Day 1 - Beijing (Friday).
Welcome to the capital of the People's Republic of China, a vibrant, modern city with a strong culture and heritage. Second in size and population after Shanghai, Beijing is the political and cultural center of the country. On arrival at Beijing International Airport you will be warmly greeted by our local representatives escorted to our private vehicle for the drive to our city center hotel, the 5-star Beijing Capital. With an ideal setting on the bustling East Qian Men Street in the heart of the city, this landmark hotel is conveniently located within walking distance of such historical sites as Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven. Just outside the lobby doors is the well-known Wang Fujing shopping and scenic downtown area.

Guestrooms are spacious and offer air-conditioning, flat screen satellite TV, direct dial telephone, broad band internet access, coffee/tea maker, minibar, in-room safe and a hair dryer in the private bath. Other features include 6 choices for restaurant dining, plus a food court and 2 bar/lounges. A swimming pool in the lobby level fitness center, a Spa, night club, outdoor tennis courts, a billiards room and a 4-alley Brunswick bowling center complete the amenities. Once in your room, you are free to relax for the rest of the day.

This evening we will join for an informal group dinner.

(Dinner)

Day 2 - Beijing (Saturday).
Today we embark on a full day tour of Beijing - the single greatest repository of monuments and treasures from the imperial era. The history of Beijing and its 34 emperors can be traced back 500,000 years, thanks to the discovery of "Peking Man" in 1929, about 50 kilometers southwest of the city. We'll visit Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world, where one million students rallied for democracy in 1989. Originally built in 1651, the square was quadrupled in size in 1958 to its present size. Each flagstone is numbered so that parade units can line up in perfect formation. Forbidden City - a huge complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens - was built during the period 1406 to 1420 for the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Covering 170 acres, with about 9,000 rooms, the Palace Museum showcases such riches as antiques, clocks and jewels.

In the afternoon we will tour the Summer Palace. During the late Qing Dynasty this was the retreat for the imperial family and court, looking to escape Beijing's summer heat. Originally created as a garden by Emperor Qianlong, it was destroyed and plundered during the Second Opium War in 1860. In 1888 the notorious Dowager Empress Cixi used the money intended for the Chinese Navy to rebuild this opulent summer retreat for herself. We will hear more about the famous woman ruler in Chinese history as we tour the Garden of Virtuous Harmony. While here, we'll enjoy a short boat ride on Kunming Lake.

After dinner tonight we will take in a performance of the Peking Opera. Considered to be the highest achievement of Chinese cultural development, the opera combines song and dialog with stylized, symbolic gestures and movements. Because a special dialect is spoken that can be difficult to understand, most theatres in Beijing display subtitles in both English and standard Mandarin.

(Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 3 - Beijing (Sunday).
The Great Wall at one time stretched 6,500 kilometers (4,000 miles) across the border between China and the Hun Territories in the north. It started as a series of earthworks and was connected in the Qin Dynasty (221 to 206 BC), with each dynasty adding to the height, width, and length of the wall. During the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644), the watch towers were redesigned, the brick and granite reworked and cannons added. Armies were garrisoned along the length of the wall to provide warning of invasions. Signal fires were used to tell the next tower where an invasion was about to happen. We will enter the Great Wall at the Mutianyu Gate. Here, you see the Great Wall in all its awe-inspiring former glory, as it winds through gorgeous mountain scenery. The top is reached by a gondola chair lift, offering incredible views along the way. An easy mile or so walk brings you to another lift with the option to go back down, or for a more adventurous transport, you can purchase a ticket for the alpine slide. We'll also visit the Changling Tomb from the Ming Dynasty.

Though influenced by many different cuisines and cooking techniques from all over China, Beijing is known for several characteristic dishes. The most famous is Peking Duck - roasted and rolled in a pancake with hoisin sauce and leeks. Tonight we will dine on this must-have treat, the tasty signature dish of Beijing.

(Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 4 - Beijing (Monday).
An invigorating way to start the day is with a morning Tai Chi lesson, the ancient art form of using meditative focus and slowly coordinated movement for reducing stress and maintaining optimum health. A Tai Chi Master will lead our class in the serene setting of the Temple of Heaven. Afterwards, we'll visit the main halls of the Temple, completed in 1420, and expanded over the years by two Qing Dynasty Emperors. It was hit by lightning in 1889 and then completely restored. It is amazing to note that no nails or pegs were used in the original construction or in the restoration!

Next, we'll get to know a more intimate side of ancient Beijing on a Hutong Tour by Rickshaw. A Hutong is an alley that was left between courtyards to enable convenient passage. These lanes often contain shared facilities for the local residents, such as cooking and washing. There are thousands of such hutongs in Beijing, surrounding the Forbidden City. Many were built during the Yuan (1206-1341), Ming (1368-1628) and Qing (1644-1908) Dynasties. We'll stop at a central square where we can soak up neighborhood life, visit a market and watch the locals playing mahjong. Another highlight of today is the opportunity to enjoy a Tea Ceremony with a Chinese hostess. We will also be guests for a Home Hospitality Dinner, where we will learn the art of making Chinese dumplings, followed by sharing the meal together with her family.

(Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 5 - Beijing / Xi'an (Tuesday).
In the morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Xi'an, the ancient capital city of China for 11 dynasties, and eastern gateway to Marco Polo's Silk Road. More than 3,000 years of history have endowed Xi'an with an amazing historical heritage. Only in recent years has Xi'an become well-known outside of China, owing to the 1974 discovery of the astonishing burial site of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi (3rd century BC). To the north of the city lie the rugged Western Hills, dotted with ancient tombs and the Wei River which forms a natural boundary. The entire region south of the river is fertile, suitable for growing cotton and coarse grains. The city's impressive medieval walls and wide avenues are laid out in an orderly grid pattern.

On arrival in Xi'an we will visit the ancient city walls and then tour the Shaanxi Historical Museum. Its fabulous collection reflects the most flourishing period of feudal glory. Neolithic ceramics, terracotta statuary, and Tang Dynasty gold and silver objects are some of the masterpieces on display that showcase the cultural development of Shaanxi from 150,000 years ago to the year 1840. At the Wild Goose Pagoda, we'll view this symbol of old-line Xi'an from the outside. Today it stands as a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists.

Later, we'll check in to the famous 4 star Bell Tower Hotel. Located in the booming downtown area of Xian, The Bell Tower Hotel and overlooks the historical Bell Tower, a building from the Ming Dynasty. To the east, is Business Street, to the south is Ancient Street, the west adjoins Ming/Qing Dynasty Street and in the west is Yingbin Avenue. Each room is equipped with TV, air-conditioning, direct dial telephone, high speed Internet access, and hairdryer in the private bathroom. Additional amenities include Chinese & Western style restaurants, Gymnasium, Business Center and Beauty Salon.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6 - Xi'an (Wednesday).
This morning we see the world famous Terracotta Warriors and Horses, an impressive legion of thousands of life-size statues that have been guarding the emperor's burial site for over 2,000 years. In 1974, a group of peasants digging a well in Lintong County, about 30 km east of Xi'an, accidentally made one of the century's greatest archeological discoveries. What they stumbled upon has resulted in an estimated 8,000 figures that have thus far been identified. Our visit includes the studio where a demonstration on how the Terracotta soldiers were once made - including female warriors! A circular vision movie on the exhibit is followed by touring the excavation sites and seeing the regal Bronze Chariot and Horses.

Following lunch at a local restaurant, we'll stop at a Chinese Herb Market to see the fascinating array of herbs that have been used in healing for thousand years. After some free time at the hotel, we'll depart for an entertaining evening, with a traditional Jiaozi dumpling dinner and a Tang Dynasty Show.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7 - Xi'an / Guilin (Thursday).
Our morning flight to Guilin brings us to the city hailed by many as the most beautiful in China. Here, the natural beauty of the Karst Mountains and meandering Lijiang (or Li) River are a sight to behold. The name Guilin means "the cassia tree forest" because in autumn the sweet fragrance of the cassia flowers fills the air all around. The well-known highlight of the city is its surreal river landscape of limestone pinnacles that rise hundreds of feet above the crystal-clear water like fingers pointing skywards. This afternoon we visit Reed Flute Cave, named after the reeds growing around the cave mouth, with its fantastic stalactites and stalagmites. At Elephant Trunk Hill, we'll see one of the most famous rock formations that symbolize the city, so named because of its resemblance to an elephant's sipping water from the river with its trunk.

Our hotel for the next two nights is the 4-star Guilin Bravo, located on the banks of the picturesque Rong Lake in the historic part of town. The park setting is ideal; it's just a 10-minute stroll along the lake to the main city square and the Sun and Moon Pagodas. Guest rooms are tastefully decorated, each with air-conditioning, direct dial telephone, high speed Internet access, satellite TV with free in-house movies, a mini-bar, safe, and hairdryer in the private bathroom. Additional amenities include 3 restaurants - one with live Chinese traditional folk music nightly, 2 bars, a nightclub, hair salon and an adjacent shopping center.

(Breakfast)

Day 8 - Li River Cruise (Friday).
The city of Guilin was founded during the Qin Dynasty in 314 BC as a small settlement on the Li River. It became increasingly important following the construction of a canal joining the river with another one further north, providing a transport link with the Yangtze. The imperial court could thus send food and provisions by water from the Yangtze plains to its armies in the far south. The town became the provincial capital in the Ming Dynasty and remained so until 1914 when the capital was moved to Nanking.

Today we enjoy a spectacular cruise along the river from Guilin to Yangshuo. The scenery is breathtaking, as mist-covered jagged mountains loom before you, and quaint villages dot the riverbanks. See humped limestone peaks, fishermen astride bamboo rafts and grazing water buffaloes. As our boat passes through the Luogu Rapids, listen for the sound of the rushing water that is said to resemble gongs and drums. Further along looms Folded Brocade Hill, with its multi-colored vegetation, and Crescent Moon Hill, whose summit contains a cave shaped like a half moon. We'll dock in Yangshuo, located about 65 km (40 miles) from Guilin, set dramatically amidst the limestone mountains for which the area is famous.

From late afternoon into evening, we'll have free time to enjoy its small town ambiance, to visit its lively market, and to have dinner on our own in one of many excellent local restaurants on the main road. As night falls, we'll regroup and take our seats for the show, at which point the town is transformed and the Li River becomes a spectacular stage. The actors (usually 600 of them!) are all local villagers. The Karst landscape is lit up and the Impression Liusanjie Show begins. Created by the man who directed the 2008 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, it is a sight to behold. Afterwards we'll return by coach to Guilin.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 9 - Guilin / Shanghai (Saturday).
This morning we bid Guilin farewell and depart on a morning flight to Shanghai. Situated on the estuary of the Yangtze River, Shanghai serves as the most influential center in China for economics, finance, culture, science, technology and international trade. Originally a fishing and textiles town, Shanghai grew to importance in the 19th century due to its favorable port location and as one of the cities opened to foreign trade by the 1842 Treaty of Nanking. On arrival we will be met at the airport and immediately introduced to this thriving metropolis. We'll tour the Shanghai Museum, home to China's most sensational collection of treasures that are beautifully displayed on several floors. Works of art from all Chinese periods are represented. Of special note are the collections of ancient bronzes, exquisitely carved jade and ceramics.

Not to be missed is a walk along the city's famous waterfront promenade, The Bund, where we'll see beautiful buildings and wharves from the late 19th century to the present. Also nicknamed as "Shanghai's Wall Street," this area on the west bank of Huangpu River offers one of the most magnificent landscapes in the city.

In the afternoon we will check-in at the brand new 4-star Yun's Paradise Hotel. With a stylish and modern design, the hotel features spacious guest rooms. Each is air conditioned and comes with luxury bedding, direct dial telephone, TV with satellite channels, high-speed Internet access, safe, mini-bar, coffee/tea maker and a hair dryer in the private bathroom. Additional amenities include 2 restaurants, outdoor swimming pool, steam bath, sauna, massage and spa treatments. Following time to relax and settle into your room, we'll meet up for dinner in the city.

(Breakfast)