China3-Best-CitiesTour,Page1of6

US-Ch ina Educat ion Counc i l

2019China3-Best-CitiesToursWithsitevisitforprofessionaldevelopment

Fortourapplicationform&paymentinfo,sende-mailto:UsChinaEducation@yahoo.com

Beijing--Xi’an--Shanghai

Spend9daysenjoyingChina’sthreemostfascinatingcities.SeetheGreatWall,Beijing’sForbiddenCityandTiananmenSquare.Then,proceedtotheancientcityofXi’an,thestartingpointoftheSilkRoadandexcavationsiteofthefamousTerraCottaWarriors.Finally,flyfromXi’antoShanghai,whereyoustrollalongthe19th-centurywaterfrontBundsurroundedbyviewsofthiscutting-edge21st-centurymetropoliswithamazingfuturisticarchitecture.ThreerenownedChinesecitiesyouwillvisitare:

• Beijing--China’snationalcapital,inNorthChina.• Xi’an--capitalof10Chinesedynasties,startingpointoftheancientover-landSilkRoad,inWestChina.• Shanghai--China’sleadingmetropolis&financialcenter,inSoutheastChina.

Wecanalsoplansitevisit,forprofessionaldevelopment,toschool,college,agencyorbusinessinBeijingorXi’an,tomeetwithChinesecolleagues,dependingoninterests&requestsbymajoritymembersofthegroup.TourpackagecostIncludes:

1. Int’lflights(coachclass,fromNYC/EWR);2. Chinadomesticflights(coachclass)&high-speedtrainride3. Luxury4/5starhotelaccommodationsinallcities4. Alldailymealsasindicated(B,L,D)5. English-speakingtourguides6. Admissionstoculturalsites&showsasindicatedintheitinerary7. Sitevisitsforprofessionaldevelopment8. Accident-protectioninsurancefortravelinChina

2019 Tour Dates:

1. March16-24:$2,7982. April20-28:$2,7983. May21-29:$3,298 4. July1-9:$3,398 5. Anyotherdatesofyourchoice;contact

usviaemail

Pricesfor2019DepartureDates:

• $2,698:February• $2,798:January,March,April,Nov• $2,898:October,• $2,998:September• $3,298:May• $3,398:June,July,August,December

Notes:1. TourpriceisfordeparturefromNYC&Newark,NJ.Slightairfareadd-onappliestodeparturefromotherU.S.cities(about$80inmostcases;mayvarywith

region).SeepaymentinfoaboutupgradeforInt’lflights.Thepriceisbasedonsharingatwin-beddedroomathotelsandaminimumof25participantstravelling.Groupmembersbenefitfromexcellentgroupratesforincludedservices.

2. Singleroomsupplement:$5503. Child(underageof11)sharingbedwithadult:-$2004. ExtendedhotelstayinBeijing/Shanghai:$180/pernightperroom

TripItinerary(Tentative)Day1DeparttheU.S.

TourmembersfromdifferentcitiesoftheU.S.departthismorningforBeijing.

Dependingonavailabilityofint’lflights,wemayarriveinShanghaifirst,reversingorderofthecities,butthesitesandactivitiesontheitinerarywillremainsame.

IfyouarenotintheGreatNewYorkarea,thetravelagencycanbookyourflightswithdeparturefromanairportclosetoyou,andyouwilljustmakeaconnectionatanotherlargeairport(e.g.,Chicago,SFOorLAX)fortheflighttoChina.WewilltrytobookdeparturesinsuchawaythatallmembersarriveinChinaataboutthesametime.Soonafterthedeadlineofthefirstpayment,thetourorganizerandthetravelagencywilldecideontheairlinethatcangivethebestroutingforthetrans-Pacificflights.

Day2Beijing

WandaRealmHotelBeijing;BeijingCenturyLianhuaHotel;WyndhamHotel ★★★★★orsimilarclass

UponarrivalatBeijingCapitalInt’lAirport,ourlocaltourguidewillmeetyouandthentransferyoutothehotel.Enroutetothehotel,enjoyfirstviewsofChina’scapitalcity.

Yourhotelroomisavailableformid-afternooncheck-inifyouarriveintheafternoon.Therestofthedayisatyourownleisure:relaxinthehotelorwalkaroundtheneighborhoodonyourown.

China3-Best-CitiesTour,Page2of6

Day3Beijing(B,L,D)Today’sfirsthighlight,oneandhalfhoursawaynorthofthecity,is"theGreatWall,"whichwasbuiltover2,000yearsagobyfirstemperorQinShihuangdiacrossthehistoricalnorthernbordersofChinatoprotecttheChineseEmpireagainstintrusionsbyvariousnomadicgroupsandwarlikepeoples.Itstretchesover3,100miles.Astronautsclaimeditwastheonlyworkofhumanhandsontheglobevisiblefromthemoon.ThedefensivecharacteristicsoftheGreatWallwereenhancedbytheconstructionofwatchtowers,troopbarracks,garrisonstations,andsignalingtowers.OtherpurposesoftheGreatWallincludedbordercontrols,allowingimpositionofdutiesongoodstransportedalongtheSilkRoad,regulationorencouragementoftradeandcontrolofimmigrationandemigration.ThepathoftheGreatWallalsoservedasatransportationcorridorinancienttimes.AftertheGreatWall,wehavelunchattheGoldenPalacewherewecanalsolearnaboutenamel-makingatthecloisonnéexhibition.

CloisonnéisauniqueartformthatcametoChinaontheSilkRoad(youwillseemuchinfluencefromtheByzantineartandIslamiccultures);itthenprosperedinBeijingduringtheYuanDynasty(1271-1368).Later,artisansimprovedthecoloringprocess,andcreatedthebrightbluethatappealedtotheOrientalaestheticsense.Itisanamazingplacetosee!

Afterlunch,thecharterbustakesyoubacktothecity.WewillstopbytheNationalStadium(theBird’sNestforthe2008OlympicGames).Manypeoplestillrememberthespectacularopeningceremonyatthisstadiumthatsummer.Thedesign,whichoriginatedfromthestudyofChineseceramics,implementedsteelbeamsinordertohidesupportsfortheretractableroof,thusgivingthestadiumtheappearanceofabird'snest.Sincethe2008Olympics,thestadiumhasbeenusedforsoccergames,concerts,andmanyothersportsandartsevents.Itisalsoamajortouristattraction.Timepermitting,wemayenjoyteaatatraditionalChineseteahouse,andstopatapearlgalleryBeijingishuge.Movingaroundinbustodayisthebestwaytoseethisamazingcity,theancientyetverymodernBeijing!Intheevening,youcanchoosetowatchafascinatinglivekungfuperformanceatthefamousRedTheatre(admissionextra).

Day4Beijing(B,L,D)

Thismorning,wefirststrollthroughhistoricTiananmenSquare--thelargestpublicsquareintheworldandthepoliticalsymbolofthePeople'sRepublicofChina.Thisisasiteofgreatculturalsignificance.InthenorthisthedominantGateofHeavenlyPeace.InthecenterstandstheMonumenttothePeople'sHeroes(whohaddiedduringthewarsfortheCommunistChina).TheGreatHallofthePeopleandtheNationalMuseumofChinaareonthewesternandeasternsidesofthesquare.Inrecentmemory,thesquareisbestknown,outsideChina,asthefocalpointofthepro-democracymovementthatendedtragicallyon4June1989withdeclarationofmartiallawinBeijing.TothewestisahugestructurethathasadistinctRussian/Sovietinfluence:theGreatHallofthePeople,astatebuildingusedforlegislativeandceremonialactivities.TheGreatHallisalsousedformanyspecialevents,andforreceivinginternationalleadersanddignitaries.WhatyouhaveseenattheTiananmenSquareandtheGreatHallofthePeoplearemodernChinesepoliticalinstitutions,whichareverymuchbasedonwhatyouwilldiscoverintheoldbuildingsbehind.Here,youwillseetheconnectiontothetraditionofChinesepoliticalculture!Now,walkacrossthestreettovisitthePalaceMuseumandtheForbiddenCity.ItwastheChineseimperialpalacefromtheMingDynastytotheendoftheQingDynasty.

China3-Best-CitiesTour,Page3of6Foralmost500years,itservedasthehomeofemperorsandtheirhouseholds(inearliertimes,onlymembersoftheEmperor'sfamilywerepermittedthere)aswellastheceremonialandpoliticalcenterofancientChinesegovernmentbeforeChina’sfeudalsystemwasoverthrownatbeginningof20thcentury.

Thishugerectanglecomplexconsistsof980survivingbuildingswith9,999rooms.Wewillseethemostimportantandelaboratebuildingssituatedonthecentralnorth-southaxis,whicharetheceremonialcenterofimperialpower,plustheInnerCourt(thehomeandofficesfortheemperor)andpricelessartcollections.LearnfromtheguidehowthedesignoftheForbiddenCity,fromitsoveralllayouttosomesmallestdetails,wasmeticulouslyplannedtoreflectphilosophicalandreligiousprinciples,andaboveall,tosymbolizethemajestyofImperialpower.Afterlunch,haveashortvisittoTongRenTangtolearnabouttraditionalChinesemedicine(TCM)andChinesehealthcaretheory.Chinesehavehadtheirtraditionalmedicineforthousandsofyears.MuchoftraditionalChinesemedicinederivedfromthesamephilosophicalbasesthatcontributedtothedevelopmentofTaoism.Itisnowconsideredacomplementaryoralternativemedicineinmostoftheworld.TongRenTanginBeijingisthebestplacetolearnaboutmajortheoriesandpracticesoftraditionalChinesemedicine,includingdiagnosisandtreatments,suchasyin-yang,herbalmedicine,massage,acupuncture,andchannelsystemofthehumanbody.HavesomefreetimetowalkaroundatthefamousWangfujingBusinessArea(whichusedtobethecity’sonlymajorcommercialcenterpriorto1990).WhileinBeijing,wemustsavortheuniquetastesoftheauthenticPekingRoastDuckatthefamousQuanjudeRestaurant(alongwithsomeBeijinglocalwineorbeer,ifyoulike).OverthePekingDuckmeal,thechefoftherestaurantandthetourguidecantalkaboutmajorschoolsofChinesecuisinesandtheirdifferences,suchthatyoucanappreciatewhatwillbepresentedtoyouintheothercities.Afterdinner,youwillenjoythePekingOperashow(casualattireisjustfine).

Day5Beijing--Xi’an(B,D)

Xi’anShangriLaHotel;GrandBaronyXi’anHotel;WyndhamHotel;Xi’anRamadaPlazaHotel★★★★★,orsimilarclass

Afterbreakfast,wewilltransfertotheBeijingWestTrainStationtotakethehigh-speedbullettrain(about4&1/2hours)toXi’an.

(Note:itispossiblethatthegroupmayfly(2hours)toXi’anfromBeijing,dependingonavailabilityandscheduleoftrains.)Onthewaytothetrainstation/airport,thecharteredbustakesyouaroundonthecityexpresswaysforpartingviewsofthiscity,includingimportantnewlandmarksofChina’sCCTVtowerandCBD.

Thisnewbullettrainismodern.Youwillbesurprisedathowfastthistrainmoves(orliterarilyflies).Duetoimprovedglasstechnology,passengersdonotfeelthehighspeedoranydiscomfortwhenlookingatthesceneryoutside.Infact,thetrainseatsaregoingtobeverycomfortable,muchlikebusiness-classonanairplane.

Whatismore,duringtherideacross4provinces,you’llhavearareopportunitytoviewthevariedsceneryofnorthChina’scities,villages&towns,andon-goingurbanization.Youcanpreparesomesnackinadvanceforlunchforthetrain,orpurchasesomedrinksandsnacks(alsolunchbox)onthetrain.Xi’an,ascapitalof10ancientdynasties,isknownforitslonghistory,andforitsrichcultureduetoethnicmixfromtheSilkRoad.AstheeasternstartingpointoftheancientSilkRoad,itwasvisitedbyMarcoPolo.ManyremindersofXi’an’sancienthistoryarestillevident,includingtheCityWall,theDrumTowerandtheBellTower,whichdatefrom1384.Since1990,Xi’anhasre-emergedasanimportantcultural,industrialandeducationalcenterforChina’snorthwestregion;alsoasresearchanddevelopmentcenterforChina’sspaceprograms.Otherthingsthatmakethecityfamousincludeitsfoodandart,whichyouwillexperience,too.

China3-Best-CitiesTour,Page4of6AfterarrivalinXi’an,thedaystartswithavisittooneofChina’ssupremetreasures:theTerracottaWarriorsandHorses.TheSoldiersoftheQinDynastyamazedtheworldwhendiscoveredin1974bylocalfarmers.Buriedwiththefirstemperorover2,000yearsagoandmeanttoprotecthimashisbodyguardsintheafterlife,the8,000life-sizedwarriorsandtheirsteedsareamagnificentsight.

GoonanexcursiontotheMausoleumofthefirstEmperorQinShihuangdi(oneofChina'sgreatestrulersandthebuilderoftheGreatWall)andtothefamousTerracottaSoldiersandHorsesMuseum.Ofcourse,ifyouwant,youcanpurchasesomereplicasofterracottawarriorsandhorsesinthemuseumasmemoriesofthetripandasdecorationforhomeoroffice.

Enjoytheeveningatyourleisure.

Day6Xi’an(B,L)

First,visittheWildGoosePagodaSquarescenicarea,toseethestatueofsenior

monkXuanZang(c.601-664)whoembarkedontheJourneytotheWestandbroughtBuddhistsutrasbacktoChinafromIndia,whichmarkedearliestculturalexchangesbetweenChinaandtheoutsideworld.Wewillstopbrieflyatalocaljadestore,toseemagnificentexhibitionofjadeart,andtolearnaboutitsrichmeaningsontheSilkRoadandintheChineseculture

ThetriptothisancientcityismademoremeaningfulwithastopatTangbo(TangDynastyArtMuseum),whereyoucanappreciateuniqueChineseartandpracticeChinesecalligraphy.Wecanhavesitevisitforprofessionaldevelopment,tomeetwithChinesecolleagues(ifmajoritymembersofthetourhadrequestedsuchvisit,anditdidnothappeninBeijing):aschoolorcollege,agencyorbusiness.Wegowithinterests&requestsbymajoritymembersofthegroup.(Pleaseindicateinterestinastatementalongwithapplicationfrom.)Then,gototheMuslimQuarterandthebazaarofChineseMuslimswhoseancestorscameinlargenumbersviatheSilkRoadandsettledinwestChina;thisisabigtouristattraction.Thewell-preservedancientCityWallandtheBellTowerarealsosightsnottobemissedthere.Intheevening,youwillhaveanopportunitytoenjoydinneronyourown;ofcourse,thetourguidecangiverecommendationsforgoodlocalfood.

Day7Xi’an--Shanghai(B,D)

RegalInternationalEastAsiaHotel;SheratonShanghaiHongkouHotel;CrownPlazaShanghaiFudanHotel★★★★★,orsimilarclassToday,youwillbetransferredtotheairportfortheflighttoShanghai.AfterarrivalinShanghai,youwillmarvelatallthoseexcitingsightsinChina’smostamazingcityanditscommercial&financialcenter.Goingwiththecharterbusforatourofthecityonmajorsectionsofitsmagnificentelevatedexpressways,youwillfind,isaveryeffectivewaytoappreciatehighlightsandfamouslandmarksofthisbeautifulcity.Youcertainlylookforwardtothat.WewillvisittheBund(bytheHuanpuRiver),orWaitanasChinesecallit,onceknownasthe“WallStreetoftheForeignPowers”or“AvenueofAllNations.”Takeastrollonthefamouspromenadebytheriver(westsideoftheHuangpuRiver),andenjoytheamazingskylineofthenewPudongfinancialdistrict(ontheeastsideoftheHuangpuRiver).Itissofuturistic,andSOsurreal!Afterdinner,whenalllightsareup,getonacruiseontheHuangpuRiverandenjoyfascinatingviewofthismagiccityatnight.

Day8Shanghai(B,L)

Today‘sactivitiesandsitevisitsaremeanttoletyouenjoymoreaboutShanghai’stodayandyesterday.

China3-Best-CitiesTour,Page5of6Gowiththecharterbustotheother(east)sidetotheHuangpuRivertobeinnewPudongfinancialdistrict.Youseethosebuildingsofmodernisticarchitecturethedaybeforeandwouldverymuchliketogetclosetothem;hereyouarenow!OnthewaytothePudongfinancialdistrict,wecanhaveaquickstopattheSilkMuseumtolearnaboutsilkproduction,silkweavingandsilkartifacts,andhowitisrelatedtotheancientandnewSilkRoad.Afterlunch,wecanstopataplacewheretogetsomefinalgiftsforrelativesandfriends.Then,spendsometimeatShanghaioldtownChenghuangmiao(TempleoftheCityGod)orYuYuanGarden,builtin1577.Youwillhavetheremainingafternoonasfreetimeduringwhichyoucanchoosetodosomeofthefollowing:

1. Purchasesomegiftsforfriendsandrelatives2. WalkthrougholdneighborhoodsintheFrenchConcessionareaand

thehigh-endshoppingdistrictofHuaihaiZhonglu3. VisitShanghaiMuseum(richinartcollectionsandceramics)incity

center,orTianzifangartzoneinXujiahuiDistrict4. TakeataxitotheJewishRefugees’MemorialCenterandSynagogue

inHongkouDistrictifyouwanttolearnaboutthestoryofJewsinShanghaiduringWWII

5. GototheMuseumoftheCPC’sFirstCongress(tolearnaboutthestoryofChina’srulingpartynowandtheCulturalRevolution)

AftertheYuYuanGarden,thebuswilltakeyoutoXintiandi:• Anupscalebusinessdistrictincenterofthecity• Veryuniquestylishplace--oldShanghaihouseswithtraditionalwalls&tiles,

reconstructedintoatouristattractionthatcombinesthepastwiththecultureoftoday;theinteriorembodiesacompletelydifferentworldofinternationalgalleries,bars,restaurants,cafes,boutiques,etc.

• Pickaplacefordinneronyourown

ForthelasteveninginChina,youcanchoosetoseeanoptionalacrobaticshow--ifyouareinterested,justletthetourguideknowinthemorningsothattheguidecanhelpbookitforyou.

Day9DepartShanghaifortheU.S.(B)

Afterbreakfastinthehotel,youwillbetransferredtotheairportfortheflighthome(ornextdestinationofyourchoice).(Ifyourflightisdepartingintheafternoon,youcanrelaxinthehotelorexploretheneighborhoodbythehotel.)YouarriveintheU.S.thesameday.

IfyouchoosetomakeasidetriptoHongKongand/orJapanaftertheChinatour,wecanhelp.Readthepartbelowforyourinformation.

SideTriptoHongKongand/orJapan?

IfyouplantomakeasidetriptoHongKong,eitherbeforeoraftertheChinatour,pleasenotethefollowing:

1. IfyouchoosetogototheHongKongbeforetheChinatour,youflyfrom

theU.S.toHongKong,andthenflyfromHongKongtoBeijingwheretostarttheChinatourwiththegroup.IfyoudecidetovisitHongKongaftertheChinatour,thatisalsofine;attheendoftheChinatour,youflyfromShanghaitoHongKongwheretospendafewdays,andthenflyfromHongKongtotheU.S.Justindicateyourdecisioninthetourapplicationform.

2. Internationalflightswitharrivalin/returnfromHongKong,eitherway,willcostanextraamountofabout$150(Thefinalextraamountmayvary).

3. U.S.citizensdonotneedaHongKongvisatoenterHongKong.4. FlightsbetweenBeijing/ShanghaiandHongKongmaycostabout$300one

way.5. HotelsinHongKongareforabout$220pernight.Forthissidetrip,people

oftenchoosetohaveastay-overof2-3daysinHongKong.6. TheHongKongsidetripisself-guided,asEnglishisalsospokeninHong

Kong.7. Wehelpyoubooktheflights,andbookyourhotelifneeded.Justletus

knowinthetourapplicationform.

China3-Best-CitiesTour,Page6of6IfyouplantomakeasidetriptoJapaneitherbeforeoraftertheChinatour(andbeforeoraftertheHongKongsidetrip),pleasenotethefollowing:

1. IfyouchoosetovisitJapanduringtheChinatour,herearetheoptionsforyourinternationalflights:a. YouflyfromtheU.S.toTokyo(wheretospendafewdays),and

thenflyfromTokyotoBeijing(wheretostarttheChinatour)andattheendoftheChinatour,flyfromShanghaitotheU.S.

i. Internationalflights:U.S.-->Tokyo-->Beijing;Shanghai-->U.S.

b. YoucanvisitJapanaftertheChinatour.Thatis:attheendoftheChinatour,youflyfromShanghaitoTokyowheretospendafewdaysbeforeflyingfromTokyototheU.S.

i. Internationalflights:U.S.-->Beijing;Shanghai-->Tokyo-->U.S.

2. IfyouwanttovisitbothJapanandHongKongduringtheChinatour,herearetheoptions:a. FlyfromtheU.S.toTokyo,andthenflyfromTokyotoHongKong

andBeijingwheretostarttheChinatouri. Internationalflights:U.S.-->Tokyo-->HongKong--

>Beijing;Shanghai-->U.S.b. VisitJapanaftertheHongKongsidetripfollowingtheChinatour;

AttheendoftheChinatour,flyfromShanghaitoHongKong(wheretohaveafewdays)andthenfromHongKongtoTokyowheretospendafewdays,beforeflyingbackfromTokyototheU.S.

i. Internationalflights:U.S.-->Beijing;Shanghai-->HongKong-->Tokyo-->U.S.

3. Internationalflightswithastop-overinJapan,eitherway,maycostanextraamountofabout$350.Theactualextraamountmayvary.

4. U.S.citizensdonotneedaJapanesevisatoenterJapan.5. Wehelpyoubooktheflights,andyourhotelifneeded.Justletusknow

inthetourapplicationform.