Day 1: Fly overnight to China
Day 2: Beijing
Meet your Field Director at the airportEnjoy dinner in Beijing
Day 3: Beijing
Tour Beijing, long been considered the political, educational, and cultural center of China, with an expert local guide
Enjoy a dragon boat ride and see the views from Kunming Lake (seasonal: April to October)
Visit the Summer Palace, an imperial garden during the Qing Dynasty, and explore its beautiful garden grounds
Participate in a Taiji lesson to learn about this martial art, meditation system, and health practice
Visit Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square and a site of frequent political protests
Visit the Forbidden City, home to 24 emperors and so named because no one could enter or leave the premises without the emperor's approval
Tour Beijing University campus and get a glimpse into higher education in China
Day 4: Beijing • Badaling • Beijing
Tour the Great Wall of China with your Field Director and see one of the Seven Wonders of the World, which was built by 300,000 people over several centuries and now stretches over 3,000 miles
Take an excursion to Badaling
Stop to take a photo at the site of the 2008 Olympics
Enjoy a traditional tea ceremony in Beijing where you will learn about:
- The Chinese culture of drinking tea in daily life today
- The history of chayi, or the art of drinking tea, credited to Emperor Shennong
- The significance of drinking tea among Chinese scholars in tea houses
Add this in-depth excursion:
The Legend of Kung Fu show
Tonight, see the show that tells the story of a young boy, Chun Yi (the pure one), who in order to pursue spiritual and physical harmony becomes a monk and learns kung fu. Along the way he overcomes obstacles, is distracted and tempted, but ultimately achieves the designation of master. This performance combines story-telling, kung-fu, acrobatics, modern dance, and original music to celebrate the philosophy and skill of martial arts.
Day 5: Beijing
Visit the Temple of Heaven Park, a huge outdoor complex adorned with Ming and Qing relics
Visit the Beijing Zoo, one of China's oldest zoological parks and home to over 5,000 animals including giant pandas
Tour Beijing's Hutongs, a labyrinthine network of ancient city alleys, by traditional rickshaw
Enjoy dinner with a local family and get a taste of Beijing’s culinary tradition as you enjoy a homemade dinner with them and learn about their daily life
Day 6: Beijing
Visit the Yonghe Lamasery Temple, a temple and monastery of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism
Visit the 798 Dashanzi Modern Art Zone, once an extension of the Socialist Unification Plan between the Soviet Union and China, and now home to galleries, boutiques, and a thriving artistic community
Spend a half day exploring Beijing on your own
Add this in-depth excursion:
Acrobatics show
Witness a thrilling display by talented performers during today’s optional acrobatics show. For more than 2,000 years, Chinese acrobats have been perfecting this unique form of performance art. Acrobatic troupes continue to dazzle audiences with unusual feats of balance and flexibility complemented by vibrant costumes, elaborate sets and traditional music.
Day 7: Beijing
Spend a full day exploring Beijing on your own
Enjoy a regional specialty and traditional side dishes with your group at a Peking Duck dinner
Day 8: Depart for home
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