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
Visit the Summer Palace, an imperial garden during the Qing Dynasty, and explore its beautiful garden grounds
Enjoy a dragon boat ride and see the views from Kunming Lake (seasonal: April to October)
Participate in a Taiji lesson to learn about this martial art, meditation system, and health practice
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
Visit Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square and a site of frequent political protests
Enjoy a regional specialty and traditional side dishes with your group at a Peking Duck dinner
Day 4: Great Wall of China • Beijing
Take an excursion to Badaling
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
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
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 • Xi'an
Fly to Xi'an, once the largest city in the world and the capital of 11 dynasties over the centuries
Take a bike ride on the Ancient City Wall, one of the oldest in China
Enjoy dinner in Xi'an
Day 7: Xi’an
Tour Xi’an with an expert local guide
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Emperor Qin's Terracotta Army, which were created to protect the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi; of 6,000 models, no two are alike
Visit the Muslim Quarter and the Bell Tower of Xi'an and see beautiful mosques
Add this in-depth excursion:
Tang Dynasty show and dinner
This evening experience the history and culture of the Tang Dynasty at a world-class theater restaurant featuring famous Cantonese cuisine. The performance is based on historical records and cultural traditions that exemplify the artistic heritage of the Xi’an province. Many of the dances you’ll see originated from rituals or prayers, but have since been influenced by cultural practices from various regions of China. You’re sure to see why more than 2.5 million people from around the world have proclaimed this a favorite part of their Chinese experience.
Day 8: Xi'an
Visit the Shaanxi Provincial Historical Museum to see artifacts from the Han and Tang Dynasties
Make dumplings, one of China's most popular dishes, during a cooking class
Spend a half day exploring Xi'an on your own
Day 9: Xi'an • Shanghai
Fly to Shanghai
Visit the Shanghai World Financial Center and see views of the city from 1,555 feet above
Enjoy dinner in Shanghai
Enjoy a traditional Chinese acrobatics show
Day 10: Shanghai
Take a guided tour of Shanghai
With your expert local guide you will visit:
- Jade Buddha Temple, a famous Buddhist temple
- Yu Yuan Garden, a showplace of classical Chinese landscaping
- Nanjing Lu, a main commercial district
Spend time exploring the Bund, a waterfront promenade, on your own
Enjoy dinner in Shanghai
Day 11: Shanghai
Industry Engagement: Visit a local University to better understand higher education in China
Visit the Shanghai Museum, which houses over 120,000 pieces of Chinese art
Spend time exploring Tianzifang, the art district of the French Concession, on your own
Day 12: Depart for home
Add 3 more days
Day 12: Shanghai • Hong Kong
Fly to Hong Kong
Enjoy dinner in Hong Kong
Watch A Symphony of Lights show, illuminating Hong Kong's harbor skyline, from the Avenue of Stars
Take a ride on the Star Ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island
Day 13: Hong Kong
Take a guided tour of Hong Kong
With your expert local guide, you will visit:
- Stanley Market, an open-air shopping area
- Aberdeen Harbor, a busy fishing port
- Repulse Bay, an upscale beach area
Spend the afternoon exploring Hong Kong on your own
Take a tram ride to the top of Victoria Peak and take in views of the city
Enjoy a Dim Sum tasting, comprised of many small dishes of specialties
Day 14: Hong Kong
Add this in-depth excursion:
Lantau Island
Join this full-day excursion to beautiful Lantau Island, the largest of the 230 islands that belong to the territory of Hong Kong. Begin your tour with a 25-minute cable car ride that offers panoramic views of the South China Sea and the lush mountains on the island. Continue on with a visit to the Po Lin (Precious Lotus) monastery and then climb the stairs up to the island’s main attraction; the world’s tallest, outdoor, seated bronze Buddha, measuring 111 feet tall and weighing more than 250 tons. A short walk away is the Wisdom Path where ancient prayers are inscribed on wooden columns set in a figure eight to signify infinity.
Day 15: Depart for home
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