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Classic China

Antique yet up-to-the-minute, familiar yet unrecognizable, outwardly urban but quintessentially rural, conservative yet path-breaking, space-age but old-fashioned, China is a land of mesmerizing and eye-opening contradictions.
Introduction

The nation remains a wild and chaotic explosion of cultural and geographical diversity; a frenzied concoction of the old and the new, the traditional and the innovative. This is a country shrouded in mystery but eager to be explored, offering visitors an epic adventure of discovery and surprise. In recent years, China has become somewhat of a buzz word amongst travelers. Enjoy a trip to China and discover its rich and detailed history, its fascinating traditions and extreme diversity. You'll experience flavors unknown to the western world, friendly Chinese hospitality and exotic eastern architecture all rolled into one compelling adventure.

Duration
10 Days
Starting At
$1649 per person
Style
Escorted
Departures
September 2018 - November 2018
The Journey
Beijing, Xian, Shanghai
Roundtrip Flights From U.S. Included
Yes
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Tour Highlights

What's Included

Not Included

Tour Highlights

  • Visit the amazing Forbidden City, once residence of Chinese Emperors and Summer Palace
  • See the world famous archaeological site of the magnificent Terracotta Army
  • Visit the 2000-year-old Great Wall, the World’s longest man-made structure
  • Explore the classical Yuyuan Garden and the Bund Riverside, Shanghai’s popular promenade
  • Savor a famous Peking Duck Dinner with Wine

What's Included

  • Flights New York-Beijing, Shanghai-New York (other departure cities available for an additional cost)
  • 8 nights accommodations
  • Hotel taxes, fees & service charges
  • All intra-flights: Beijing-Xian & Xian-Shanghai
  • All transfers
  • 13 meals: 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners with wine
  • Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach
  • Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout
  • Services of local guides in all major cities
  • Entrance fees per itinerary

Not Included

  • Visas (if applicable)
  • Tipping – an entirely personal gesture
  • Optional activities

The Itinerary

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Day 1

Depart for China

Depart for China. Please note that your flight may depart just after midnight. Be aware, if it does, you must check in at the airport the evening prior to your departure date.

Day 2

Arrive in Beijing

Arrive in Beijing and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure to rest, relax and acclimate to the new time zone.

Overnight: Beijing

Day 3

Great Wall of China

Embark on a full-day excursion to the Great Wall of China, the longest man-made structure on Earth, spanning nearly 4,000 miles of China’s northern frontier. Stop at a local jade shop before arriving at the Great Wall. Walk along the promenades and enjoy the unrivaled scenic views of beautiful mountain passes, plateaus, and grasslands from this 7th-century defensive fortification. Afterward, savor lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. A brief photo stop at the Beijing Olympic village and then a visit with the famous Pandas at the Beijing Zoo before returning to Beijing. In the evening, your dinner will feature the famous Peking Duck with wine.

Overnight: Beijing | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

Beijing

This morning, commence a full day tour of the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. Begin at Tiananmen Square, the largest public plaza in the world. Erected in 1417 at the height of the Ming Dynasty, the square was renovated and renamed two centuries later at the onset of the Great Qing Dynasty. View several impressive monuments outlining the Square’s perimeter, including the Great Hall of the People, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the Square’s famed ceremonial gateway. From here, venture north for a visit to the Forbidden City (Imperial Palace). Known today as the Palace Museum, the entire site is comprised of 800 buildings with more than 9,000 rooms. Later, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Next, visit a local pearl shop before your tour of the Summer Palace.

Overnight: Beijing | Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5

Fly to Xian

This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Xian. Afterwards, trace the beginnings of Chinese civilization at the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum. Opened to the public in 1991, the museum is in southern Xian, and is home to a wealth of historical artifacts and treasures from the Han and Tang dynasties. This evening, an optional Tang Dynasty 6-course dinner followed by a historical dance performance by the Tang Dynasty Troup.

Optional: Tang Dynasty Dinner & Show

Overnight: Xian | Breakfast

Day 6

Xian

This morning, after breakfast you will have the opportunity to visit Xingqing Park. Filled with culture, this local park is a hub of activity in the morning. You may witness and have the chance to participate in morning exercise, singing, and dancing. Later, visit a lacquer furniture shop. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before a tour of Xian’s antiquities. Your tour includes the archaeological site at the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (259-210 B.C.), where more than 8,000 finely sculpted, life-size terracotta soldiers and horses were discovered by local farmers in 1974. The archaeological excavation of the three pits where the Terracotta Army was found continues today, more than forty years since the time of its unearthing. At tonight’s optional dumpling banquet, you can sample nearly 20 delicious varieties of dumplings.

Overnight: Xian | Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7

Fly to Shanghai

This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, the fastest growing city in Asia, with its dramatic ever-changing skyline. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. This evening, join the optional Shanghai by Night with Dinner.

Optional: Shanghai by Night with Dinner

Overnight: Shanghai | Breakfast

Day 8

Shanghai

This morning take a tour of the major attractions of Shanghai. Wander the classical Yuyuan Garden, built during the Ming Dynasty by the high-ranking government official Pan Yunduan. The Gardens’ total area occupies approximately five acres, and features pavilions, ponds, rockeries, cloisters, and streams all within six scenic zones, including the Sansui Hall and Wanhua Chamber. In existence for 400 years, the Gardens were specifically constructed for Pan’s aging parents as a sanctuary in which to live out their lives. Next, experience the old world charm of the Bund, the former “Wall Street” of the foreign powers. Walk along its park-like waterfront promenade between the Wusong River and Old Town. Later, stop at a silk carpet and embroidery shop. Continue to visit the Jade Buddha Temple which is the most famous and one of the most active Buddhist temples in Shanghai. It was built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty to enshrine two beautiful jade Buddha statues that were brought from Burma. Spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. This evening, be sure to attend the optional Acrobatic Show with dinner. The Shanghai Circus death-deifiers will amaze and astound you with their high-flying versatility, fearlessness, and flexibility.

Overnight: Shanghai | Breakfast

Day 9

Shanghai

Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Shanghai on your own. Join the optional full day tour to Suzhou, including lunch and a cruise on the Grand Canal. Morning departure from Shanghai for the drive to Suzhou, known as the “Venice of the East”. Upon arrival in this charming city, relax on a boat ride along the narrow waterways of the legendary Grand Canal followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Then, continue to the beautiful and fragrant Garden of the Master of the Nets, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. End the day in Suzhou with a walk along bustling Guanquin Street, where the locals gather for entertainment and food. Return to Shanghai later this evening for a Farewell Dinner together at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Shanghai | Breakfast, Dinner

Day 10

Depart China

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Breakfast

Know Before You Go

The Fine Print

All prices are per person based on double occupancy.

Prices are correct at time of publication; however, as airfares continually fluctuate and classes of service may have limited capacity, prices and availability will change accordingly.

Deposit due upon booking. Reservations accepted until sold out.

Deposits are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure with some exceptions where payment is due earlier. Payment plans available.

Passport must be valid 6 months beyond travel dates. Visa requirements vary dependent upon your nationality, the countries you are visiting, whether you require a single or a multi entry visa and the duration of your stay. Some visas can be obtained upon arrival at the airport, others must be procured in advance, and embassy’s can often take several weeks to process them, so it is important that you start thinking about obtaining your visa at the time of booking. For more information about visa requirements, visit the US Department of State.

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