Itinerary

=**Itinerary for 2011**=

Inclusions

Accommodations, twin or double occupancy at hotels as specified.. All internal air and surface transportation as required. Individual transfers including baggage handling. .American breakfast daily. Local style lunch and dinners as per the itinerary (B, L. D). Cultural entertainment as noted in cities en route. Local sightseeing led by English-speaking guides from local travel agency. Full sightseeing activities per the itinerary.

DAY 0 Jul 5 Tuesday arrive CHICAGO (D)

Depart from home city to Chicago for a pre-tour orientation at 5PM at the Hampton Inn O’Hare. Overnight at the Hampton Inn (booked and paid for by NCTA).

DAY 1 Jul 6 Wednesday depart USA (B)

Depart from Chicago on a non-stop flight across the Pacific and the International Dateline to Shanghai. [American flight AA289 Chicago/Shanghai 10:40AM/2:05PM + 1 day]

DAY 2 Jul 7 Thursday arrive SHANGHAI (D)

Arrive in Shanghai, China’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. After clearing entry formalities, be met, have the luggage transferred to the hotel and for the airport transfer, take the magnetic levitation high speed train at speeds up to 240 mph floating 35 kilometers from the airport to the Pudong terminus in 7 minutes. Visit the TV Tower observation deck before continuing to the the Zhong Fu Charms Hotel. After a light dinner, rest to recover from jet-lag.

DAY 3 Jul 8 Friday SHANGHAI (B, L, D)

After a morning city tour, visit the Urban Planning Exhibition and the Shanghai Museum, a world-class museum with a wonderful collection of Chinese artifacts. Lunch is at a vegetarian restaurant connected to the Jade Buddha Temple. Spend the afternoon exploring Xintiandi including the French concession house where the CCP was founded. See a performance of Shanghai Acrobats tonight.

DAY 4 Jul 9 Saturday SHANGHAI/TUNXI (B, L, D)

Morning visit to the Yu Garden and the old town area including the Temple of the City God. After lunch fly from Hongqiao Airport to Huangshan. Stay at the Huamao International Hotel. Visit to the Ink factory and have dinner on the Tunxi ancient street. [Shanghai Airlines flight FM9267 Shanghai/Tunxi 2:20PM/3:25PM]

DAY 5 Jul 10 Sunday HUANGSHAN (B, L, D)

Visit Hongcun and explore the living preserved town used as a setting in the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Later take a cable car to the top of the Yellow Mountains. Hike explore the many trails at this scenic site. Stay at the Beihai Hotel.

DAY 6 Jul 11 Monday TUNXI/HANGZHOU (B, L, D)

Up early this morning to see the sunrise above a “sea of clouds”. Return for breakfast then come down the mountain. View Huizhou architecture in Tangyue Village with its 7 Memorial Arches before driving to Hangzhou, a honeymoon city located on scenic West Lake. Stay at the Lily Hotel.

DAY 7 Jul 12 Tuesday HANGZHOU/CHENGDU (B, L, D)

Take a cruise on West Lake with a stop to see the Longjing Tea Plantation. Visit the Lingyin Temple and then fly to Chengdu and overnight at the Galaxy Hotel. [China Eastern flight MU5434 Hangzhou/Chengdu 3:55PM/6:50PM]

DAY 8 Jul 13 Wednesday CHENGDU (B, L, D)

Tour the Panda Research Center. Later tour the superb museum at Sanxingdui. This evening attend a Sichuan Opera ‘Bianlian’ performance in a local tea house.

DAY 9 Jul 14 Tuesday CHENGDU/XI’AN (B, L, D)

Take a flight to Xi’an, known for its archeological museums. A highlight of Xi’an is the on-site excavation Museum of Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses. Also visit the Wild Goose Pagoda and the Ming Dynasty city wall. Stay at the Xi’an Hotel. See a Shadow Puppets performance at Gaojia Da Yuan in the Muslim Quarter. [China Southern flight CZ6402 Chengdu/Xi’an 8:45AM/9:55AM]

DAY 10 Jul 15 Friday XI’AN/BEIJING (B, L, D)

En route to the airport stop at Yang-ling, a tomb museum with burial figures from the Han Dynasty. Fly to Beijing and transfer to Days Inn Forbidden City Hotel. Later go to the Temple of Heaven, located in a popular park. See historical sites, and wander among people playing cards, performing amateur opera, and exercising. [Air China flight CA1232 Xi’an/Beijing 11:20AM/1:10PM]

DAY 11 Jul 16 Saturday BEIJING (B, L, D)

Visit Tiananmen Square and tour the Forbidden City’s Palace Museum. Later visit the Summer Palace. Have dinner and see a performance of highlights of Beijing Opera at the Beijing Traditional Opera Museum in HuGuang Chamber.

DAY 12 Jul 17 Sunday BEIJING (B, L, D)

Morning tour by pedicab of a hutong area. After lunch visit the Lama Temple (Yonghegong). Free time on Wangfujing Street before a Peking Duck dinner.

DAY 13 Jul 18 Monday BEIJING (B, L, D)

Visit the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu. Stop for photo opportunities at the 2008 Olympic sites and visit the Dashanzi Art District(also known as 798 Factory). Pack tonight for an early flight home.

DAY 14 Jul 19 Tuesday BEIJING/USA (B)

Transfer for a return flight to Chicago arriving the same day. [American flight AA186 Beijing/Chicago 6:55AM/6:40AM]

Slight changes in an itinerary due to weather or flight schedules are beyond the control of CHINASMITH.