Highlight of China:
Progress and its Price
Itinerary
Beijing • Xian •
Shanghai • Hangzhou • Yiwu
Guangzhou • Shenzhen
Day 1 (11/2 Sun) - Depart
San Francisco or New York
Our tour departs SFO for non-stop flights to Beijing.
Day 2 (11/3 Mon) - Beijing
We arrive in Beijing in the early evening. Our tour director will meet us at the
airport and transfer to hotel
- Accommodations at the Grand Hotel located in the heart of Beijing next to the Forbidden City.
Day
3 -Beijing
Enjoy an optional early morning walk to Changpu
Park to observe local Chinese practicing traditional health
forms including Taiji and Qigong (note: this link leads to a great short documentary on Qigong).
After breakfast visit the new Capital
Museum designed by a French architect on West Changan
Avenue. The grand museum houses thirteen exhibition halls
showcasing Chinese art and antiquities over the last two thousand
years. Later, explore Beijing’s picturesque Houhai district
where many old courtyard homes are preserved amid narrow hutong
alleys bordering tree-lined lakes. Tour the district by “pedicab”
for a more lively experience of traditional Chinese life.
Then we divide into smaller groups and enjoy lunch at local
private homes.
In the afternoon visit the Summer
Palace. Explore the beautiful grounds, cruise the lovely
Kunming Lake, and stroll through the royal gardens. Also,
walk the Painted Gallery, the longest covered walkway in China
famous for its exquisite landscape paintings.
This evening, enjoy a special Peking Duck banquet.
Day 4 - Beijing
In the afternoon visit the Temple of Heaven, one of the finest cultural expressions of the Ming Dynasty. The Temple of Heaven represents the most advanced architecture of its day and served as the ritual center of the imperial government.
Dinner is on your own. After dinner, there will be a Peking Opera performance.
Day
5 - Beijing
After breakfast we have a discussion with an advocate for
migrant workers who will inform us about the social disparities
emerging in China today.
Then we drive to the famous Great Wall of China at Mutianyu,
a rugged section of the Wall that is less crowded and with
cable car available. Enjoy the astounding views of the Wall
as it winds over the surrounding hills. Tonight, we enjoy
a special banquet at the elegant Shanglinyuan Restaurant inside
. Beihai
Park.
Day 6 - Xian
This morning, fly to the ancient Tang Dynasty capital of Xian.
Upon arrival we visit the Yangling Museum, located at the
site of a Han imperial tomb, to view recent archaeological
finds. Later, check in at our hotel. Dinner is on one’s
own this evening.
- Accommodations at the new deluxe Sofitel Hotel downtown
Day 7 - Xian
This morning visit
the extraordinary 2,300-year-old terracotta warriors, the
tomb of China’s first emperor, Qinshihuang.
The warriors still stand on the original site of the emperor’s
burial complex, where they were discovered by peasants in
1974.
In the afternoon explore the the Provincial History Museum and its artifacts spanning many dynasties. We meet with the
museum curator for an introduction to its extraordinary collection,
and examine 1,300+ year old Tang dynasty tomb murals preserved
in a special basement vault which is normally off limits to
the general public.
After lunch we’ll have an opportunity to stroll the
Muslim Quarter and visit its Grand
Mosque. Chinese Muslim culture traces its heritage from
the flourishing Silk Road culture of the Tang dynasty.
Our day concludes with a Dumpling Banquet, featuring 20 varieties
of traditional Chinese
dumplings.
Day 8 - Xian - Shanghai
In the morning we fly to Shanghai and transfer to the hotel. Our city tour includes a visit
to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall where you can
see how Shanghai expects to transform itself over the next
two decades. Later in the day we will have a discussion with
locals on the topic of the state of fine and performing arts
in China and issues of artistic freedom. Dinner is on one’s
own.
- Accommodations at the brand new deluxe Royal Le Meridien Hotel in the heart of the city
We will spend the morning visiting Shanghai Museum and viewing its wonderful collection of Chinese bronzes, jade, pottery and ceramics, paintings and calligraphy, old coins, and furniture.
Lunch is on our own at Xin Tian Di, a development within a historic neighborhood near the French Concession now famous for its trendy restaurants, boutiques and galleries. The afternoon is free for shopping and museum-going. In the evening we enjoy a banquet at the Ruijin Branch of Xiao Nan Guo Restaurant (Heping Guandi)
Day 10 - Shanghai/Wuzhen/Hangzhou
This morning drive to Wuzhen, a marvelously preserved ancient water town crisscrossed with canals. Life here is slow and charming, and traditional crafts like the making of rice wine and cotton batik cloth are still done by hand. We enjoy lunch by the canal before continuing on to Hangzhou.
- Accommodations at the West Lake State Guesthouse Building #8 (newly renovated).
Hangzhou is the most idyllic ancient city in China, a successful merging of traditional and modern that exudes the cultural sophistication of southern China. A thousand years ago, it was the capital of the Southern Song dynasty, and has since remained a center of music, art, poetry and the literati lifestyle.
In the morning we tour Huagang Park, sauntering among its exotic trees, flowers, and fish ponds. Then we explore Guo Zhuang, an unusually well-preserved family manor featuring magnificent pavilions and gardens on the shore of the West Lake. Countless garden views open onto colorful lake scenery and surrounding hillsides, a thrilling experience for the garden lover. Then, visit the immense estate of the 19th century entrepreneur Hu Xueyan, which incorporates western elements into traditional Chinese architectural design.
After lunch, participate in a discussion with locals on the environmental challenges posed by China’s rapid development.
Later in the day visit the Buddhist Ling Yin Temple, one of the grand temples remaining in China today. We end the day with a sunset boat ride on the West Lake.
Day 12 - Hangzhou
In the morning we visit the National
Silk Museum followed by the Tea
Museum. Both museums showcase extensive collection and
exhibits of silk and tea production tradition over 3000 years
history. Hangzhou is the only city in China where all
museums offer free admission, a wonderful example of providing
free education for the citizens, particularly the children.
After lunch, we drive to Yiwu,
one hour away. This is the world’s largest trading center
for light industrial goods, with over a million square meters
of exhibition space and exporting a thousand containers of
goods daily – the sales window of China’s “workshop
to the world.” We return to Hangzhou for dinner.
Day 13 - Hangzhou – Guangzhou
Take a morning flight to Guangzhou.
Upon arrival, tour the Nan Yue Wang Tomb Museum, a Han Dynasty tomb accidentally discovered during groundbreaking for an
office building. Later in the day engage locals in a discussion
on the tensions between urban growth and the preservation
of historic artifacts.
- Accommodations at the 5 star White Swan Hotel centrally located
Visit the Family Chen’s Clan Temple. Then drive for one hour to the city of Foshan for a tour of a factory which exports apparel (such as Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers shirts) all over the world. Lunch is at the factory, where we will also hear about corporate social responsibility programs. Before leaving Foshan, we stop by the Temple of Ancestors to see its amazingly well-preserved ceramic decorations which are several centuries old. We then return to Guangzhou for a dinner featuring special Cantonese cuisine.
Day 15 - Guangzhou - Shenzhen
After breakfast, drive to Shenzhen (about 2 hrs.). A small village of 2000 people two decades ago, Shenzhen became the pacesetter in China’s economic reforms. Visit the industrial parks where China's recent economic spurt all started. Discussion with locals on unionization and improving workers rights.
- Accommodations at the deluxe Shangri-la Hotel.
Day 16 • Shenzhen
Optional tour of the Splendid China Miniature Park and Chinese
Ethnic Cultural Park. Spend time on own shopping and exploring
local markets. Tonight’s farewell banquet features fine
southern cuisine.
Day 17 (11/18) • Shenzhen – Hong Kong
– San Francisco
After breakfast we depart for the Hong Kong airport by bus
(about 3 hours). Our flight arrives in San Francisco the same
day. (B, meals aloft)
