Day 1 :	USA - SHANGHAI
Our Trans-Pacific flight takes off for Shanghai, China's most cosmopolitan city and rapidly evolving into its finacial center.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;              (In-flight meals)
Day 2 :	SHANGHAI
Late this afternoon we arrive in Shanghai where our local guides will meet us. We check into our hotel and have time to get acquainted with our fellow travelers.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;              (In-flight meals)
Day 3 :	SHANGHAI
A full day of sightseeing introduces us to Shanghai's intriguing past, which embraces both the notoriety of its corruption and decadence during the 40's and the birth of the Communist party. Enjoy the tranquillity of Yu Garden (the Mandarin's Garden which served as the model for the famous Blue Willow China) and the Jade Buddha Temple housing two beautiful  white Jade Buddhas. In the afternoon we visit the new Shanghai Museum, an adventurous piece of architecture which by all accounts houses one of the world's best collections of Chinese art. After dinner, we applaud a show of Chinese acrobats.  nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;          (B-L-D)
Day 4 :	SHANGHAI - HANGZHOU
A train ride this morning brings us to Hangzhou, next to Guilin one of the most beautiful places in China. When Marco polo passed through Hangzhou in the 13th century he described it as one of the finest cities in the world. In the 12th century it became the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty and in 1275 its population numbered 1.75 million.A famous Chinese saying from this time proclaims: "in heaven there is paradise, on earth there is Hangzhou and Sushou". Our city tour includes Feilai Peak, Lingyin Si (Temple of the Soul's Retreat), Liuhe Pagoda and a  boat cruise on beautiful West Lake. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;           (B-L-D)
Day 5 :	HANGZHOU - TUNXI - HUANGSHAN
We leave Hangzhou after breakfast and drive by coach to the old trading town of Tunxi from where we continue through a beautiful contryside, dotted with traditional villages and patchwork paddy fields, to Huangshan (Yellow Mountains), a 72-peak mountain range in the south of Anhui province. Countless painters and poets have roamed the mountains seeking inspiration and bestowing the peaks with fanciful names.The Cloudy Valley cable car will bring us up the mountains to our hotel.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;    (B-L-D)
Day 6 :	HUANGSHAN
After a spectacular Behai Sunrise we will have breakfast and get ready to explore more of the spectacular scenery. Hiking along paved paths we visit Lotus Flower Peak, Lion Peak, Heavenly Capitol Peak and Seeing is Believing Peak. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;            (B-L-D)
Day 7 :	HUANGSHAN - HONGCUN - XIDI -TUNXI - BEIJING
We leave Huangshan after breakfast and drive to Yi Xian County where we visit the ancient villages of Hongcun and Xidi, a UNESCO world heritage site. Xidi Village has about 120 simple, yet graceful and well preserved, Ming and Qing dynasty residences.The origin of the village can be traced back to the 11th century. The village street plan, architecture, water system and decorations are preserved in their original style. Hongcun village was founded in 1131 and was originally laid out in the shape of an ox. The west end of the village, called Leigang Hill, resembles an ox head and that is where two huge trees stand like ox horns. We drive to Tunxi for dinner and to catch an evening flight to Beijing.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;                      (B-L-D)
Day 8 :	BEIJING
You start today's sightseeing at the Great Wall. A stirring sight as it winds like a dragon into the hills and you walk along its famous path. After lunch, you will explore the magnificent tombs of 13 of the Ming Emperors. Here you visit the only open tomb, that of Emperor Shen Zong and his two empresses, with displays of the emperor's crown and robe. In the afternoon we visit the Summer Palace and marvel at The Boat of Purity & Ease and the 17-arch bridge. Evening return to Beijing for a special Peking Duck dinner.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;             (B-L-D)
Day 9 :	BEIJING - XIAN
An extensive  sightseeing  tour of the Forbidden City, so called because it was off limits for 500 years, shows you the largest cluster of ancient buildings in China.. Through the Meridian Gate, we will enter a world of incredible extravagance and intrigue as we stroll the walled city. Later, we visit the Tian'anmen Square with Mao's  Tomb and the Temple of Heaven before a flight brings us to Xian, which was for eleven dynasties the capital of ancient China. It was also the starting point for Marco Polo's famous Silk Road. We will see the striking Ming Dynasty Bell Tower, Drum Tower , Wild Goose Pagoda and the ancient city walls before we enjoy a special dumpling dinner this evening.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;       (B-L-D)
Day 10 :	XIAN
One of the absolute highlights of any visit to China is the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China - here an extraordinary army of over 6,000 terra-cotta warriors (no two alike!) with their horses and chariots has protected the dead Emperor for over 2,000 years. During our morning visit we will tour the archaeological site. In the afternoon we visit the impressive Shaanxi Historical Museum and the Great Mosque. This evening we attend a Tang Dynasty Dance and Music performance.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;          (B-L-D)
Day 11 :	XIAN - GUILIN
After driving through  the Guanzhong plain, dotted with numerous Imperial tombs we stop at the city of Xianyang to visit the city museum, which houses a remarkable collection of 3,000 miniature terra cotta soldiers and horses, discovered in 1965. Each figure is about half a meter high, and they were excavated from a Han Dynasty tomb. An afternoon flight brings us to Guilin, famous for its beutiful scenery and eulogized in innumerable literary works, paintings and inscriptions. Before we check into our hotel we will visit Reed Flute Cave and Fubo Hill.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;          (B-L-D)
Day 12 :	GUILIN
A short drive brings us to our river boat for a cruise on the Li River. Artists throughout the centuries have celebrated the almost  unearthly beauty of Guilin's landscape, with the Li river winding around mist covered limestone peaks rising suddenly out of the flat, green plain. You'll feel as though you've stepped back into one of those ancient scroll paintings during our full day cruise of the Li River as our boat floats past lush green valleys, bamboo groves and such striking land formations as Elephant Trunk Hill, Old Man Mountain and Nine Horse Hill.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;      (B-L-D)
Day 13 :	GUILIN - HONGKONG
A morning flight brings us to Hongkong. After our arrival we drive to Victoria Peak for a panoramic view of the city. Our tour continues with a visit to Aberdeen Harbor, Repulse Bay and Stanley Market. The evening is free.nbsp;     (B)
Day l4 :	HONGKONG
After breakfast enjoy a free day to explore more of this exciting city with its inumerable markets, malls and shops which offer something for any taste and budget. You may also take a hovercraft ride to Macau and try your luck in this upcoming Asian Las Vegas style entertainment paradise.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;   (B)
Day 15 :	HONGKONG - USA
After breakfast transfer to the airport to meet your flight back home.nbsp;nbsp;      (B-in-flight meals)

 

• Round-trip air fare from Indianapolis (add on fares from all US cities available)
• Fully escorted throughout entire program by our expert Chinese tour manager
• Comprehensive sightseeing with qualified local guides
• First Class hotel accommodation as listed  in itinerary or similar
• Daily American Breakfast, Chinese lunch and dinner
• Hosted by professors Paul Hanson and Xiaorong Han

• Gratuities for drivers, bellboys and tour guides (app. USD 6.00 per person and day)
• Airport Construction Fee and Airport departure taxes  in China
• Items of personal nature
• Optional travel insurance
• Chinese Visa Application Fee (USD 60.00)
• China departure tax in Hongkong (app. USD 12.00)

• Shanghai City Tour with new Shanghai Museum
• Yu Yuan Gardens and Bazaar, and Jade Buddha Temple 
• Shanghai Acrobatic Show
• Hangzhou sightseeing with Feilai Peak, Lingyin Si Temple and  Liuhe Pagoda
• boat cruise on beautiful West Lake
• Tour of ancient Tunxi
• Spectacular Huangshan Mountains
• Visit "Lotus Flower Peak", "Heavenly Capitol Peak" and "Seeing is Beleiving Peak"
• Visit the traditional villages of Xidi and Hongcun, a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Peking Roast Duck Banquet
• Tianamen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace
• Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Temple of Heaven
• Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Terra Cotta Army
• Shaanxi Historical  Museum
• Xian Bell Tower, Wild Goose Pagoda & City Walls
• Xian Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Performance
• Special Xian Dumpling Dinner
• Xianyang City Museum 
•  Full day Li River Cruise
•  Guilin Carst mountains with Reed Flute Cave & Fubo Hill
•  Picturesque Yangshuo
•  Hongkong soghtseeing with Victoria Peak , Repulse Bay and Stanley Market