DAY 1 (Mon) US/BEIJING
Take international flight from the US to Beijing, the Capital of China. Three meals and movies provided on board.

DAY 2(Tues) BEIJING
Upon arrival at the Beijing Capital International Airport, you will be met by our representatives and transferred to your hotel.

Day 3(Wed) BEIJING AB, L, SD
After breakfast, visit the Palace Museum, known as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world, and the emperor’s Summer Palace. Enjoy Peking duck dinner.

DAY 4(Thurs) BEIJING AB, L, D
Today, explore the famous Great Wall, Ming Tombs, the well-preserved imperial cemetery of Ming Dynasty. Enjoy the Beijing acrobatic show in the evening.

DAY 5 (Fri) BEIJING/XIAN AB, L, SD
This morning you will take a flight to Xian, the ancient capital city for 11 dynasties in Chinese history. Upon arrival in Xian, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Shaanxi Provincial Museum of History if time permits. Enjoy an imperial dumpling dinner banquet, followed by an on-stage show of Tang Dynasty dance and music.

DAY 6(Sat) XIAN AB, L, D
After breakfast, visit the Tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and see the awesome Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses, widely regarded as the eighth wonder of the world. You will also take a tour of the well preserved city wall in Xian.

DAY 7(Sun) XIAN/HANGZHOU AB, L, D
Today you will take a flight to the city of Hangzhou, the most beautiful city in the world as praised by Marco Polo. Upon arrival, you will tour the Pagoda of Six Harmonies, built in the year 970 AD, and view goldfish at Flower Harbor at the West Lake, which is considered one of the top ten scenic attractions of the West Lake.

DAY 8(Mon) HANGZHOU/SUZHOU AB, L, D
After breakfast, you will cruise the scenic West Lake and enjoy the fascinating sceneries around the lake. Visit a tea orchard and learn the Chinese tea culture. Then take an afternoon bus ride to Suzhou, often referred to as the “Venice of the East”. On your way to Suzhou, you will take a tour of Wuzhen, a waterside town with a history of 1300 years, where you will experience the serene country lifestyle of the local residents, and enjoy the “old world” architecture and the local customs that have been so well preserved.

DAY 9(Tues) SUZHOU AB, L, D
Today you will cruise on the world famous ancient Grand Canal of more than 2400 years history to experience the unique cultures and glimpse the daily life of the local residents. You will also visit the silk embroidery factory, the Lingering Garden and the ancient Panmen Gate, the only existing water & land gate. After dinner you will take a night tour of the Master of Fishing Nets Garden, the most elegantly designed garden while enjoy watching the singing and dancing performances in the garden tonight. (A night tour of the Master of Fishing Nets Garden may not be available in the winter season.)

DAY 10(Wed) SUZHOU/SHANGHAI AB, L, SD
Today you will take a bus ride back to Shanghai, China’s most popular metropolis that has attracted the visitors from all over the world. Upon arrival, you will visit the famous Shanghai Museum of Art & History which ranks among the great museums of the world. Attend a farewell Shanghai cuisine dinner party in the evening.

DAY 11(Thurs) SHANGHAI AB, L
This morning you will visit the Bund, Yu Garden and the bustling Nanjing Road. The rest of the day will be free for you to explore this exciting city on your own.

Day 12 (Fri) SHANGHAI / KYOTO (via Kansai Airport) (AB)
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Osaka. Upon your arrival at Kansai Airport, go through the entry procedure. You will be met and transferred to your hotel in Kyoto. Kyoto was Japan's ancient capital city for over 1000 years. Its culture, religion and traditions have remained unchanged over many centuries.

Day 13(Sat) KYOTO (AB, L)
This morning you will take a full day seat-in-coach tour of Nijo Castle, the residence of the Tokugawa Shogun that was built in 1603, Kinkakuji Temple, the most popular temple in Kyoto known as Golden Pavilion, and ancient Kyoto Imperial Palace. The imperial family lived here until the capital was moved to Tokyo in 1868. After lunch, you will visit the brightly colored Heian Shrine, Sanjusangen-do Hall housing 1001 statues of kannon (Bodhisattva) dated back to the 13th century, and Kiyomizu Temple. Enjoy breathtaking view of Kyoto from famous lofty terrace.

Day 14(Sun) KYOTO / NARA / KYOTO (AB)
This morning is free at leisure. In the afternoon, you will take a half day seat-in-coach tour of Nara, Japan's first capital that was established in 710 AD. The tour includes Todaiji Temple, where you will see the Great Buddha in the world's largest wooden building, a 1,250-acre Deer Park, and Kasuga Shrine featuring 3,000 antique stone and bronze lanterns.

Day 15(Mon) KYOTO / TOKYO (AB)
This morning you will be transferred to Kyoto Train Station for Shinkansen known as bullet train to Tokyo, the capital city of Japan. Upon your arrival in Tokyo, you will take a half day seat-in-coach city tour of the Imperial Palace Plaza, Asakusa Kannon Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo and World Trade Center to enjoy a panoramic view of Tokyo from observatory deck on the 40th floor.

Day 16(Tues) TOKYO (AB)
The whole day today will be free for your leisure. You can also choose to join an optional full day tour to Mt. Fuji-Hakone with lunch which includes a bus ride to and tour of Fuji and Hakone, boat cruise on Lake Ashi, tour of Mt. Komagatake by ropeway and train by Shinkansen back to Tokyo.

Day 17(Wed) TOKYO / US (AB)
After breakfast, you will take a departure transfer to Narita Airport for your flight back home.

AB: American Breakfast -  L: Lunch -  D: Dinner-SD:Special Dinner 

• Price Includes:
  • Roundtrip international air transportation
  • All domestic air and ground transportation
  • 15 nights hotel accommodations at five-star deluxe hotels in China deluxe/superior first class hotels in Japan
  • Escorted tours and sightseeing with admission in each city
  • 34 meals: 15 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 9 dinners including Peking duck dinner, dumpling dinner banquet in Xian and Shanghai cuisine dinner
  Cultural entertainment: Acrobatic show in Beijing; Tang Dynasty dance and music in Xian
  
  Not Included: air taxes, fuel and air surcharges for some departures, airport construction fees in china & visa fee's. 
  China Visa & Instructions

Because of limited space on this tour, please reserve early!

copyright (Pilgrim Tours) 2001