Day 1   Depart USA for Beijing, China

Board Air China’s wide cabin 747 jetliner for your non-stop flight to Beijing.

Day 2    Arrive Beijing

Your tour of one of the most fascinating countries in the world begins in the capital of the People’s Republic of China. An English-speaking guide will meet your flight, drive you to your hotel and help you check in.

Day 3     Beijing       B,L,D

After breakfast at the hotel, join the group for a full day city tour. Your adventure begins in Tiananmen Square, the heart of Beijing and the largest public space on earth. Step back in time as you pass through the Gate of Heavenly Peace and enter the Forbidden City, home to the Imperial Courts of the Ming and Qing Dynasties for more than 500 years. The Forbidden City is an enormous complex of perfectly preserved palaces, temples, magnificent squares and formal gardens. You’ll stroll cobblestone paths once known only to the Emperor’s most intimate advisors, visit the private apartments of Imperial concubines and see stunning collections of priceless art, furnishings, and jewelry. After lunch you’ll visit the Summer Palace, a fairyland of pagodas, pavilions and stone bridges on the outskirts of the city. Tonight you’ll sample the delicious local cuisine at a neighborhood restaurant.               

Day 4      Beijing        B,L,D

Leave the bustle and traffic of Beijing behind and journey through the countryside to see one of the Wonders of the World – The Great Wall. There will be plenty of time to walk along a portion of this 3700-mile long marvel or to simply sit and contemplate the wonders of China’s past. After lunch you’ll visit the massive tomb complex of the Ming Emperors where you’ll walk along the “Sacred Way” passing between pairs of huge stone sculptures. Enjoy dinner tonight at a Beijing restaurant. 

Day 5      Beijing         B,L,SD

This morning you’ll visit the Temple of Heaven, one of China’s most photographed attractions. This ornate wooden structure was where the “Sons of Heaven”, as the Chinese Emperors were known, worshipped the gods and prayed for good harvests. It is the largest temple complex in China and the lovely park surrounding the ancient tower is a popular spot for morning Tai Chi. After lunch you’ll forget about the skyscrapers and construction cranes of modern Beijing as you venture into Hutong, where the atmosphere of Old Peking lives on. You’ll bicycle or ride rickshaws down narrow lanes and alleyways, past vegetable markets, traditional medicine shops and tiny, wooden teahouses. This evening you’ll enjoy the capital’s most famous dining experience - a Peking Duck Dinner Party – then attend a special cultural performance.

Day 6        Beijing / Xian       B,L,D

Take the short, two-hour flight to Xian, Imperial Capital of the Tang Dynasty and eastern terminus of the fabled Silk Road, a city with a long tradition of welcoming foreign visitors. You’ll begin our visit with a tour of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652 AD to house Buddhist scriptures from India. You’ll stroll through Xian’s bustling markets and visit the Provincial History Museum where you’ll see artifacts from the Paleolithic period, priceless Tang Dynasty bronzes and treasures from the Silk Road caravans. Lunch and dinner will be at local restaurants.

Day 7        Xian      B,L,D

Today you’ll visit what for many is the high point of their trip to China - the excavation site of the Terra-Cotta Warriors. More than 6000 soldiers, ministers and horses, each individually sculpted from a real life model, stand guarding Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s still unopened tomb. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the site, get a good look at the warriors from various vantage points and visit the excellent museum. Tonight you’ll celebrate Xian’s rich history with dinner and entertainment – enjoy the magnificent Tang Dynasty Show while sampling the regional specialty – Xian dumplings.

Day 8        Xian / Shanghai       B

Fly to Shanghai, China’s most cosmopolitan city and the most dynamic city in Asia. An English-speaking tour guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free. Indulge in a shopping spree along Nanjing Road. Stroll the avenues and immerse yourself in the city’s atmosphere. Stop for a cup of tea or a beer in a small café and chat with locals. This evening experience Shanghai’s world-famous nightclubs or simply enjoy the hotel’s amenities and rest up for tomorrow’s adventures.

Day 9        Shanghai        B,L,D

Today you’ll recall Shanghai’s past as you visit the Bund, the city’s lively waterfront, and see the remains of the banks and other colonial institutions of the 19th century. You’ll visit Yuyuan Garden in the old part of the city and the Jade Buddha Temple with its fine collection of carved jade statues. You’ll also tour a carpet factory. After dinner, you’ll attend a thrilling acrobatic show.                                                      

Day 10       Zhujiajiao       B,L,D

This morning you’ll travel by road to Zhujiajao, a well-preserved, traditional river town with lovely water views, ancient arched stone bridges and elegant gardens. After lunch, you’ll return to Shanghai and tour the fascinating Shanghai Museum to see artifacts from every period of China’s past. Dinner will be at a local restaurant. 

Day 11       Shanghai / Delhi     B

You are free to explore Shanghai on your own or rest in the hotel until be driven to the airport for your flights to New Delhi, India. You will arrive New Delhi well after midnight. Met your tour guided and be transferred to your hotel

Day 12       Old Delhi

After breakfast at hotel, you will start exploring the Old Delhi, the capital of Muslim India from the 12^th through the 19^th centuries. The tour will begin with a visit to Raj Ghat, a simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Drive past the magnificent Red Fort, which was built during the years 1638 – 48 when the Moghul Empire was at its peak. Travel by bicycle rickshaws to visit the white marbled Jama Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques. Afternoon is at leisure.

Day 13      New Delhi  

Wide avenues, grand vistas and colonial mansions welcome you to New Delhi, home to the city’s imperial government buildings and the embassy district. Sightseeing includes a visit to the Quatub Minar - the tallkest stone tower in India, and the inspiring Humayun’s Tomb - an outstanding monument in the Indo-Persian Style, both designated UNESCo World Heritage Sites. The tour also includes a drive pass the imposing Indian Gate, commemorating Indian and British soldiers, the Parliament building and the Rastrapathi Bhawan, the President’s residence.

Day 14      Delhi – Jurpur    B

After buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven from Delhi to Jaipur.

Rajasthan’s kingdoms are an enduring legacy to India’s history. A land endowed with invincible forts, magnificent palaces ad waves of sand dunes and serene lakes. No other region in the country assembles the many paradoxes of India, as does the desert land of Rajasthan. By far it is the most colourful region in India.

The city of victory, Jaipur presides over the fascinating desert state and its people: surrounded by rugged hills, each crowned by a formidable fort; and beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens dotted throughout its precincts. The palaces and forts of yesteryear that were witness to royal processions and splendour are now living monuments, accepted quite naturally into the lifestyles of the people of the "pink city".  Except for the busy traffic of bicycles, cars and buses, little seems to have changed.  There is a timeless quality to Jaipur's bazaars and its people.  With its historical past, Jaipur revives legends of the ancient Rajputs.  The dresses of the women and the turbans of the men add colour to this fascinating city.

Afternoon is at leisure. 

Day 15      Jaipur       B

Take an excursion to Amber Fort, where painted elephants will take you up the hill to admire the massive gateway, pillared pavilions and palaces that pay tribute to ancient kingdoms. Stroll through the sprawling complex of courtyards and halls. Many of the rooms have delightful wall paintings, with precious stones and mirrors inlaid in the walls. Most fascinating, perhaps, is the Sheesh Mahal (hall of mirrors) where a single lamplight is reflected in the many mirrors, lighting up the room.

In the afternoon, you will visit the city of Jaipur. Among the highlights to be seen while touring Jaipur include the City Palace, which is an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. The palace museum houses collections of rare manuscripts, armoury, costumes, carpets and miniature paintings. Walk to the adjacent Jantar Mantar or Astronomical Observatory made by the Maharaja of Jaipur, built in 1726 and is one of the five such astronomical wonders built by Sawai Jai Singh and makes accurate predictions even to this day. You will also have the opportunity to wander about the local markets. Return to your hotel after the sightseeing tour of Jaipur City.

Day 16       Jaipur – Bharatpur – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra    B

After buffet breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven from Jaipur to Agra , en-route stop for lunch at a heritage site. After lunch you will visit Fatehpur Sikri, the deserted red sandstone city, built by the Great Mughal Emperor Akbar as his capital and palace in the late 16th century.  It was abandoned soon after it was built when the local wells went dry and it remains today in much the same condition that it was over 300 years ago.  It is complete with palaces and mosques and used to be a town larger than London when it was originally constructed. Now it is an extraordinary place to wander around with its buildings in near perfect condition.  

Agra in terms of ambiance is still associated with its Mughal period. The Mughals besides being great rulers were also great builders and they preserved their best architectural wonders for Agra & its neighbourhood. It has many wonderful monuments and the Taj Mahal, the greatest of them all, is a masterpiece of Mughal architecture at its best. The massive but elegant Agra Fort, the delicate artistry of Itimad-ud-daulah’s tomb, the magnificent Taj and Akbar’s deserted capital, Fatehpur Sikri, are each unique and outstanding. Their architectural genius can also be seen in the forts, palaces and aesthetically laid out gardens - each one a silent witness to a grand style of a golden era.

Day 17       Agra     B

Enjoy a sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is everything that has been said about it and more. Taking 22 years and 20,000 men to build, the white marble was quarried 200 miles away and was transported to the site by a fleet of 1000 elephants. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as an expression of his love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, in mid 17th century, the Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world. Though the Taj appears to be amazingly perfect from almost any angle, it is the close-up marble inlay work, which is really astounding. You will have ample time to view and be mesmerized by this outstanding piece of architecture. 

After breakfast, take a guided tour to the massive sandstone Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflecting ancient medieval lifestyles of 16^th – 17^th-century Mughal emperors.  

In the afternoon, you will visit Itimad-ud-Daulah, the beautiful tomb of Mirza Ghiyath Beg. The first building to constructed of pure marble in Moghul India, this two storey mausoleum is small but perfectly executed, with translucent stones etched into its walls and tracery work adding a delicate finishing touch.

Day 18     Agra – Delhi    B

This morning you are at leisure. In the afternoon, you will be driven from Agra to Delhi International airport for your flight home.

Day 19     Delhi–Beijing-USA      

You will arrive home the same day.

Dates and Rates:

• Add-ons from other cities are available upon request.
• US airport departure tax is not included: $199
• China Visa application fee is not included: $75
• Travel Insurance is not included. We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance so that your travel investment is protected in the event of a sudden emergency and you will travel with "peace of mind". For more information, please click here.
   

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