Depart San Francisco (SFO Airport) at 2:50pm or New York (JFK Airport) at 4:30pm on Air China's Boeing 747 wide-body aircraft and fly (12 hours from SFO or 13½ hours from JFK) non-stop to Beijing. Cross the International Dateline.
Day 2 - Beijing (IM)
Day 2 - Beijing
Meals: In-Flight(IM)
Arrive Beijing in the evening. You will be met and transferred to Jiangxi Grand Hotel (4 stars).
Day 3 - Beijing (B, L, D)
Day 3 - Beijing
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, tour Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest and most famous square. Then visit the Forbidden City, where exquisite architecture and a vast glimpse of the staggeringly opulent lifestyles of the Chinese emperors and their concubines. Followed by a tour of the picturesque Summer Palace on Kunming Lake.
Day 4 - Beijing (B, L, SD)
Day 4 - Beijing
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Special Dinner(SD)
After breakfast, depart Beijing and head out to climb the Great Wall, one of the seven world wonders. After lunch, take a tour to the Historic Hutong, which is protected by the Beijing Cultural Relics Protection Association. This will give you a chance to experience what China was like before high-rises and shopping malls took over a city. Tonight, enjoy a special Peking Duck Dinner.
Day 5 - Beijing-Ji'nan (B, L, SD)
Day 5 - Beijing-Ji'nan
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Special Dinner(SD)
After breakfast, visit the Templeof Heaven, where dynastic Chinese rulers historically worshipped the Emperor of Heaven. After lunch, travel by train to Ji'nan, which is the capital of Shandong Province, and also a city of 1,000 bubbling springs and lakes. Enjoy a special Dinner Banquet tonight. Lodging at Litian Hotel (4 stars).
Day 6 - Ji'nan-Qufu-Tai'an (B, L, D)
Day 6 - Ji'nan-Qufu-Tai'an
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, travel by motor coach (2 hours) to Qufu, home of the great Chinese philosopher, Confucius, who lived 2,500 years ago. Upon arrival, visit Confucius' Temple. After lunch, visit Confucius' Mansion and Forest. Then, travel by motor coach (1 ½ hours) to Tai'an, a quaint town at the foot of Mt. Tai. Lodging at Taishan International Hotel (4 stars). Dinner is at the hotel.
Day 7 - Tai'an-Shanghai (B, L, D)
Day 7 - Tai'an-Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, visit the Summit of Mt. Tai, revered over the centuries in turn by the Buddhists, Confucianists, and Taoists. After lunch, you have a choice to either enjoy the rest of the afternoon on your own or take advantage of what's optional and visit the local Free Market plus an opportunity to get a foot massage. After dinner, leave the hotel for an overnight train ride (9 hours) to Shanghai.
Day 8 - Shanghai (B, SL, SD)
Day 8 - Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast(B), Special Lunch(SL), Special Dinner(SD)
Arrive Shanghai in the morning. After breakfast, visit the Bund, a waterfront promenade known for its landmark, neo-classic architecture of European style. Followed by a tour of the Shanghai Museum. After a special Mongolian barbecus lunch, go back to the hotel to rest. Attend a breathtaking Shanghai Acrobatic Show before a special farewell dinner. Lodging at Central View Suites Hotel (4 stars) or similar.
Day 9 - Shanghai-Suzhou-Shanghai (B, L, D)
Day 9 - Shanghai-Suzhou-Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast(B), Lunch(L), Dinner(D)
After breakfast, travel by motor coach (1 ½ hours) for a day excursion to Suzhou, also known as "Venice of the Orient." Upon arrival, visit Garden of the Fishing Net Master. After a lunch buffet in the Silk Spinning Factory, there will be some free time for shopping. Enjoy a cruise on the Grand Canal. Travel by motor coach back to Shanghai for dinner.
Day 10 - Shanghai (B)
Day 10 - Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast(B)
After breakfast, enjoy a free day to explore the city at your own pace, shop or simply relax.
Day 11 - Shanghai-Beijing-SFO/JFK (B, IM)
Day 11 - Shanghai-Beijing-SFO/JFK
Meals: Breakfast(B), In-Flight(IM)
After breakfast, depart Shanghai at 8:10am (if out of SHA Airport) or 11:35am (if out of PVG Airport) on Air China and fly (16 hours) to San Francisco (SFOAirport) with a same day arrival at 12:40pm. (Flight time includes a stopover in Beijing. Your luggage will be transferred automatically to SFO). *Some tours will have the opportunity to travel by Maglev Train to the airport, please click on the following link for details on Maglev Train Disclosure.
If your final destination is New York (JFKAirport), it takes 17 ½hours with a same day arrival at 2:30pm. (Flight time includes a custom inspection in Beijing where you must claim and re-check your luggage). *No Maglev Train available for JFK departure due to different airport in Shanghai (SHAAirport).
This tour is our signature tour, which is superb for first time visitors of China. The itinerary includes Suzhou, known as the "Venice of the Orient" for its crisscrossing network of canals, as well as Qufu, the hometown of Confucius. Also included is a stay in Tai'an, at the foot of sacred Mt. Tai, and a visit to Ji'nan, the "City of Springs." In these cities, the vast history of China and Chinese culture will be apparent all around you. Contrast these experiences with adventures in the cosmopolitan cities of Beijing and Shanghai, where ancient and modern both integral aspects of each city's identity.
