DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY:

Day 1 • Depart San Francisco for Shanghai
Fly transpacific aboard United Airlines.

CHINA

Day 2 • Arrive Shanghai
Upon arrival, you are met and escorted to the hotel.
Shanghai Hotel

Day 3 • Shanghai

Full day tour shows the glories of ancient China at the Shanghai Museum and the Jade Buddha Temple. Visit a carpet factory and then on to The Bund with its colonial-style architecture. See a performance at the Children's Palace. Enjoy the traditional emporiums of Nanjing Road or the modern Huai Hai Road.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4 • Shanghai/Suzhou*

This morning, travel by motor coach to Suzhou, noted for its legendary ancient gardens. Tour the Embroidery Research Institute, Pan Men City Gate North Temple Pagoda and The Master of Fishing Nets Garden.
Bamboo Grove Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch
*Travel to Suzhou by train if group is less than 6 tour members.

Day 5 • Suzhou/Wuzhen/Hangzhou

•  Depart Suzhou this morning en route to Wuzhen, a charming town with well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty buildings and stone bridges spanning its canals. This cultural town with its stone bridges, stone pathways and delicate wood carvings which grace the exteriors of the building of Wuzhen is not to be missed. Watch the artisans at work on printing and dyeing blue fabrics and making cloth shoes. Enjoy lunch with a cup of chrysanthemum tea in Wuzhen before you continue on to Hangzhou.
Zhejiang International Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 • Hangzhou

Today, a boat ride on lovely West Lake and Inner West Lake, then visit Hua Gang Park and Huqingyu Pharmacy. Continue on to tour Ling Yin Mona­stery and the Tea Production Brigade.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 • Hangzhou/Tunxi

Depart Hangzhou, with stops to visit the Tang Yue Archways, Bao Garden and Chengkan Village, famous for its Ming and Qing architectural style, unique to this area. Continue on to Tunxi. Huangshan International Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner in Hotel

Day 8 • Huangshan

This morning, drive to the foot of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), where you take a cable car up to the top of the mountain. Afternoon tour of the Huangshan Scenic Area, where the region's “Four Ultimate Beauties” are on display–the sea of clouds, ancient green pines, fantastically shaped rock, and steaming hot springs.
Xihai Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner in Hotel

Day 9 • Huangshan

Another full day to enjoy the panoramic vistas from Huangshan, inspiration for centuries of Chinese ink paintings and poetry.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner in Hotel

Day 10 • Huangshan/Tunxi/Beijing

Late morning, take the cable car down the mountain. This afternoon, visit the ancient streets of the town of Tunxi and Hong Village, with their traditional architectural styles. This evening, take a flight to Beijing.
Jinglun Hotel
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11 • Beijing

Visit Tiananmen Square, the Imperial Palace in the once Forbidden City. In the afternoon, sightsee the exquisite Summer Palace with a boat ride on its Lake Kunming (weather permitting).
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12 • Beijing

Today, walk the ancient ramparts of the astonishing Great Wall, then after lunch watch skilled artisans at work at a cloisonné factory. Later, stroll along the Sacred Way to the Ming Tombs and Chang Ling Exhibition Hall.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch

Day 13 • Depart Beijing for San Francisco

MEALS: American Breakfast

CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS:
SHANGHAI: 2 Nights Shanghai Hotel
Shanghai Museum • Jade Buddha Temple • Carpet factory • The Bund • Entertainment at the Children's Palace • Nanjing or Huai Hai Shops

SUZHOU: 1 Night Bamboo Grove Hotel
Embroidery Research Institute • North Temple Pagoda • Pan Men City Gate • The Master of Fishing Nets Garden

WUZHEN: Day Tour
Bridge in Bridge, the crisscrossing stone bridges over canals, moss-covered walls, stone pathways and delicate wood carvings gracing the exterior of buildings combine with a profound cultural tradition of the arts

HANGZHOU: 2 Nights Zhejiang International Hotel
West Lake and Inner West Lake boat ride • Hua Gang Park • Huqingyu Pharmacy • Ling Yin Monastery • Tea Production Brigade

TUNXI: 1 Night Huangshan International Hotel
En route visit Tang Yue Archways • Bao Garden • Chengkan Village • Tunxi Old Town and Hong Village sightseeing

HUANGSHAN: 2 Nights Xihai Hotel
Cable car ride to top of the mountain • Huangshan Scenic Area tour

BEIJING: 3 Nights Jinglun Hotel
Tiananmen Square • Forbidden City's Imperial Palace with living quarters, museum and jewelry sections • Summer Palace with cruise on Lake Kunming • Great Wall • Cloisonné factory • Sacred Way to Ming Tombs • Chang Ling Exhibition Hall