfect trip for you. A Visa is required for this tour. The approximate cost is 100 CAD. You are strongly urged to contact the appropriate consulate for details.