CLASSIC CHINA WALKING TOUR New!

Walking/sightseeing tour of these exciting destinations: 
Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou & Hong Kong

August 30 - September 12, 2009 [Does not include travel dates from U.S.]

$3200 US (double occupancy)
$780 single hotel supplement

Tour Features
·   All 3- or 4-star hotel lodging
·   All meals in China  
·   All domestic airfare, express train, coach or van
·   Entrance fees for all cultural & historic sites & special activities
·   Guides & interpreters
 

ITINERARY

Note:  The first week of this trip is combined with the Silk Road cycling tour before those participants embark on their bicycling journey

Day 1-2: DEPART USA. Your exotic journey to China begins!  Allow two days to reach Beijing; one day is lost en route crossing the international dateline.  To arrive in Beijing on Sunday, August 30, most flights depart from the US on the evening of Friday, August 28.

Day 3: ARRIVE in BEIJING, China’s vibrant capital.  Plan to arrive in Beijing at least by mid-afternoon, but many flights arrive in the morning.  After clearing customs and claiming your baggage, it’s an easy bus transfer to our hotel, located in the heart of the city. You can join other arriving participants to do some sightseeing until we meet the tour group for dinner. This evening you’ll enjoy a special banquet featuring the city’s famous “Peking Duck”. Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Beijing.

Day 4: BEIJING. Start your day with a visit to the Forbidden City, the former seat of the emperors throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties.  It’s a true architectural masterpiece and home to the National Palace Museum.  After lunch you'll visit the Summer Palace, built in classical Chinese style in 1750 as a royal recreational resort. Among its famous features are the 700-meter-long corridor with its wonderful Painted Gallery, the Marble Barge, and several magnificently painted pavilions and pagodas. Tonight you'll enjoy a mesmerizing acrobatic show. Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Beijing.

Day 5: BEIJING. On today’s exciting excursion you’ll scale the ramparts of the legendary Great Wall, built 2600 years ago and extending over 3,700 miles. Walk atop this ancient wonder of the world, one of the two man-made structures seen by US astronaut Neil Armstrong from outer space.  Next you’ll visit the Ming Tombs, the burial place of thirteen emperors of the Ming Dynasty and their families.  Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Beijing.

Day 6: BEIJING / XI’AN. This morning we fly to Xi’an, the cradle of Chinese civilization and the historic gateway to the ancient silk trading route. Xi’an was the state capital of 73 emperors spanning 11 dynasties during the 1100 years dating from 4,000 B.C. After lunch you’ll visit the Ancient City Wall, the Bell Tower and the Dayan Pagoda, also known as the Wild Goose Pagoda. A special treat awaits us this evening – enjoy a delicious banquet and spectacular Tang Dynasty show. Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Xi'an. 

Day 7: XI’AN. On today’s tour you'll visit one of the century’s great archaeological discoveries: a buried army of life-size Terra Cotta soldiers and horses guarding the tomb of the Qin Shi emperor. After lunch you'll visit the Huaqing Hot Springs, also known as the site of the famous Xi'an Incident.  Later today you'll tour the ancient Banpo village.  Discovered in1953, this Neolithic village holds the remains of ancient Yangshao culture from 4500 BC until 3700 BC. Overnight train to Lanzhou in soft sleeper.

Day 8: HANGZHOU. Today we continue with our classic China tour while the cyclists head west to ride the Silk Road. We fly this morning to Hangzhou and a boat ride on West Lake, the symbol of Hangzhou and one of the most beautiful sights in China. In afternoon we will visit the Lingyin Temple, famous for its more than 470 stone carvings of Buddhist figures.  We’ll also tour the Feilai Peak, Six Harmonies Pagoda & a Tea Plantation Farm. Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Hangzhou. 

Day 9: SUZHOU. You’ll visit Zhouzhuang Village this morning, a famous ancient village in the south of China, and have the unique opportunity to visit the Shen and Zhang family residences. This afternoon travel to Suzhou to tour Lingering Gardens, an elaborate succession of small gardens. You'll also get to see the Tiger Hill, one of the most famous sights in Suzhou. Suzhou is famous for its silk production and we’ll visit a silk factory to see the entire process from the silk worm to the final woven cloth. Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Suzhou.

Day 10: SHANGHAI.  We travel to Shanghai for a city tour. First we visit one of the oldest tourist sites in the city, the Yuyuan Gardens with ponds, traditional red walls, upturned tile roofs, and an excellent teahouse. Then head to the west side of the city to visit the Jade Buddha Temple, home of two famous white jade Buddha statues brought from Burma in 1882. Later enjoy a stroll along The Bund, also called the Zhongshan Road, the famous waterfront that’s been regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Shanghai.

Day 11: GUILIN.  This morning we board a morning plane to Guilin, home of the magnificent limestone karst formations, mist-covered hills and bamboo groves made famous through centuries of Chinese art. In the afternoon we'll visit the Elephant Trunk Hill, the symbol of Guilin city, and the Guangxi Teacher's University of Guilin. Overnight in a 4-star hotel in Guilin. 

Day 12:  YANGSHOU.  You’ll have a special treat today – you’ll go to Zhujiang to cruise the beautiful Li River. The cruise is a photographer’s dream, with picturesque mountains and peaceful green fields around each bend of the river. Float by farms and villages and see water buffalo grazing on both banks of the river. In the afternoon we'll arrive at the thousand-year-old town of Yangshuo where we’ll visit the ancient "Banyan Tree Park" and the "Moon Hill."  Dine at a local café in the center of the town and overnight at a 3-star hotel in Yangshuo.

Day 13：GUILIN.  After breakfast at the hotel we'll transfer back to Guilin by bus to explore the famous Reed Flute Cave and Fubo Hill. In the afternoon you'll have free time to explore and shop in the city. This evening we’ll enjoy a special banquet of Guilin’s special dishes. Overnight at a 4-star hotel located in the center of Guilin.

Day 14: GUANGZHOU.  Take a morning flight to Guangzhou (old Canton), a prosperous city in southern China. We'll visit Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, the most symbolic building of Guangzhou, and a key venue for large-scale meetings and performances. Next you’ll visit the ancient Chen Family Memorial Hall, which is the largest, best preserved and most beautifully decorated structure in Guangdong province. In the afternoon we'll visit the Temple of Six Banyan Trees, the most famous ancient Buddhist temples in southern China. Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Guangzhou.

Day 15: HONG KONG.  After breakfast at the hotel, we'll transfer to Guangzhou East Railway Station to take a morning express train to Hong Kong (approximately 2 hours ).  Our hotel is in the heart of bustling Kowloon, near the fascinating harbor promenade. Enjoy the rest of the day for shopping or sightseeing. Overnight at the 4-star Hong Kong Park Hotel.

Day 16: DEPART FOR U.S.  After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for your return flight. Our memorable journey comes to an end.  We’ll cross the International Date Line again and make up the day we lost on the way over.  You’ll arrive in the U.S on the same day you leave China.

Our China Host
Grand China Bike Tours, our Chinese partner of many years, has put together this new sightseeing tour of some of the most fascinating cities in China. You'll be in the very best hands with our GCBT guides and interpreters, who have an intimate knowledge of China's history, culture and language. 
 

Passport
Participants must obtain a passport good for at least 6 months after our visit and visa for this tour (instructions will be provided).

Payment
Payment and cancellation fee table below is unique to this tour. The registration link above doesn't work on all browsers, so for more registration details try the link from the home page.

* All fees are due 60 days prior to the tour.  Single supplements can be paid with the final payment.  

   To register and/or make payments by credit card with
   Active.com, click on the logo to the left.

Additional service charges by Active.com:
Payments $150-$499 (deposits): 3.5% of tour fee plus $5.50
Payments $500 or more: 2.5% of tour fee plus $10.50

We require a signed waiver of liability before participation. Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a guardian. 

All tour details will be sent to registered participants by email only.