18 Day Jewish Oriented China “CHAI” Tour

     Including the Yangtze River Cruise

Visits: Beijing, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Xi’an, Guilin, Chongqing, Yichang & Shanghai

Yangtze River Cruise –Downstream –Chongqing to Yichang

China Custom Tours has painstakingly investigated points of Jewish interest and planned a tour to show, to educate and stir the imagination. The China “Chai” Tour is 18 days of visiting and exploring China to follow where the Jews are, were, and may have been. Discover the 5000 year parallel history of the Jews and China, two cultures where varied paths intertwined throughout the centuries. All comforts and security will be assured by the supervision of a knowledgeable and qualified guide. Vegetarian meals are available.

Tour code:   18JOCY

Day by Day Itinerary:

Day 1 Monday              Fly USA to Beijing

Enjoy your flight to Beijing, where the 2008 Olympic Games will be held.

Day 2 Tuesday             Arrive Beijing

Upon arrival Beijing, capital of China, a friendly English speaking guide will meet you and transfer you to Jianguo Garden Hotel.

Day 3 Wednesday       Beijing                                                

Sightseeing will include Tiananmen Square, the ancient Forbidden City, the Imperial Palace, the beautiful Summer Palace followed by a walking tour through the ancient neighborhoods dating from Ming Dynasty, Beijing’s Hutongs. 

Meals: American breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 Thursday            Beijing                                                

A tour to the Great Wall of China. A cable car is available to the summit. On return, drive along the famed Sacred Way, and visit the museum of the Ming Tombs. Enjoy a welcoming Peking Duck dinner tonight.

Meals: American breakfast, lunch, duck dinner

Day 5 Friday                Beijing                                                

Visit to the Temple of Heaven where the Qing emperors worshipped, Attend the Friday evening services at Chabad House, Beijing Jewish Center, where dinner is served for any amount of donation.

Meals: American breakfast, lunch    

Day 6 Saturday            Beijing to Kaifeng                               

Take a morning flight to Zhengzhou, transfer to Kaifeng, one of China's seven ancient capitals. Check into your hotel in Kaifeng. Attend a Luncheon meeting and discussion with the scholars to be held at Kaifeng Jewish Study Association. Afternoon – visit  the Jewish History Exhibition at Kaifeng Museum, the families of Jewish descendants and Jin’s family tomb. Also, visit the 13-story glazed octagonal Iron Pagoda built in 1094 AD; and the Dragon Palace, an imperial palace of the Liang, Jin, Han, Zhou and Song dynasties.

Meals: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Sunday              Kaifeng to Xi'an                                  

Morning drive to Zhengzhou Train station for the train ride to Xi’an, one of the ancient capitals of China. Check into your hotel upon arrival.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8 Monday              Xi’an                                                   

Sightseeing today takes you to the Museum of Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses, one of the greatest archaeological finds of the century, Hua Qing Springs and also visit Banpo Neolithic Village. Enjoy a dumpling dinner, then attend a Tang Dynasty music show.

Meals: American breakfast, lunch, dumpling dinner

Day 9 Tuesday             Xi’an to Guilin                                    

Morning visit the Sha’anxi Provincial Museum that boasts one of the richest collections of ancient artifacts in all China. Then fly to Guilin. Transfer to deluxe Waterfall Hotel.      

Meals: American breakfast, lunch   

Day 10 Wednesday                  Guilin                                                  

Deluxe Li River Cruise. Experience the magical beauty of limestone rock formations and farm land commonly seen in Chinese landscape paintings. Disembark at colorful market town of Yangshuo. Return drive to Guilin through picturesque countryside. Enjoy local folk music and dance show in the evening.

Meals: American breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 11 Thursday          Guilin to Chongqing/Yangtze River Cruise     

Morning excursion to the Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill. Fly to Chongqing, visit the Stillwell Museum where you will see the museum’s collection of World War II artifacts and attend a lecture on the Flying Tiger, a group of American veteran pilots led by retired Air Corps General Clair L. Chennault. The Flying Tigers volunteered to aid the Chinese in World War II against the Japanese invasion of China, prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. After dinner, board a deluxe Victoria Cruise ship for down stream sailing on the Grand Yangtze River.

Meals: American breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 12 Friday               Yangtze River Cruise                          

Arrive at Fengdu, the legendary Ghost Town. You will visit the Mingshan Hill’s temples or Wanxian or Shibaozhai Wooden Tower. Captain’s Cocktail Party in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 13 Saturday            Yangtze River Cruise                          

The cruise will sail through the most magnificent Qutang Gorge, the first of the Three Gorges. Then you will be transferred to a small sampan for an excursion along the Shengnong Stream to view the Parrot Gorge and Dragon Boat Gorge. Return to the cruise. You will then pass the beautiful Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge. Go through the Three Gorges Dam.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 14 Sunday             Yangtze River Cruise/Yichang            

Morning, you will be taken on a bus to cross the Three Gorges Bridge to see this controversial project up in the close. The project includes the five-step ship lock, the diversion canal, power station and dam construction, arrive Yichang at 12 Noon. Upon arrival, visit the Chinese Sturgeon Research Institute and the Three Travelers’ Cave. Check into Guobin Garden Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 15 Monday           Yichang to Shanghai                          

Fly to Shanghai in the morning. A friendly guide will transfer you to hotel. Your afternoon will start with  the historic locations of Jewish Synagogues, hospitals, schools, clubs of the old Shanghai, you are given a lecture at the Ohel Moishe Synagogue, also, visit the former Hongkew Ghetto where a large number of Jewish refugees lived during WWII.

Meals: American breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 16 Tuesday          Shanghai                                            

Morning visit to the Old Town, Yuyuan Garden, the Bund (waterfront) and the bustling Nanjing and Huaihai Roads, enjoy the Shanghai Acrobatic Show tonight.

Meals: American breakfast, lunch

Day 17 Wednesday      Shanghai                                            

Full day at leisure on your own to shop for souvenirs, gifts, etc

Meals: American breakfast

Day 18 Thursday          Shanghai to USA                                

Return flight to the USA. Arrive home the same day.

Meals: American breakfast

2007 Departure Dates & Cost      Tour code: 18JOCY

Superior First Class Hotel Accommodations:

Beijing Jianguo Garden Hotel

Kaifeng Yuxiang Hotel

Xi’an Royal Hotel

Guilin Plaza Hotel

Yichang Guobin Garden Hotel

Shanghai the Bund Riverside Hotel

Yangtze River Cruise: Victoria Cruise ship or similar  

All inclusive features:

. Round trip transpacific air transportation via our selected airlines

. All intra-China air/land transportation with China domestic airport tax

. 13 nights in superior first class hotels

. 3 nights aboard the Victoria Cruise ship or similar

. 16 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 11 dinners including a dumpling dinner in Xi’an, and Peking Duck         dinner in Beijing

. Round trip transfers between airport/train station to hotel, baggage handling, hotel taxes and service charges

. Sightseeing tours, cultural entertainments, Jewish history lectures, and other performances as specified

Not including:

. Chinese visa fee of $80

. Tips, gratuities to tour guides, drivers, and porters

. Travel insurance

. Personal Expenses

Special Notes:

. USA Departure Tax, Fuel Surcharge, and China Domestic Airport taxes apply

. Minimum six (6) passengers required for each departure  

. This tour can be customized upon request at an additional cost

. Land only rate does not include transpacific air

. Tour fares are subject to change

. In case the listed hotels and the cruise ship are not available on your preferred travel dates, we will be using similar hotels and the cruise ship

. For additional airfare from your departure city, please contact us