YOUR ITINERARY

Day 1: Depart USA. Your exotic journey to China begins today as you depart on an non-stop wide-body jet flight bound for Beijing, China.

Day 2: Arrive Beijing. Evening arrival in Beijing, China’s historic and cultural capital. You’ll be met by your guide and escorted to your upscale hotel located in a vibrant area in central Beijing, within short driving distance of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The hotel offers tastefully decorated rooms, several restaurants and a fitness center. Radisson Blu Hotel or similar.

DayS 3, 4, 5 & 6: Beijing. Meet your fellow travelers at a special "orientation breakfast" hosted by your local guide. You’ll have several days to explore on your own. Your hotel is conveniently located within short distance of many major attractions, as well as the best shopping and dining. Your professional guide will be glad to make suggestions if you prefer to explore independently. To make the most of your visit and enrich your experience, your guide will offer you a chance to join some exclusive excursions to the city’s highlights as well as memorable evening activities. (B)

Day 7: Beijing/Shanghai. Today, board a short flight to Shanghai, China's largest city, bustling commercial center and port. In recent years, Shanghai has gone through a major revitalization and is now considered one of Asia's most vibrant and exciting cities. Transfer to your brand-new ideally located hotel. It offers spacious elegant rooms, several restaurants, a fitness center and an indoor swimming pool. Marriott's Courtyard Puxi Hotel. (B)





DayS 8 & 9: Shanghai. Two full days to savor Shanghai's exotic temples and colorful markets as well the modern additions to the cityscape. Your local guide will offer an optional full day city tour to explore the new and the old. You may also wish to take in a performance of the renowned Shanghai Acrobats. While in Shanghai, do not miss the optional excursion to Suzhou, called "Venice of the East" by the explorer Marco Polo. (B)

Day 10: Shanghai/USA. Today you’ll be escorted to the airport and bid farewell to China as you board your return flight. Your exciting journey comes to an end as you arrive the USA later today. (B)

• Round-trip airfare from
  San Francisco via Air China
  (New York departure add $100)
  
• Airfare taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
  
• Intra-China flights and all transfers
  
• Accommodations at superior first class hotels
  
• Full buffet American breakfast daily (B)
  
• Services of English speaking tour hosts

TOUR COST AIRFARE INCLUDED
DEPART	RETURN	RESERVE BY FEB 29, 2012		RESERVE AFTER FEB 29
2012		w/cash discount	sale
Mar 4	Mar 13	$ 1099	$ 1199	$ 1599
Apr 1	Apr 10	$ 1199	$ 1299	$ 1699
Apr 8	Apr 17	$ 1299	$ 1399	$ 1799
Apr 15	Apr 24	$ 1299	$ 1399	$ 1799
Rates per person based on double occupancy. Single room supplement add $225 China visa fee is not included. NEW YORK DEPARTURES: Add $100 if departing from New York (JFK). Reservations and Payments: Reservations can be made by phone 1 800 337 7773 and will be confirmed upon receipt of $300 per person non-refundable deposit (by check) which must be received within 7 days of reservation. Full payment is due 75 days prior to departure. Baggage fees may apply. Space and prices subject to availability. For complete booking information and terms & conditions click here. Comprehensive Travel Insurance: Trip cancellation and travel insurance are recommended. For complete insurance information click here

Beijing & Shanghai Optional Tours:

Full Day Forbidden City and Summer Palace with Lunch. Start your day with a visit to the famous Tiananmen Square. You then enter the Forbidden City, an architectural masterpiece and home to the National Palace Museum. After an included lunch, venture outside the city to see the Summer Palace, summer resort of the Empress Dowager. ($65, lunch included.)


Full Day Great Wall and Ming Tombs with Lunch.
Embark on an exhilarating full day excursion. First travel to the legendary Great Wall which extends over 3,700 miles and is the only man-made structure visible from the moon. There is time to mount the ramparts of this ancient wonder before proceeding to the Ming Tombs, burial site of the Ming Dynasty royalty.
($65, lunch included.)


Full Day Hutong (Old Beijing) & Temple of Heaven with Lunch. Enjoy an unforgettable look at behind-the-scenes of Hutong, the old city of Beijing. You'll ride on a traditional 3-wheel cycle through the labyrinth comprising this district. Walk along ancient alleyways and see where ordinary citizens live side by side with gracious old estates once owned by Beijing's old aristocracy. After an included lunch, proceed to the Temple of Heaven, a masterpiece of architectural harmony and precision. ($65, lunch included.)

Half Day Beijing Zoo and Lama Temple. Enjoy a morning tour of Lama Temple, formerly an imperial palace, later converted to a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Then, delight in a visit to the Beijing Zoo where you'll see the Giant Pandas. ($40)


Evening Kung Fu Performance and Peking Duck Dinner. Enjoy an elaborate Chinese Dinner Banquet featuring the famous "Peking Duck". Following dinner you'll attend the "Legend of Kung Fu" show, a special stage performance that blends music, martial arts and a moving story. The show highlights the fascinating Chinese martial arts, known as Kung Fu. ($50, dinner included.)

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Full Day Shanghai City Tour with Lunch.
Start your day with a guided walk amidst the scenic ponds, colorful pavilions and walkways of the 16th century Yu Yuan Garden, a delightful reminder of old Shanghai. You'll also visit the acclaimed Shanghai Museum displaying exquisite ancient Chinese art and artifacts. Conclude the tour with a visit to the colorful Bund, Shanghai's famous waterfront. ($50, lunch included.)



Full Day Suzhou Excursion with Lunch.
On this most memorable excursion, embark on a scenic ride to the charming, canal laced Suzhou often called "Paradise on Earth." Here you embark on a short cruise on the ancient "Grand Canal." After lunch visit two of Suzhou's most famous gardens as well as other city highlights, before returning to Shanghai late this afternoon. ($65, lunch included.)



Shanghai Acrobats Performance
with Dinner.
Delight in a breathtaking performance of the renowned Shanghai Acrobats. Chinese dinner will be included in tonight's activities. ($40, dinner included.)






Shanghai By Night River Cruise.
Enjoy postcard views of Shanghai as you take a 1-hour evening cruise along the Huangpu River. The glittering views along the river as well as those you'll enjoy while traveling along the Bund to embark the cruise are mesmerizing and offer a true testimony to the unique blend of past and future, east and west that Shanghai offers. Transfers from and back to your hotel are included. ($35)

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