Once in a Lifetime China

Day 1 Beijing

On your arrival in Beijing, you will be met and escorted to the hotel. A brief orientation for the later China trip will be delivered.
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Day 2 Beijing

Make an early visit to the Temple of Heaven where you can join in the Chinese locals to learn Taichi so as to inject you more energy and get more ready for your coming Beijing exploration! Make a brief stop at Tiananmen Square before entering the Forbidden City. Try your hand at drawing the Beijing Opera mask under the guidance of the old artist. Time permitting, you can visit the shopping street to release your shopping desire and show your bargain talent. Review your knowledge about the Opera learned in the mask drawing when you watch the Beijing Opera.
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Day 3 Beijing

Drive to the Great Wall at Mutianyu -- the less-crowed and easily-accessible section of the Great Wall and enjoy an overlooking view on the cable car (Round trip). Pay a visit to the nearby village, savor a tasty farmhouse meal and appreciate the unrestored section of the Great Wall in a distance. If interested, you can climb to experience this pristine Great Wall section. Visit the 2008 Olympic stadiums- Bird's Nest (National Stadium) and Water Cube (National Aquatics Center). Then feast on the crisp Peking duck.
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Day 4 Beijing - Xi'an

Visit a local flower and pet market--Guanyuan Market (or visit Panjiayuan Market at weekend--a market to test your good eye for the good old stuffs). Visit fast-vanishing Hutong by rickshaw to glimpse into the ordinary life of Beijingners, and the Private Museum of the Old Beijingners' Stuffs in the Hutong trip will unveil to you the past lifestyle of the Beijingners. Fly to Xi'an. An optional visit to the Giant Music Fountain of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square is recommended if you want to make the most of the brief time in Xi'an.
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Day 5 Xi'an

The trip to the Banpo Museum unveils the ancestors' life that had existed long before the Terracotta Warriors. Besides the amazing Terracotta armies in the museum, you can also watch a short film of discovering it. Next stop is the Shaanxi History Museum to learn about the history of Xi'an as a capital of ten dynasties. We go to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and have an overlooking view from it. Fulfill your stomach with the dumpling banquet which is also another good chance for you to challenge and enhance you chopstick skill when handling the escaping dumplings.
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Day 6 Xi'an - Guilin

Ride the CO2-free bike along the broad City Wall. The Great Mosque, located in Muslim Quarter, along with the Gao's Courtyard will provide you an tranquil oasis to shelter from the tumultuous bazaar. Enjoy the "shadow puppet" play with traditional music in Gao's courtyard. Say goodbye to Xi'an and fly to Guilin. A night stroll along the Li River will be a good rehearsal for the Guilin trip.
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Day 7 Guilin - Yangshuo

Embark on your fascinating Li River cruise to Yangshuo. Then you are at leisure to explore the surrounding after disembarking.
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Day 8 Yangshuo

On your bike, you can get lost in the idyllic rural countryside and say hello to the buffalo on the way to a local primary school.
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Day 9 Yangshuo - Guilin - Chongqing

Fly to Chongqing. (Because of its unique steep terrain, Chongqing is the only city without bikes in China--the bicycle kingdom). After checking in the Yangtze cruise ship, we still can visit Three Gorges Museum to prepare the background information for your cruise. Try the special local transaction -–the Light Rail. If you have extra energy and are eager for challenge, the cable car over river will be a good choice for you to get a bird's-eye view of the city which you can't do in any other city of China. The cable car here is not for tourist, but for daily transportation. The spicy hotpot would wake your taste buds up and stimulate your enthusiasm for the coming cruise.
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Day 10 Cruising the Yangtze River, Fengdu Town, Shibaozhai or Wanxian

(Due to frequent fluctuations in water level and river currents on the Yangtze, the Captain may adjust daily schedules and shore excursions.) The Yangtze River has its source in "the top of the world" on the Tibet Plateau. Our downstream cruise will unfold you wild mountain ranges, unbroken ravines and charming landscapes. Receive an announcement on itinerary and facilities on board prior to cultural activities and conference. Make a shore excursion to Fengdu Town--"city of devils" and Shibaozhai or Wanxian (adjusted by the daily schedule). Enjoy the special programs on the cruise.
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Day 11 Qutang Gorge, Daning River or Shennong Stream, the Lesser Three Gorges, Wu Gorge

Pass through the first part--Qutang Gorge, the shortest and narrowest of the three, but quite spectacular. Weather permitting; you will board authentic small boats for an excursion on the Daning River or Shennong Stream (depending on the water levels) to the Lesser Three Gorges. If you are lucky enough, you may experience the excursion in time-honored way--trackers from shore will pull your boat forward. Pass through the second part--Wu Gorge and the ship lock of Three Gorges Dam.
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Day 12 Yichang - Shanghai

Wake up early to see the third part -- Xiling Gorge, the site of the controversial project Three Gorges Dam in Sandouping Village. In the afternoon, arriving in Yichang, we will head to the vibrant city -- Shanghai. Take a stroll along the Bund or sip a cup of coffee in a soothing bar to enjoy the city floating in a glittering ocean of lights.
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Day 13 Shanghai

Travel to the Shanghai Museum and the new Shanghai landmark--the World Financial Center to have an all-embracing view of Shanghai. Visit the tranquil Longhua Temple and try the vegetarian dishes that trick your taste buds to believe that they are made out of meat! Visit Temple of the Town Gods. For restoring energy for the following tour, indulge yourself in the dizzying variety of Shanghai specialties and snacks in the bazaar around the temple. Visit Yuyuan Garden, a garden full of exquisiteness for your detailed eye! A stunning and incredible acrobatic show will end today's trip.
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Day 14 Shanghai

Be a Shanghainese in a host family by visiting the local markets and having a look of the original cuisine you will cook under the guidance of your host family and bargaining with the vendors or learning the Chinese bargaining way. Engage yourself in the local community activities.
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Day 15 Depart Shanghai

Take the maglev train (luxury seat) to go to your departing plane at lightning speed.
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  • B: Breakfast
  • L: Lunch
  • D: Dinner