Luxury Private Journeys - Ultimate China Experience ULCH09

Personal Highlights:

• A privately guided tour of the Forbidden City, seat of Chinese Emperors past.
• A picnic lunch on the Great Wall away from the tourist crowds.
• Gourmet dining at Beijing’s private and prestigious China Club.
• Special access to the lower level of the Terracotta Warriors in Xian.
• Getting up close with Pandas at the Bisheng Gorge Panda Sanctuary.
• Scenic cruise on Guilin’s Li River, Hangzhou’s West Lake and the ancient canals of Wuzhen.
• A private walking tour of Shanghai’s Bund with a noted expatriate historian and lecturer

Day 1 Depart USA

You board your trans-pacific flight to Beijing, capital of China and site of the 2008 Olympic Games

Day 2 En Route

You cross the International Date Line and "lose" a day, but gain it back on your return trip

Day 3 Arrival in Beijing

You arrive in Beijing, capital of the most populous country on Earth. As you step off the plane you are met by our representative and assisted through the immigration and customs process. As you exit the customs area you are met by your guide and driver and taken to your hotel. You have a light dinner before catching up on your sleep and getting ready for the events ahead.

Day 4 The Great Wall at Jinshanling

Today you will spend the day both exploring and walking the Great Wall but away from the hordes of tourists. You will be traveling to Jinshanling which is further from the city and offers a much more authentic wall experience. Since the area is less visited you have ample opportunity to explore this section of the wall and take in the stunning views of the surrounding countryside. A picnic lunch is enjoyed while sitting on the wall and then, if you are reasonably fit and willing, you can walk along the wall between Jinshanling and Simatai which offers an absolutely incredible wall experience. No trip to Beijing would be complete without a delicious Peking Duck dinner especially as served at one of the city's most renowned restaurants.

Day 5 The Forbidden City and The Imperial Summer Palace

After breakfast you begin a full day of exploration of some of Beijing's main attractions.You will start with a brief walk from the hotel with your guide to reach the vast Tiananmen Square, which is home to China's Parliament also known as The Great Hall of the People. walking through the Gate of Heavenly Peace, from where Mao declared China as the People's Republic in 1949, you will then have a private tour of the Forbidden City, home of China's Imperial Dynasties. You have lunch at " my Humble House" restaurant before continuing your visit to the Imperial Summer Palace where you marvel at the opulence in which the Emperor's lived. This evening, we have secured a table at the exclusive, members' only, China Club. you will dine well!

Day 6 The Hutongs of Beijing and an Arrival in Xian

This morning your first visit will be to the magnificent Temple of Heaven where the Emperors came to pray for good harvests and where, today, residents come for morning exercises such as Tai Chia and, believe it or not, Ballroom dancing! People say that to know Beijing you must know the Hutongs. A Hutong is a Mongolian word meaning "water well" because these Hutongs grew up around wells. Hutongs are the connections betweens courtyards and if you were to take helicopter ride you would see tens of thousands of Hutongs surrounding the forbidden city. Since they are maze-like and narrow you will take a rickshaw to explore this vanishing part of the true Beijing. You will then visit a traditional home where a local " housewife" will introduce you to daily life in the city through the local dishes that they would make for their families. The kitchen is in the outdoor courtyard so this is a unique experience in contemporary Chinese culture.. After your exploration you head for the airport for your flight to Xian. You are met on arrival and escorted to your hotel.

Day 7 The Terracotta Warriors Up Close and Personal

In 1974, a group of peasants uncovered some pottery while digging for a well. That discovery created a flurry of activity and digging as thousands of life-size Terracotta warriors, each with different features were gradually uncovered by the archeologists. Without a doubt the highlight of any visit to Xian and possibly even China is an exploration of the warriors. Most visitors view the warriors from a catwalk above the site but Ultitude clients through special arrangements will be granted access to the lower viewing platform and also access to the restricted area behind Pit 1 where restoration work is being done on the warrior figures. After lunch you will have a tour of the Shaanxi Museum and the Wild Goose Pagoda before returning to the hotel. This evening you will enjoy the excellent Shaanxi Theatre's Dinner Show where they showcase the song and dance from the Tang Dynasty era.

Day 8 The Old City, Han Warriors and Arrival in Chengdu

After breakfast you you will visit the Old City of Xian which for 1,100 years was the Coutntry's Capital. You have a chance to take a bike ride along the old city walls before having lunch. En route to the airport you enjoy a visit to the fascinating Warriors of the Han Dynasty (dating about 100 years after the better known Terracotta Warriors). Upon arrival you are met by your guide and escorted to your hotel where a Deluxe Room awaits. You have the afternoon to relax and enjoy the hotel's many amenities.

Day 9 The Pandas of Chengdu

Today will be a special day as you drive outside the city to the Bisheng Gorge Panda Sanctuary which provides a more natural setting for observing these wonderful creatures. By special arrangement, you will be allowed to enter the enclosure and assist the keepers in cleaning the area, feeding the Pandas and having a unique interaction. If the manual labor is not to your liking you can take photos, play with or even bottle feed a Panda Cub. This will be a highlight of your trip.

Day 10 From Chengdu to Guilin

After breakfast, your guide will be waiting to escort you to the airport for your onward flight to the charming city of Guilin. Upon arrival in Guilin your are met by your guide and taken to your hotel where a room has been reserved overlooking the scenic Li river. You have the afternoon to relax and enjoy this tranquil city.

Day 11 Yangshuo and a Li River Cruise

An early start for what will be the highlight of your visit to Guilin, a cruise down the Li River. Immeditely as you set sail, the scenery is imposing and over the next few hours you will be stunned by what nature can produce. Many of the hills and cliffs have names supposedly evocative of what they resemble, though at times you may need some imagination! Lunch is served on board. Upon arrival in Yangshuo you will have time to either wander around its small streets and browse in its numerous shops and stalls or sit back in one of the many cafes and watch the world pass by. On the return to Guilin you will make a stop at Dragon Bridge for some lovely countryside views.

Day 12 The Reed Flute Caves and Hangzhou

After breakfast you will enjoy a scenic tour of Guilin. The scenery is dominated by the limstone hills that appear everywhere and you will have the opportunity to climb to the top for great scenic views. You will visit the Reed Flute Caves, which have a wonderful collection of stalagmites and stalactites illuminated inside the caves. After lunch you will be taken to the airport for the flight to Hangzhou. Upon arrival you are met and taken to your hotel which is located on the scenic West Lake.

Day 13 A Tranquil Day in Hangzhou

Your day begins with a with a serene cruise on West Lake with its banks edged with with weeping willows.Your next visit is to the Tea Museum.The green tea produced in Hangzhou is world renowned for its exceptional color, fragrance and taste. After tasting the tea you stop for lunch at Louwallou Restaurant before visiting Ling Yin Temple whose statue of Sakyamuni carved from camphor wood and gilded with gold is considered a masterpiece of Buddhist religious work. The rest of the day is at leisure allowing time for a quiet stroll on the edge of the lake.

Day 14 Hangzhou, Wuzhen and Shanghai

This morning you depart with your guide and your driver for the drive to Shanghai. On the way you will visit one of the area's water villages. These are where the homes are built overlooking canals. One of the best preserved is at Wuzhen offering a fascinating insight into the more traditional history and lifestyle of the area. your guide explains the history of the town as you take a cruise down the main canal followed by lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch you head in to the bustle of Shangha and your hotel located on Shanghai's famous Bund

Day 15 Shanghai in Context

After breakfast you will leave your hotel for a very personal exploration of the Bund. Your guide will be Peter Hibbard an engaging local historian and writer specializing in the history of foreign communities that contributed to the creation of this cosmopolitan city. As you step from your hotel on to the Bund, the ricj history of the Bund will be brought to life as Peter helps contrast the colorful history of this city especially the first half of the mast Century with the Communist China and Modern China, Lunch will be at Ye Shanghai restaurant. The afternoon is at leisure and this evening we have arranged tickets to a performance of the Shanghai Acrobatics followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 16 Zhouzhuang and Suzhou

This morning you depart with your guide and your driver for the traditional water village of Zhouzhuang where you visit one of the town's old merchant houses. You then continue on to Suzhou and the Silk museum before having lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon you explore Suzhou's remarkable Chinese style gardens which are on the UN's World Heritage List. Most of the gardens were built for private use by aristocrats and businessmen and date back to the 6th Century. The gardens were designed to mimic nature and therefore were miniaturized to reflect the world around. You will visit two of the most famous called " The Humble Administrator's Garden" and "Garden of the Master of the Nets" which was used as the model for the Ming Hall Garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. You then return to Shanghai.In the evening enjoy a splendid farewell dinner at trendy M on the Bund.

Day 17 Return to USA

After breakfast your driver is ready to transport you to the airport for your return flight to the US where you arrive later the same day.

Services Included

•Superior Rooms at the properties indicated in the accommodations area (We reserve the right to substitute a property of equal quality in advance of departure should the designated hotel be unavailable)

•Private Transfers to and from the airport at destination

•All meals as indicated on the itinerary by B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner

•Private guides for city explorations and private driver/guide while traveling.

•Entrance fees to all museums, attractions and other venues as indicated on the daily itinerary

•Baggage handling at all hotels

•All applicable taxes and service fees

Services Not Included

•International airfare (round-trip from hometown departure gateway to destination)

•Beverages with included meals (unless otherwise indicated on itinerary page)

•Any meals not indicated on the Itinerary page

•Items of a personal nature e.g. minibar, film, postcards etc.

•Gratuities to Guides and Driver/Guides (we provide suggested guidelines for your selected destination in your pre-departure material)

•Any passport or visa fees or government departure taxes (It is the traveler’s responsibility to secure the latest informationregarding passports and visa requirements)

Available Year Round