China:
Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and the Yangtze River
October 2012
$TBD per person, double occupancy
Want more info? Email us at travel@patandmikestravel.com or call 503.288.7842.
Join us for the highlights of both modern and ancient China.
ITINERARY
Note: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner at a local restaurant. When you see these mentioned next to the day of the itinerary, it means these meals would be included as part of our package. Breakfast is usually buffet style and allows you a choice of western or Chinese items to choose from. While on the ship all meals are on the ship.
Day 1: Leave the USA for Beijing, China. (international airfare not included)
Day 2: Arrive Beijing. We’ll arrive in Beijing, China’s capital and cultural heart.
Day 3: Beijing. We’ll spend the day touring the political center of China. The famous landmark, Tiananmen Square, is the largest public square in the world. We’ll also see the Forbidden City, the imperial palace of Ming and Qing Dynasty, a powerful maze of ancient palaces and courtyards from which the Emperors ruled the land for 500 years. Plus a lot more! B, L.
Day 4: Beijing. Today's excursion to the Great Wall, the symbol of China, promises to be a highlight of your trip. For dinner tonight, we’ll enjoy the famous dinner – Peking Roasted Duck. B, L, D.
Day 5: Beijing - Xian. After breakfast, we’ll visit the Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors prayed for a good harvest. It’s a masterpiece of ancient architecture and landscape design, which simply illustrates the origins of one of the world’s greatest civilizations.
We’ll continue our adventure with an exploration of the old town of Beijing by visiting Hutong (an old area of Beijing characterized by courtyard homes) by rickshaw and having lunch with a Hutong family.
After lunch, we’ll transfer to the airport for flight to Xian, the ancient capital of China. B, L, D.
Day 6: Xian (Terra Cotta Warrior Visit). Xian is the starting point to the west for the Silk Road. The highlight today (maybe of the whole trip) is a visit to the massive excavation site that contains 8,000 Terra Cotta warriors and horses, each individually sculpted 2,000 years ago to amazingly life-like proportions and built to protect Emperor’s Qin’s tomb. Tonight, consider going to see the optional Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show. B, L.
Day 7: Xian-Chongqing. After breakfast, we’ll visit the Shaanxi Historical Museum, where you can learn about the 5,000-year history of China. Then it’s on to the Ancient City Wall, constructed in the early Ming Dynasty on the basis of the Imperial City of Chang An (Everlasting Peace) of the Tang Dynasty.
After lunch, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Chongqing. Upon arrival, transferred to your four-star cruise ship, President Cruisers No. 6. B, L.
Day 8: Yangtze River Cruise. Our river adventure will being in the morning, when we depart Chongqing at 8:00am. Later, we’ll have a shore excursion at Fengdu. Fengdu, known as the "Ghost City" because Chinese tradition holds that the souls of the dead go here, was built more than 1800 years ago and is considered a place for punishing the devil and awarding the good. B, L, D.
Day 9: Yangtze River Cruise. Today we’ll pass through the magnificent Qutang Gorge, the first of the three gorges on the Yangtze River. The Qutang Gorge is famous for its sheer and spectacular precipices. We’ll also see the lovely Wu Gorge, which is considered the most beautiful section of this famous river. Later we’ll a great opportunity to transfer to a smaller sampan to explore the Shennong Stream, a tributary of the Yangtze. A relaxing day! B, L, D.
Day 10: Yangtze Cruise/Yichang/Shanghai. Visit the Three Gorges Dam, the largest water conservancy project ever undertaken by human beings, is now being built at Sandouping in the middle of Xiling Gorge. Upon arrival in Yichang, we’ll be transferred to the airport for our flight to Shanghai. B, L.
Day 11: Shanghai. Most of today will be spent on a full-day sightseeing tour of the city to include visits to the Yu Garden (a peaceful retreat in the middle of bustling Shanghai), Nanjing Shopping Road and the Bund area (known as a miniature museum of international architecture), and the Jade Buddha Temple (the most famous Buddhist temple in Shanghai). B, L.
Day 12: Shanghai. Free day for you to explore Shanghai on your own. Want to go shopping, visit the Shanghai Museum, or explore the Pudong area? Want to go on a day tour to Suzhou, which is known as the Venice of the East? It is also known for its beautiful gardens and is a Sister City to Portland. Have fun! B.
Day 13: Shanghai to the US or extension. Today, we’ll have buffet breakfast at hotel and you’re free until your transfer to the airport for your flight home or to Hong Kong for your optional extension.
What’s Included:
- All internal flights in China
- All city airport departure taxes for all internal flights
- 11 nights lodging in standard rooms in deluxe hotels (or cabin on the deluxe cruise ship) based on double occupancy, each room with private bath and shower
- All air ticket and hotel taxes
- 23 meals (10 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 4 dinners (Chinese or Western style)
- Yangtze River Cruise on a deluxe ship
- Baggage-handling daily for one large suitcase per person
- An English-speaking tour director who meets us in Beijing and will be with the group the entire time in China, plus local English-speaking guides to show us each major city we visit
- All sightseeing and entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary shown above
- Pre-trip meeting for those who live in the greater Portland area (minimum of 10 people)
- Escorted from Portland (with a minimum of 10 people)
- Final information packets
Want a copy of the detailed itinerary? Contact: travel@patandmikestravel.com