China Century Tours and Linda Yu were highlighted recently in the cover story in TravelAge West magazine. Click below to read the feature, or check out our website to see how Linda and China Century Tours can help you obtain the best China travel for your clients.

http://travelagewest.com/articles.aspx?article=6902

New for 2008

China Classic

13-Day China Elite Tour

Departure guarantee for ONLY 2 persons!

No minimum group-size requirement

 Itinerary

Day 1   Leave for Shanghai

 Day 2   Shanghai (D)

Shanghai, once known as the "Paris of the East," is now a bustling city with a population of over 14 million people. Because of its commercial and industrial strength, Shanghai is  China's most prosperous city. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Day 3   Shanghai (B,L)

Take a morning drive to the Bund, which offers views of the colorful traffic on the Huangpu River and the colonial buildings built  by the Europeans during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Explore Yu Garden, which typifies the traditional Chinese sense of architectural beauty. After a “dim sum” lunch, enjoy the rich collections of the Shanghai Museum. The Jade Buddha Temple, where you will see the two-thousand pound jade Buddha brought to China from Myanmar in the 19th century, is a place you should not miss. After a scrumptious dinner, see a daring and delightful performance of the world-renowned Shanghai Acrobatic Show.

Day 4   Shanghai-Suzhou 

A one-hour bus ride takes you to Suzhou, which is known as “Venice of the East” because of the many canals that flow through the city. Suzhou is also known for its gardens which give it another name, “Heaven on Earth.” Suzhou has always been one of the most important centers of Chinese silk industry, and its silk embroideries are famous. After arrival, tour some of Suzhou’s gardens, such as Garden of the Master of the Nets and Garden of the Politics of the Humble Man, which are composed of rock formations, water reflecting intricate pavilions, and architectural marvels. Visit Pan Men City Gate and the silk plant. Overnight in Suzhou.

Day 5  Suzhou/Hangzhou (B,L)

Hangzhou, one of the China's most beautiful towns, lies to the north of Zhejiang province. The words of the well-known Chinese proverb say, "In Heaven is Paradise, here on earth are Suzhou and Hangzhou." The famous "Dragon Well" tea which is hand-picked twice a year is grown in this region. Absorb West Lake's beauty on a cruise and visit Bay of Flowers (Huagang Park), Isle of the Hill of Solitude (Gushan), Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, and more sights as time allows.

Day 6   Hangzhou/Guilin (B,L)

Your city tour will also include visiting Temple of the Hidden Immortals and Peak that Flew from Afar, Spring of the Running Tiger and Pagoda of the Six Harmonies. In the afternoon, fly to Guilin. We’ll arrange a pickup to deliver you to your hotel.

Day 7   Guilin-Yangshuo (B,L)

Take a boat cruise on the Li River to Yangshuo. The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is the centerpiece of any trip to northeastern Guangxi Province. Gorgeous karst peaks give you surprises at each bend of this winding river under the blue sky. Water buffalo dot the fields, farmers are busy in rice paddies, school kids and fisherman float by on bamboo rafts. With its breathtaking scenery and taste of a life far removed from the concrete metropolis, the scenery along the Li River is one of China's top tourist destinations. After taking a walk through Yangshuo Country, you will overnight in Yangshuo, the most beautiful town of the world!

Day 8   Yangshuo-Guilin-Xian (B,L)

Enjoy the graceful scenery or take a morning bike tour of Yangshuo.

After lunch drive back to Guilin and visit the Ludi-Grotto (Reed Flute Grotto). The cave received its name from the verdant reeds growing outside it, from which people made flutes. Inside this water-eroded cave is a spectacular world of various stalactites, stone pillars and rock formations created by carbonate deposits. Then visit Fubo-Mountain. Fubo Mountain stands on the west bank of the Li River. The waves of the river are turned back when they meet the stone blocks of the hill, hence the name "wave-subduing hill." This afternoon visit the Elephant Trunk Hill, which is regarded as the symbol of Guilin landscape. Originally named "Li Hill", "Yi Hill" and "Chenshui Hill", the hill has a history of 360 million years. Resembling an elephant leisurely sucking water from the river with its long trunk, this hill is famous as Elephant Trunk Hill. In the evening , fly to Xian and transfer to hotel.

Day 9   Xi’an (B,L)

Have a full day excursion to the renowned excavation site of Terra Cotta Warriors, and the Banpo Museum.

The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum, Lintong County, Shanxi province. It is a sight not to be missed by any visitor to China.

The Banpo Museum is located in the eastern outskirt of Xian City, Shanxi Province. As the first museum at the prehistoric site, it was built at the base of the excavations of the Banpo site. Since it formally opened to the public in 1958, two million people have visited it.

Day 10  Xian/Beijing (B,L)

In the morning, take a flight to Beijing. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Heaven.

The beautiful Temple of Heaven, one of the most photographed structures in China, is located in a large park that houses the impressive Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. You will spend some time leisurely wandering through the grounds of the Summer Palace, which lies 15 km to the north of Beijing. Its 716 acres makes it China's largest park; originally it was the residence of the last empress, who reconstructed the park in 1888 using the funds earmarked for the Navy.

 Day 11  Beijing (B,L)

Visit the Great Wall, which is one of the eight wonders of the world and is the only man-made structure visible from space. This immense wall was built to keep out invaders as well as to retain the inhabitants. In the afternoon we will visit Ming Tombs and the Sacred Alley where the Ming emperors are buried. There are 13 emperors buried in the area. In ancient China, it was a tradition to select a hill with a river nearby. The enormous animal statues were used as decorations for the tomb.

 Day 12  Beijing (B,L)

Seeing the treasures of Imperial Palace in the once Forbidden City is a life long memorable event. The Imperial Palace, or the Palace Museum is open to tourists from home and abroad. Splendid painted decoration on these royal architectural wonders, the grand and deluxe halls, with their surprisingly magnificent treasures will certainly satisfy "modern civilians."

In the afternoon, visit the Summer Palace, the best-kept existing royal garden in Beijing and the Tian’anmen Square this afternoon. The grandeur of Tiananmen Gate (Heavenly Peace Gate) is a national symbol, with the Great Hall of the People on the western side, the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History to its east and west.

 Day 13  Beijing/Outbound (B)

After Breakfast, check out and be back home by flight.

 FIT TOURS for 2008 to be Posted by mid December, 2007

Or Call for Specific Dates and FAM Trip Specials

Notice: We provide professional English/Chinese speaking guide service throughout the program. If your client wants to have other languages speaking guides like Spanish, German, French or Japanese, they have to pay additional cost for the guides. Details are as follows:

Tour price includes:
Hotel accommodations and hotel service charges; meals; admissions; travel insurance in China; all domestic and local transportation within China; trained English-speaking tour guide.

Tour prices do not include:
Transportation to China and back to your country; airport departure tax, customs fee; China visa fee; Optional tours/meals.

Standard of Service:
Accommodations: Four-star hotels (on twin-sharing basis)
Transportation: Luxury car or coach
Tour Guide: English-speaking tour guide.

Copyright © 2008 China Century  Tours. All rights reserved