2009 CAASC China Tour with River Cruise Nov 5 – 18, 2009   中文行程

  Book this tour before May 15 to receive 10% $500.00 discount.

Day 1 - Take flight from San Francisco to Beijing.

Day 2 - Beijing - Upon arrival in Beijing, China's capital, you will be greeted and escorted to the Capital Hotel (or similar). 

Day 3 - Beijing  -After breakfast, visit Tiananmen Square and the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City, home of Chinese Emperors for more than 500 years. After lunch, visit the Summer Palace, taking a leisure stroll while admiring the thousands of ancient murals along the Long Corridor and a boat ride on the Kunming Lake (weather permitting). Enjoy a fabulous welcome banquet featuring the famous Beijing Duck in the evening. (AB,L,SD)

Day 4 - Beijing - The highlight today is an excursion to the Great Wall. Enjoy the dramatic vistas and marvel at the Wall as it climbs and descends steep ridges and narrow valleys. Continue on to visit a cloisonn factory on the way to lunch. After lunch, visit the Ming Tombs starting with a stroll along the Sacred Way guarded by the stone statues; then onto the Chang Ling Exhibition Museum.  (AB,L)

Day 5 - Beijing - Visit the Temple of Heaven in the morning, where the emperors came to pray for good harvest and pay his appreciation. Free at leisure in the afternoon. You may take an optional Hutong tour, a pedicab ride through the "Old City" neighborhood of narrow lanes and courtyard gardens hidden behind Beijing's moder facade. Visit Prince Gong's Palace, the Drum Tower, and old-style courtyard houses still inhabited by Beijing residents. (AB,L)

Day 6 - Beijing to Xi'an -This morning, visit the Beijing Sport University, where you will find the Garden of Champions, as more than 50 students graduated from this university have won world championship titles, and more than 60 have won Asian championship titles; visiting indoor training gyms and outdoor sports fields and courts, museum etc. En route transfer to the airport, drive around  the intriguing architecture of the main Olympic  venues, the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) where the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will be hold, and the National Aquatics with the nickname of “the Water Cube (H2O3) for its  unique out looking. Take an afternoon flight to Xi'an. Upon arrival, you will start your tour of the Ancient City Walls, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Bell Tower. Overnight at the Grand New World Hotel (or similar). (AB)

Day 7 - Xi'an - Today's highlight is a visit to the Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, home to more than 6,000 life-size army excavated from the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty. After lunch, visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, renowned for its collection of Han and Tang dynasty antiquities. In the evening, enjoy a special dumpling dinner and cultural show recreating the music, costumes and dance of the Tang Dynasty. (AB,L,SD)

Day 8 - Xi'an to Chongqing - For the Yangtze River Cruise.

** River Cruise may be changed to land tour if weather and river current condition not allow **.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to the mountainous city of Chongqing. Upon arrival, your city tour will include a visit to the Stilwell Museum where you will see a collection of World War II memorabilia, including exhibits on the Flying Tigers. If time permits, visit the People's Congress Hall and the art gallery. After dinner, board the 5-star Victoria Cruises and begin your memorable journey on the Yangtze River. (AB,L,D)

** Depending on local river conditions, alternate shore excursion to Wanzhou may occur.**

Day 9 - Yangtze River Cruise: Shibaozhai - Today's shore excursion is to Shibaozhai, famous for its 12-story wooden pagoda built against a sheer cliff on the river bank over some 400 years ago. (AB,L,D)

Day 10 - Yangtze River Cruise: Danning River Small Gorges or Shennong Stream (AB,L,D)
This morning you will cruise through the first two of the famous Three Gorges. Qutang Gorge, the shortest but the most dramatic gorge and Wu Gorge, known for its sheer cliffs and twelve peaks. Your excursion will include boarding a smaller vessel up the Danning River to view the sceneries of the Small Gorges. If weather permits, a sampan ride will take you into the tranquil tributary. Subject to river condition, alternate excursion to Shennong Stream may occur, also with its spectacular views of the Small Gorges. Your cruise continues and passes through the last and longest gorge, Xiling Gorge. Then sail through the double-lane five stages of the Three Gorges ship locks.

Day 11 - Yangtze River Cruise: Three Gorges Dam - Yichang - Shanghai
This morning, your cruise arrives Yang Jia Wang where you will enjoy a shore excursion at the Three Gorges Dam site, the largest hydroelectric project in the world. Continue onto Yichang where you disembark. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai - "Paris of the Orient". Afternoon sightseeing features the bustling shopping street Nanjing Road, and The Bund, famous promenade along the Huangpu River. Check in to the Central Hotel Shanghai (or similar).  **If direct flight is not available, transfer by motorcoach to Wuhan for flight to Shanghai. (AB,L,D)

Day 12 - Shanghai - This morning, you will visit the Shanghai Museum, China's most up-to-date museum showcasing the country's ancient glory. In the afternoon, pay a visit to the Jade Buddha Temple, renowned for its huge statue of the Buddha carved from a single piece of white jade; and the Yu Garden, famous for its rock gardens, pavilions, halls and ponds, and Old Shanghai Bazaar, with shops filled with all manner of interesting curios. (AB,L,D)

Day 13 - Shanghai - Spend today at leisure to explore this vibrant city on your own. Perhaps take an optional tour to one of the nearby picturesque water towns, known for their winding canals, arched stone bridges and well-preserved architecture from Ming and Qing Dynasty. (AB)

 Day 14 - Shanghai to San Francisco - Farewell to Shanghai. Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the USA after breakfast. (AB)

AB - American Breakfast;   L - Lunch;   D - Dinner;   SD - Special Dinner

Click here to download the Reservation Form

San Francisco Gateway	Tour Cost	Int’l Air	Hotel Single	Cruise Single
Nov 5 – 18, 2009	$1,696  Per Person Double Occupancy	$650  + Taxes & Fuel Surcharge $360	$455 Additional	$330 Additional

 􀂃 International airfare and tax is subject to change upon booking.
􀂃 Chinese visa is $140 per person + delivery service $20 per address.
􀂃 Gratuities are not included
􀂃 Travel Insurance is not included

For booking information, please contact us CAASC / Bill Suen Phone:510-676 4295 Email: office@caasc.net Or Exclusive travel agency designated by CAASC F & O Travel / Matthew Zhang Phone: 510-816 5069 Website: FandOTravel.com Email: fotravelmatthew@yahoo.com

The officers and or members of CAASC and APAPA are consumers of this tour, and do not receive any
 commission, services charge of any kind and are not responsible for any lost or damages to anyone.