Day 1: Overnight Flight

Day 2: Beijing, China - Tour Begins

Join us on a tour of one of the world’s most fascinating countries. In China, experience the traditional bustle of Beijing, the ancient splendor of Xian, the tranquility of Guilin, and the modern cityscape of Shanghai. Your adventure begins in Beijing, the vibrant capital city.

Day 3: Beijing

Ease your way into the local culture as your tour manager teaches you a few key phrases of the native language. Next, contemplate history with a visit to Tiananmen Square, one of the largest public spaces in the world. Then, visit the Forbidden City, an awe-inspiring palace complex that has been home to 24 Chinese emperors for almost 500 years. Take a special tour of the Treasure Hall, a section normally not open to the general public. Next, savor a traditional dim sum lunch. This style of meal consists of various small dishes served in succession. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at a world-famous Peking duck restaurant.

Day 4: The Great Wall

China’s legendary landmark, the Great Wall, is yours to discover. During your visit, walk along a portion of this 3,700 mile marvel! Visit jade and cloisonné workshops to learn how local artists create these ancient masterpieces. Feel the excitement of the 2008 Summer Olympics when you view the Olympic Green where you have the opportunity to take photos of two famous structures - the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. Tonight, have fun at a traditional Beijing hot pot dinner.

Day 5: Beijing

Begin your day with a visit to the Summer Palace, considered a masterpiece of Chinese landscape artist design. Explore a pearl factory and learn about the different varieties of these underwater gems. Visit the Beijing Zoo, home of the famous pandas. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Perhaps you will decide to explore the cutting edge 798 Dashanzi Art District. In the evening, you could choose to watch a traditional Peking Opera and explore the Donghuamen night market.

Day 6: Beijing - Xian

Explore the world-famous Temple of Heaven, an ornate sanctuary where Chinese Emperors worshiped their gods. Learn tai chi amidst the locals doing their morning exercises or watch them playing cards or board games. Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime rickshaw tour through the Hutongs, the narrow streets of ancient Beijing. 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. Next, meet a Chinese calligraphy master and learn how to write using this ancient art. A short flight brings you to China’s interior city of Xian.

Day 7: Xian

Your day begins with a visit to the excavation site of the Terracotta Warriors. This vast clay army, 8,000 strong, was created to guard one of China’s emperors in the afterlife. Be amazed by the sheer numbers of them and their detailed features! Visit one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world, the classical Wild Goose Pagoda. This impressive structure was built during the Tang Dynasty to house Buddhist treasures. Afterwards, explore the bustling Muslim Quarter where Chinese Muslims have lived for hundreds of years. Tonight, enjoy a traditional Xian dumpling banquet.

Day 8: Xian

Begin your day with a visit to the Shaanxi Museum where you can view bronze wares, pottery and ancient murals. Visit the Xian city wall, the largest and best-preserved in China. Take a stroll or perhaps rent bicycles or golf carts to navigate the 8-mile loop. Savor a lunch of Xian’s most celebrated local dish. The remainder of your day is at leisure. Tonight, you may choose to enjoy an opulent Tang Dynasty dinner and show.

Day 9: Xian - Guilin

Fly to the beautiful city of Guilin. Visit the Reed Flute Caves with its wonderful underground scenery. Enjoy traditional Guilin rice noodles for lunch. Stop at Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of the city of Guilin.

Day 10: Guilin

Today you have a full day at leisure to relax or explore Guilin on your own. You may choose to take an optional excursion which includes a cruise on the Li River where you’ll admire the landscapes that have inspired artists and poets for centuries, followed by a visit to Yangshuo’s bustling market to bargain with the locals for souvenirs.

Day 11: Guilin - Shanghai

Depart for Shanghai, a bustling trade port and the economic heart of China, whose futuristic skyline will leave you speechless. Enjoy lunch at a celebrated restaurant known for its xiao long bao soup dumplings. Explore Old Town’s narrow streets and relax in the tranquility of the Yuyuan Garden. Enjoy a locally-guided tour of the waterfront district known as the Bund which runs along the western bank of the Huangpu River. Famous for its gorgeous colonial buildings, you’ll feel as though you have stepped back into 19th-century Europe as you wander among the impressive Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture. Tonight, take in the energy and excitement of the Chinese acrobatic show.

Day 12: Shanghai - Zhujiajiao - Shanghai

Enjoy a full day excursion to the water village of Zhujiajiao, an ancient city located on the banks of Dianshan Lake. After more than one thousand years, Ming and Qing dynasty buildings still stand and 36 ancient stone bridges cross the canal that runs through the center of town. Enjoy a boat ride on the canal and have time to shop. Tonight you may choose to dine at the French Concession and enjoy an evening cruise on the Huangpu River.

Day 13: Shanghai

Discover the treasures of the Shanghai Museum, home to priceless artifacts that span China’s rich history. Visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center and view the centerpiece of the museum, a vast scale model of urban Shanghai as it is projected to look in 2020. Watch a video that paints a picture of the Shanghai of the future. Explore the shops, galleries and cafes of the Tian Zi Fang district. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Tonight, bid farewell to China at a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers.

Day 14: Shanghai - Tour Ends

Your tour ends in Shanghai.