Fly to Beijing. Cross the Int’l Date Line.

Upon arrival in Beijing, the capital city of China, you will be warmly greeted at the airport by the tour guide and transferred to your hotel. 

Today’s highlight is a tour of the astonishing Great Wall. Much anticipated by our guests, the Great Wall serves as one of the most famous images of China. It is the only manmade object visible from the moon and one of the Seven Wonders of the World!  After lunch, see skilled artisans at work at the Cloisonné Factory. Later, walk the Sacred Path of Ming Tombs. Have an up-close view of the beautiful Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, both of which are national stadiums built for the 2008 Olympics. Visit one of the largest Jade Centers in Asia and learn Chinese jade culture.. Tonight, you can choose to attend an optional Chinese cultural show at your own expense, “The Golden Mask Dynasty” ($55pp), a spectacular one that incorporates dancing, acrobatics and magnificent costumes. 

Fly to Shanghai and travel by coach to Suzhou. Suzhou is called the “Garden City” due to its many classical gardens, renowned for their charming natural beauty and harmonious construction. Upon arrival, visit the Lingering Garden, which is among the nest gardens in China. As a large area of the city is covered by water, including a vast number of ponds and streams, Suzhou is known as “Venice of the East”. You may take a cruise along the Grand Canal to view life along China’s golden waterway in its heyday ($30pp). Later visit a Silk Spinning Mill, and learn how silk is created from mulberry-munching silkworms to produce the nest thread and cloth.

In the morning, travel by coach to Wuxi, one of the oldest cities in China with more than 3,000 years history. Upon arrival, visit one of the largest Fresh Water Pearls Farm in the country, followed by the 288-foot Lingshan Grand Buddha, one of the largest Buddha statues in the world. Later, stroll along Nanchang Street, a charming and fashionable pedestrian street composed of both ancient and modern architectural styles.

In the morning, travel by coach to Hangzhou, described by Marco Polo as “the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world”. Experience an oriental tea-tasting at the Dragon Well Tea Plantation. Later take a boat ride on the serene West Lake, the most renowned feature of Hangzhou, noted for its scenic beauty which blends naturally with many famous historical and cultural sites. Tonight, you may attend an optional cultural show at your own expense, the Impression West Lake ($70pp). 

After lunch, travel by coach to Shanghai, the vibrant metropolis and commercial center of China. Upon arrival, walk along the famous Bund, a mile-long stretch along the Huangpu River. Lined by the colonial architectures of European design, this area is the best place to capture the western influences of the old days. Continue on to the bustling shopping district, Nanjing Road and the Ming Dynasty Yuyuan Garden which is considered to be one of the four greatest Chinese gardens. You may cap off the day by attending a thrilling optional Chinese acrobatic show at your own expense - “ERA: The Intersection of Time” ($60pp).

In the morning, visit the Shanghai Museum and see ancient Chinese art, furniture and jade, followed by a visit to an Emerald exhibition center. This afternoon is at leisure. You may explore the Xintiandi area, an affluent and fashionable pedestrian street composed of unique Shikumen ("stone gate") and modern architecture. At night, you may enjoy an optional  “Huangpu River Night Cruise” and get a glimpse of the dazzling and charming night view of Shanghai at your own expense ($50pp).

Your China journey is over all too soon… Fly back home and arrive home on the same day as you leave China.