(The itinerary is subject to change)
Day 1:
Depart for Beijing from Vancouver, British Columbia on Air Canada 029 @ 12:00 p.m.
Day 2: – BEIJING (D)
Arrive Beijing Capital International Airport @ 14:20 p.m.
Transfer to Novotel Xinqiao.
After dinner, some may choose to rest or walk around Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world. At night it is lit up and is quite spectacular.
Day 3: – BEIJING (B, L, D)
Depart for the Great Wall of China
Lunch
Tour Cloisonne Factory
Stop at the Bird’s Nest, site of the 2009 Summer Olympics.
Shop at the Silk Market
Peking Duck Dinner
Return to Hotel
Day 4: – BEIJING (B, L, D)
Tour the Forbidden City. This is the largest Imperial Palace complex ever built, with 800 buildings, 9999 rooms, resplendent golden-glazed roofs, red lacquered pillars and vermillion walls.
Lunch
Tour the Temple of Heaven
Shop at the Pearl Market and the Toy Market. There are great bargains for prescription eye glasses with designer frames, brand name golf clubs, silk duvets, watches, Mont Blanc pens etc. You must bargain for the best price and I will be happy to help you.
Dinner
Free time
Day 5: – BEIJING-XIAN (B, L, D)
Early morning flight to Xian. Over a period of more than 2000 years Xian was the capital for eleven dynasties.
Check into Tianyu Gloria Hotel.
Lunch
Tour the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum. This is the site of the life-sized army guarding the tomb of the first emperor of China. It is considered among the top archaeological excavations of the 20th century.
Dinner
Return to hotel.
Day 6: – XIAN (B, L, D)
Visit the Shanxi Provincial Historical Museum.
Lunch
Visit the Ancient City Wall, a wall that has survived in China and includes one of the largest and most complete military systems in the world.
Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the symbol of the city. It is said to have been built to house and protect Buddhist scriptures collected by the Chinese monk Xuan Zang.
Dinner
Return to hotel
Day 7: – XIAN-YANTAI-PENGLAI (B, L, D)
Early morning flight to Yantai.
Travel by motor coach to Penglai, an ancient, mystical city on the sea.
Check into hotel
Lunch
City Tour
Dinner
Return to hotel
Day 8: – PENGLAI-DAQINGSHAN (B, L, D)
Depart by motor coach for Daqingshan (Big Green Mountain).
Check into hotel.
Lnnch
Taiji lessons for those who are interested. (My longtime friend and colleague, Master Joseph Chen, is a world renowned Taiji instructor. He is also owner and operator of Daqingshan.)
Hike to the Immortal’s Caves, to the pagoda and to the ancient wall.
A cooking demonstration of two dishes unique to Shandong Province. They are favourites at the DQS restaurants.
Dinner
Day 9: – DAQINGSHAN (B, L, D)
Travel by motor coach to Rizhao, a city on the ocean about one hour from the mountain.
Lunch
After lnnch you can choose to spend time on the beach, shop at a market adjacent to the beach, have one of the famous Chinese massages.
Return to Daqingshan
Dinner
Visit the Night Market in Wulian, a small city minutes from the mountain. We will be a real curiosity because they do not get many western tourists. This is another example of the real China.
Return to hotel.
Day 10: – DAQINGSHAN-WEIFANG-JINAN (B, L, D)
Early morning departure by motor coach for Jinan via Weifang.
Lunch in Weifang and a brief tour, including a visit to the memorial honouring Canadians and many others who were interred there by the Japanese during World War Two.
Weifang is the Kite Capital of the world and you may want to purchase one.
Depart for Jinan.
Check into hotel.
City Tour
Dinner
Return to hotel
Day 11: – JINAN-SUZHOU (B, L, D)
Early morning flight to Suzhou.
Check into hotel.
Lunch
Sail on the Grand Canal.
Visit the Silk Factory
Visit the Jade Factory
Dinner
Day 12: – SUZHOU-SHANGHAI (B, L, D)
Early morning departure by motor coach for Shanghai. Shanghai is about 90 minutes by bus from Suzhou.
Check into New Asia Hotel, a famous Art Deco hotel from the 1930’s.
Lunch
After lunch we will walk along the famous Bund, a mile long stretch on the Huangpu River. The Bund is lined by buildings of colonial architecture of European design. They were the banks etc. built by the imperial powers prior to the liberation.
Visit the Ming Dynasty Yuyuan Garden, considered to be one of the four greatest Chinese Gardens.
Visit the famed Jade Buddha Temple.
Dinner
Day 13: – SHANGHAI (B, L, D)
Visit the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
Lunch
Visit Nanjing Road, the famous shopping district. We will walk back to the hotel through an interesting area where locals live and shop. It is several blocks from the hotel.
Dinner
Return to hotel
Since we are departing for home at noon the following day, it is a good time to pack and list your purchases for entry to Canada or the United States, wherever you may live.
Day 14: – SHANGHAI-NORTH AMERICA (B, L)
You will have free time in the morning to sleep in and pack for the trip home.
For those who are interested, I will take you to the Cheapo Market which is a couple of blocks from the hotel.
We must check out of the hotel no later than 12 Noon.
We must depart for Pudong International Airport no later than 12:30 p.m.
YOUR CHINA TRIP IS OVER ALL TOO SOON, BIDDING A FAREWELL TO THIS ANCIENT LAND. WE KNOW THE TRIP IS OVER, YET THE EXPERIENCE AND MEMORIES WILL CERTAINLY LAST FOR A LIFE TIME.
You will get back to Vancouver the same day you leave China. You get back the day you lost on your trip to China.
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THE TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE:
The cost of your international airline ticket from North America to China and return.
Any personal charges, such as phone bills, laundry, postage, baggage overweight charges, medical insurance, beverages including those from the minifridge in your room.
The cost of your passport and China visa. Your passport must not expire at least six months before departure for China. Obtain the China Visa from the nearest Chinese Consulate. Your travel agent can also obtain it for you. Order it at least 30 days before departure.
Gratuities: They are customary and their purpose is to show appreciation and reward for quality service from tour guides, drivers, hotel porters etc. We will collect $50 US from all participants when we arrive in China.
Any other charges caused by an act of God.
THE TOUR INCLUDES:
China domestic airline tickets.
Tour buses for sightseeing and transfers between airports and hotels.
All hotel accommodation.
Meals as indicated on the itinerary.
All sightseeing as indicated on the itinerary, except any noted as Optional.
Professional English-speaking tour guides.
Ground transportation between some cities.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hi Bob, what are the dates for this trip?
Thanks, Kim