Itinerary

Day 1      Arrive in Beijing

You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, located in the heart of Beijing.  In the evening, enjoy a roast duck “welcome” dinner.
    
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Centrally-located 4 star hotel    

Day 2      Beijing

Beijing offers endless opportunities for exploration. After breakfast, head out on a guided city tour that includes the enormous Forbidden City, built more than 500 years ago and off limits to commoners until modern times. While its sheer size is sure to impress,  what makes it fascinating is all of the intense detail –  ranging from intricate carvings on walkways to colorful painting on the ceilings – everywhere you look. The surprises at every turn make exploration of the area a particularly fun family outing. In the afternoon, go off the beaten path on a trip back to the original heart and fabric of Beijing, the hutong.  Sit back as your pedal-cab driver takes you through these extensive residential alleyway neighborhoods of low courtyard houses lining narrow alleys and streets. Many hutong neighborhoods have survived Beijing's rush to modernize, so take your time as you explore these enchanting warrens of single-story, ramshackle dwellings and historic courtyard houses where (by some estimates) up to a quarter of Beijing’s population lives. Stop in to visit a local family, learn how to make a Chinese dumpling, and enjoy traditional food for lunch.  In the evening, attend a Kung Fu performance, a mesmerizing fusion of traditional martial art, modern dance, and acrobatics that also incorporates fantastic special effects, elaborate set designs, and colorful costumes.  Overnight in Beijing.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging: Centrally-located 4 star hotel    

Day 3      Beijing

After breakfast, set out for the Temple of Heaven park and its many sights, including the Confucian Temple of Heaven main hall, the Round Altar, and the octagonal Imperial Vault of Heaven.  We have arranged for Kung fu lessons afterward for anyone who is so inclined!  In the afternoon, visit Milu Yuan (Milu Park), located in the Southern Marshes of Beijing, where Chinese emperors historically went hunting and held military exercises.  Today, the site is an ecological research center and wildlife sanctuary that houses descendants of an extinct deer-family animal known as the Pere David, or Milu, deer as well as other endangered species.  Milu deer became extinct in China toward the end of the Qing dynasty (late 19th century). The deer you see today are the descendants of 18 animals that were collected in 1898 from zoos around Europe and brought to China. The research center's expansive marshlands also boast migratory birds, other endangered animals, a maze, and an organic vegetable garden – something sure to entertain everyone in the family.  In the evening, head out to experience Beijing's traditional opera, the best-known of over 300 types of opera in China, which is a colorful treat of singing, dancing, swordsmanship, mine, and acrobatics.  Overnight in Beijing.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging: Centrally-located 4 star hotel    

Day 4      Beijing/The Great Wall

After breakfast, travel about 70 miles northeast of the city to Simatai, the least visited, largely unrestored, and most beautiful section of the Great Wall. Standing on this incredible engineering feat and surveying the spectacular surrounding countryside is an exhilarating experience. If you choose, there is ample time for you and your family to hike a portion of the wall, climb its towers, or simply enjoy the site and imagine how it was to have been one of China's ancient warriors. Return to your hotel in Beijing, where you can explore on your own for the remainder of the day. There are good shopping opportunities at the Silk Market and Dachilan Market. Overnight in Beijing.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging: Centrally-located 4 star hotel    

Day 5      Beijing/Chengdu

Fly to Chengdu, the laid-back, green, very livable capital of the Sichuan province and, perhaps surprisingly, China's fifth most populous urban area.  The city has a rich history of “cottage industry” handicrafts, and, due to recent changes in Chinese regulations, there are signs of thriving markets at almost every turn. Visit Sanxingdui Museum, home of remarkable bronzes, sophisticated masks, and other artifacts over 4,000 years old, discovered only in 1986 and considered by some to be even more important than Xian's terra cotta warriors.  The five-square mile archaeological site, near the museum, is a major site of the Shu kingdom, considered the cradle of Chinese civilization.

After the museum, head to Renmin Park (People's Park) for a stroll and a cup of tea at the park's teahouse.  Later, visit the old town area of Chengdu, where the narrow streets are lined with shops, snack stalls, and teahouses.  In the evening, enjoy a traditional Sichuan dinner, followed by a trip to see the famous Sichuan opera style known as “bian lian,” or face changing.  In this form of opera, performers wave their arms and twist their heads, and their painted masks are changed again and again, much to the astonishment and amusement of the audience.  Skilled opera stars can change about 10 masks in 20 seconds. It is amazing to watch actors change their masks with a magical sweep of a hand or the turning of the head. It is difficult to see the masks being changed, and the precise techniques are closely-guarded secrets that have been passed down within theater families from generation to generation.  After the show, return to your centrally-located Chengdu hotel.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging: Centrally-located 4 star hotel    

Day 6      Chengdu/Panda Breeding Center

Prepare for an exciting and educational day!   Take a short ride north of the city to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, work there as volunteers under the instruction of professional panda keeper, observe panda behavior, and feed the animals.  Founded in 1987 with six giant pandas rescued from the wild, the base now has more than 80 animals, and they sustain the animals' genetic diversity by exchanging genetic material with other facilities. This rare visitation privilege is a small group encounter with a maximum of four tourists per professional panda keeper, so make the most of it and don't forget your camera.  In the afternoon, your family can choose between a visit Chengdu Zoo or, for an additional charge, visit one of the city's amusement parks. Later in the day, relax or explore more of the city at your leisure.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging: Centrally-located 4 star hotel    

Day 7      Chengdu/Huanglongxi/Chengdu

After breakfast, take a short drive about 30 miles out to the scenic, historic town of  Huanglongxi in Sichuan province.  Huanglongxi  is over 1,700 years old and has been lovingly restored to retain its old world charm so that visitors can walk the streets as they would have done a couple of centuries ago.  The town is named after the Huanglong River, which flows through the heart of town, and on which you can enjoy a boat ride as atmospheric as anything you'd do in Venice or Paris.  Explore this beautiful town and its ancient cobbled streets, temples, wharves, and houses along its curving alleys. There are also a number of attractive riverfront restaurants where you can enjoy the view and a bite to eat.  Return to Chengdu for the night.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging: Centrally-located 4 star hotel    

Day 8      Chengdu/Leshan/Guilin

After breakfast, travel to Leshan, a relaxed riverside town that draws visitors to see a massive stone Buddha carved into the hillside near the confluence of the Dadu and Min rivers. A seated figure, it is a staggering 235 feet high, is over 1,000 years old, and took almost 100 years to build. At the time of its construction, it was the tallest statue in the world; today, it is the largest carved stone Buddha in the world and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.  The Buddha's fingernails are taller than the average person!  His smallest toenail is large enough to easily accommodate a seated person!  In addition to being impressive at close quarters,  the giant Buddha can be viewed from a distance on a boat from which you'll gain a different, but equally impressive, perspective. Return to Chengdu for an afternoon flight to Guilin for your overnight.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging: Centrally located 4 star hotel    

Day 9      Guilin/Yangshuo

After breakfast, drive to Yangshuo, a tiny town 50 miles from Guilin. The fantastical scenery, with craggy karst (limestone) peaks all around, may create the sense that you are traveling through a massive, beautiful landscape painting. After checking in at your hotel, take a leisurely boat ride down the Li River, past rural scenes of wallowing water buffalo and farmers tending their crops, to the picturesque market town of Fuli.  This historic village, with its stone houses and cobbled lanes, is famous for its handmade fans.

Later, attend an evening performance of the well-known folk musical, "Impression Liu Sanjie,” an extravaganza performed outdoors with a cast of 600 (!!) singers and dancers.  The performance is held at the world largest natural theater, using the waters of the Li River as its stage, with the mist-shrouded hills as its backdrop. Enjoy!
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Centrally located 3-4 star hotel    

Day 10      Yangshuo

Spend the day exploring Yangshuo, a small town that offers a relaxed and intimate alternative to the major cities of China, and an excellent area for the whole family to tour on bicycles.  Join your local guide for a few hours of exploration in the countryside, including Moon Hill, a limestone pinnacle with a moon-shaped hole, and meeting some of the inhabitants of the nearby villages. After working up an appetite on your bike ride, dig into a home-cooked lunch at the home of a local family.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Centrallylocated 3-4 star hotel    

Day 11      Yangshuo/Guilin/Hong Kong

In the afternoon you will have a cooking lesson and then enjoy the fruits of your labor (i.e., eat what you cooked!).  Drive back to Guilin, where you'll catch a late afternoon flight to Hong Kong, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging: Centrally located 4 star hotel    

Day 12      Hong Kong

Hong Kong will be like a shot of adrenaline after your time in mainland China.  The views (and the climbs) quicken the pulse, while the harbor beckons you to jump on the ferry.  There are many things to see and do in the city; your most difficult decisions will be prioritizing what to do first.  Even in this expensive city, there are many inexpensive thrills – for example, a HK$2 (about $0.25 US$) boat ride across the harbor must be the best cruise value in the world.  You may explore on your own, or we can set up guided tours if you prefer.  Some must-see/must-do attractions include a Hong Kong island tour to visit the atmospheric, incense-filled old Man Mo Temple; a sampan ride around Aberdeen fishing village to see the lives of boat-dwellers and perhaps eat at one of the magnificent floating restaurants such as Jumbo or Tai Bak; a stroll through colorful Stanley Market (also a good place to cross off the last few souvenirs on your shopping list); and a visit to picturesque Repulse Bay.  And no trip to Hong Kong would be complete without a tram ride to Victoria Peak – night or day, the views are stunning.  Instead of riding the tram down, walk back, checking out the interesting neighborhoods, shops, and cafes along the way.  Another option is Ocean Park, one of the largest oceanariums in the world, featuring aquariums, dolphin shows, rides, a film simulator, and giant pandas – it’s got something fun for everyone in the family. You can also take a cable car ride over the Park. Yet another option is a tour of Lantau Island to see Silvermine Bay, Po Lin monastery, Cheung Sha beach, and Tai Village.  Either from the island or perhaps on a short boat ride out in the China Sea, you may be lucky enough to spot a pod of Chinese White Dolphins. After an exciting and busy day, the evening is yours for dinner on your own at one of the many delicious options around the city.  Overnight in Hong Kong.
    
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Centrally located 4 star hotel    

Day 13      Hong Kong/Onward

Continue with some sightseeing on your own in this amazing metropolis, then return to your hotel to catch your ride to the airport for your onward flight.  Or consider staying on for another day or two on your own if you haven't managed to see everything Hong Kong has to offer.
    
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: None

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