NORTH AMERICA/CHINA

Board your 747 jetliner this morning and begin your journey to the ancient wonders of intriguing China.

ARRIVE BEIJING

Arrive in Beijing, the ancient capital city of People's Republic of China. Beijing has been a capital city for over 3,000 years. The remainder of the day is free to relax and adjust to time difference. REGAL COURT HOTEL BEIJING OR SIMILAR

TIAN ANMEN SQUARE, FORBIDDEN CITY & SUMMER PALACE

Many buildings were demolished to create Tian Anmen Square, since 1949 has been the venue of major rallies held during the Cultural Revolution. Forbidden City, A Tang Dynasty poet wrote "Without seeing the magnificence of the royal palace, one can never sense the dignity of the emperor. Completed in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, it was the home of 24 emperors and scene of many important events affecting the course of Chinese history. The Summer Palace is the second largest imperial garden in China and is as famous as the Forbidden City; Summer Palace or Yiheyuan (Garden of Nurtured Harmony). REGAL COURT HOTEL BEIJING OR SIMILAR BLD

GREAT WALL & MING TOMBS EXCURSION & SACRED WAY

The Badling Great Wall construction began more than 2,000 years ago meandering over 6,000 kilometers across the country. The Ming Tombs represents the addition of three Imperial Tombs of the Qing Dynasty in Liaoning to the Ming tombs inscribed in 2000 and 2003. They were built for the founding emperors of the Qing Dynasty and their ancestors, constructed on the principles of traditional Chinese geometry and fengshui. The Tombs are masterpieces of human artistic brilliance. The Sacred Way is part of the Ming Tombs complex, located in the front part of the royal cemetery, which means the path leading to heaven. This archway is the earliest and largest in China, constructed in 1540. REGAL COURT HOTEL BEIJING OR SIMILAR BL

TEMPLE OF HEAVEN & HUTONGS TOUR

The Temple of Heaven or the Altar of Heaven is a complex of Taoist buildings. The complex was visited by the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. It is regarded as a Taoist temple, although Chinese Heaven worship, especially by the reigning monarch of the day, pre-dates Taoism. The temple complex was constructed from 1406 to 1420 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor. The complex was extended and renamed Temple of Heaven during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor in the 16th century. Continue to Hutongs developed around the Forbidden City as early as the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). To strengthen their authority, emperors planned city housing according to an etiquette system. Hutongs follow a strict quadrangular layout with four buildings arranged around an open inner courtyard. There were 3,600 hutongs at the beginning of this century and today only 2,000 exist. Visit a pearl workshop. Evening enjoy a Peking Duck Dinner followed by a cultural Show. REGAL COURT HOTEL BEIJING OR SIMILAR BLD

BEIJING/XI’AN –

WILD GOOSE PAGODA & PROVINCIAL HISTORY MUSUEM Fly to Xi’an, called Chang'an in ancient times. It is one of the six ancient capital sites in China. Tour the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of the famous Buddhist pagodas. When Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Ming dynasty emperor (1368-1644) captured Huizhou, a hermit, Zhu Sheng, advised him to enlarge the wall built initially during the old Tang dynasty (618-907), creating modern Xi'An city wall. Visit the Provincial History Museum where a Confucian Temple stood. On display are mostly historical remnants of previous dynasties such as the Han and Tang. AURUM INTERNATIONAL HOTEL OR SIMILAR BL

TERRACOTTA MUSEUM, CERAMICS & POTTERY CENTER

Spring of 1974 peasant workers unearthed an archeological find hidden for 2,200 years. Semi buried in the soil were hundreds of battered but beautiful terra-cotta statues of armed warriors, servants and horses pulling manned war chariots,retinue of unified first emperor, Qin Shi Huang Ti. Proceed to a pottery and ceramic worskshop. Evening attend a Tang Dynasty show followed by Dumpling dinner. AURUM INTERNATIONAL HOTEL OR SIMILAR BLD

XI’AN/SHANGHAI

Fly to Shanghai, the largest and most populated city in China. It is also the main center for industry, commerce, foreign trade, science and technology located where the mighty Yangtze meets the East China Sea. Afternoon is at leisure to shop, sightsee or explore the many attractions of this ancient city. GALAXY HOTEL OR SIMILAR B

BUND, YUYUAN GARDEN, JADE BUDDHA TEMPLE, CHILDREN’S PALACE & CARPET FACTORY

Drive along the Bund and stroll along the world famous waterfront, one of the world's highest buildings in the newly developed land across the bustling Huangpu River. Yuyuan Garden is one of the most lavish and finest Chinese gardens in the region. It was built in 1559 as a private garden by Pan Yunduan, who spent almost 20 years building it to please his father Pan En, a high-ranking official in the Ming Dynasty. Over the years, the gardens fell into disrepair until about 1760 when bought by merchants and again suffered extensive damage in the 19th century. In 1842, during the Opium Wars, the British army occupied the Town God Temple for five days. During the Taiping Rebellion the gardens were occupied by imperial troops, and destroyed by the Japanese in 1942. It was repaired by the Shanghai government from 1956-1961, opened to the public in 1961 and declared a national monument in 1982. The famous Jade Buddha Temple was built in 1882, an old temple where two jade Buddha statues were brought from Burma by a monk, Huigen. The temple was destroyed during the revolution overthrowing the Qing Dynasty. Fortunately, the Jade Buddha statues were saved and a new temple was re-constructed in 1928. Shanghai Children's Palace offers talented children after school education. Built in 1953 by Song Qingling (Madam Sun Yatsen), children attend a wide selection of activities like music, dance, art, model making, science and computer science. The palace is a part of China's social welfare as the government gives financial aid. Visit a carpet factory. Evening, attend a performance of the famous Chinese Acrobat troupes. GALAXY HOTEL OR SIMILAR BLD

ZHUJIAJIAO EXCURSION & SHANGHAI MUSEUM

Zhujiajiao means Zhu Family Settlement, is an ancient town, is a water village on the outskirts of Shanghai, formed about 1,700 years ago. Archaeological findings have been discovered that date back 5,000. 36 stone bridges and numerous rivers line Zhujiajiao along thousands of ancient buildings. Many centuries old stone buildings are home to residents as they were for many dynasties. The village prospered through clothing and rice businesses. Evenl today, old historical buildings such as rice shops, banks, spice stores and a Qing dynasty post office can be seen. Tour the famous Shanghai Museum, constructed in 1952, one of the larges and comprehensive art museum of China, renowned for its collection of Chinese art. The museum houses 123,000 pieces of cultural relic. BL

SHANGHAI/HOME

Leave Shanghai and board your homeward flight filled with memories of your exciting journey through ancient China. B