DAY 1 TArrive Beijing
Upon arrival, you are escorted to check in to the hotel.
Capital Hotel Beijing
DAY 2 Friday Beijing
Today’s highlights include Tiananmen Square and Ming extravagance in the Forbidden City’s Imperial Palace, featuring the living quarters, museum and jewelry sections. Afternoon, take a pedicab tour of the ancient Hutong district including a visit with a local family and a kindergarten class (if school is open), then see the city views from atop the Drum Tower. This evening, be our guest at a traditional Beijing Duck dinner party.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Party
DAY 3 Saturday Beijing
Today, walk the ancient ramparts of the stupendous Great Wall. Then stroll along the Sacred Way between statues of warriors and animals to the Ming Tombs and Chang Ling Exhibition Hall. After lunch, visit a cloisonn factory.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 4 Sunday Beijing/Urumqi/Turpan
Mid-day flight to Urumqi, a city marked by ancient gates and towers. Upon arrival, motorcoach to Turpan, 500 feet below sea level and site of the ancient Che Shi Kingdom. Dinner is at the hotel.
Turpan Oasis Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner in the Hotel
DAY 5 Monday Turpan
Today’s sightseeing highlights include the underground Karez Well waterway, and the impressive ruins at Jiaohe and Gaochang, both important stops on the Silk Route. Then tour the Astana Tombs, where the royalty of Gaochang were buried, and see The Flaming Mountains (said to resemble a fiery dragon in the desert light), and the massive Suliman Minaret. This evening, enjoy dinner with a local family.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6 Tuesday Turpan/Urumqi
Drive back to Urumqi and the rest of the day is free, with lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy a dinner and show tonight.
Hoi Tak Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7 Wednesday Urumqi
Today’s sightseeing includes the Xinjiang Provincial Museum, a boat ride on Lake Tianchi, and a visit with a Kazakhs family. Dinner at the Hotel.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner in the Hotel
DAY 8 Thursday Urumqi/Dunhuang
Morning flight to Dunhuang, an important junction on the Silk Route. Visit White Horse Pagoda and see the area’s remarkable singing sand dunes, where you may take a camel ride. Chinese lunch and dinner at your hotel. Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch in Hotel, Dinner in the Hotel
DAY 9 Friday Dunhuang
Half-day tour of the magnificent treasures at the famed Mogao Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Carved from a mile-long cliff overlooking a river valley, over 490 caves house some of the world’s finest Buddhist murals and statues, first carved and painted in 366 AD. Afternoon, sightsee the collections at the Dunhuang Museum. Chinese dinner at Silk Road Dunhuang Hotel.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner in the Hotel
DAY 10 Saturday Dunhuang/Xi’an
Fly to Xi’an, site of the archeological wonders of the terra-cotta warriors. Afternoon visit the City Wall and the exquisitely constructed Wild Goose Pagoda. Buffet dinner at the hotel.
Grand New World Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Buffet Dinner
DAY 11 Sunday Xi’an
A thrilling day as you view the famous 2200-year-old life-sized terra-cotta army uncovered in the first emperor’s necropolis; Circle Vision Movie, the Bronze Chariot and renowned Shaanxi Provincial Historical Museum. Lunch at the Terra Cotta Museum with noodle-making demonstration. Tonight, you are our guest at the Tang Dynasty Theatre’s celebrated dinner and show.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Show
DAY 12Monday Xi’an/Shanghai
Morning flight to Shanghai. Tour The Bund and the shopping streets of Nanjing Road or Huai Hai Road. Buffet dinner at the hotel.
Hua Ting Hotel & Towers
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Buffet Dinner
DAY 13 Tuesday Shanghai
Today’s sightseeing includes the Shanghai Museum with an audio tour that will guide you through the museum’s magnificent collections of dynastic artifacts; Yu Garden, the Children’s Palace and a carpet factory. After dinner, see the amazing Shanghai acrobatic show.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 14 Wednesday Depart Shanghai for Home
Fly homeward aboard .
MEALS: American Breakfast
