ITINERARY

September 17: Depart U.S.
Today our China Quilting Adventure begins with an overnight flight from San Francisco to Beijing, China.

September 18: Beijing
In the afternoon we arrive at the Beijing International Airport. After passing through customs and collecting our luggage, we will be met by our guides, who will escort us aboard our private motorcoach to our 5-star hotel: the luxurious and centrally located Xinhai Jinjiang. After checking into our rooms and getting settled, we will enjoy a delicious welcome dinner of Beijing Roast Duck, one of China’s most famous cuisines. D

September 19: Beijing
This morning after breakfast at our hotel we depart for Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City for tours led by our knowledgeable guides. In the Forbidden City we’ll tour the palace where China’s emperors ruled in absolute splendor and isolation. As we stroll around Tiananmen Square in sight of the enormous portrait of Mao Zedong, we’ll learn about the historic events of the 20th century that took place here. After these fascinating tours, we will enjoy a tasty group lunch of Chinese cuisine, and then we will embark on our first of many shopping excursions. We will go the world-famous Pearl Market. Part of the fun of shopping in China comes from the spirited bargaining that goes on in the markets and stores. By the time you leave China, you’ll have many chances to acquire beautiful clothing, fabric and gifts, and you’ll be a pro at bargaining! B, L, D

September 20: Beijing
Today we’ll visit the Children’s Palace—a school where gifted Chinese children study and practice the arts. After spending time with the talented and charismatic children, we’ll go to Pan Jia Yuan, also known as “Dirt Alley", one of China’s most famous shopping destinations. Every weekend it teems with vendors from all over China selling everything from antique furniture to Tibetan textiles. It is a fascinating place to practice your bargaining skills and buy unique items you’ll treasure forever. B, L, D

September 21: Beijing
After breakfast, get your cameras ready. Today we visit the Great Wall of China. One of the fabled Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Wall is a massive engineering feat begun in the fifth century B.C. to defend the Chinese empire against marauding nomads from the north. Not only will you see this magnificent part of China’s past—you’ll have the chance to walk on it while enjoying views of the wall’s distant ramparts snaking along hills and disappearing into the misty distance. Our guides will provide a glimpse into the fascinating background and history of the Great Wall. After you’ve absorbed this wonderful experience and had your picture taken on the Great Wall, we will board our private motor coach and travel to a restaurant for a delicious lunch. Following lunch we will go together as a group to get a Massage. Your tired muscles will be rejuvenated and you will enjoy blissful relaxation after our exciting morning excursion. Following the massage, we will visit a Hutong, one of the ancient neighborhoods in Beijing steeped in a traditional way of life that is a vivid contrast to the rapidly changing culture of the modern metropolis of Beijing. We will be peddled around the old historical section of Beijing in rickshaws. During the tour we will stop at a local resident’s home and learn the ancient and delicious art of making Chinese dumplings. This is a fun and fascinating way to get a glimpse of daily life in China. Bring your cameras and your appetite for tasty dumplings! B, L, D

September 22: Beijing
Today we enjoy a free day to relax or explore Beijing on your own. There will be an optional shopping excursion to Silk Alley, a fast-paced market that offers a plethora of shopping opportunities. You will understand why it has earned its reputation as one of Beijing’s great shopping destinations as you peruse items ranging from designer Western brands to authentic Chinese silk—all of which are a fraction of the cost you would pay in the U.S. Our guides will offer insiders' advice about identifying high-quality authentic goods and cheap knock-offs, and they will give you tips on bargaining. B

September 23: Beijing / Xi’an
Today, after breakfast we board a flight to Xi’an. The capital of a dozen ancient dynasties, Xi’an is one of the world’s great cultural treasures. After settling into our luxurious 5-star hotel, our knowledgeable local guides will lead us on a tour of this fascinating city, including a visit to the Xi’an City Wall—the only complete city wall still remaining in China. In ancient times, all Chinese cities were surrounded by impressive walls that offered protection from warlords and invading armies. We will walk along the top of the wide wall surrounding Xi’an, one of the most interesting historical relics in China. The views of the city from atop the wall are stunning. B, L, D

September 24: Xi’an
Today, after a buffet breakfast at our hotel, our expert local guides will join us on our private motor coach as we visit what is widely considered one of the manmade wonders of the world. Make sure you have your camera with you, because today we see the world-famous Terracotta Warriors. Life-size infantrymen, archers, military officers and their horses, all rendered in exquisite detail, guard the tomb of the first emperor of China. Tonight we dine on a sumptuous dinner of special dumplings and enjoy a terrific show: the Tang Dynasty Song & Dance Troupe performs traditional Chang’an music and dances that originated in China’s Tang dynasty more than a thousand years ago. B, L, D

September 25: Xi’an / Shanghai
Our flight this morning is like time travel: we leave the ancient wonders of Xi’an and land in Shanghai, one of the most exciting cities in the world. Shanghai’s recent growth and economic expansion are staggering; you will find yourself caught up in all the excitement and energy of this burgeoning metropolis. Our expert local guides will lead us on a tour of the Bund, where we will appreciate both European colonial-style architecture and the futuristic skyline of Pudong, where many of the world’s most esteemed modern architects have built an eclectic collection of some of the world’s boldest buildings. After a group lunch, we will travel aboard our private motor coach through a tunnel beneath the Huangpu River to Pudong, the financial center of the new China. We’ll go up into the Oriental Pearl Tower for a birds-eye view of Shanghai. You’ll want to have your camera ready to capture the captivating panoramas of one of the most exciting places on the planet. In the evening prepare yourself for one of China’s greatest entertainment spectacles: the world-famous Shanghai Acrobatic Show. B, L, D

September 26: Shanghai
Following a buffet breakfast, today we board our private motor coach for a short journey to Suzhou. A small and peaceful city based around a system of canals, Suzhou is often referred to as the “Venice of the East". In Suzhou we will visit the Institute of Suzhou Embroidery, located in the Villa of Secluded Beauty, a garden in Suzhou noted for its elegant architecture and beautiful scenery. The Villa of Secluded Beauty offers a fine example of how the Chinese arts of gardening and embroidery complement each other. Suzhou embroidery has a history that spans centuries and is characterized by gorgeous patterns, elegant colors, and rich and meticulous stitching. We will see examples of this art form and watch artisans at work. This is followed by a visit to the Silk Spinning Mill. Here we will see how the silk is spun, dyed and packaged. After observing the entire process of how silk fabrics are made from the silk cocoons to the finished product, you’ll have the chance to purchase some high-quality silk items. We return to Shanghai in the evening. B, L, D

September 27: Shanghai
Today we go on a group shopping excursion to Nanjing Donglu, a pedestrian mall in the heart of Shanghai that provides one of China’s most exciting shopping experiences. Our guides will offer advice about where to shop and what to buy in this shopping paradise. In the evening we will take a cruise on the Huangpu River and enjoy gorgeous views of the night lights of Shanghai. Then we will have a fun and delicious farewell dinner celebration. B, L, D

September 28: Shanghai
Today we enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, and then we pack our bags. We travel aboard the thrilling Maglev train—the fastest and most technologically advanced train in the world—to the Shanghai International Airport, where we board our flight home to the U.S. We arrive in the U.S. on the same day we depart China—September 28th. B

*THIS ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

This trip is operated by China Travel and Tour