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Day 1-2 Depart from LAX
Board a Trans-Pacific flight to Beijing.
Day 3 Beijing (AB, L, D)
Arrive in Beijing in the early morning. Prior to checking into the hotel, we visit sites of the 2008 Olympic Games such as the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube (outside). After resting up, we visit the Summer Palace and a pearl factory.
Day 4 Beijing (AB, L, SD)
After breakfast, we visit the Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. In the evening, we are treated to a famous Peking Duck Welcome Banquet.
Goose Pagoda in Southern Xian Giant
Day 5 Beijing (AB, L, D)
Along the way to the Great Wall, we stop by a jade factory. After exploring the Great Wall, lunch is served. We then return to the city for shopping followed by dinner and a Kung Fu Show.
Day 6 Beijing-Urumqi (AB, D)
Take a morning flight to Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in Northwestern China, home to the Uygur minority nationality.
Day 7 Urumqi (AB, L, D)
We spend the day traveling through the countryside to Heaven's Lake and the surrounding pristine Tian Shan Mountains at more than 6,000 feet above sea level. Later we pay a visit to the home of a local Uygur family. In the afternoon, we visit the Great Bazaar.
Day 8 Urumqi - Turpan - Urumqi (AB, L, D)
In the morning we make our way to Turpan, an oasis amid desert sands. In Turpan we visit the famous Karez Wells and the ancient ruins of Jiaohe City. This afternoon we will visit the Gaocheng City Ruins and Sugong Pagoda before returning to Urumqi.
Day 9 Urumqi (AB)
Today is free to explore the local culture and lifestyle. The evening will feature a Uygur song and dance performance, depending on availability.
Tourists ride camels at Mingsha Shan
(Singing Sand Dunes) in Dunhuang
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Day 10 Urumqi-Dunhuang (AB, L, D)
Board a morning flight to Dunhuang, an important oasis city along the Silk Road, most famous for the Mogao Grottoes. These were painted by monks, merchants and nobles that made their way along the Silk Road. We also visit Crescent Moon Springs and the Humming Sandy Mountain.
Day 11 Dunhuang-Xian (AB, L, SD)
Board a morning flight to Xian and enjoy an excursion to the Big Goose Pagoda. Later, we experience a Tang Dynasty Show and we complete the day with a Chinese Dumpling Banquet.
Day 12 Xian (AB, L, D)
Today we visit the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Terracotta Warriors excavation site. This site contains more than 7,300 sculptures crafted 2,000 years ago to honor China's first Emperor, Qin Shi Huang. After lunch, we visit the Ancient City Wall and Bell Tower.
Day 13 Xian-Shanghai (AB, L)
Visit Yu Yuan Garden, Old Shanghai District and Pearl TV Tower. Later, we stroll along Nanjing Road and the Bund.
Day 14 Shanghai (AB)
The day is free to explore Shanghai on your own.
Day 15 Shanghai-USA (AB)
The morning is free before catching our flight home via Beijing.
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Hotels may be substituted for similar rated accommodations. |
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