Essence of China (OL) - 2013

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8 days from Beijing to Shanghai

Vacation Overview

Delve into the unique world of China during this magnificent vacation and visit Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai. As you’d expect from a trip to China, a tour highlight is your visit to the Great Wall of China. Known as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, it is the only man-made object that can be seen from space by the naked eye. As you walk along the wall, see how expansive it is and imagine what it was like to construct the wall—at a time without modern machinery to help! As if the Great Wall of China is not enough to astonish you, wait until you see the Terracotta Warriors. Discovered accidentally in 1974, construction on the roughly 8,000 soldiers, chariots, and horses started in 210 BC—all to help China’s first emperor in the afterlife. On this tour, you’ll get the opportunity to see these amazing soldiers, which range in height from 6 ft. to 6 ft. 5 inches.

These are just a couple of the many highlights you’ll see on this vacation. You’ll also be entertained in a noodle-making demonstration, a Peking Opera performance, and a show of the music and dance from the Tang Dynasty, which reigned over 1,000 years ago. Ride a rickshaw through one of Beijing’s hutongs, the city’s ancient alleys. Also on this tour, be sure to taste some authentic Chinese cuisine and shop for local souvenirs.

History, amazing sights, and loads of fun await you on this grand tour though China. It’s a vacation of a lifetime!

Similar Vacations that may interest you:

BEIJING
Sightseeing with a Local Guide including headsets; visit the Forbidden City, Imperial Palace, Tian’anmen Square, Summer Palace, 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 Bund, Shanghai Museum, and Yu Yuan Gardens; farewell dinner

NOTE:

Small-Group Discovery – We never allow more than 20 travelers on our Small-Group Discovery vacations, allowing you to truly immerse yourself in the destination and local culture.

DAY 1Arrive in Beijing, China

Welcome to China’s capital city. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.

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DAY 2Beijing

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. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

The Tiananmen Gate welcomes you to the Imperial Palace

The Forbidden City in Beijing

"The Forbidden City – the largest imperial palace in the world – is situated in the center of Beijing and covers more than 178 acres of land in China. As an ancient Chinese legend goes, “the God resided in the heavens, known to all as the “Purple City.”” During the 17th Century, Chinese emperors claimed to be the sons of the God in an effort to justify their absolute power, and thus their homes would be considered a forbidden area to the common people. As a result, “Purple Forbidden City” became the official name for the emperor’s palace."

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DAY 3Beijing. Great Wall Excursion

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 at 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 make-up being applied to the performers. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Walk along the Great Wall to enjoy sweeping vistas of this mammoth fortress

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DAY 4Beijing-Xi'an

This morning, enjoy a rickshaw ride through one of Beijing’s HUTONGS, the city’s ancient alleys. Experience life in this historic neighborhood as you are invited 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. (Breakfast, Dinner)

The Great Wall stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east, to Lop Lake in the west and measures 5,500.3 miles

The Forbidden City, located in Beijing, houses the Palace Museum

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DAY 5Xi'an

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. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi’an

"The Terra-Cotta Warriors were actually a cultural landmark left by Emperor Qin Shihuang – the first Chinese emperor. Unlike the Great Wall, which Qin Shihung built to defend his territory while he was alive, the Terra-Cotta Warriors were buried on the side of the mausoleum to protect the emperor’s body and soul after his death – so that he would eventually come back to life some day."

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DAY 6Xi'an-Shanghai

Fly to Shanghai, China’s most populous city and center of trade and industry. This afternoon, 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. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Shanghai, China is the most populous city and center of trade and industry

The Bund, a famous waterfront area in Shanghai, China

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DAY 7Shanghai

This morning, visit the SHANGHAI MUSEUM and experience the YU YUAN GARDENS before lunch at 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. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

The fabulous cosmopolitan city of Shanghai

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DAY 8Shanghai

Your tour ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

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BEIJING Traders Hotel (F)
XI’AN Grand Mercure on Renmin Square (F)
SHANGHAI Sofitel Hyland Shanghai (F)

American breakfast daily, 5 lunches, 3 dinners including a Peking Duck welcome dinner in Beijing and a farewell dinner in Shanghai

Four Ways Globus Eliminates the Hassles

VIP Access
Skip the lines and get special treatment at the must-see attractions.

Perfect Hotels
We’ve done the work to find just the right hotels in just the right locations.

Tour Directors
Take your heads out of the guidebook and let expert guides make every destination fascinating.

Transportation
Leave the navigating to us – and just sit back and enjoy the ride.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on the Essence of China:

Beijing Imperial Palace
The Great Wall
Beijing Summer Palace
Ming Tombs
Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

VACATION OVERVIEW
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DATES & PRICES
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OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS