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Grand China Experience
November 6 - 18, 2011

ALL-INCLUSIVE - 13 DAYS - FULLY ESCORTED TOUR

Day 1: DEPART THE US

Depart from a major US gateway for your flight to Beijing, China. Beijing is 13 hours ahead of US Central Standard Time. (In-flight meal service)

Day 2: ARRIVE IN BEIJING

Upon arrival into Beijing's International airport, you are welcomed by our Chinese tour director and our local Beijing guide. Following lunch in a local restaurant, you check into a five-star hotel. The balance of the afternoon touring Beijing. Enjoy dinner and a good night's sleep so you will be ready to continue your exciting tour of China tomorrow. (L, D)

Day 3: BEIJING

After an included American-style breakfast, the tour begins with visits to two popular Chinese landmarks, the Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen Square, best known for the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. In the spring of 1989 a series of demonstrations led by students, intellectuals, and labor activists resulted in a massacre which left hundreds of civilians dead. This large plaza spreads over 110 acres and the name, Tiananmen, literally translates to "Gate of Heavenly Peace". Continue on to the Forbidden City, located in the center of ancient Beijing, which was the Imperial Palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The palace complex, with its many exceptionally well preserved wooden buildings, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Conclude today's tour with a visit to the Summer Palace and its exquisitely designed gardens, and if time permits, a pearl factory. AB, L, D

Day 4: BEIJING / GREAT WALL / MING DYNASTY TOMBS

Enjoy a full day's excursion to the Great Wall and the famous Ming Dynasty Tombs. The Great Wall, one of the "Great Wonders of the World", is a 4,000 mile long rampart built over several centuries to keep out the invading Mongols. No matter which direction you walk on the wall, you can't help but be awestruck. This incredible landmark is one of the few sites on earth that astronauts are able to see from outer space! Later, travel to a secluded valley to visit the Thirteen Tombs of the Ming Dynasty. The more than four mile long road leading to the tombs is lined with statues of guardian animals, and is named Spirit Way. Two of these elaborate burial mounds have been fully excavated and are open to the public. Time permitting we visit a jade factory before enjoying the culinary delight, a Peking duck banquet. AB, L, D

Day 5: BEIJING / XI'AN

Transfer to the Beijing airport for your flight to the city of Xi'an. Xi'an, known as one of the "Four Great Ancient Capitals of China", is the largest and best developed city in northwestern central China. Tour the well preserved Xi'an City Wall which once completely surrounded the city as an ancient military defense system. The balance of the afternoon is yours to explore Xi'an. Enjoy an American style dinner this evening. AB, L, AD

Day 6: XI'AN

The glory of ancient Xi'an is evident at the burial site of Emperor Qun Shi Huang, with his incredible army of 8,000 Terra Cotta soldiers, positioned in military formation, to protect him in his afterlife. These more than 2,000 year old life-like figures will put in perspective how people really looked and dressed in ancient China. Tonight's highlight is a 20-course Chinese dumpling dinner followed by the colorful Tang Dynasty Culture Show. This wonderful performance always receives great reviews. AB, L, D

Day 7: XI'AN / CHONGQING

Transfer to the Xi'an airport for your flight to Chongqing. Here you will see those lovable pandas. Also, visit the Flying Tigers Museum and the General Stillwell Museum, formerly the private residence of American General Stillwell, the commander of the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. This evening, board a luxurious cruise vessel for a three-day Yangtze River Cruise. At 9:00 p.m. the vessel sets sail for a cruise through China's beautiful countryside. Relax and enjoy lectures presented by our river guides while en route. Each day, dine in style, enjoy the ship's amenities, and, of course, the included shore excursions. AB, L, D

Day 8: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

While cruising on the Yangtze, one of the longest rivers in the world, see how the one time low lying cities, homes, and factories have been relocated to prevent their destruction from the quickly rising backwaters created by the massive Three Gorges Dam. Today's shore excursion includes the magical Fengdu Ghost Town or the city of Wanxian, as well as visits to a school and a market. This evening enjoy a cocktail party hosted by the captain. AB, L, D

Day 9: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE

Today, pass through two of the mighty Three Gorges, the Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge. Along the way, the large cruise ship stops and you board a smaller vessel which takes you to the Shennong Stream, one of the tributaries of the Yangtze. Here you board an even smaller boat for an escorted cruise up the incredibly scenic Shennong Stream. Marvel at the ancient Chinese who laid their dead to rest in wooden coffins suspended on high cliffs and in chiseled-out caverns. Watch the playful monkeys and the interesting rock formations that look like huge animal heads. Return to your cruise ship and later pass through the five massive locks of the Three Gorges Dam (passage through these massive locks is always at the discretion of the dam supervisor). The Three Gorges Dam is the world's largest state-of-the-art hydroelectric plant of its kind. During the dam's construction, which started on December 14, 1994, the project employed at times up to 25,000 workers. The dam, except for a ship lift, was completed in 2008. The dam has caused significant ecological changes, flooded archeological and cultural sites, and has displaced 1.24 million people. The project is expected to be fully complete by 2011. The goal is to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. AB, L, D

Day 10: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE / YI CHANG / SHANGHAI

This morning, enjoy a motor coach tour of the Three Gorges Dam site. This tour is conducted by the Three Gorges Project Commission and consists of commentary, photo stops, and a tour of the visitor's center. Return to the ship and cruise past the last, and longest, of the Three Gorges, the Xiling Gorge. Disembark the ship near the city of Yi Chang and transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Shanghai will amaze you with its rich historical architecture and its ultra-modern structures, which look even more amazing at night.. it's like a trip through Magic Kingdom in Disneyland. Each building is shadowed with a soft hue cast by the artificial lighting - no other city's skyline compares to Shanghai's at night! AB, L, AD

Day 11: SHANGHAI

Get acquainted with Shanghai's major attractions including China's premier shopping street, the Nanjing Road. Start at the famous Bund, stretching about three and a half miles. The Bund is located on the city's waterfront dividing the old Shanghai from the new. See old Shanghai with its international architecture on one side and the Pudong District, the city's exquisite cosmopolitan area, on the other. Glimpse a part of China that will totally amaze you. Tour Shanghai's newest development area and visit a contractors building supply store, spanning four floors, where the Chinese purchase things for their homes, from furniture to Jacuzzis, to light fixtures, and thousands of other items. Shanghai is home to one of the tallest buildings in the world with a roof height of 1,598 ft. and the highest occupied floor at 1,555 ft. Do you want to travel to the top of this building for an unforgettable view of the city? You can do it if you want! Visiting a silk factory will give you an in-depth look at China's passion for silk production, and tonight, enjoy an incredible acrobatic show. No one does this as well as the Chinese! AB, AL, D

Day 12: SHANGHAI

Today is yours to enjoy any way you please - perhaps shopping for those special gifts or just spending the day exploring more of this beautiful city. Our experienced, local Chinese guide is available to give you expert tips on how to make the most of this day. Favorites of past travelers always included the discount markets on Nanjing Road. AB

Day 13: SHANGHAI/USA

This morning, transfer to the train station to board the Maglev (magnetic levitation) train, the world's fastest and most futuristic passenger train. Travel to the Shanghai airport at a breathtaking speed, topping out at 267 miles per hour, for your flight back to the USA. AB, In-flight Meal Service