ESSENCE OF CHINA (OL2010)

Meals
American breakfast daily (B), 5 lunches (L), 3 dinners (D), including a Peking Duck welcome dinner in Beijing and a farewell dinner in Shanghai.

Hotels


Beijing
Traders Hotel (F),

Xi’an
Grand Mercure on Renmin Square (F),

Shanghai
Sofitel Hyland Shanghai (F)

Day 1:
(Thu.) Board your transpacific flight.

Day 2:
Arrive in Beijing, China. (Fri.) Welcome to China’s capital city. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Day 3:
Beijing. (Sat.) Your full-day sightseeing starts with a visit to the FORBIDDEN CITY and its IMPERIAL PALACE, once the home of China’s great emperors. Nearby is 100-acre TIAN’ANMEN SQUARE, the largest public square in the world. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant and continue to the former SUMMER PALACE, a complex of pavilions, temples, and galleries set among beautifully landscaped grounds and situated on Kunming Lake. This evening, savor a special PEKING DUCK WELCOME DINNER. (B,L,D)

Day 4:
Beijing. (Sun.) The GREAT WALL OF CHINA once stretched 4,000 miles across China’s barren northern terrain from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. Head north to a village where the Great Wall is well preserved and walk along the wall to enjoy sweeping vistas of this mammoth fortress. Then, visit a CLOISONNÉ WORKSHOP and see local artisans use the techniques of this ancient art form to turn pieces of copper into colorful decorative items. After lunch in a local restaurant, take a leisurely walk down the SACRED WAY of the Ming Tombs and marvel at the impressive hand-carved stone statues. Tonight, experience local culture at the PEKING OPERA, including a behind-the-scenes look at the colorful makeup being applied to the performers. (B,L)

Day 5:
Beijing–Xi’an. (Mon.) This morning, enjoy a rickshaw ride through one of Beijing’s HUTONGS, the city’s ancient alleys. During this visit you’re welcomed into a daycare center and into the courtyard of a family’s home for tea. A short flight brings you to the city of Xi’an in central China. Look forward to this evening’s highlight, the “Tang Dynasty” DINNER SHOW, featuring a colorful assemblage of classical performances. (B,D)

Day 6:
Xi’an. (Tue.) One of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world when China dominated the silk trade, Xi’an today is an archaeological treasure trove. Sightseeing begins with a visit to the DAYAN PAGODA, built in 652 AD. During lunch, enjoy a NOODLE-MAKING DEMONSTRATION by a master chef and learn how Chinese noodles are made by hand. In 1974, the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, was accidentally discovered by local farmers. Marvel at the legion of TERRACOTTA WARRIORS that has been guarding the burial site for 2,000 years. (B,L)

Day 7:
Xi’an–Shanghai. (Wed.) Fly to Shanghai, China’s most populous city and center of trade and industry. This afternoon, visit the CHILDREN’S PALACE, one of China’s famous kindergartens, then stroll along the Bund, the city’s riverfront boulevard that is lined with historic buildings, housing, banks, and trade houses. This evening, consider joining an optional tour to see a spectacular acrobatic show. (B,L)

Day 8:
Shanghai. (Thu.) This morning, visit the SHANGHAI MUSEUM and experience the YU YUAN GARDENS before lunch in a local restaurant. Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. Perhaps join an optional tour to a nearby ancient water town or shop some of the 400 stores on Nanjing Road. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 9:
Shanghai. (Fri.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)

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Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
8/12/2010 - 8/20/2010	$1,599
9/2/2010 - 9/10/2010	$1,699
9/9/2010 - 9/17/2010	$1,699
9/23/2010 - 10/1/2010	$1,699
10/7/2010 - 10/15/2010	$1,699
10/21/2010 - 10/29/2010	$1,699
11/4/2010 - 11/12/2010	$1,699
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

City Highlights


Beijing:
Sightseeing with a Local Guide including headsets; visit the Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, Tian’anmen Square, the Summer Palace, the Great Wall, cloisonné workshop, Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs, and Peking Opera; Hutong tour by rickshaw; enjoy a Peking Duck welcome dinner

Xi’an:
Enjoy the “Tang Dynasty” dinner show; sightseeing with a Local Guide including headsets; visit the Dayan Pagoda and Terracotta Warriors; noodle-making demonstration

Shanghai:
Sightseeing with a Local Guide including headsets; visit the Children’s Palace, the Bund, the Shanghai Museum, and Yu Yuan Gardens; farewell dinner

All Intra-Tour Flights

Price Details US
Single Room Supplement: $446Triple rooms are not available.Extra nights per person in Beijing:Weekdays (Mon.-Thu.): in single room $163; in twin room $93Weekends (Fri.-Sun.): in single room $123; in twin room $73Extra nights per person in Shanghai:Apr.-Jun. & Sep.-Nov.: in single room $194; in twin room $108Jul.-Aug.: in single room $145; in twin room $84

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