Day 1: Hometown to Beijing (In-flight Meal)
All of your meals, beverages and various entertainment choices will be provided on your flight from your hometown to Beijing.

Day 2: Arrive in Beijing (In-flight Meal)
When you arrive at the Beijing Capital International Airport you will get your first real taste of the culture. China combines centuries of social rituals with the fast-paced modern world and growing economy. Your guide will take you to your hotel.

Day 3: Explore Beijing
Start your day with an American breakfast to get a taste of the contrast between ancient and modern China. You can experience two distinct cultures in this country, and many regions have people who know how to read and write English, even if they can’t speak it.
The first official stop on the tour is Tiananmen Square, which was built back in 1651 but in the 1950s it grew to quadruple its original size. Your first "official" stop is at Tiananmen Square, built in 1651 and then enlarged to quadruple its original size in the 1950s. This is the third largest city square in the world, and got its name from the famous Tiananmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) which separates it from the Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City stood as the imperial palace for China for nearly 500 years (from the Ming Dynasty all the way until the end of the Qing Dynasty), and, according to UNESCO, it is the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. The Forbidden City features almost 1,000 buildings and 9,000 rooms, and it was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987.
We will then take a 40-minute car ride from the Forbidden City to the Summer Palace. This was a favorite retreat for many of the emperors during the summer months, where they could enjoy the carefully sculpted gardens. In 1990 this palace was also declared a World Heritage Site.
After experiencing the contrasts and culture throughout the day, you will finish with a Peking Duck Banquet – one of the most popular dishes in China. The meal will be prepared by master chefs right in front of you, and it is served with pancakes, spring onions, and hosing or sweet bean sauce.
Food Amenities: American Buffet Breakfast, Lunch, Special Dinner

Day 4: Explore Beijing
Today you will get to see one of the most famous attractions in China: the Great Wall. This has been called one of the greatest man-made wonders of the world, and it runs about 5,500 miles through 150 different counties. Originally it was meant to protect the country in war, and it began in the 5th century BC as a way to deter their enemies, and emperors just kept adding onto it until the 16th century.

From there you will travel to the National Stadium which was built for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. This another example of China’s modernism combined with ancient tradition, because the stadium was constructed to display the typical Chinese attention to architectural style. While it’s a little more contemporary in style, it is still considered an iconic structure in the country, and it is often referred to as the “bird’s nest” because of the steel beams that are used to conceal the supports for the retractable roof. We will also visit the nearby National Aquatics Center, which is sometimes known as the Water Cube, where U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps emerged as the Gold Medal Winner.

Next, we will shift attention from the arena of modern competition to the animal world. At the Beijing Zoo you will have the chance to see the world-famous Giant Pandas and whole range of other unique and fascinating creatures. The Beijing Zoo spans 219 acres, so don’t expect to see everything, but make sure you see some of the most incredible animals, like the Golden Snub-nosed monkey, the Chinese Alligator, and especially the South China Tiger.

We’ll then have a nice dinner before enjoying the iconic martial arts movie: “Legend of Kung Fu.” This part of the culture, of course, has become very popular in western countries as well, but experiencing it in China is a must.

Food Amenities: American Buffet Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Beijing to Xi'an
You will begin this day traveling by rickshaw (the most traditional way possible) to another Chinese treasure that is slowly disappearing. The hutongs are the alleys that were created by courtyard houses. This is an incredible way to experience the culture because these neighborhoods contain a long history of how families lived together as a community. Most of the hutongs are being demolished to make way for larger roads and building, but some of them are being preserved as part of Chinese history

The next stop is the exotic Lotus Flower Market. The lotus flower is an ancient Buddhist symbol of non-attachment to worldly things and sexual purity. These flowers are truly beautiful and you’ll be amazed by the displays here.

In the late afternoon you will fly to Xi’an, the former capital of China.

After having dinner you will have the opportunity to experience some of the cultural diversity in China at The Great Mosque. This district is where many Muslims have made their home in Xi’an to retain their own customs.

Food Amenities: American Buffet Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Explore Xi'an
According to UNESCO, the Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum is the Eighth Wonder of the World, and today you will have the chance to see it (and believe it) for yourself. This museum was built on the site where farmers accidentally discovered some pits filled with 8,000 life-size terra cotta soldiers. Each one of the figures is unique, and there were thousands of real weapons buried with them.

Estimates say that the statues had been buried there for around 2,200 years. These soldiers were placed here to protect the dead First Emperor of China.

In the late 1970s, the Museum was built on the site where, in 1974, farmers accidentally discovered pits. In those pits, to the farmers' shock and then just about everyone else's around the world, were 8000 life-size terra cotta soldiers and 1000s of real weapons. They had been buried there for about 2200 years. Back then, death was not only a mystery but an entity many, including the emperors, feared. Therefore, everything associated with a death was treated with great ritual

These soldiers depict the Qin Shi Huang armies, and their purpose here is to protect dead First Emperor of China in the afterlife. Everything from the facial expressions to the feet on every soldier is custom-made to be completely unique.

Next you will have another chance to see a set of beliefs which were a major part of the culture at the time. The Bell Tower was constructed in 1384 after the residents of Xi’an suffered a major earthquake. Many lives and homes were lost, and it was attributed to the dragon that stayed nearby in the water. The Bell Tower was meant to give them warning and make sure the dragon could never approach the land unnoticed again.

Your dinner today will be the feast of the Imperial Dumpling Banquet, followed by the famous Tang Dynasty Stage Show.

Food Amenities: American Buffet Breakfast, Lunch, Special Dinner

Day 7: Xi'an to Guilin
Before leaving Xi’an you will visit another major landmark: The Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This monastery was built in 642 for the Tang Dynasty Buddhist monk, Xuan Zang. Like a Chinese version of Marco Polo, he made a famous pilgrimage to India (which was the inspiration for the novel “Journey to the West), and the Pagoda was originally created to store and protect the exotic artifacts he brought back.

You will also have the chance to visit another historic wall in China today. These walls are the remnants of a civilization that needed to protect itself from ground based enemies, and this wall, called The Ancient City Wall, is actually better preserved that the Great Wall. It was constructed in 1370 by the Ming Dynasty to completely enclose the city.

Bicycles will be available for anyone who wants to take advantage of that mode of transportation around Xi’an.

You will then board a plane bound for Guilin in southern China. Guilin is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus trees and some incredible scenery. It has been the inspiration for many artists and writers over the years.

Food Amenities: American Buffet Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Guilin to Yangshuo
Today you will spend about four hours on a boat, heading down the Lijiang River from Guilin to Yangshou. Here you can experience the beautiful scenery, surrounded by the hills and bamboo that have inspired many artists over the centuries. You will have your lunch on the boat just before arriving on the shores of Yangshou, where will have a day to explore on your own.

You can bike or walk around West Street, a 1,400-year-old street paved with marble, or take a look at some of the diverse and charming stores and shops around the area.

When you’re winding down in the evening you can experience the light show, “Impression of Sister Liu” (“Liusanjie”), which is directed by the famous director Zhang Yimou and performed by local villagers and fishermen. The community clearly enjoys the production and always put everything they can into it.

Food Amenities: American Buffet Breakfast, Lunch, Hotel Dinner

Day 9: Yangshuo to Guilin to Shanghai
You will be driven back to Guilin where you can visit a natural wonder that is 180 million years old: The Reed Flute Cave. The cave was formed from limestone over the years, and resulted in some strange rock formations. There are 70 inscriptions in the cave written by people living during the Tang Dynasty (around 792). The name of the cave comes from the reeds around it that are used to make flutes.

After that, you will have the chance to visit the incredible Elephant Trunk Cave, located at the junction of the Li and Peach Blossom Rivers. The rock formation resembles an elephant just enjoying a refreshing drink of water.

Once you get back from visiting these caves you will have the chance to take a break from the complete immersion in Chinese culture. You can just be an “accidental tourists” and have some American hamburgers. Sometimes you just need a little taste of home before any homesickness sets in.

From there, you will fly to Shanghai and check in at the luxurious hotel.

Food Amenities: American Buffet Breakfast, Lunch, Special Dinner

Day 10: Shanghai to Suzhou then back to Shanghai
On day 10 your tour will take you to Suzhou, which dates clear back to 514 BC. This city is famous for its canals and stone bridges, and is, in fact, sometimes called the “Venice of the East.” UNESCO has also recognized some of the wonders here like the Master of Nets, and the Hanshan Temple has been a famous destination since the Tang Dynasty (when it was first immortalized in the poem “A Night Mooring near Maple Bridge.”

The culture and the arts of this area were built around the silk industry, and you will have the chance to visit the Silk Spinning Factory. And as a part of the contemporary China, you can see the Suzhou Museum, which was designed by the famous architect, I.M. Pei.

Food Amenities: American Buffet Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Experience Shanghai
Today’s portion of the tour will take you into the heart of China. Shanghai was once a fishing and textile town back in the 5th century, but has become a major power in financial, technological, and fashion industries. Even as the city of 23 million continues to grow, it still maintains its cultural heritage. You can take some time to explore the commercial aspects of Old Street, Nanjing Road, and the Lujiazui Financial area before checking out the 120,000 art exhibits in the Shanghai Museum.

There will also be an opportunity to visit the financial center of China, called The Bund. This is a lot like Manhattan’s Wall Street and is filled with history. The financial transactions that happen here shape the economic future of the country, and impact many other nations around the world. As China’s influence continues to grow, the Bund will become even more important. It has already been featured in the novel, “Empire of the Sun,” by J.G. Ballard, and the Steven Spielberg movie of the same name.

There is a special farewell dinner of Shanghai Cuisine waiting for you this evening. It will be followed by the world-famous Acrobatic Show, where you can witness some extreme displays of discipline over the movement of the body. This ancient art is something you simply can’t miss.

Food Amenities: American Buffet Breakfast, Lunch, Special Farewell Dinner

Day 12: Shanghai to Home or Post-Shanghai Trip Extension
The tour comes to an end today, and it’s time to pack up all your belongings, mementos, and special memories as you get ready to return home. On the other hand, if you just haven’t had enough of China yet, you can arrange a trip extension for an additional cost.