Arrive in Beijing. After clearing customs and retrieving our baggage, we are met by our guide and transferred to the luxury hotel for well-deserved rest and relaxation.

After breakfast, our Beijing tour starts with a visit to the Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square. Later we proceed to Forbidden City*, where for over 500 years commoners were forbidden to enter. The next we roll over to Summer Palace*, the summer home of the emperors and their royal family. Then we stop at the busy Qianmen Street. In the evening enjoy a local specialty cuisine dinner.

Built to protect its people from northern marauders, Great Wall* snakes its way thousands of miles across Northern China. This morning we spend time walking atop this man-made wonder of the world and appreciate its imposing wonder. After the Great Wall, our next destination is the Olympic Park where we will make photo stops at some new attractions including “Bird’s Nest” National Stadium and “Water Cube” Aquatics Centre. Tonight we indulge our plates with the famed Peking Duck Banquet for dinner.

After breakfast we are off to the airport. On the way, stop at the Temple of Heaven* to experience the place of prayer to the emperors. After a short flight, we arrive at Xian, the historic starting point of the famed Silk Road. Xian’s history encompasses the entirety of Chinese civilization, a fact that its proud citizens are not remiss to impress upon us. Tonight, enjoy our dinner at hotel.

Xian is home to the life-sized Terracotta Warriors* and Horses of Qin Shi Huang. Made to protect China’s first emperor even in death, the Terracotta Army was found by a farmer in 1974 and attracts thousands of visitors each year. After viewing the fine troops, we visit the nearby Mausoleum of Qinshihuang* and then return back to the city limits for a view of the Old City Wall. After an Imperial Dumpling Banquet dinner, we watch a Tang Dynasty Stage Show.

After breakfast, we are transferred to the airport for a short flight bound to Shanghai and board the coach to Hangzhou with a stop at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda* and overlooking the ancient Bell Tower. Hangzhou, China’s poets have praised it likening to be a paradise on earth. This evening a local famous cuisine is served for dinner.

Our Hangzhou sightseeing tour starts with a scenic cruise* on the famous West Lake, followed by visits to two of the ten most beautiful sites around West Lake, “Fish Viewing at the Flower Pond” and “Winery Yard and Lotus Pool”. Later we head to Wuxi. In the evening, the Wuxi local cuisine with ribs is served for dinner.

This morning we will visit the beautiful Yuantoudu Park* and Lake Tai, the third largest lake in China. Then we depart for Suzhou, a picturesque city known as the “Venice of the East”. Built around Grand Canal, Suzhou’s many excellent classical gardens have entitled Suzhou the “Garden City”. After a Suzhou local cuisine for lunch, our city tour of Suzhou features visits to Lingering Garden* and Hanshan Temple*, overlook the Tiger Hill and pass by the Grand Canal. We then complete the tour in Suzhou and motorcoach to cosmopolitan Shanghai.

Shanghai is China’s largest city with a population of over 14 million. This morning after breakfast, a city tour takes us to the City Temple, the bustling Nanjing Road, and the exotic waterfront Bund. We’ll also have a chance to over look the Oriental TV Tower. After visiting the Shanghai Museum (no audio service), the remainder of the day is free at leisure to venture into the city on your own.

Our vacation is over all too soon as we board the homebound international jetliner and bid a fond farewell to China.