11 Days / 10 Nights

Day 1 Fri: Depart North America
Depart from Los Angeles early this morning on board Asiana Airlines for Beijing via Seoul. Relax and enjoy the excellent service for which this airline is renowned.

Day 2 Sat: Arrive Beijing
Arrive this afternoon in Beijing the capital of the People’s Republic of China, which is over 3,000 years old. You are welcomed at the airport and escorted to BEIJING GRAND CHANG AN HOTEL Afternoon is at leisure.

Day 3 Sun: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Summer Palace
Start your tour this morning with visit to the Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world and the Forbidden City, the 250-acre palace containing more than 9,000 rooms. Closed to the common people for centuries, it was only opened to the public in 1949. Later, explore the Summer Palace, the retreat of China’s royal families for over 2,000 years and enjoy your cruise on the shimmering waters of Kunming Lake. Tonight you will enjoy a traditional Peking Duck dinner. (BLD)

Day 4 Mon: Great Wall Excursion
Embark on your day excursion to the Great wall, stopping enroute at the iconic Beijing 2008 Olympic Center, the Bird’s Nest & Water Cube for photography opportunity. The highlight of your stay in this ancient capital is a visit to the Great Wall. It is easy to see why the Great Wall, built 2,300 years ago and extending 3,750 miles, can be seen by astronauts from space! You will also visit the Ming Tombs, including a nice walk on the Sacred Way, which was regarded as the formal entrance to the Tombs. Also visit the Tomb of Emperor Zhudi, founder of the Forbidden City. Evening enjoy cultural show. (BLD)

Day 5 Tue: Temple of Heaven & Hutong Tour
Morning visit the Temple of Heaven, possibly the country’s most popular symbol. It was believed to be the closest place to heaven and was where the emperors would communicate with the gods. You will tour some of Beijing’s thousands of hutongs, or ancient city alleys. The hutongs were built as part of a city building plan that followed the etiquette systems of the Zhou dynasty, which had specific protocols regarding how residential areas should be set up. (BL)

Day 6 Wed: Beijing / Xian - Big Wild Goose Pagoda & Banpo Neolithic Museum
This morning fly to Xian, once the largest city in the world. Xian was the national capital for eleven Chinese dynasties and a major link between Asia and Europe. You will be met and transferred to XIAN AURUM INTERNATIONAL HOTEL. Afternoon visit the Big Wide Goose Pagoda Temple, regarded as the landmark of Xian and the Banpo Neolithic Museum, a living village site of Chinese primogenitors of 20000-8000 years ago when China was at Neolithic Age. Tonight enjoy Dumpling Dinner. (BLD)

Day 7 Thu: Terra Cotta Warriors
Xian captured the interest of the world in 1974 with the discovery of the astonishing third-century BC burial sites of the first emperor to unite China, Qin Shi Huangdi. Visit the archaeological site to see thousands of Terra Cotta Warriors, which have been standing guard over the Imperial Tomb for 2,000 years. Also visit Shan’xi Provincial Historical Museum. In the evening, enjoy a Tang dynasty dinner show. (BLD)

Day 8 Fri: Xian / Shanghai
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, “the Paris of the East”—China’s most westernized and largest city. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to GALAXY HOTEL. Afternoon drive along the famous Bund, the wide, tree-lined avenue along the Huangpo River and the former “Wall Street” of foreign powers. Later visit Xintiandi, famous shopping, eating and entertainment district of Shanghai. (BL)

Day 9 Sat: Shanghai Sightseeing
Your morning tour of Shanghai includes a visit to Yu Yuan Garden and the Temple of the Jade Buddha. Afternoon is at leisure. Later, enjoy a performance by famous Chinese acrobats.(BLD)

Day 10 Sun - Zhujiajiao Watertown & Jade Buddha Temple
Enjoy your morning visit to Zhujiajiao, a water village on the outskirts of Shanghai, which was formed about 1,700 years ago. Archaeological findings dating back 5,000 years have also been found. 36 stone bridges and numerous rivers line Zhujiajiao, and thousands of ancient buildings still line the riverbanks today. Many centuries-old stone buildings are home to residents today, as they were for many dynasties in the past. This afternoon visit the Jade Buddha Temple. Founded in 1882 with two Jade Buddha statues imported from Myanmar by sea. These were a sitting Buddhaand a smaller reclining Buddha representing Buddha’s death. The temple now also contains a much larger reclining Buddha made of marble, donated from Singapore. (BL)

Day 11 Mon: Shanghai / North America
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight for back home. (B)