Tour Overview
Welcome to China! Come bring the family and experience China on our 8-day Family Adventure! Explore the Great Wall- and fly a kite! Visit the Panda Zoo- children and adults alike will love seeing these gentle creatures. Enjoy an evening together taking in a Kung Fu Show. Visit the Old Beijing- the Hutongs- by trishaw and have lunch with a local family. Enjoy a class in Kung Fu at the Temple of Heaven. The whole family will be awestruck by the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian.. take a morning bike ride along the ancient city wall in Xian.. take a cruise along the Huangpu River in Shanghai for great views of the Bund and visit the Children’s Palace.Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Beijing, ChinaUpon your arrival in Beijing, you will be met for private transfer to your hotel for check-in and overnight. The remainder of the day is free. Courtyard by Marriott Beijing. Experience impeccable service, an unbeatable downtown location and cozy accommodations at the Courtyard by Marriott Beijing. The hotel is part of the Beijing New World Center, one of the best shopping places in Beijing. Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and other imperial sites are just a stroll away. Elegant guest rooms offer luxury bedding, high-speed Internet, large work areas and individually controlled air conditioning. After sightseeing share your experiences while enjoying delectable Cantonese cuisine at Hua Mei Garden or a cocktail at our Lobby Lounge. Stay fit and unwind in the fully equipped gymnasium, indoor pool, and sauna. The capital of the People's Republic of China, Beijing is a unique reflection of the many changing facets of contemporary Chinese culture, where ancient cultural sites such as the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven vie for space alongside high-rise buildings, modern shopping malls, and an intricate freeway system. A thriving commercial capital, continually developing, Beijing's 2,000-year-old cultural heritage is still very much in evidence, with a vast array of stunning attractions throughout the city.
Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Day 2: Beijing
After breakfast at the hotel today, you will begin exploring this fascinating city. The first stop is one of the great wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was enlisted in the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus stretching approximately 4,163 miles from east to west of China. With a history of more than 2000 years, some of the sections of the great wall are now in ruins or even entirely disappeared. However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance. Something special for the kids- kite flying on the wall! The children will never forget this experience! Return to downtown Beijing in the afternoon for a visit to the Panda’s at the Beijing Zoo. The highlight of Beijing Zoo is for many the hall of the giant panda. As everyone knows, the giant panda is native to China and recognized as one of China’s national treasures and a national symbol. Due to people's love for them and its endangered status, the giant pandas always receive "VIP" treatment wherever they go. People can tell where they are in the zoo by the unique appearance of their hall. There is plenty of bamboo, the favorite food of the cute panda. In the hall, the lush bushes and bamboo make the place similar to the wild habitat of the giant panda, in southwest China. Tonight, gather the family for an evening of fun. Enjoy the Legend of Kung Fu Show. The Legend of Kung Fu follows the story of a young boy found wandering outside an ancient temple. Like every boy in China, he dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master. On the road to enlightenment the young monk encounters many difficulties and temptations. The show has English subtitles shown above the stage to keep you informed of the story line. The actors do not speak; the show is all Kung Fu, dance and acrobatics. It is the fusion of modern dance with Chinese traditional arts, which make this performance unique and spectacular. The best Kung Fu practitioners from all over China have been found for this production and it shows on the stage. Their average age is just 17 years old! Additionally the costumes, set design and special effects are up to international standards, created by some of the best stage directors and designers in China. Before the show, the kids will enjoy having an opera mask painted!
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Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Day 3: Beijing
Today enjoy a full day tour of Beijing. Start your tour with a visit to Tiananmen Square, a site of historic significance for the advent of communism in China. Known as "six-four" or "June 4th," the movement has become an albatross about the Chinese government's neck in regards to human rights and freedom of speech, a point of contention in Sino-American relations. Aside from the grand and tragic events here over the last 50 years, Tiananmen is truly a people's square, alive with local kite fliers and wide-eyed tourists from out of town. Then visit the impressive Forbidden City within the Imperial Palace. Also known as the Imperial Palace Museum or Gugong, the Forbidden City was the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties carried out their administration and lived. Now it is open to the public as a palace museum where people can see the great traditional palace architecture, enjoy the treasures kept in the palace, and learn of the legends and anecdotes about the imperial family and the court. In the afternoon visit Old Beijing-Hutongs- by trishaw and have tea with a local family. Your guide will also show you how to play some traditional Chinese games, which all the family can enjoy together and have fun!
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Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Day 4: Beijing- Xi'an
You will start early this morning to visit the Temple of Heaven, set in a 670-acre park. Here you'll find Qinian Dian (Hall of Prayer for the Good Harvests), constructed without a single nail, and one of the finest examples of Chinese architecture. You will also experience a class in Chinese Kung Fu. Afterwards, you can stop by a toy store at the Hongqiao market, if you like. There are about 100 stalls with stuffed animals, wood toys, legos, puzzles, scooters, roller blades, remote control cars & aircraft and much more. Your guide will give you some great tips on how to bargain. In the late afternoon you will be driven to the airport for the two-hour flight to Xi’an. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The Mercure on Renmin Square Xian is a comfortable, elegantly appointed hotel, featuring 111 rooms, as well as dining and meeting facilities. Located in the grounds of Renmin Square, in the heart of the commercial and government district, the hotel is minutes away from the major shopping centres and cultural sites and is ideal for all travelers. Mercure on Renmin Square Xi’an Hotel is well known for its hospitality and high customer satisfaction, which shows in the dedicated hotel staff that is always eager to help and welcomes every question that you might have. Room features: Mini Bar, Bathrobe, Hair Dryer, Air Conditioning, Private Bathroom, Satellite Television, Data Port for Internet, Automatic Wake Up Call, High Speed Internet Access, Coffee and Tea Making Facilities, International Direct Dial Telephone.
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Mercure Hotel on Renmin Square Day 5: Xi'am
In the morning, you’ll visit the Terra-Cotta Warriors Museum, a terracotta army guarding the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi, which lures travelers from all over the world. In a quest for immortality and eternal power, China's first emperor chose to have himself buried with some 8,000 life-size, intricately carved soldiers, horses, and chariots. Discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974, the terracotta army then wore painted uniforms, but exposure to the air and sun has turned them black. Return to downtown in the afternoon for a visit to the Old Mansion of the Family Gao, and then enjoy clay making and a Shadow Puppet Show.
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Mercure Hotel on Renmin Square Day 6: Xi'an- Shanghai
After breakfast today, enjoy a family bike ride on the ancient city wall of Xi’an. You will also have some free time at the busy Muslim Market before departing for Shanghai in the afternoon. In Shanghai, enjoy a night cruise along the Huangpu River for great views along the famous Bund. Your hotel in Shanghai will be the Hotel Equatorial. Located in the heart of the city at the busy junction of Hua Shan Road and Yanan Road West; and only minutes to the Shanghai Exhibition Center, major tourist attractions and historical districts, is the Hotel Equatorial Shanghai. Since it’s opening in June 1991, Hotel Equatorial Shanghai is constantly evaluating and improving its guest’s services and facilities in order to keep up with the needs of the modern traveler. The latest development has been the refurbishing of the 526 guestrooms and suites; all of which now offers a contemporary yet warm feel. This includes the Equator Club reception and lounge area located on the 26th and 27th floor of the hotel tower. The hotel features modern and start-of-the-art facilities, including 6 restaurants and bars. Hotel Equatorial Shanghai also features a fitness and wellness center, gymnasium, indoor swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, and massage room. Squash and tennis courts are also available. The latest development has been the refurbishing of the 526 guestrooms and suites; all of which now offer a contemporary yet warm feel.
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Hotel Equatorial Day 7: Shanghai
Enjoy a full day tour of Shanghai today. First visit one of the oldest tourist sites in Shanghai, the Yuyuan Gardens. With ponds, traditional red walls with upturned tile roofs, and an excellent teahouse – the Yuyuan Gardens is a wonderful respite from city chaos. Then, visit the Children’s Palace. Children’s Palace is in fact a kind of spare time school, but kids don't learn the same knowledge as they do in schools. There are lots of programs in the palace, such as piano, painting, calligraphy, dancing and computer. Children can take part in one or two programs in light of their own interests. All the children ranging from 5 to 14 years old can go to the palace when they can pass a simple examination and pay a small sum of money one term. Our last stop is a visit to the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. This hands-on interactive science museum, opened in 2001, has received raves from expatriate families with children. There are five main interactive exhibits, which can be visited in any order. The "Earth Exploration" exhibit is a journey to the center of the Earth, complete with fossils. "Children's Technoland" has a walk-in heart and brain, as well as a simulated construction zone with soft foam bricks. The vast "Light of Wisdom" area has over a hundred interactive stations that bring scientific principles to life. "Cradle of Designers" gives you the chance to design your own cards or create your own video. "Spectrum of Life" is a simulated tropical rainforest with robotic beetles and a bat cave. There are also two IMAX 3D cinemas and an iWerks theatre here. And finally, a special treat for your last night in China; the stunning Era Show. As a multimillion-dollar stunning acrobatic extravaganza, the first of its kind in China, ERA is a multimedia odyssey whose inspiration is a direct result of the combination of traditional Chinese acrobatic arts and modern technology. Just like Shanghai, ERA evolves through a constant collision between the past and future. ERA is a love story, yet it is also a contemplation across the millennia, a fascination with that other dimension man has yet to conquer: time. ERA's acrobats are on a quest to find that tenuous point of balance, the intersection between X, Y and Z. Not only will the audience be amazed by the acrobats' control and precision, they will be enchanted by the world that is created through the use of multimedia, technology, lighting and sound effects, elaborate costumes, original live music and a lot more.
As such, ERA can remain universal, without language or cultural barriers. A thousand-year-old gesture is worth a thousand emotions, a thousand images, a thousand words ……
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Hotel Equatorial Day 8: Depart Shanghai
Today you bid farewell to China as you are transferred to the airport for your homebound flight.
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