China Adventure

March 7 - 20, 2012
14 Days and 12 Nights
$3,499 pp. Double Occupancy, Single Supplement $425



















The TE is pleased to offer this China trip at this fantastic price. The trip includes R/T flights, 5 star or superior 4 star hotels, all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, tours and admissions as indicated in itinerary, taxes at time of printing, and gratuities for guides and drivers. The TE will even include the $140 visa fee with no extra service charge. All you have to do is provide passport photos and fill out the provided application; we will do everything else. The TE has only been able to reserve space for a small group. We can only hold the space until December 30th. If you are interested, please respond immediately.

Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China, owns high prestige not only due to the renowned Great Wall, Forbidden City, and the 2008 Olympic Games, but also for its long history and profound culture. Shanghai is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in China, with a prime trading position and enticing business prospects. Xi'an, the capital for multiple dynasties, has the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, which are one of the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. It is a sight not to be missed. Guilin's picturesque scenery typically represents the real south of China.

DAY: 1 - March 7th
Flight from New York to Beijing.

DAY: 2 - March 8th
Arrival in Beijing in the evening. Transportation to hotel.

DAY: 3 - March 9th
The first full day in Beijing will be free to rest from the long flight, and to start to explore and shop for bargains. Our hotel is centrally located, and it will be easy to reach some of the major sights. Included are dinner and an acrobatic show in the evening. (B.D.S.)

DAY: 4 - March 10th
The tour of Beijing will include a visit to Tiananmen Square, one of the largest public squares in the world. Next, you will visit the Forbidden City, which was the imperial palace for Ming and Qing Emperors for 500 years. UNESCO cited "The Imperial Palaces provide outstanding examples of the greatest palatial architectural ensembles in China". The Temple of Heaven is also a delightful place to visit. There will be a stop at a pearl factory with a pearl and Jade demonstration. There will also be a lesson on traditional Chinese Medicine. (B)

DAY: 5 - March 11th
Today we will visit the Great Wall of China. A world heritage site, it is considered to be one of the new "Seven Wonders of the World". In addition, you will visit the Ming Tombs to admire the magnificent tomb construction and culture. There will also be free time to shop and explore. (B)

DAY: 6 - March 12th
In the morning, you'll board the high speed train to Shanghai. It's a five-hour train journey and you will be exhilarated by the experience. Upon arrival, you will visit the Jade Buddha Temple. The temple got its name from the two jade statues of Sakyamuni. One of them was carved out of a single piece of white jade weighing one ton. (B D)

DAY: 7 - March 13th
Visit the Yu Garden and old bazaar. The garden is a classical Qing Dynasty garden with over 30 pavilions linked by a maze of corridors and bridges over ponds. Then visit Shanghai Museum which houses 110,000 historical objects and 430,000 reference pieces. The museum is located on People's Square where you can take a leisurely walk. We will stop at the Bund to see the amazing skyline of Shanghai, and there will be time to shop and explore the famous Nan Jing road. There will also be a visit to a silk factory where you will be introduced to the Chinese tradition and history of silk making. ( B )

DAY: 8 - March 14th
Full Day excursion to Suzhou. Suzhou is considered the "Venice of China". Included will be a boat ride on the canals and admissions to the Master of the Nets Garden and Hanshan Temple. Built in 541 BC by He Lv, the King of Wu, Suzhou is the birthplace of Wu culture. The 8,483 km2 city is bustling with historical remnants and culture, thus placing Suzhou third behind Beijing and Xi'an for its historical and cultural significance. It has been named as one of China's top 24 historical and cultural cities, and is only one of the four tourist cities with environmental protection (the other three being Beijing, Hangzhou and Guilin). In 1997, Suzhou caught the world's attention by having its classic gardens placed on the UNESCO list as a World Cultural Heritage site. (B)

DAY: 9 - March 15tb
After breakfast, fly to Xi'an city. In the afternoon you will take a walk on the City Wall. One can even rent a bike for a small fee and ride on the wall if you are up to it. This is the only complete ancient city wall in existence in China. Then visit Great Wild Goose Pagoda. As the symbol of the old-line Xian, Great Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayan Pagoda) is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists. (B D)

DAY: 10 - March 16th
Visit the world famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses are one of the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum in Lintong, Xian, Shaanxi Province. It is a sight not to be missed by any visitor to China. Upon ascending to the throne at the age of thirteen (in 246 BC), Qin Shi Huang, later the first Emperor of all China, began working on his mausoleum. It took 11 years to finish. It is speculated that many buried treasures and sacrificial objects were needed to accompany the emperor in his afterlife. A group of peasants uncovered some pottery while digging for a well nearby the royal tomb in 1974. It caught the attention of archeologists immediately. They came to Xian in droves to study and to extend the digs. They had established beyond doubt that these artifacts were associated with the Qin Dynasty (211-206 BC). Also included will be the fabulous Tang Dynasty show with dinner. (B, L, D)

DAY: 11 - March 17th
After breakfast fly to Guilin. On arrival, we visit the Elephant Trunk Hill. The shape of the hill is just like a huge elephant drinking water from the river with its trunk, thus its name. Next is a visit to Reed Flute Cave. The cave got its name from the verdant reeds growing outside it, with which people make flutes. (B & D)

DAY: 12 - March 18th
Today you will enjoy the Li River cruise, the highlight of Guilin. The river trip is over eighty kilometers (52 miles) long and will take an estimated four to five hours, including lunch on board. The eye-catching landscape and countryside scenery will never disappoint you. Feel free to explore and shop in Yangshuo at the end of the cruise. There will also be a visit to see traditional Chinese paintings. In the evening, it should be possible to visit the famous Guilin night market. At the night market, you can find all types of clothing, consumer goods, leather products, artist products, luggage and bags, jewelry and accessories, and so much more. You'll also find a lot of bootlegged goods, like knock off name brands. This night market is a bargain shopper paradise. (B, L & D)

DAY: 13 - March 19th
Excursion to Longji's terraced fields. The fields offer some of the most fantastic scenery in Guilin and China. Beautiful when the sun reflects in the water of the paddy fields and glowing with yellow ears when the harvest is ripe, Longji (Dragon's Back) is a feast for the eyes. The Longji Terraced Fields are located in Longsheng County about an hour and a half from Guilin. The rice terraces are built into the hillsides, and look like great chains or ribbons as they wind round the contours in tiered bands. In some places there are terraces from the bottom to the top of the hillside. This ingenious irrigation method makes the best use of the scarce arable land and water resources in this mountainous area. There are about 66 square kilometers of terraced fields in southeast Longsheng. The Terraces were first built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and were completed in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) by the Zhuang people.

Evening flight to Shanghi. The hotel will be near the airport so we can get some rest before the flight home. (B, L)

DAY: 14 - March 20th
After breakfast transfer to the airport for the direct flight home.



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