Itinerary

Day 1: Depart U.S.
Today our China Quilting Adventure begins with an overnight flight from San Francisco to Beijing, China.

Day 2: 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 Crowne Plaza Hotel. After checking into our rooms and getting settled, we will enjoy a delicious welcome dinner in the hotel. D

Day 3: Beijing
This morning after breakfast at our hotel we depart for the Temple of Heaven, one of China�s most distinctive cultural treasures. Our knowledgeable local guides will help us understand the history of this magnificent Unesco World Heritage Site where emperors in ancient China made sacrifices to heaven to ensure the harmony of their vast kingdom. We will also observe the fascinating daily life that takes in place in the surrounding parks, where people dance, sing, play musical instruments and practice martial arts and tai chi.

Next we�ll go to Pan Jia Yuan, one of China�s most intriguing shopping destinations. Every weekend this arts and crafts bazaar 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. Our guides will offer insiders' advice about identifying high-quality authentic goods and cheap knock-offs, and they will give you tips on bargaining.

After honing your bargaining skills at Pan Jia Yuan, you will be able to negotiate good deals on fabric at Mu Xi Yuan, Beijing�s finest fabric market. Silk, cotton, brocade: a myriad of gorgeous fabrics await!

Tonight we enjoy a delicious dinner of Beijing Roast Duck, one of China�s most famous cuisines B, L, D

Day 4: Beijing
Today we head to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City for tours led by our expert guides. 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. In the Forbidden City we�ll explore the palace where China�s emperors ruled in absolute splendor and isolation.

After these fascinating tours, we will enjoy a tasty group lunch of Chinese cuisine, and then we will go to 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!

Today we also 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 for a visit. This is a fun and fascinating way to get a glimpse of daily life in China. B, L, D

Day 5: Beijing (Optional Trip to Xi�an)Today you have the option of touring Xi�an. The capital of a dozen ancient dynasties and home of the fabled Terracotta Warriors, Xi�an is one of the world�s great cultural treasures.

After taking an early morning flight from Beijing to Xi�an, our knowledgeable local Xi�an guides will lead us on a tour of 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.

We will also visit a terracotta workshop, where we can observe skilled artisans crafting terracotta statues and weaving exquisite rugs, and we will have the opportunity to purchase finely crafted reproductions of the Terracotta warriors, as well as a whole host of other treasures, ranging from small paintings crated in a distinctive local style to pieces of furniture made with magnificent lacquerware. In the late afternoon we board a flight back to Beijing and return to our hotel to rest.

B, L (optional group dinner at Western restaurant with Chinese guide);

People who choose to stay in Beijing today will have free time.
B (optional group dinner at Western restaurant with Chinese guide)


Day 6: Beijing
After breakfast, get your cameras ready. Today we visit some of China�s most notable modern architecture: the Olympic Stadiums. After seeing the Bird�s Nest and the Water Cube, we head to 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 visit jade and cloisonn� workshops, and then we will go together as a group to have a foot massage. Your tired muscles will be rejuvenated and you will enjoy blissful relaxation after our exciting morning excursion. B, L, D

Day 7: Beijing / Shanghai
Today we fly to 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. We will ease ourselves into the hustle and bustle of Shanghai by visiting one of the finest fabric markets in China. Several floors are filled with countless stalls stocked floor to ceiling with Chinese fabric. In the evening you will have the option of meeting with an expert tailor for a private consultation. This skilled craftsman can make customized clothing to your exact specifications, either providing his own fabric or using the fabric you have acquired in China. Travelers on our past trips who have taken advantage of this service and given rave reviews to the quality of the garments the tailor has crafted and delivered to them before they left Shanghai. B, L, D

Day 8: Shanghai
Today our expert local Shanghai 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. We�ll stroll along Nanjing Lu, the longest shopping street in China. This pedestrian mall in the heart of Shanghai provides one of China�s most exciting shopping experiences�as well as one of the best people-watching opportunities in China. 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

Day 9: Shanghai / Suzhou
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 (optional group dinner to Western restaurant with Chinese guide)

Day 10: Shanghai
Today we enjoy free time on our own. In the fun, modern city of Shanghai, there are endless opportunities for sightseeing, shopping, dining, visiting cultural sites, or simply relaxing at a spa with a traditional Chinese massage and a cup of Chinese green tea. You might choose to visit the fairgrounds for the World Expo 2010, the largest World�s Fair in history. At this point you will have made many friends with fellow quilters on the trip�you can explore the city with your new friends.

In the evening we gather together to have a fun and delicious farewell dinner celebration, and then we board a boat and take a cruise on the Huangpu River so we can appreciate gorgeous views of the night lights of Shanghai.

B, D (optional group lunch at Western restaurant with Chinese guide)

Day 11: 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�November 21. B

*THIS ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.