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2009 CHINA GRAND:
Sample Itinerary
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Day 01
Day 02
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USA-China:
Overnight flights to China. Service and meals onboard as per airline policy.
Shanghai:
Upon arrival transfer to your five-star hotel (Vivasha Resort Hotel or similar). Due to various arrivals, meals are on your own.
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Day 03
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Shanghai - Suzhou:
Depart via train for Suzhou, China's "City of Canals". The city is renowned for its beautiful stone bridges, pagodas, and beautifully designed gardens. Sozhou has hundreds of miles of small city canals and part of the Grand Canal (over 1000 miles long) runs through the city. As the saying goes - Gardens to the south of Yangtze River are the best in the world, and Suzhou gardens are the best among them. More than 60 gardens are kept intact, and a number of them have been included in the World Heritage List. Tour of the city includes a boat ride on the Grand Canal and Pan Men Gate. Enjoy a special dinner and a performance of "Master of the Nets" at the Garden of Master of the Nets. Overnight in Suzhou at a five-star hotel (Garden View Hotel or similar). (B, L, SD)
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Day 04
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Sozhou - Shanghai:
Return to Shanghai by either a train or a motor coach. Situated on the banks of the Yangtze River delta, Shanghai is one of the largest in the world. Widely regarded as the citadel of China's modern economy, the city also serves as one of the nation's most important cultural, commercial, financial, industrial and communications centers. Your sightseeing includes the Bund, Yu Yuan Gardens, Nanjing Road and other major attractions. In the evening an early dinner will be followed by a special Chinese Acrobat Show. Overnight at your hotel. (B, D)
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Day 05
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Shanghai:
In the morning visit the Jade Buddha Temple. The two precious jade Buddhist statues - the Sitting Buddha and the Recumbent Buddha - are carved from whole slabs of white jade. The sparkling and crystal-clear white jade gives the Buddhas the beauty of sanctity and make them more vivid. After a special Mongolian style BBQ lunch, visit the impressive Shanghai Museum with audio guide and end the day with dinner at a local restaurant. (B, SL, D)
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Day 06
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Shanghai - Wuhan:
A mid-day flight to Wuhan. Divided by the Yangtze, Wuhan has come to be known as the Three Towns of Wuhan with Hankou and Hanyang on the west bank, and Wuchang on the east. Wuhan is a city with both an ancient history and a thriving present. Historic relics excavated from ancient tombs tell the city's long story dating back 3,500 years. Upon arrival, you tour of this vibrant port city will include stops at Mao's Residence and the Museum of Ancient History. Dinner and overnight at a five-start hotel (Best Western Mayflower Hotel or similar). (B, D)
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Day 07
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Wuhan - Yichang - CRUISE:
After breakfast, board your motorcoach for a fascinating drive past local villages, rice paddies and rural Chinese life. Stop for lunch in Shashiprior and visit the History Museum - a home to "Mr. Sui" a 1000 year old mummy still preserved with most of his body parts intact. Continue on to Yichang that is located in western Hubei Province at the eastern end of the Xiling Gorge - one of the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River. In Yichang you will board the M/S Victoria Empress
(see deck plan)
, your deluxe floating hotel. Welcome cocktails and dinner will be served on board. (B, L, D)
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Day 08
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CRUISE - 3 Gorges Dam:
Relax and enjoy your first day of cruising up the Yangtze river after you begin the day with a tour of one of the modern Wonders of the World, the Three Gorges Dam. This is the largest hydroelectric river dam in the world, more than five times the size of Hoover Dam. It is also one of the largest man-made projects ever constructed. The dam is made of concrete and is about 7660 ft long, and 616 ft high. After passing through the dam, sail on through the wide Xiling Gorge and the mysterious Wu Gorge. Tonight enjoy our onboard fashion show performed by the crew. (B, L, B)
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Day 09
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CRUISE - Lesser Gorges:
Today explore the Lesser Gorges either along the Daning OR Shennong Streams. Small motorized sampan boats - flat bottomed Chinese wooden boats twelve to fifteen feet long - will take you through such gorges as Misty, Parrot or Dragon Gates. View unique flora and fauna and the unusual, "hanging" coffins of the ancient Ba people. Stop at a local
village where you will meet and mingle with the locals before sailing
silently downstream back to the Yangtze. Once aboard your ship, enjoy
various onboard activities. (B, L, D)
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Day 10
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CRUISE - Yangtze towns:
Today you will make a stop at either Shiboshai, Wanxian, or Fengdu - all typical riverside towns where a tour will introduce you to local attractions. The evening is reserved for our Captain's Gala dinner followed by a karaoke contest and a dance party. (B, L, D)
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Day 11
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END CRUISE - Chongqing - Guilin:
Bid your ship good-bye and continue with your China adventure. Your tour of Chongqing includes a visit to Chongqing zoo - a home to giant pandas. Resembling a living teddy bear, the giant panda is a favorite of our passengers. After lunch at a local restaurant, stop and tour a silk factory on your way to the airport for your short flight to Guilin, gateway to the Li River. Transfer to your hotel (five-star Royal Garden Hotel or similar). Tonight dinner is on your own.
Upon arrival transfer to your deluxe hotel. (B, L)
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Day 12
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Guilin - Li River- Yangshuo:
The morning is reserved for a half-day cruise along the mystical Li River. The 83-km-long waterway from Guilin to Yangshuo is like an artist's masterpiece. The landscape is decorated with rolling hills, steep cliffs, fantastic caves, leisurely boats and is lined with bamboo. A poem says: "The river is a green silk ribbon, and the hills are jade hair-pins". Enjoy lunch onboard. Upon arrival in Yangshuo you will have free time to explore the main promenade - West Street. Dinner is followed by the "Impressions of the Third Sister Liu" Light and Dance show performed under the stars by the river. Overnight in Yangshuo at a first-class hotel (Paradise Hotel) - the best available in the city! (B, L, D)
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Day 13
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Yangshuo - Guilin - Xi'an:
Return to Guilin and tour local attractions. The Reed Flute Cave is filled with starngely shaped stalactites and stalagmites. Colorfully illuminated, the cave looks like a dazzling palace, an "Art Palace of the Nature". The Elephant Trunk Hill reminds a huge elephant stretching its trunk and drinking water from the river; it has been a symbol of the karst landscape in the area. After lunch at a local restaurant transfer to the airport for your flight to Xi'an. Upon arrival to the ancient capital of China, Xi'an, transfer to your five-star hotel (King Dynasty Hotel or similar). Dinner tonight is on your own. (B, L)
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Day 14
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Xi'an:
One of the most important cities in Chinese history, Xi'an is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, for it has been the capital of 13 dynasties. Tour the magnificent Terra Cotta Museum where over 8,000 life size
warriors have stood guard for the last 2000 years undisturbed. Enjoy a
lunch at the museum restaurant. On the way back to the hotel, stop at a
Lacquer-ware Factory for a demonstration of lacquer techniques and some
souvenir shopping. End the day with a special dinner feast and the
colorful Tang Dynasty show. (B, L, SD)
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Day 15
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Xi'an - Beijing:
Transfer to Xian's airport for a mid-morning flight to China's capital, Beijing. Upon arrival in Beijing, take a tour of the Temple of Heaven, the grandest of the four great temples located in Beijing. In ancient China, the Emperor administered earthly matters on behalf of heavenly authority. The temple was built for these ceremonies; mostly comprising prayers for good harvest. Transfer to your five-start hotel (Hong Kun International Hotel or similar). Tonight is reserved for a welcome Peking Duck dinner and a performance of the unique Chinese Opera. Overnight. (B, SD)
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Day 16
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Beijing:
Your tour of the capital will begin with Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden Palace. Continue to the old Hutong part of Beijing where Chinese families live as they have lived for centuries. You will take a bicycle rickshaw-ride through the narrow streets to visit a local Chinese family whose extended members will welcome you into their homes and share their lunch with you. The evening is at leisure. Also visit the Children's Palace where gifted kids will perform for you (during the school year only!)). Return to your hotel for an evening at leaisure. Dinner is on your own. (B, L)
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Day 17
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Beijing:
Enjoy an excursion to the Great Wall of China - one of the Wonders of the World. After lunch visit to a local Kung
Fu school for a persormance featuring the techniques of this ancient
matial arts (subject to substitution by an evening Kung Fu performance).
Dinner will be at a popular local restaurant. Return to your hotel and overnight. (B, L, SD)
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Day 18
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Beijing:
Tour the tranquil Summer Palace where the sightseeing will include a
short boat ride. The tour portion of the day will end at Tiananmen
Square and the balance of the day will be free. For lunch try out a
Chinese version of the Big Mac or Pizza Hut. Explore Beijing on your own
or join your guide for an impromptu visit to a local market place for
last minute souvenir shopping and gifts for your family and friends back in USA. Lunch and dinner on your own. (B)
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Day 19
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Beijing - HOME:
Services end after breakfast. (B)
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Reservations / Information: