TourCode_SZLXB

The Middle Kingdom
Central Kingdom, famous Shaolin Temple, Shanghai, Xi'an & Beijing

11 days/ 10 nights

Tour Code: SZLXB

Day 1

Arrive in Shanghai (Friday)
Welcome to Shanghai-the economic center of China, a comprehensive industrial base and a famous historical and cultural city. On arrival, you will be met by your friendly local tour guide and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2

Shanghai
We will have a full day city tour in Shanghai. Start the exploration from Old Downtown and classical Yu Garden. Another UNESCO site, the Yu Garden, built 400 years ago, is a famous ancient private garden with architectures of Ming and Qing dynasties. After lunch, we will visit the marvelous Shanghai Museum. Its galleries contain world-class collections of ancient arts and artifacts. After that, we stroll to the People Square. The surroundings are the best collection of modern architecture. If time permits, we visit the Carpet Factory. Enjoy an exciting Acrobatic Show in the evening. [B/L/D]

Day 3

Shanghai/Zhengzhou Flight
This morning, we visit Jade Buddha Temple and Nanjing Road. Then transfer to airport for flight to Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province. Henan Province has the largest population as a single province, and it is the cradle of Chinese civilization in the central part of China. This afternoon, our city tour includes Henan Museum, which is a major museum in China. Evening, enjoy a local cuisine welcome banquet dinner.[B/L/SD]

Day 4

Zhengzhou/Shaolin Temple/Luoyang Overland
Today, excursion to Dengfeng County and visit famous Shaolin Temple, enjoy Martial Art Performance at Temple. Shaolin Temple is where China’s most famous martial arts tradition was developed here by Buddhist monks, and it is where you can find everything legendary about Chinese Martial Arts. Later, we proceed to Pagoda Forest, a cemetery of 246 pagodas containing the ashes of eminent monks. After Vegetarian Lunch in the Temple, we will visit the famous Guanxing Tai Observatory, China’s oldest surviving observatory. [B/SL/D]

Day 5

Luoyang
Today’s highlight includes Longmen Grottos. The grottoes of Longmen contain the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316907). These works, entirely devoted to the Buddhist religion, represent the highest standard of Chinese stone carving. White Horse Temple, is the memorial of the first transit Buddhism to China. If time permits, we will visit Luoyang Museum of Ancient Tombs. [B/L/D]

Day 6

Luoyang/Xi'an Train
Today, we will board the Express Train to Xi'an. Over a period of more than 2000 years, Xian was the capital for six dynasties. Along with Rome and Constantinople, this city was a world leader in culture and trade and played a vital role in bridging the gap between east and west. Later visit Shaanxi Provincial History Museum, a striking Tang-Dynasty style pavilion, houses a large collection of 113,000 historic and cultural artifacts unearthed in Shaanxi. [B/L/D]

Day 7

Xi'an
Today we will visit the spectacular sight of the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang guarded by 8,000 Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses in battle formation. We will see all excavated Exhibition 1, 2, 3, 4, and watch the archaeologists are continuing on the fields for further excavation. It is the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century and regarded as “the eighth wonder of the world” and among the top archaeological excavations of the 20th century. Then, we watch the Circle Vision Movie of the historical story. After that, we will visit a Ceramics & Pottery Centre. Return to city to Larger Wild Goose Pagoda, the landmark of Xi’an. Enjoy the Dumpling Banquet Dinner & Tang Dynasty Show in the evening. [B/L/SD]

Day 8

Xi'an/Beijing Flight
This morning, we fly to Beijing. Afternoon, we will visit Summer Palace including cruise on the shimmering waters of Kunming Lake (subject to weather and water condition). The Summer Palace (Yiheyuan) in the northwestern suburb of Beijing was built in 1750, so far the best-preserved imperial garden in China, and was endorsed by the UNESCO in 1998 as a world cultural heritage site. Tonight, we enjoy cultural show. [B/L]

Day 9

Beijing
Today, we will walk across Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world and the symbolic center for all of China. We will then visit the magnificent Forbidden City. This complex, the largest and most intact conglomeration of ancient structures of the imperial palace ever built in the world, features more than 800 buildings with 9999 rooms, resplendent golden-glazed roofs, red lacquered pillars and vermilion walls. Then, we approach to the Pandas Garden in Beijing Zoo. It has been breeding the largest numbers of pandas as an institution away from the original habitat areas and it constitutes with other Panda Sanctuaries for being the UNESCO site. Built in 1420, Temple of Heaven was where Ming and Qing emperors prayed Heaven for good harvests. Major structures are hall of Prayer for good Harvest, Imperial Vault of Heaven, Circular Mound Altar, and Abstinence Palace. UNESCO endorsed Temple of Heaven as a world cultural heritage site in December 1998. If time permits, we will visit Pearl workshop. [B/L/D]

Day 10

Beijing
This morning we start tours first to iconic “Beijing 2008 Olympic Center”-the Bird’s Nest & Water Cube, where hosts to many spectacular events. We stroll around the outside for photography. Then, we continue to the Great Wall at Badaling, one of the most amazing feats of human labor. The Great Wall is the most famous image of China throughout the world. It is the only man made object visible from the moon, and as one of the Eight Wonders of the world. It is a symbol of Chinese traditional culture and the pride of the Chinese nation. Later visit the Ming Tombs along the Sacred Stature Road with giant marble figures and animals guarding the tomb area for deceased emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644AD). This is an attractive destination as much for the natural scenery of the area as for the tombs themselves. If time permits, we will visit a Jade stone carving factory en route and observe the skilled artisans at work as they create intricate designs. Enjoy the famous Peking Duck farewell dinner in the evening. [B/L/SD]

Day 11

Depart Beijing (Monday)
Departure transfer to airport for flight to your sweet home. [B]

Package Price

Arrive in Shanghai Friday	Depart Beijing Monday	Package Rate Per Person	Single Supplement	Extra Night Per Room in Shanghai	Extra Night Per Room in Beijing
2010. 4. 16	2010. 4. 26	USD $1279	USD $369	USD $99	USD $85
4. 30	5. 10	USD $1279	USD $369	USD $99	USD $85
5. 07	5. 17	USD $1279	USD $369	USD $99	USD $85
5. 14	5. 24	USD $1279	USD $369	USD $99	USD $85
5. 21	5. 31	USD $1279	USD $369	USD $99	USD $85
6. 18	6. 28	USD $1249	USD $339	USD $85	USD $85
7. 09	7. 19	USD $1249	USD $339	USD $85	USD $85
7. 23	8. 02	USD $1249	USD $339	USD $85	USD $85
8. 06	8. 16	USD $1249	USD $339	USD $85	USD $85
8. 20	8. 30	USD $1249	USD $339	USD $85	USD $85
9. 03	9. 13	USD $1299	USD $399	USD $99	USD $99
9. 10	9. 20	USD $1299	USD $399	USD $99	USD $99
9. 17	9. 27	USD $1299	USD $399	USD $99	USD $99
10. 08	10. 18	USD $1299	USD $399	USD $99	USD $99
10. 15	10. 25	USD $1299	USD $399	USD $99	USD $99
10. 22	11. 01	USD $1299	USD $399	USD $99	USD $99
10. 29	11. 08	USD $1259	USD $359	USD $99	USD $85
11. 05	11. 15	USD $1259	USD $359	USD $99	USD $85

*Price per person in US dollars, minimum 2 passengers traveling together
*Canadian travelers please click here (www.xe.com) for price in Canadian dollar

Includes:

10 nights accommodation based on twin sharing with buffet breakfast
- Shanghai Galaxy Hotel or similar( First class)
- Zhengzhou Crown Plaze Hotel or similar Grand Aisa Hotel (Superior first class)
- Luoyang Huayang International Hotel or similar (Superior first class)
- Xi'an Aurum International Hotel or similar (First class)
- Beijing Chang An Grand Hotel or similar (Superior first class)
Sightseeing tours with lunch and dinner as listed in the itinerary, including
- Acrobatic Show in Shanghai
- Chinese Dumpling Dinner & Tang Dynasty Show in Xi’an
- Peking Duck Dinner & Cultural Show in Beijing
- B: Full board western buffet breakfast at hotel
- L/D: Lunch & dinner in selected restaurants with one glass of soft drinks
- SD: Chinese special dinner in selected restaurants with soft drinks & local wine
- SL: Chinese special cuisine lunch with one glass of soft drinks
Professional English speaking tour guide service
Round trip airport/hotel/airport transfers
Soft seat on express train from Luoyang to Xi’an
Domestic airfare Shanghai/Zhengzhou-Xi’an/Beijing with airport tax and fuel surcharge

Excludes:

International flights & airport taxes
Domestic flight fuel surcharge is based on government published price in August 2009, if any increase afterwards, we keep right to adjust it accordingly
Travel insurance
Visa fee
Personal expenses, e.g. laundry, telephone, minibar…
Gratuities to guide, driver & porters