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BocaBum99 · 03-08-2011, 09:23 PM

For China, I would do

1) Beijing
2) Xian
3) Yangtse River
4) Shanghai.

If you can get it in, I would go to Guilin. If you have a Tibet option, I would absolutely do that trip.

I would save Hong Kong for a trip to Southeast Asia which would include Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and even Vietnam or Cambodia.

By the way, food is not very good in China. Peking Duck is better here than in Beijing. The best food would be on the Southeast Asia tour by far. If you want good Chinese food, it will be better in NYC.

GrayFal · 03-08-2011, 09:33 PM

Originally posted by BocaBum99 View Post

For China, I would do

1) Beijing
2) Xian
3) Yangtze River
4) Shanghai.

If you can get it in, I would go to Guilin. If you have a Tibet option, I would absolutely do that trip.

I would save Hong Kong for a trip to Southeast Asia which would include Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and even Vietnam or Cambodia.

By the way, food is not very good in China. Peking Duck is better here than in Beijing. The best food would be on the Southeast Asia tour by far. If you want good Chinese food, it will be better in NYC.

With this company - the Tibet option REALLY bumps up the price - I will post it for information purposes - I am currently looking at Gate 1 ravel - a very budget friendly - read cheap! - option.....that is why I am soliciting ideas for different companies as well as itinerary.

My co-worker raved about the Terra Cotta(sp) Statues!

14 Day including China,Tibet and the Yangtze River http://www.uniworld.com/Destinations...11/Day-To-Day/

Beijing to Shanghai | 14 Days
Day 1: Beijing
Arrive in Beijing and be greeted by a Uniworld representative who will escort you to the hotel.

Day 2: Beijing
Featured Excursions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, and Peking Duck feast

Your first full day in Beijing takes in many of the major sites, such as Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City—a 250-acre complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards, and gardens. Visit the imperial gardens of the Summer Palace. In the evening, indulge in a traditional Peking Duck dinner. (BB, L, D)

Day 3: Beijing
Featured Excursions: The Great Wall, Ming Tombs, and Kung Fu show

Walk along the Great Wall, which has been built, rebuilt, and maintained over thousands of years. After this memorable experience, visit the lavish and historic Ming Tombs and see the sites of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In the evening, enjoy a thrilling Kung Fu show. (BB, L, D)

Day 4: Beijing, fly to Xi'an
Featured Excursions: Hutongs tour and dumpling dinner

Ride in a rickshaw for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hutongs, the ancient alleyways located in the old residential area of Beijing, and enjoy lunch with a local family before you fly to Xi’an and transfer to the hotel. Tonight, you will enjoy a sumptuous traditional dumpling dinner. (BB, L, D)

Day 5: Xi'an
Featured Excursions: Terra Cotta Warriors, City Wall, and Tang Dynasty dinner and performance

Examine the life-sized, awe-inspiring Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, and then visit Xi’an’s ancient City Wall. In the evening, be treated to a Tang Dynasty dinner and cultural performance. (BB, L, D)

Day 6: Xi'an, fly to Lhasa
Fly to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, which has a fascinating history dating back more than 1,300 years. The former seat of the Dalai Lama, Lhasa embodies the culture of Tibetan Buddhism. Tonight, relax and enjoy dinner at the hotel. (BB, L, D)

Day 7: Lhasa
Featured Excursions: Da Zhao Temple and Tibet Museum

See the early Buddhist Da Zhao Temple, embellished with Nepalese and Indian touches and capped by a golden canopy. Visit the Tibet Museum, which houses a rich collection of prehistoric cultural relics. Catch a glimpse into the life of the local people with a visit to a Lhasa family’s home, and enjoy a dinner with a traditional folk show. (BB, L, D)

Day 8: Lhasa
Featured Excursions: Potala Palace and Sera Monastery

Marvel at Lhasa’s Potala Palace, perched atop Red Mountain. Gaze at its jewel collections and wander the chapels as pilgrims make offerings at the altars. Visit the Sera Monastery with its perfectly preserved murals and Maitreya, Bodhisattva, and Arhat statuary. (BB, L, D)

Day 9: Lhasa, fly to Chongqing, cruising the Yangtze River
Featured Excursion: Chongqing city tour

Fly to Chongqing for a tour of the city and a glimpse of the city zoo’s giant pandas. Then board your Victoria Cruises ship and enjoy an onboard dinner. (BB, L, D)

Day 10: Cruising the Yangtze River
Featured Excursion: Fengdu, or Wanzhou, or Shibaozhai

Visit the “Ghost City” of Fengdu or the port cities of Wanzhou or Shibaozhai, depending on water levels. (BB, L, Captain’s Welcome Reception, D)

Day 11: Cruising the Yangtze River
Featured Excursion: Lesser Gorges

Cruise through Qutang Gorge and majestic Wu Gorge. Then sail down the Lesser Gorges of either the Daning River or Shennong Stream. Later, cruise through the Three Gorges Dam ship locks. (BB, L, Captain’s Farewell Dinner)

Day 12: Yichang, fly to Shanghai
Featured Excursion: Three Gorges Dam

Visit the construction site of the world’s largest hydroelectric plant, the Three Gorges Dam. Disembark in Yichang and fly to Shanghai. Enjoy dinner at the hotel. (BB, L, D)

Day 13: Shanghai
Featured Excursions: Shanghai city tour, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, and Shanghai Acrobats performance

Tour the many splendors of Shanghai including Old Town, the Bund, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, and the Old Shanghai Museum. Savor a traditional dim sum lunch, and enjoy an evening performance by the amazing Shanghai Acrobats. (BB, L, D)

Day 14: Depart Shanghai
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home, or continue with an extension to Hong Kong. (CB or BB)

Note: Substitute visits to other sites may occur during your trip due to water levels or other uncontrollable factors.

GrayFal · 03-08-2011, 10:33 PM

And then there is Gate 1 travel.....very budget friendly

13 Day China with Tibet,China tour, Beijing China tour - www.gate1travel.com

13 Apr 13 Shanghai, China 13 Day China with Tibet 2011 Gate 1 $2,899** $2,079 Land Only WITH TAXES and Flight from JFK $3,226.58 From LAX $2,975.80

May 11 Shanghai, China 13 Day China with Tibet 2011 Gate 1 1st $2,759** $1,869

13 Day China with Tibet Apr - Nov '11 3 Shanghai, 2 Xian, 3 Lhasa, 3 Beijing Escorted $1969 $2859** This is actually "only" an 11 day trip - they add in the flying days....

Escorted Package Includes

Flights LAX-Shanghai, Beijing-LAX
Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices
Airline fuel surcharges
Intra-flights
11 nights First Class accommodations
3 nights Bund Riverside, Shanghai
2 nights Grand New World Hotel, Xian
3 nights Lhasa Xin Ding Grand Hotel, Tibet
3 nights Huabin International Hotel , Beijing
All transfers
21 meals: 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners
Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach
Services of English-speaking tour manager (Days 1-10)
Services of local guide in Beijing
Entrance fees per itinerary

Pats' note - at a glance, there is much more 'free' time - read - less tours and optional meals....not necessarily a bad thing - other people have told me the food is not the highlight of this trip

DAY 1, Wednesday - Depart the USA
Depart the USA to China. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey

DAY 2, Thursday - Arrive in Shanghai
Arrive in Shanghai and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure
Overnight: Shanghai

DAY 3, Friday - Shanghai City Tour
This morning, tour the major attractions of Shanghai. Wander the classical Yuyuan Garden, built during the Ming Dynasty by the high-ranking government official Pan Yunduan. The Gardens' total area occupies approximately five acres, and features pavilions, ponds, rockeries, cloisters, and streams all within six scenic zones, including the Sansui Hall and Wanhua Chamber. In existence for 400 years, the Gardens were specifically constructed for Pan's aging parents as a sanctuary in which to live out their lives. Next, experience the old world charm of the Bund, the former "Wall Street" of the foreign powers. Walk along its park-like waterfront promenade between the Wusong River and Old Town. Later today, enjoy a stop at a local silk carpet factory. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure
Optional: Acrobatic Show with Dinner
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4, Saturday - Full Day in Shanghai
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Shanghai on your own
Optional: Full Day Suzhou with Lunch & Cruise on the Grand Canal
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5, Sunday - Flight to Xian
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Xian. Upon arrival, trace the beginnings of Chinese civilization at the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum. Opened to the public in 1991, the museum is in southern Xian, and is home to a wealth of historical artifacts and treasures from the Han and Tang dynasties
Optional: Dumpling Dinner
Overnight: Xian
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6, Monday - Xian Antiquities Tour with Terracotta Army
This morning, after breakfast you will have the opportunity to take a short walk to the local bird market at Xingqing park. A market filled with beautiful flowers, birds and local culture. Later this morning visit to a local Lacquer Furniture Shop. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before a tour of Xian's antiquities. Your tour includes the archaeological site at the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (259-210 B.C.), where more than 8,000 finely sculpted, life-size terracotta soldiers and horses were discovered by local farmers in 1974. The archaeological excavation of the three pits where the Terracotta Army was found continues today, more than thirty years since the time of its unearthing
Optional: Tang Dynasty Dinner with Entertainment
Overnight: Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 7, Tuesday - Flight to Lhasa, Tibet
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Tibet. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure
Overnight: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 8, Wednesday - Potala Palace
Today see one of the grandest monuments in all of Asia: the extraordinary Potala Palace. Built in the 17th century (atop the original 7th-century site), it boasts more than 1,000 rooms, including the Red Palace (where the Dalai Lama once lived), 10,000 chapels, and a labyrinth of mysterious dungeons. It took 7,000 workers and 1,500 artists and craftsmen more than 50 years to build the adjoining White and Red Palaces. This Eastern architectural triumph was the world's tallest building before the creation of 20th-century skyscrapers. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. On way back to hotel, we will visit the Tibetan Art Factory shop. Later this evening, enjoy dinner and a cultural show at a local restaurant
Overnight: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9, Thursday - Jokhang Temple
After breakfast today, we head for the Barkhor Bazaar, a section of the oldest part of Lhasa that bustles with marketplace activity and religious devotion. Later today, visit the 1,300-year-old Jokhang Temple, where we are likely to see Buddhist pilgrims making clockwise circuits on their hands and knees in reverence to one of Tibet's most sacred sites. Thousands of yak-butter candles flicker inside beneath the enlightened gaze of the golden Jowo Sakyamuni, the seventh-century Buddha statue that the temple was built to house
Overnight: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10, Friday - Flight to Beijing via Chongqing
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Beijing via Chongqing. Upon arrival, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before transfering to your hotel
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 11, Saturday - Great Wall of China and the Ming Tombs
Enjoy a full-day excursion to the Great Wall of China, the longest man-made structure on Earth, spanning nearly 4,000 miles of China's northern frontier. Walk along the promenades and enjoy the unrivaled scenic views of beautiful mountain passes, plateaus and grasslands from this 7th-century defensive fortification. Afterwards, depart for lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. Following lunch, continue for a walk through the sites of Ming Tombs and a visit to a local jade factory before returning to Beijing
Optional: Peking Duck Dinner
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 12, Sunday - Forbidden City, Summer Palace Tour & Panda Visit
Enjoy a full day tour of the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. Begin at Tiananmen Square, the largest public plaza in the world. Erected in 1417 at the height of the Ming Dynasty, the square was renovated and renamed two centuries later at the onset of the Great Qing Dynasty. View several impressive monuments outlining the Square's perimeter, including the Great Hall of the People, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the Square's famed ceremonial gateway. From here, venture north for a visit to the Forbidden City (Imperial Palace), a construction comparable to the Pyramids in Egypt. Known today as the Palace Museum, the entire site is comprised of 800 buildings with more than 9,000 rooms. Visit a local Pearl Shop before a visit to the Summer Palace. Lunch will be served at an authentic Chinese restaurant during the Summer Palace visit. Later today, a visit with the Pandas at the Beijing Zoo
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 13, Monday - Depart for the USA
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast

** include air from LAX!

GrayFal · 03-08-2011, 10:51 PM

16(14 night) Day China with Tibet and 3 day Yangtze River Cruise

16 Day (actually 14!) China with Tibet & 3 Day Yangtze River Cruise,China tour, Beijing China tour - www.gate1travel.com

(14)16 Day Apr 13 Shanghai, China 16 Day China with Tibet & 3 Day Yangtze River Cruise 2011 Gate 1 $3,275.80**air LAX $3,478.80++air JFK $2,379
(14)16 Day May 11 Shanghai, China 16 Day China with Tibet & 3 Day Yangtze River Cruise 2011 Gate 1 $3,269**air LAX $2,419

Escorted Package Includes

Flights LAX-Shanghai, Beijing-LAX
Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices
Airline fuel surcharges
Intra-flights
14 nights First Class accommodations
3 nights Bund Riverside, Shanghai
2 nights Grand New World Hotel, Xian
3 nights Lhasa Xin Ding Grand Hotel, Tibet
3 nights cruise downstream on the Victoria Empress, Yangtze River
3 nights Huabin International Hotel , Beijing
All transfers
28 meals: 14 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 6 dinners
Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach
Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout
Entrance fees per itinerary

Special Features

Terracotta Army
Potala Palace
Jokang Temple
Forbidden City
Great Wall of China
Also Available

DAY 1, Wednesday - Depart the USA
Depart the USA to China. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey

DAY 2, Thursday - Arrive in Shanghai
Arrive in Shanghai and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure
Overnight: Shanghai

DAY 3, Friday - Shanghai City Tour
This morning, tour the major attractions of Shanghai. Wander the classical Yuyuan Garden, built during the Ming Dynasty by the high-ranking government official Pan Yunduan. The Gardens' total area occupies approximately five acres, and features pavilions, ponds, rockeries, cloisters, and streams all within six scenic zones, including the Sansui Hall and Wanhua Chamber. In existence for 400 years, the Gardens were specifically constructed for Pan's aging parents as a sanctuary in which to live out their lives. Next, experience the old world charm of the Bund, the former "Wall Street" of the foreign powers. Walk along its park-like waterfront promenade between the Wusong River and Old Town. Later today, enjoy a stop at a local silk carpet factory. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure
Optional: Acrobatic Show with Dinner
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4, Saturday - Full Day in Shanghai
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Shanghai on your own
Optional: Full Day Suzhou with Lunch & Cruise on the Grand Canal
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5, Sunday - Flight to Xian
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Xian. Upon arrival, trace the beginnings of Chinese civilization at the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum. Opened to the public in 1991, the museum is in southern Xian, and is home to a wealth of historical artifacts and treasures from the Han and Tang dynasties
Optional: Dumpling Dinner
Overnight: Xian
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6, Monday - Xian Antiquities Tour with Terracotta Army
This morning, after breakfast you will have the opportunity to take a short walk to the local bird market at Xingqing park. A market filled with beautiful flowers, birds and local culture. Later this morning visit to a local Lacquer Furniture Shop. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before a tour of Xian's antiquities. Your tour includes the archaeological site at the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (259-210 B.C.), where more than 8,000 finely sculpted, life-size terracotta soldiers and horses were discovered by local farmers in 1974. The archaeological excavation of the three pits where the Terracotta Army was found continues today, more than thirty years since the time of its unearthing
Optional: Tang Dynasty Dinner with Entertainment
Overnight: Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 7, Tuesday - Flight to Lhasa, Tibet
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Tibet. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure
Overnight: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 8, Wednesday - Potala Palace
Today see one of the grandest monuments in all of Asia: the extraordinary Potala Palace. Built in the 17th century (atop the original 7th-century site), it boasts more than 1,000 rooms, including the Red Palace (where the Dalai Lama once lived), 10,000 chapels, and a labyrinth of mysterious dungeons. It took 7,000 workers and 1,500 artists and craftsmen more than 50 years to build the adjoining White and Red Palaces. This Eastern architectural triumph was the world's tallest building before the creation of 20th-century skyscrapers. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. On way back to hotel, we will visit the Tibetan Art Factory shop. Later this evening, enjoy dinner and a cultural show at a local restaurant
Overnight: Lhasa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9, Thursday - Jokhang Temple
After breakfast today, we head for the Barkhor Bazaar, a section of the oldest part of Lhasa that bustles with marketplace activity and religious devotion. Later today, visit the 1,300-year-old Jokhang Temple, where we are likely to see Buddhist pilgrims making clockwise circuits on their hands and knees in reverence to one of Tibet's most sacred sites. Thousands of yak-butter candles flicker inside beneath the enlightened gaze of the golden Jowo Sakyamuni, the seventh-century Buddha statue that the temple was built to house
Overnight: Lhasa
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10, Friday - Flight to Chongqing
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Chongqing. Upon arrival, enjoy a visit to the Stillwell Museum. At the beginning of 1942, General Joseph Warren Stilwell, a four-star U.S. Army general, acting under the orders of American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, arrived in China to assume the position of Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces in the China-Burma-India theater. General Stilwell resided here at that time, and returned to the U.S. on October 21, 1944. With the aid of General Stilwell, the Chinese people won the War of Resistance against the Japanese invaders. To commemorate General Stilwell's help, the local government of the city of Chongqing renovated the general's former temporary residence in Chongqing, and opened it to the public, as Stilwell Museum, in 1991. The Museum mainly exhibits the historical materials, data and pictures concerning General Stilwell and his mission in Chongqing. Later this evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, then transfer to board your ship on the Yangtze River
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 11, Saturday - Cruise to Fengdu
Cruise to Fengdu, the "Ghost City," and view the temples at Mingshan Hill. (Alternatively, the cruise may visit Wanxian or Shibaozhai)
Optional Shore Excursion: Fengdu Ghost City
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12, Sunday - Qutang and Wuxia Gorges
Sail through Qutang Gorge, the smallest of the three Yangtze gorges, and dock at Wushan for an excursion through the Small Three Gorges along the Daning River. Enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding mountain passes as you sail through the 25-mile long Wuxia (Witches) Gorge, famous for its fabled Twelve Peaks. According to legend, the peaks are believed to be the spirits of 12 fairies, the most famous of them being the Shennu Feng (Goddess) Peak, which is topped by a huge rock resembling a kneeling maiden
Optional Shore Excursion: Lesser Three Gorges
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13, Monday - Xiling Gorge; Flight to Beijing
Sail downstream through Xiling Gorge. The longest section of the Three Gorges system, it comprises the Xietan, Qintan, and Kongling rapids in what is known as the Three Rapids of Xiling. Visit the Three Gorges Dam near Sandouping Village. The dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, nearly six times the size of the Hoover Dam. This afternoon, disembark at Yichang to board your flight to Beijing. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel
Optional Shore Excursion: Three Gorges Dam
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 14, Tuesday - Great Wall of China and the Ming Tombs
Enjoy a full-day excursion to the Great Wall of China, the longest man-made structure on Earth, spanning nearly 4,000 miles of China's northern frontier. Walk along the promenades and enjoy the unrivaled scenic views of beautiful mountain passes, plateaus and grasslands from this 7th-century defensive fortification. Afterwards, depart for lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. Following lunch, continue for a walk through the sites of Ming Tombs and a visit to a local jade factory before returning to Beijing
Optional: Peking Duck Dinner
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 15, Wednesday - Forbidden City, Summer Palace Tour & Panda Visit
Enjoy a full day tour of the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. Begin at Tiananmen Square, the largest public plaza in the world. Erected in 1417 at the height of the Ming Dynasty, the square was renovated and renamed two centuries later at the onset of the Great Qing Dynasty. View several impressive monuments outlining the Square's perimeter, including the Great Hall of the People, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the Square's famed ceremonial gateway. From here, venture north for a visit to the Forbidden City (Imperial Palace), a construction comparable to the Pyramids in Egypt. Known today as the Palace Museum, the entire site is comprised of 800 buildings with more than 9,000 rooms. Visit a local Pearl Shop before a visit to the Summer Palace. Lunch will be served at an authentic Chinese restaurant during the Summer Palace visit. Later today, a visit with the Pandas at the Beijing Zoo
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 16, Thursday - Depart for the USA
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast

Edit - optional add on $295

GrayFal · 03-08-2011, 11:06 PM

Boca - This one has Guilin!

17 Day China with 4 Day Yangtze River Cruise,China tour, Beijing China tour - www.gate1travel.com

17 Day China with 4 Day Yangtze River Cruise

May 9 From LAX $3,069.45 From JFK $3,229.06

Escorted Package Includes

Flights LAX-Beijing, Shanghai-LAX
Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices
Airline fuel surcharges
Intra-flights
15 nights First Class accommodations
4 nights Huabin International Hotel, Beijing
2 nights Grand New World Hotel, Xian
4 nights cruise upstream on the Victoria Empress, Yangtze River
2 nights Guilin Royal Garden Hotel, Guilin
3 nights Bund Riverside, Shanghai
All transfers
30 meals: 15 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 5 dinners
Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach
Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout
Entrance fees per itinerary

Special Features

Great Wall of China
Forbidden City
Terracotta Army
Li River Cruise

DAY 1, Monday - Depart the USA
Depart the USA to China. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey

DAY 2, Tuesday - Arrive in Beijing
Arrive in Beijing and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure
Overnight: Beijing

DAY 3, Wednesday - Forbidden City, Summer Palace Tour & Panda Visit
Enjoy a full day tour of the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. Begin at Tiananmen Square, the largest public plaza in the world. Erected in 1417 at the height of the Ming Dynasty, the square was renovated and renamed two centuries later at the onset of the Great Qing Dynasty. View several impressive monuments outlining the Square's perimeter, including the Great Hall of the People, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the Square's famed ceremonial gateway. From here, venture north for a visit to the Forbidden City (Imperial Palace), a construction comparable to the Pyramids in Egypt. Known today as the Palace Museum, the entire site is comprised of 800 buildings with more than 9,000 rooms. Visit a local Pearl Shop before a visit to the Summer Palace. Lunch will be served at an authentic Chinese restaurant during the Summer Palace visit. Later today, a visit with the Pandas at the Beijing Zoo
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4, Thursday - Great Wall of China & Ming Tombs
Enjoy a full-day excursion to the Great Wall of China, the longest man-made structure on Earth, spanning nearly 4,000 miles of China's northern frontier. Stop at a local Jade Shop before arriving to the Great Wall. Walk along the promenades and enjoy the unrivaled scenic views of beautiful mountain passes, plateaus and grasslands from this 7th-century defensive fortification. Afterwards, depart for lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. Following lunch, continue for a walk through the sites of Ming Tombs before returning to Beijing
Optional: Peking Duck Dinner
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 5, Friday - Full Day in Beijing
Full day at leisure to explore Beijing independently
Optional: Hutong Tour with Lunch
Overnight:Beijing
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6, Saturday - Flight to Xian
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Xian. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Later this afternoon, trace the beginnings of Chinese civilization at the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum. Opened to the public in 1991, the museum is in southern Xian, and is home to a wealth of historical artifacts and treasures from the Han and Tang dynasties
Optional: Xian Dumpling Dinner
Overnight: Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 7, Sunday - Xian Antiquities Tour with Terracotta Army
This morning, after breakfast you will have the opportunity to take a short walk to the local bird market at Xingqing park. A market filled with beautiful flowers, birds and local culture. Later this morning visit to a local Lacquer Furniture Shop. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before a tour of Xian's antiquities. Your tour includes the archaeological site at the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (259-210 B.C.), where more than 8,000 finely sculpted, life-size terracotta soldiers and horses were discovered by local farmers in 1974. The archaeological excavation of the three pits where the Terracotta Army was found continues today, more than thirty years since the time of its unearthing
Optional: Tang Dynasty Dinner with Entertainment
Overnight: Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 8, Monday - Xian Sightseeing, Flight to Yichang
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Yichang. Upon arrival, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, then transfer to board your ship on the Yangtze River. Please note, occasionally, the flight to Yichang is not available. In this case, flight is to Wuhan and then transfer by bus to Yichang
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9, Tuesday - Xiling Gorge
This morning, you will have the option to visit the Three Gorges Dam near the Sandouping Village. This dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, nearly six times the size of the Hoover Dam. Following your visit, cruise upstream to Xiling Gorge. The longest section of the Three Gorges system, it comprises the rapids of Xietan, Qintan and Kongling, collectively known as the Three Rapids of Xiling
Optional Shore Excursion: Three Gorges Dam
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10, Wednesday - Wuxia & Qutang Gorge
This morning, enjoy an optional to visit the Small Three Gorges along the Daning River. Enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding mountain passes as you sail through the 25-mile long Wuxia (Witches) Gorge, famous for its fabled Twelve Peaks. According to legend, the peaks are believed to be the spirits of 12 fairies, the most famous of them being the Shennu Feng (Goddess) Peak, which is topped by a huge rock resembling a kneeling maiden. Continue through the Qutang Gorge, the smallest of the three Yangtze gorges, and admire its bluffed banks and lush terraced hillsides
Optional Shore Excursion: Lesser Three Gorges
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11, Thursday - Cruise to Fengdu
Cruise to Fengdu, the "Ghost City," to where you will have the option to visit the fantastic Snow Jade Cave. Alternatively, the cruise may visit Wanxian or Shibaozhai depending on local conditions
Optional Shore Excursion: Fengdu Ghost City
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12, Friday - Disembark Cruise; Fly to Guilin
This morning disembark in Chongqing. Visit the Stillwell Museum and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before transferring to airport for your flight to Guilin. Upon arrival in Guilin, transfer to your hotel. Later today visit a tea garden. Here you will learn how Chinese tea is grown and you will take part in a tea making demonstration. This evening enjoy a unique tea dinner at local restaurant. All menu items are inspired by, cooked with or immersed in tea
Overnight: Guilin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13, Saturday - Li River Cruise
Cruise the crystal clear Li River and view the many vertical rock formations, stone pinnacles, bamboo groves and villagers reaping rice along the river banks. The high forested peaks that dominate the banks and terraced hillsides are why the Li River is one of China's top sightseeing destinations. Many of the peaks are associated with legendary stories of mystical spirits and love. Later this afternoon, lunch will be served on board. En route back to the hotel, stop to a visit a local art gallery to witness the a demonstration of Chinese calligraphy and painting
Overnight: Guilin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 14, Sunday - Flight to Shanghai
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure to explore Shanghai on your own
Optional: Shanghai by Night with Dinner
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 15, Monday - Shanghai City Tour
Early this morning you will have the opportunity to take a short walk from the hotel to Huangpu Park where you will be able to relax and enjoy the local flavor of Shanghai. Later this morning, tour the major attractions of Shanghai. Wander the classical Yuyuan Garden, built during the Ming Dynasty by the high-ranking government official Pan Yunduan. The Gardens' total area occupies approximately five acres, and features pavilions, ponds, rockeries, cloisters, and streams all within six scenic zones, including the Sansui Hall and Wanhua Chamber. In existence for 400 years, the Gardens were specifically constructed for Pan's aging parents as a sanctuary in which to live out their lives. Next, experience the old world charm of the Bund, the former "Wall Street" of the foreign powers. Walk along its park-like waterfront promenade between the Wusong River and Old Town. Later today, enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before stopping at a local silk carpet shop. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure
Optional: Acrobatic Show with dinner
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 16, Tuesday - Full Day in Shanghai
Full day at leisure to explore Shanghai independently
Optional: Half Day Shanghai Museum
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 17, Wednesday - Depart for the USA
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast

My take on these Gate 1 Travele trips is that there are $150-300 in additional excursions/meals that need to be added in....but having the air included is one less problem/attractive option to consider.

edit - this trip has $329 in optional tours/meals...FYI

chriskre · 03-08-2011, 11:16 PM

Wow!
They all look great but I'm not sure about a 17 day tour.
I did that once in Europe and it wasn't pretty.
Both my roommate and I were ready to kiil each other by then and we're best friends.

GrayFal · 03-08-2011, 11:25 PM

17 Day China with 4 Day Yangtze River Cruise & Hong Kong

17 Day China with 4 Day Yangtze River Cruise & Hong Kong,China tour, Beijing China tour - www.gate1travel.com

April 21 - from LAX $3,030.99 from JFK $3,070.09 LAND only $2,099.00 PLUS $580 optional add ons

Escorted Package Includes

Flights LAX-Shanghai, Hong Kong-LAX
Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices
Airline fuel surcharges
Intra-flights
15 nights First Class accommodations
3 nights Bund Riverside, Shanghai
4 nights cruise upstream on the Century Star, Yangtze River
2 nights Grand New World Hotel, Xian
3 nights Huabin International Hotel , Beijing
3 nights Stanford Hillview Hotel, Hong Kong
All transfers
28 meals: 15 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 5 dinners
Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach
Services of English-speaking tour manager Day 2-14
Services of English-speaking local guides Day 15-17
Entrance fees per itinerary

Special Features

Terracotta Army
Forbidden City
Great Wall of China

DAY 1, Thursday - Depart the USA
Depart the USA to China. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey

DAY 2, Friday - Arrive in Shanghai
Arrive in Shanghai and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure
Overnight: Shanghai

DAY 3, Saturday - Shanghai City Tour
This morning, tour the major attractions of Shanghai. Wander the classical Yuyuan Garden, built during the Ming Dynasty by the high-ranking government official Pan Yunduan. The Gardens' total area occupies approximately five acres, and features pavilions, ponds, rockeries, cloisters, and streams all within six scenic zones, including the Sansui Hall and Wanhua Chamber. In existence for 400 years, the Gardens were specifically constructed for Pan's aging parents as a sanctuary in which to live out their lives. Next, experience the old world charm of the Bund, the former "Wall Street" of the foreign powers. Walk along its park-like waterfront promenade between the Wusong River and Old Town. Later today, enjoy a stop at a local silk carpet factory and lunch in a local restaurant. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure
Optional: Acrobatic Show with Dinner
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4, Sunday - Full Day in Shanghai
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Shanghai on your own
Optional: Full Day Suzhou with Lunch & Cruise on the Grand Canal
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5, Monday - Flight to Yichang; Embark cruise
Early this morning you will have the opportunity to take a short walk from the hotel to Huangpu Park where you will be able to relax and enjoy the local flavor of Shanghai. This afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Yichang. Upon arrival, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, then transfer to board your ship on the Yangtze River
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 6, Tuesday - Xiling Gorge
This morning, you will have the option to visit the Three Gorges Dam near the Sandouping Village. This dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, nearly six times the size of the Hoover Dam. Following your visit, cruise upstream to Xiling Gorge. The longest section of the Three Gorges system, it comprises the rapids of Xietan, Qintan and Kongling, collectively known as the Three Rapids of Xiling
Optional Shore Excursion: Three Gorges Dam
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7, Wednesday - Yangtze River Cruising
This morning, enjoy an optional to visit the Small Three Gorges along the Daning River. Enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding mountain passes as you sail through the 25-mile long Wuxia (Witches) Gorge, famous for its fabled Twelve Peaks. According to legend, the peaks are believed to be the spirits of 12 fairies, the most famous of them being the Shennu Feng (Goddess) Peak, which is topped by a huge rock resembling a kneeling maiden. Continue through the Qutang Gorge, the smallest of the three Yangtze gorges, and admire its bluffed banks and lush terraced hillsides
Optional Shore Excursion: Lesser Three Gorges
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8, Thursday - Cruise to Fengdu
Cruise to Fengdu, the "Ghost City," to where you will have the option to visit the fantastic Snow Jade Cave. Alternatively, the cruise may visit Wanxian or Shibaozhai depending on local conditions
Optional Shore Excursion: Fengdu
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9, Friday - Disembark Cruise; Fly to Xian
This morning disembark in Chongqing and transfer to airport for your flight to Xian. Upon arrival, trace the beginnings of Chinese civilization at the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum. Opened to the public in 1991, the museum is in southern Xian, and is home to a wealth of historical artifacts and treasures from the Han and Tang dynasties. Transfer to your hotel to freshen up. Later in the afternoon a visit to the Muslim district of Xian to witness local cooking and way of life of Chinese Muslims. On your return back to your hotel, stop for a picture opportunity, of the enormous Bell Tower and Drum Tower
Optional: Dumpling Dinner
Overnight: Xian
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 10, Saturday - Xian Antiquities Tour with Terracotta Army
This morning, after breakfast you will have the opportunity to take a short walk to the local bird market at Xingqing park. A market filled with beautiful flowers, birds and local culture. Later this morning visit to a local Lacquer Furniture Shop. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before a tour of Xian's antiquities. Your tour includes the archaeological site at the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (259-210 B.C.), where more than 8,000 finely sculpted, life-size terracotta soldiers and horses were discovered by local farmers in 1974. The archaeological excavation of the three pits where the Terracotta Army was found continues today, more than thirty years since the time of its unearthing
Optional: Tang Dynasty Dinner with Entertainment
Overnight:Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 11- Sunday - Flight to Beijing
This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Beijing. Upon arrival enjoy lunch at local restaurant and then transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure
Optional: Half Day Hutong Tour
Optional: Peking Duck Dinner
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 12, Monday - Full Day Tour of Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Beijing Zoo
Begin at Tiananmen Square, the largest public plaza in the world. Erected in 1417 at the height of the Ming Dynasty, the square was renovated and renamed two centuries later at the outset of the Great Qing Dynasty. View several impressive monuments outlining the Square's perimeter, including the Great Hall of the People, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the Square's famed ceremonial gateway. From here, venture north for a visit to the Forbidden City (Imperial Palace), a construction comparable in scope to the Pyramids in Egypt. Known today as the Palace Museum, the entire site is comprised of 800 buildings with more than 9,000 rooms. Enjoy lunch at an authentic Chinese Restaurant close to the Forbidden City before a visit to the Summer Palace and Panda Visit in the Beijing Zoo. On way back to your hotel visit the Local pearl factory. Dinner at a local restaurant
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13, Tuesday - Great Wall of China and the Ming Tombs
Enjoy a full-day excursion to the Great Wall of China, the longest man-made structure on Earth, spanning nearly 4,000 miles of China's northern frontier. Walk along the promenades and enjoy the unrivaled scenic views of beautiful mountain passes, plateaus and grasslands from this 7th-century defensive fortification. Afterwards, depart for lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. Following lunch, continue for a walk through the sites of Ming Tombs and a visit to a local jade factory before returning to Beijing
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 14, Wednesday - Flight to Hong Kong
This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Hong Kong. Arrive and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon at leisure to explore Hong Kong on your own
Optional: Lei Yue Mun Seafood Village Dinner Cruise
Overnight: Hong Kong
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 15, Thursday - Hong Kong City Tour
Today, enjoy a half-day morning tour of Hong Kong Island. Visit the famed Victoria Peak for a panoramic view of the city and bay below. The Peak, as it is referred to locally, is the highest mountain on the island, and is home to a variety of birds and colorful butterflies. Visit Stanley Market, famous for its bargain shopping, before returning along the coast of Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay to Aberdeen Harbor, the floating fishermen's village. Stop at a local jewelry factory near Aberdeen for a glimpse into the art and craftsmanship that has made Hong Kong famous. Balance of the day at leisure
Optional: Symphony of Lights Cruise (PM)
Overnight: Hong Kong
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 16, Friday - Full Day in Hong Kong
Enjoy the day at leisure to explore Hong Kong on your own or opt for some last-minute souvenir shopping
Optional: Full Day Sea & Land Tour with Lunch
Overnight: Hong Kong
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 17, Saturday - Depart for the USA
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast

This tour has $580 worth of extra/optional charges.

GrayFal · 03-08-2011, 11:29 PM

Originally posted by chriskre

Wow!
They all look great but I'm not sure about a 17 day tour.
I did that once in Europe and it wasn't pretty.
Both my roommate and I were ready to kiil each other by then and we're best friends.

Hahahhaaaa.... I do hear you - but this is a looooong way to travel and there is a lot of different options....are you enticed by Hong Kong or Tibet???

chriskre · 03-08-2011, 11:56 PM

Originally posted by GrayFal

Hahahhaaaa.... I do hear you - but this is a looooong way to travel and there is a lot of different options....are you enticed by Hong Kong or Tibet???

Very intrigued by Hong Kong. Don't know enough about Tibet to have an opinion except that I buy alot of jewelry with Tibetan Silver.

GrayFal · 03-09-2011, 12:07 AM

Some reviews....

Gate 1 Travel 12 day Tour of China - Beijing Forum - TripAdvisor

BocaBum99 · 03-09-2011, 12:07 AM

16-day China trip with Tibet option is the winner for me.

If you haven't been to Asia before, I'd highly recommend a Southeast Asia tour as your first trip. That's because you are more likely to fall in love with it and want to go back. China isn't for everyone. You may not like it and then not want to go back to Asia. If that happens, then you will miss out on some of the best places to visit in the world.

It is tough being in a foreign country when the food doesn't sit right with you. 2 weeks with bad food can ruin any vacation. After 7 days, McDonald's will seem like eating at Morton's. The Chinese people haven't yet come up to speed with western etiquette. Spitting and pushing their way onto a plane are very common. 1st Class accommodations means Holiday Inn quality. If you expect this ahead of time, then it will be an adventure.

Glitter Brunello · 03-09-2011, 12:23 AM

Originally posted by BocaBum99 View Post

16-day China trip with Tibet option is the winner for me.

If you haven't been to Asia before, I'd highly recommend a Southeast Asia tour as your first trip. That's because you are more likely to fall in love with it and want to go back. China isn't for everyone. You may not like it and then not want to go back to Asia. If that happens, then you will miss out on some of the best places to visit in the world.

It is tough being in a foreign country when the food doesn't sit right with you. 2 weeks with bad food can ruin any vacation. After 7 days, McDonald's will seem like eating at Morton's. The Chinese people haven't yet come up to speed with western etiquette. Spitting and pushing their way onto a plane are very common. 1st Class accommodations means Holiday Inn quality. If you expect this ahead of time, then it will be an adventure.

A part of the cultural experience. Why should they have to meet western standards? And the term "western etiquette" is arguably an oxymoron. Meant to be rhetorical, not argumentative.

I have not done a China trip, and unfortch can't do this one, but if I had the option I would absolutely want to include Tibet. When I was in Indonesia, I ate things I don't want to think about, but they were local and well seasoned! Ok, I did edit a tad once I found out what I was eating, but nevermind that...

LisaH · 03-09-2011, 12:25 AM

I hope Boca did not scare you away from doing the trip!

If you decide on the itinerary, please let me know. I think you can do better in price. I can check with a few Chinese travel agencies and see if they offer similar tour with English speaking guides...

GrayFal · 03-09-2011, 12:36 AM

Originally posted by LisaH

I hope Boca did not scare you away from doing the trip!

If you decide on the itinerary, please let me know. I think you can do better in price. I can check with a few Chinese travel agencies and see if they offer similar tour with English speaking guides...

LOL, no, he is encouraging me! And this was just my first day of looking around - as I said to Chris, if I am going to go that far - I might as well stay!

My work friend was so very impressed by the Yangtze River portion of her trip - the gorges and the dam - I would really want to make sure 3 days are included in any trip. And I certainly hope you will price out our itinerary with a recommended travel agent. I have two friends from England that are considering this trip so we need to look at pricing with and without airfare.

I am VERY Very intrigued by Tibet and want to do some more reading about this part of the world......I like the Hong Kong option as well but we wil probably do the other two "big cities" so Tibet might be even more 'off the beaten path'

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