Grand China Experience

November 10-23, 2008

March 2009 Dates To Be Announced

Itinerary is Subject to Change

Day 1: YOUR GATEWAY CITY / CHICAGO
Depart your local air gateway and arrive in Chicago for our late night international flight to Beijing. Meet your Rupiper tour manager at the departure gate.

Day 2: USA / BEIJING
International air time (Beijing, China is 13 hours ahead of US Central Standard Time). Meals and complimentary beverages are included.   In-flight meal service

Day 3: ARRIVE BEIJING
Upon arrival into Beijing's International airport, you are introduced to our Chinese National and local Beijing guide. Following lunch in a local restaurant, check into our five-star hotel where you may rest or enjoy the hotel's amenities. To reduce jet lag, spend the balance of the afternoon touring Bejing. Enjoy an early dinner and get a good night's sleep, and you will be ready to continue your exciting tour of China the following morning.  L, D

Day 4: BEIJING
After an included American-style breakfast the tour will begin with a visit to the Temple of Heaven. You’ve seen this landmark sanctuary dozens of times in pictures of China's landscape.  Another famous China landmark is Tiananmen Square. Outside of China the square is best known for the Tiananmen Square Protest 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.  The square’s dimensions are almost 110 acres and its name, Tiananmen, literally translates to “Gate of Heavenly Peace.”  Next you’ll visit the adjacent Forbidden City, located at 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.  At the close of the day, you visit the Summer Palace with its exquisitely designed gardens, and perhaps a pearl factory if time permits.  AB, L, D

Day 5: BEIJING
Today you have a full day excursion to the Great Wall and the famous Ming Dynasty Tombs.  The Great Wall, one of the greatest 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 will just stop and gaze at this awesome landmark – one of the few sites on earth that the astronauts are able to see from outer space!  Later you travel to a secluded valley which houses the thirteen Imperial burial mounds of the Ming Dynasty.  The Ming Tomb Area spreads out over 15 square miles, where two of the elaborate burial mounds have been fully excavated and are open to the public.  Time permitting, you will visit a jade factory before enjoying a culinary delight, a Peking Duck Banquet.  This is not like the duck your buddy, the duck hunter fixes – this one is absolutely scrumptious!  AB, L, D

Day 6: BEIJING / XI'AN
This morning, transfer to the Beijing airport for your flight to the city of Xi’an.  This ancient city, known as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, is the largest and best developed city in northwestern central China. After lunch, see the ancient city Wall of Xi’an which once completely surrounded the city as a military defense system.  The balance of the afternoon is yours to explore Xi’an.   Tonight, enjoy an American style dinner.  AB, L, AD

Day 7: XI'AN
Today’s tour recalls the glories of ancient Xi’an as you visit 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 life-like figures are more than 2,000 years old and will give you a whole new perspective on how people really looked and dressed in years gone by.  The next visit will be to the majestic Wild Goose Pagoda, one of China's major icons.  Built in 652 during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang dynasty, this temple was a guiding force in the spread of Buddhism.  The highlight this evening is a 20-course Chinese Dumpling Dinner followed by the beautiful and colorful Tang Dynasty Culture Show.  This show always receives great reviews. AB, L, D

Day 8: XI'AN
Your journey today will take you into China's countryside stopping in a village for a visit to a farmer’s newly constructed home.  Meet the family and enjoy a tour of the home for a better understanding of the Chinese culture.  You will also visit a nearby school and church.  Students are so very excited to meet Americans and the feeling is always mutual.  Later, visit a factory that produces grain drills as well as farm power tillers.  Time permitting you will visit a combine factory.  Then it’s back to Xi’an to enjoy an American style dinner.  AB, L, AD

Day 9: XI'AN / CHONGQING
This morning, the group transfers to the Xi'an airport for the flight to Chongqing, where we see those loveable Pandas and the Flying Tigers Museum. If time allows, we visit the General Stillwell Museum, formerly the private residence of General Stillwell, the commander of the China-Burma-India Theater during World War II. In the evening, board a luxurious cruise vessel for a three-day Yangtze River Cruise. Departure time is 9:00 p.m. Sail through China's beautiful countryside, relaxing and enjoying lectures presented by our river guides while en-route.  Each day, dine in style starting with an American-type breakfast and Chinese cuisine for lunch and dinner. Then too, we have an included shore excursion each day of the cruise. AB, L, D

Day 10: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE
While cruising on the Yangtze, one of the longest rivers in the world, you will 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 nearly completed massive Three Gorges Dam.  Your first day includes a shore excursion to the ancient city of Fengdu or Wanxian, as well as visits to a school, a market, or the ancient Ghost City. This evening enjoy a cocktail party hosted by the captain.  AB, L, D

Day 11: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE
Today you pass through the beautiful and scenic Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge, two of the mighty Three Gorges.  Along the way, the large cruiser stops and we board a smaller vessel that travels to the Shennong Stream.  Here we board an even smaller boat for an escorted cruise up the incredibly scenic Shennong Stream, one of the tributaries of the Yangtze.  See how the ancient Chinese hung their coffins off high cliffs and laid their dead to rest in chiseled out caverns.  Watch the playful monkeys and the interesting rock formations that look like huge animal heads. Later the ship will pass through the five massive locks of the Three Gorges project.  Passage through these massive locks is always at the discretion of the dam supervisors and is based on the completion of the fifth lock that should be completed by mid summer. This, the world’s largest state-of-the-art hydro electrical plant and dam building project, employed up to 25,000 workers during construction.  The Three Gorges Dam is now very near completion, except for the hydro elevator, designed to elevate and lower small boats. AB, L, D

Day 12: YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE / YI CHANG - SHANGHAI
This morning the cruise continues past the last of the three gorges, Xiling Gorge which is the longest of the Three Gorges.  Disembark the luxury cruiser and enjoy a two hour 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 center. Continuing on we fly to Shanghai where you'll be amazed with the city's rich historical architecture, combined with the most modern.  Even more amazing is the incredible evening lighting...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 compares to Shanghai at night! Overnight in Shanghai.  AB, L, AD

Day 13: SHANGHAI
Today's sightseeing tour introduces you to the major attractions of the city, including Nanjing Road, the Bonsi Garden, the Jade Budda Temple, and the famous Bund, situated on the city's waterfront. Divided by the river, you'll see an international architectural display on one side, and the city's newest skyline on the other.  Walk the Bund to get the feel of the new and the old. Later you will tour Shanghai's newest development area, Pudong with its exquisite cosmopolitan architecture. China will soon have the tallest skyscraper in the world. Visit a silk factory for an indepth look at China's passion for silk production. Tonight enjoy a spectacular Acrobatic Show - no one does this as well as the Chinese!  AB, AL, D

Day 14: 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 can give you expert tips on how to have a wonderful day.  AB

Day 15: SHANGHAI / USA
Following breakfast, transfer to the train station where you’ll board the fastest train in the world.  Travel to the airport 267 miles per hour, arriving in time for check-in and our flight back to the USA.   AB, In-flight meal service