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DAY 1: ARRIVE BEIJING Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be met by your guide and driver and transferred to the Grand Hyatt Beijing (2-Bedroom Family Suite) for a four-night stay. Centrally located in the heart of Beijing, suites have floor-to-ceiling windows for city gazing and a glass-walled "shower tower" for the ultimate in relaxation. A separate sitting area and large kitchenette makes this an ideal arrangement for families, as the suite feels like an urban apartment. The hotel also boasts the largest indoor hotel swimming pool in China, nestled in a tropical theme setting with spa amenities. Enjoy the rest of your evening at leisure. DAY 2: BEIJING Beijing, which means Northern Capital, is one of the great cities of the world, and offers a magnificent insight into China's past and future. Depart this morning with your driver and guide for a morning tour of the city, beginning with a walk through Tiananmen Square, which was built on the orders of Mao Zedong and is said to have the capacity to hold over one million people. Continue through the beautiful Gate of Heavenly Peace to enter the splendid Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was the sacred heart of the empire for 500 years and home to the Ming and Qing dynasty imperial courts. A Peking Duck lunch at the famous Quande Restaurant will be a fun way to restore some energy for an afternoon is at leisure. We suggest visiting the heated indoor pool in the basement of your hotel. (B,L) DAY 3: GREAT WALL EXCURSION Journey this morning to the superb Mutianyu section of the 2,000-year-old Great Wall. The only man-made structure visible from the moon, the Wall is China's most famous attraction and one of the few sights in the world which still consistently exceeds the expectations of visitors. The Great Wall of China stretches from the Shanhaiguan Pass on the east coast to the Gobi Desert in the west. Walk along the wall admiring the panoramic views and reflect on the enormity of the material and labor required for the construction of the Wall. It is estimated that one million people were used at different stages during the construction periods, and that thousands died building the Wall. On the way back to Beijing, stop in a local village to purchase two kites for the children. Lunch today will be Imperial cuisine at Baijia Dazhamen Imperial Restaurant: children enjoy the costumes that servers wear, which are replicas of traditional dress from the Qing Dynasty. The entire restaurant is modeled after a traditional Chinese courtyard that high-level officials once occupied. After lunch, explore the Summer Palace, a royal residence set among traditional Chinese gardens on Kunming Lake. Stroll along the famous Long Corridor and enjoy the traditional imperial architecture. Return to the hotel in the early evening. (B,L) DAY 4: BEIJING This morning, enjoy a visit to the Temple of Heaven and surrounding park. Morning is a perfect time to visit, when Beijingers practice their tai chi, ballroom dancing or other physical exercises outdoors – you can also bring the new kites to fly in the park. The Temple of Heaven itself is a magnificent example of 15th century mechanics and geometry whose design follows strict numerological symbolism. After exploring it, embark on a pedi-cab tour of the hutongs in Beijing's historic Back Lakes district. These maze-like networks of alleyways containing traditional courtyard homes were built during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty; there used to be many such neighborhoods in Beijing, but in the rush to modernize, all but a few have been torn down to make room for modern buildings. Back Lakes, named for its location behind the Forbidden City, was home to high-ranking officials during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, but after 1949 the large houses were divided to accommodate several families apiece. On this tour, you will have the opportunity to visit several homes and chat with the families who reside in them as well as learn first-hand about life in China's rapidly changing landscape. A simple but delicious lunch will be provided by the local family you visit. In the afternoon, the guide will be available to explore the Back Lakes area or accompany you on a shopping trip. (B,L) DAY 5: BEIJING – GUILIN This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Guilin, a pleasant leafy town located on the banks of the Li River. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the city for lunch at TasteMade Restaurant, which features Cantonese cuisine with a modern twist and ingredients. After lunch, check in at the Sheraton Guilin (2 Li River View Rooms) for a three-night stay. Guilin is famed throughout the world for the hilly karst landscape surrounding it, which has been immortalized in Chinese art and literature. After some time at leisure, your guide will meet you in the lobby for an evening walking tour of Guilin. Among the highlights are a visit to the outdoor pedestrian market and the downtown Waterfall Hotel, where thousands of gallons of water tumble down the back of the hotel's façade each evening. (B,L) DAY 6: YANGSHUO DAY EXCURSION Spend the morning cruising the Li River in a deluxe boat, getting a close-up view of the stunning karst formations for which Guilin is famous. Pass tranquil farming and fishing scenes and picturesque villages. After lunch onboard, disembark in Yangshuo, a bustling town surrounded by meandering rivers and limestone peaks. Walk through the cobblestone streets and browse the local street markets before exploring the countryside just outside town by bicycle or golf cart, including a visit to the home of a family where 13 generations (and counting) have lived. Return to Guilin in the evening. (B,L)*Optional show: If you have the energy and inclination, tonight you will see the Impressions show in Yangshuo. Impressions is an extraordinary outdoor performance directed by the legendary filmmaker Zhang Yimou. The show, which takes place on the Li River against a dramatic mountain backdrop, took four years to put together and features a cast of 600 performing the music and dances of local minority tribes.* *Performance is subject to cancellation due to weather conditions. Watching the show would mean a return to Guilin around 11pm, so it is a very long day for families. DAY 7: GUILIN This morning, depart with your guide and driver to the Longsheng area in the northwestern part of Guangxi Province. The area is home to a colorful mixture of ethnic minorities including the Dong, Zhuang, Yao, and Miao. The highlight of the day will be a visit to the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces, which reach into the sky to 800-meter peaks. A comfortable hour-long walk up to the top gives amazing views of what many consider to be the most spectacular rice paddies in Asia; they have been painstakingly carved out of the mountains over many centuries. (B,L) DAY 8: GUILIN - SHANGHAI This morning you will be transferred to your flight to Shanghai, where you will be met and driven to the Portman Ritz Carlton Hotel (2 Club Floor Deluxe Rooms) for a three-night stay. Shanghai, China's resurgent economic and cultural powerhouse, features a wondrous mix of elegant colonial architecture along the west bank of the river. On the eastern side, the space age post-modern skyline is a stirring testament to the transformative power of the economic reforms of the past several decades. This afternoon, you will be taken to the Yu Yuan Garden. The Garden Complex, which was built in 1577, is a delightful maze of pavilions, ponds, and grassy knolls, and it served as the basis for the famous "Willow" china pattern. While here, enjoy a traditional tea ceremony in the Yu Yuan area. In the evening, attend a performance of the famous Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe; the theater is actually conveniently located in your hotel. (B) DAY 9: SHANGHAI Start the morning early with a visit to the superb Shanghai Museum, where the collections include paintings, sculpture, bronzes and jade. After the museum, visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall to view a fascinating model of what urban Shanghai might look like in 2020. Then travel to the Pudong side of the river to the top of Jinmao Tower to see the current layout of Shanghai from the best vantage point. After lunch, drive past the famous Bund and the French Concession district before ending the day at the Chinese Folk Art Museum in the former French Embassy. Many Chinese crafts are made here, including calligraphy, weaving, and sculpture. (B,L) DAY 10: SUZHOU & LUZHI DAY EXCURSION Today's day trip takes you out of ultra-modern Shanghai for a look into China's rich artistic history. Early this morning you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the Shanghai Railway Station for your departure by rail to Suzhou, a journey of approximately one hour. Suzhou is known for its charming gardens, canals, and traditional homes. The town has 150 lovely public gardens connected by canals, arching bridges, and winding paths. Among the most famous of the gardens are the Humble Administrator's Garden, the Lingering Garden, Lion Forest Garden and the Master of Nets Garden. After visiting these and other local highlights, you will be driven to nearby Luzhi, a very different water town. Much smaller than Suzhou, Luzhi features well-preserved Ming and Qing Dynasty houses and buildings, and its intricate system of canals is connected by a number of stone bridges: the town's nickname is, in fact, "the Capital of Bridges." Alternatively, if you do not wish to visit Luzhi water town, you may visit the new I.M. Pei-designed museum in Suzhou. In the afternoon, you will return to Shanghai by private car and to your hotel. (B,L) DAY 11: DEPART SHANGHAI This morning, your bags will be picked up from the hotel 4 hours before your flight departure. Later the guide will transfer you by Maglev train to Pudong Airport. The high-speed journey will provide one final memory of your trip to China. At the airport, retrieve your bags and check in for your departure flight. (B) |