Nov 15 - Depart your home city

Nov 16 - Arrive Beijing

Experience one of the most fascinating cities in the world, Beijing.  Over the next several days, you will experience the beauty and intrigue of this ancient culture. 

Nov 17 -Today, your Tour Manager will help you discover the origin and history of the language(s)you will experience on your tour along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals.  Start your journey into Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China, with a sightseeing tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. You are free this afternoon to explore on your own or perhaps relax with an optional foot massage at a spa.  (B, L, D 

Nov 18 -  This morning visit the Summer Palace, which is ranked amongst the most noted classical gardens in the world.  In 1998, it was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.  After lunch, the remainder of the day is at leisure. You will have the opportunity to visit the New Hope Foster Home and learn about the efforts of the Collette Foundation. New Hope is a foster home dedicated to providing medical treatment for babies with surgically correctable deformities, thus giving them a new opportunity for adoption.  Tonight, a delicious dumpling dinner is included.  (B, L, D)

Nov 19-  No visit to China would be complete without seeing The Great Wall.  Behold this awesome site and have the chance to walk along a portion of this 3,700-mile marvel.  Travel through the Valley of the Ming Tombs, where you will walk along the Sacred Way.

Enjoy a time-honored and favorite pastime of the Chinese when you go kite-flying along the Sacred Way

Your dinner this evening, a famous Peking duck dinner, is followed by a special treat: the Peking Opera show.  (B, L, D

Nov 20- This morning visit the Temple of Heaven where the emperor came twice each year to thank the gods for the good harvest and to pray for the new harvest.  You will also see the locals doing their morning Tai Chi exercises, playing cards or board games. The afternoon is at leisure. This evening you may choose an optional tour to the world-famous Beijing Acrobatic Show.  (B)

Nov 21 -  Enjoy a full day of leisure to relax or independently explore this wonderful city.  You may take an optional tour to Xian*, which includes a visit to the Terra-Cotta Warriors Museum.  Or visit one of the many markets Cloisonné, Ivory Carving, Jade and Lacquer are known as the four best traditional handiworks of Beijing. In addition, Curios, Silk, Pearls, Snuff Bottles with Pictures Inside, and Artificial Flowers are also worth buying and well liked by tourists(B)

Nov 22 -   This morning, enjoy a visit to the Beijing Zoo, home of the famous Pandas.H Afterwards you have the opportunity to experience ancient Beijing on a rickshaw tour through its narrow streets and alleys.  With help from an interpreter, you will learn about a local family’s history and way of life when you share lunch with them in their Hutong home.  They will also teach you the art of traditional dumpling making!  This afternoon you may enjoy one last walk through the bustling streets of the city before joining your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner.  (B, L, D)

Included:

• Round trip airfare from USA to Beijing

• 7 nights hotel at the Loong Palace Hotel & Resort, Beijing or similar http://www.loongpalace.com/

• Includes all meals and tours as described in itinerary

• Hotel portage, meal gratuities

Rate:      $1999 plus taxes and fuel surcharges

Deposit $100 per person due Oct 1, 2008 Second payment $300 due Feb 15, 2009; Final payment due August 15, 2009

Not included taxes of $298 and fuel surcharges of $150    Taxes and fuel charges are subject to change until 60 days prior. Tour and bus guide gratuities.

Cancellation Charges for this tour: After your deposit due date has passed, a non-refundable deposit will be retained.  60-16 days prior to departure: cancellation fee of 20% of total price. 15-1 days prior to departure: cancellation fee of 40% of total price.  Day of departure and after: 100% of total price. Cancellation protection is highly recommended and must be purchased at time of deposit. The Waiver Insurance does not cover any single supplement charges which arise from an individual’s traveling companion electing to cancel for any reason prior to departure.  Air rates are subject to change until tour is paid in full.    Upon cancellation of transportation or travel services where you, the customer, are not at fault and have not canceled in violation of the terms and conditions above, you will be refunded 100%.  

Cancellation insurance is recommended. 

Terra Cotta Warriors