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AB:
American Breakfast | L: Lunch | D: Dinner | SD: Special Dinner
Day 01 (Tues) US/BEIJING
Take an international flight from the US to Beijing, China. Meals and snacks will be served on the plane. Movies will also be available during the flight.
Day 02 (Wed) BEIJING
Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be met and transferred to your hotel by our tour guide. For those arriving in Beijing earlier today, you may spend the rest of the day for leisure or join in one of the optional tours in Beijing.
Day 03 (Thurs) BEIJING (AB, L)
This morning you will take a tour of Hutong (Chinese alleyways) by riding aboard a rickshaw pedicab through the narrow lanes of the old residential quarters. You will have the opportunity to take a glimpse of the local residents’ daily life. After lunch, you will tour the delicately crafted Temple of Heaven, where the emperors used to pray for good harvest. Enjoy the rest of the day for leisure.
Day 04 (Fri) BEIJING/URUMQI (AB, L)
After a restful night sleep, you will take a morning flight to Urumqi, the capital city of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Arrive in Urumqi around noontime and take a brief tour of South Hill Ranch and Bai Yang Gou. Stay overnight in Urumqi.
Day 05 (Sat) URUMQI (AB, L, SD)
Today’s excursion takes you to the beautiful Lake of Heaven (Tianchi Lake), where you will take a boat ride. Upon returning to the city, you will visit the Historical Museum of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which has an extensive collection of Silk Road artifacts and houses the famous mummies of Indo-European ancestry. Enjoy some time at a bustling local bazaar before joining in a special roast lamb dinner in the evening.
Day 06 (Sun) URUMQI/TURPAN (AB, L, D)
Today you will take a bus ride to Turpan. After your arrival, you will take a tour of the Grape Valley where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the sweetest grapes in the world. Enjoy a local minority singing and dancing show in the evening.
Day 07 (Mon) TURPAN/LIUYUAN/DUNHUANG (AB, L, D)
Today’s excursion will feature the Karez Well-the amazing ancient underground irrigation system, the ruins of Gao Chang City and Jiao He City. Tonight you will board an overnight train to Liuyuan. Spend the night on the train.
Day 08 (Tues) DUNHUANG (AB, L, D)
You will arrive at Liuyuan Train Station early in the morning. Upon your arrival in Liuyuan, you will be met and transferred to Dunhuang, one of the most important crossroads on the Silk Road. After lunch you will visit the famed Mogao Grottoes, known as the “Oriental Pearl of Art”. Many visitors find themselves deeply touched by the immortal works of art. In the late afternoon you will take a tour of Min Sha Hill and the Crescent Moon Pool, where you will have the opportunity to take camel ride over the sand dunes.
Day 09 (Wed) DUNHUANG/XIAN (AB, L, SD)
This morning you will take a flight to Xian, the ancient capital city for 11 dynasties in Chinese history. Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda upon arrival in Xian. Enjoy a dumpling dinner banquet, followed by an on-stage show of Tang Dynasty dance and music.
Day 10 (Thurs) XIAN (AB, L)
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. After lunch, take a tour of the well preserved ancient city wall. Enjoy the rest of the day for leisure.
Day 11 (Fri) XIAN/SUZHOU (via Shanghai) (AB, L)
Today you will visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum of History if time permits before taking a flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival in Shanghai, you will be met and transferred to the city of Suzhou, noted for its landscaped gardens.
Day 12 (Sat) SUZHOU/SHANGHAI (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 Master of Fishing Nets Garden and the ancient Panmen Gate, the only existing water & land gate. Take a stroll along the famous Shan Tang Street with a history of more than 1100 years, where you can still experience the past prosperity of Suzhou and its traditional cultures well preserved. Return to Shanghai in late afternoon.
Day 13 (Sun) SHANGHAI (AB, L, SD)
Shanghai, China’s largest city (home to 16 million people), is also China’s principal port on a deep estuary of the Yangtze River. Often regarded as “the Paris of the East,” Shanghai has retained the flavor of its past European influences. The excursion today takes you to the Bund- a waterfront area that showcases many landmark buildings of western style built in the early 20th century, the bustling Nanjing Road, Chenghuangmiao Old Town, and Tianzifang, an old neighborhood with hidden alleyways full of boutiques and art galleries. You will also visit the well-known Shanghai Museum of Art and History, which ranks among the great museums of the world. Attend a farewell dinner celebration of Shanghai cuisine in the evening, followed by an optional cruise on the Huangpu River to enjoy a fascinating night view of Shanghai.
Day 14 (Mon) SHANGHAI/US (AB)
After breakfast you will take a departure transfer to the airport for the flight back home.
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