Tripology

When you arrive in Shanghai, you will be met by a guide and transferred to your hotel. You have the rest of the evening free.

Performing Arts

Shanghai Acrobats (this is dependent on your flight arrival time).

Sightseeing

Shanghai - The east meets the west city. This historic home of the European and American headquarters in China is still witnessed by the historic Bund.

Sightseeing

Today we will start the day with a trip to the gorgeous classic Chinese garden, the Yu Yuan Gardens. This provides an excellent example of the Chinese sense of beauty and their environments of serenity. The exit of this garden goes directly into a major shopping area of Shanghai. The area is complete with shops, markets and a Classic Tea House with a zig-zag bridge. To give you an idea of how westernized Shanghai has become, this section of Shanghai is called, China town. After lunch,you willbe taken tothe world-class Shanghai Art Museum. This fantastic museum boasts a number of quality exhibits including an ancient coin collection and an ethnic minority exhibitwhich features their costumes, masks, and various implements and tools.After dinner we will take you then to see the Bund, which is particularly beautiful at night. B, L, D.

Performing Arts

The famous Peace Hotel Jazz Band (in the Bund area)

Commercial Flight

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Guilin.

Sightseeing

You will be met by a guide and transferred to your hotel. After lunch you will be taken on a half day tour where you will see Elephant Trunk Hill, Fubo Hill, and the natural beauty of the Reed Flute Caves. B, L, D.

Sightseeing

Guilin : This is one of the most beautiful areas on the face of the earth. The fantasy-shaped mountains, the beautiful river and beautiful caves all combine to make Guilin a delight to the eyes

River or Barge Cruise

We will take you on the 3-4 hour Li Jiang River Cruise. This is one of the most beautiful areas in the whole world, showing the magnificent limestone mountains rising along the river banks, usually shrouded in clouds and catching a glimpse of the people who live along the riverbanks. Cormorant fishermen still use these unusual birds to catch their daily fish.

Sightseeing

As the cruise ends, you will disembark in Yangshuo, a quaint village with a very nice street market. You are very close to the beautiful mountains and you can go into the countryside to see the beautiful vistas. You can take a bicycle ride or a drive through these fantasy-shaped mountains. We will check you into your hotel in Yangshuo. B, L.

Performing Arts

Enjoy the spectacular show Impressions with over 600 performers, live animals, and spectacular lighting effects all performed on the Li River with the majestic limestone mountains as the back drop.

Commercial Flight

The morning is free to enjoy the scenery in Yangshuo. Today you will be driven to the Guilin airport for your flight to Beijing.

Hotel

Upon your arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. B, L.

Sightseeing

Beijing - The capital of China, where many miraculous structures have been built for the glory of the Emperor! This city is rich in history and culture. Here you will experience China from the last 500 years of history to modern times.

Sightseeing

This morning you will go to TianAnmen Square and then to the Forbidden City. In addition to seeing the buildings and grounds of the Emperor's palace, you will also see the Emperor's clock collection and the Qing Dynasty Jewelry, Robes and Relics collection (which Westerners rarely see).

Shopping

After lunch you will visit the 2nd Hand Street Market. This market is only open on Saturdays and Sundays and is where the Beijingers shop. You will find a wide array of items from jade, jewelry, art, cloth, chopsticks, furniture, etc. If you know how to bargain you can get deals that are dimes or even pennies on the dollar. If the 2nd Hand Street Market is closed you will be taken to what is popularly called the Knockoff Mall which features knock-offs of many name brands. This is typically where many Beijingers and foreign residents shop. B, L, D.

Performing Arts

Beijing Opera.

Food and Dining

Dinner : Beijing Duck.

Sightseeing

The day begins with a tour of a Chinese Hutong. This begins with a rickshaw ride through the old neighborhood, then a short walking tour into the narrow streets of the Hutong. You will be able to visit the home of a family who lives there; feel free to ask any questions. This is the traditional housing in old Beijing that was generally four small houses surrounding a court area. The Hutong has been home to both the rich and the poor. These quaint dwellings are disappearing in the continual modernization of China. In the afternoon you will be driven approximately three hours outside of Beijing to a special part of the Great Wall at Jin Shan Ling. This is an interesting drive out of the city. You will pass smaller Chinese villages, farms and countryside before you reach the mountains and the Great Wall. The ability to stay overnight on the Great Wall is a relatively new thing. This experience is not generally offered on most tours, however we would like to provide you with a more exciting and unique experience. This part of the Great Wall has some of the most dramatic angles and the least restored portions in the area. You should be able to take some particularly striking photos of this intriguing portion of the wall. There are some stairs to climb to get up to this site and the experience requires a little more effort than some portions, but we believe you will find it rewarding. You will have plenty of time to take pictures and walk around before and during the sunset. After sunset a local family will prepare dinner for you. This experience is a little more expensive, but is a unique experience that you will remember for the rest of your life. B,L,D.

Sightseeing

You will wake up one of the Wonders of the World! It is certainly a majestic sight!

Hotel

After you have finished with your time there you will be transferred back to your hotel in Beijing. B, L.

Sightseeing

Today you will experience the Temple of Heaven, which is the site where the emperor prayed and communed with the gods. This is a magnificent temple that is surrounded by beautiful gardens. The rest of the day is free. B, L.

Sightseeing

Visit Lotus Lane in the Hutong Bar Street area (a festively lit strand of bars, restaurants, and shops on the lake in the Hutong District).

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to the United States with many wonderful memories. B.