Tripology

Commercial Flight

Today you will depart for your flight to China.

You will arrive in Beijing, where you will be met by you guide and transferred to your hotel. Meals on the plane.

Sightseeing

Today you will experience the Temple of Heaven, which is the site where the emperor would go to pray and commune with the gods. This is a magnificent temple that is surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Shopping

In the afternoon we will take you to the 2nd Hand Street Market. This market is where the Beijingers shop.You will find a wide array of items from Jade, jewelry, art, cloth, chopsticks, furniture, etc. etc. If you know how to bargain you can get deals that are dimes or even pennies on the dollar. B, L.

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 poor and the rich. These quaint dwellings are disappearing in the continual modernization of China. (If you have a group of 10 or more we can arrange for you to have lunch prepared by a local family in the Hutong). After lunch 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). B, L, D

Performing Arts

Beijing Opera.

Food and Dining

Dinner : Beijing Duck.

Sightseeing

Today you will visit the Summer Palace which was built for the Emperors of the Ming Dynasty. The Emperors used to relax on the lake and escape from the summer heat in Beijing. This was built by the Dowager Empress, using funds which were supposed to be used to build a navy to defeat foreign invaders. As a mock tribute to this purpose, she had a concrete boat built on the side of the man-made lake.

Sightseeing

Then after lunch we will take you to a special part of the Great Wall at Jinshanling, where you can stay overnight in a guard tower! This portion of the Wall is not offered to the tourist on most general tours, we are offering this site to those who want an adventurous Great Wall experience, which includes going to the site where you will see few or no other Westerners on the wall and you can enjoy a home-cooked dinner by your Chinese hosts! You drive three hours outside of Beijing, passing out of the metropolitan area, past smaller villages, interesting farmland and animals and then into the mountainous area. Then you come to the small set of buildings below the Great Wall at Jinshangling. There you will meet your hosts. They will take you to the Great Wall and show you the options of where you will sleep. You can then explore and walk along the wall. Some of our clients have experienced being the only ones on the wall for hours (or you will see very few others). You should be able to take some particularly striking photos of this intriguing portion of the wall without hundreds of people on it. Later you hosts will cook for you a home-cooked meals with you can eat either on the Great Wall or down below in their home. Your hosts will then set you up with sleeping bags and a small mat on the guard tower floor (or if you prefer, there is an enclosed room that you can sleep in. You will be able to enjoy sunset and sunrise on the Great Wall. This requires a little more effort then some portions but we believe you will find it very rewarding. This experience is a little more expensive, but is a unique experience that you remember for the rest of your life. B, L, D.

Sightseeing

You will wake up on one of the Wonders of the World! It is certainly the longest of the Wonders. You can spend more time enjoying the wall. Then we will drive you back to Beijing. Then we will take you a grocery store where you buy some snacks, foods, favorite beverages for your train.

Train

Then we will take you to the train station for your 12-hour ride to Xi'an. Soft Sleeper Deluxe (4 beds to a room and bathrooms at the end of the hall).

Hotel

In the morning you will arrive in Xi'an. There your guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

Sightseeing

After you have had a chance to refresh we will give you a tour of the city, including the old city wall (which 4 chariots could ride abreast) the drum tower and the bell tower. Afterlunchyou will go to the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, which has an extensive collection of artifacts from the various Chinese Dynasties in order, from the oldest to the most recent. B, L, D. DeFangchang Dumplimg Dinner.

Museums

Today you will visit what has been called the 8th Wonder of the World the Terra Cotta Soldiers Museum. Oftentimes, one of the farmers who discovered the site is actually there. You will also visit the Terra Cotta Soldiers Replica Factory. You can actually purchase a genuine looking Terra Cotta Replica constructed at a variety of sizes including full size. This unique factory and store also offers many other quality products including silk rugs, jewelry, the famous Xi'zan 3-color pottery and some beautiful furniture with laminated jade artwork. The Terra Cotta Soldiers Museum itself, has 3 major pits where various types of figurines were uncovered. No two soldiers look exactly alike. The museum also has a 360-degree theatre.

Hotel

Then we will return you to your hotel. B, L.

Performing Arts

Watch the Wild Goose Pagoda water show. This free show is the largest of its kind in China.

Commercial Flight

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

Hotel

There your guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

Relaxation

The rest of the day is free to allow you to adjust to the altitude. B.

Sightseeing

Today we will take you to the Jokhang Temple, Bharkhuo Street and the Tibetan Quarter of the town.

Food and Dining

Dinner will be at the Crazy Yak Restaurant. B, L, D.

Sightseeing

You will visit the incredible Potala Palace in the morning. (It was the government headquarters, the center of the religion and the residence of the Dali Lamas all in one. This is one of the most impressive structures ever built. It is literally a city set on a hill.) After lunch we will take you to the Sera Monastery, and if we are fortunate we can see the Monks debate. B, L, D.

Sightseeing

This morning we will take you to Norblinka (the Dali Lama Summer Palaces). We will also take you to some interesting shops where you can see the local crafts of the Tibetan people.

Commercial Flight

Afterwards we will take you to the airport for your flight to Chengdu.

Hotel

You will be met by you guide and transferred to your hotel. B, L.

Performing Arts

Chinese Teahouse and entertainments.

Commercial Flight

This morning we take you to the Panda Station, where you can experience the Pandas. Afterwards we will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Guilin.

Hotel

You will be met by you guide and transferred to your hotel. B

Sightseeing

Today you will have a general city tour including Elephant Trunk Hill and Fubo Hill. Then you will enjoy the natural beauty of the Reed Flute Caves. B, L, D.

Spa/Wellness

The world famous Guilin Foot-Massage.

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. Youcan take a bicycle ride or a drive through these fantasy-shaped mountains.

Hotel

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.

Sightseeing

The morning is free to enjoy the scenery in Yangshuo.

Commercial Flight

Then you will be driven through the beautiful countryside to the Guilin airport for your flight to Shanghai.

Hotel

You will be met by you guide and transferred to your hotel.

Sightseeing

Once settled we will take you tothe world-class Shanghai Art Museum. This fantastic museum has a number of quality exhibits including an ancient coin collection and on the fourth floor an ethnic minority exhibitwhich features their costumes, masks, and various implements and tools. We will take you to dinner and then you can enjoy the Bund, which is magically transformed by the evening lights. B, L, D.

Performing Arts

Enjoy the Historic Peace Hotel Jazz Band in the Bund Area.

Sightseeing

The day begins with a tour of the classic Yu Yuan Gardens, which is a gorgeous example of a classic Chinese Garden. This area exits into the main shopping center of Shanghai. Shanghai is such an East-Meets-West city that they call this area "China Town."

Commercial Flight

Afterwards you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Chongqing.

Sightseeing

Upon arrival your guide will meet you and take you to the Three Gorges Museum, which will give you an interesting overview of the cruise you will be taking.

River or Barge Cruise

Then after a delicious Sichuan Dinner you will be transferred to the East King Cruise Ship, with Orient Cruise Line. The ship leaves the harbor in the evening. (as we will be on the move during lunchtime, we suggest that lunch can be individually obtained in the airport or by snacking) B, L, D.

River or Barge Cruise

The Yangtze River Cruise continues (The Ghost Temple, Shendong stream and beautiful scenery.) B, L, D.

River or Barge Cruise

You will visit the Three Gorges Dam project and then reboard the ship for the remainder of the cruise.

Commercial Flight

The cruise ship arrives at Yichang where your guide will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Shanghai.

Hotel

You will arrive in the early evening where you will be met by you guide and transferred to your hotel. B, L.

The morning is free. You will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to the USA with many wonderful memories. B