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16-day Southwest China Odyssey

City: Beijing-Chengdu-Lijiang-Dali-Kunming-Shanghai

Day 1: Depart Canada
Start your tour by boarding an overnight flight to Beijing. Cross the International Date Line.

Day 2: Arrival Beijing
Upon arrival in late afternoon, meet our guide and transfer to the hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure to explore this city once known as Peking to Westerns.
Accommodation: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Doubletree by Hilton Beijing * * * * * (or similar)  

Day 3: Beijing (BLD)
Today we first visit the Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world. From there you enter The Forbidden City to see the 250-acre complex of palaces, pavilions, courtyards and gardens. Afternoon we visit to the Summer Palace, a royal resort during the Qing Dynasty. A delicious Peking Duck dinner is arranged to round off a memorable start to your tour. 

Day 4: Beijing (BLD)
We drive 70km northwest of the city for a full-day excursion to the Great Wall, the world's longest man-made structure, stretching over 6,352 km (3,948 miles). After lunch, visit the Ming Tombs. On the way back we tour the exterior of the "Bird’s Nest" and “Water Cube” where hosted the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Kung Fu Show in the evening.  

Day 5: Beijing-Chengdu (BLD)
Morning sightseeing at the Temple of Heaven and to see local people doing exercise. After lunch we tour Beijing Hutong by rickshaw to see traditional residential courtyards. Late afternoon fly to Chengdu. 
Accommodation: Sichuan Hotel * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Sheraton Chengdu * * * * * (or similar)

Day 6: Chengdu
Morning we visit the Sanxingdui (Three star mounds) Culture Museum built on the archaeological site of the discovery of Bronze Age, located about 40km west of Chengdu. The Sanxingdui site, first chanced upon by a farmer in 1929, continues to surprise the archaeological community in the decades to come. In 1986, two major sacrificial pits were discovered and the breakthrough aroused widespread academic attention from around the world. The Sanxingdui finds are exciting, but they remain enigmatic as so far no written records of this 5,000-year-old civilization have been found. Afternoon, we tour Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Base where the Giant Panda Museum graphically details the panda reproductive problems, and there is also a large breeding ground at the site. 

Day 7: Chengdu-Lijiang
Morning fly to Lijiang City - home to the ethnic Nakhi people whose intriguing Dongba religion and unique customs coupled with the region's enchanting scenery combine to make Lijiang and its vicinity a fascinating place to explore.
Today we tour the old town Dayan, a UNESCO-designated World Cultural Heritage Site,
Accommodation: Impression old-town Hotel * * * * (or similar)  
Accommodation: Lijiang International Hotel * * * * * (or similar) 

Day 8: Lijiang (BL)
One day excursion to Yunshanping (Spruce Meadow), an alpine pasture surrounded by virgin forests at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The evening concert of classical Naxi music is optional if available.  

Day 9: Lijiang-Dali (BL) 

Afternoon we drive to Dali -once as the capital of Nanzhao Kingdom, Dali is a charming town built on the shores of Erhai Lake, with a large population of the ethnic Bai nationality.
Accommodation: Landscape Hotel * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Regent Hotel * * * * * (or similar) 

Day 10: Dali (BL)
Today’s schedule futures the Three Pagodas. Then we tour the Erhai and have a cruise on the lake.  

Day 11: Dali-Kunming (BL)
Morning free. Afternoon fly to Kunming - widely known as the "city of eternal spring" due to its temperate climate year-round. City tour upon arrival.
Accommodation: Kunming Haihang Hotel * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: The Bank Hotel Kunming * * * * * (or similar) 

Day 12: Kunming (BL)
Morning excursion to the Stone Forest, a massive collection of gray limestone pillars created by water erosion, which is located 126km southeast of Kunming. 

Day 13: Kunming-Shanghai (BLD)
Morning fly to Shanghai Today we visit The Bund - a waterfront promenade famous for its landmark neoclassical buildings of European style, Yuyuan Garden, Town-God Temple bazaar and Shanghai Museum.
Evening entertainment is the dazzling acrobatic show.
Accommodation: Best Western New Century Hotel Shanghai * * * * (or similar)
Accommodation: Hilton Shanghai * * * * * (or similar) 

Day 14: Shanghai-Suzhou-Shanghai (BLD)
One-day excursion to Suzhou - the 25-century-old city best known for its traditional Chinese gardens, silk industry and well-preserved Grand Canal. Our schedule today includes the Master of the Nets Garden, a short cruise on the Grand Canal, Tiger Hill and a silk spinning mill. Drive back to Shanghai in the evening. 

Day 15: Shanghai (B)
A free day today. Exploring China's most dynamic city on your own is easy and fun. Our recommended to-do list includes a visit to glitzy Pudong New District, a ride aboard the world's only commercially run Maglev train, and the popular evening cruise on Huangpu River to enjoy the city's spectacular neon-lit skyline. 

Day 16: Shanghai-Home
Board return flight arriving home the same day.

(B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, SD=Special Dinner)

Tour price (in CAD, on basis of double occupancy):
* Departures are guaranteed from 2 adults.

* Land Cost: tour fare in China, all-inclusive as per itinerary, no other hidden fee. 

* Full Package: International Airfare, tax & fuel surcharge inclusive, are subject to change.

*Prices are subject to change without notice.

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