NOTICE: To guarantee your place on the tour and reserve limited airline seating, forward your $150 deposit ASAP! Why reserve now? Your deposit
is completely refundable up to 60 days before departure. Your tour price will be guaranteed and you will be protected from any future increases. CALL NOW: REGENT CHINA TOURS 1 800 896-1916 and request the David Ault Awakening Tour!

Itinerary

Day 1:
Today we leave home en-route to Beijing, China -- exactly the other side of the earth. You will cross the international date-line, losing 12 hours.

Days 2:
We will arrive in Beijing at approximately 5:00pm. You are welcomed to Beijing by your Regent Guide and transferred to your luxury hotel. Once you are all settled in, dinner at the Imperial Restaurant will wrap up your first day in China.

Day 3:
We will visit a Cloisonné Factory, an art form unique to China, and then journey outside Beijing to the extraordinary Great Wall of China. Begun 2,000 years ago, this massive structure once stretched 4,000 miles from the Shanghaiguan Pass on the east coast to Jiayuguan Pass in the Gobi Desert. (read more about it at the website http://www.RegentTour.com). We will stop for lunch and shopping at Siwei Restaurant & Art shop. A short drive away is the statue-lined Sacred Path while leads to the Ming Tombs. We will visit the tranquil ruins of Deling, one of the 13 Ming tombs where 13 of the 16 Ming emperors are buried. Tonight
we enjoy Dai Minority style dinner.

NOTE: On Days 3 & 4, we will also visit the Panda Garden and/or the Tibetan Llama Temple but only if time and traffic allow us to do so.

Day 4:
Today, we begin by visiting Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world. Time permitting, individuals wishing to visit Mao’s Tomb, may do so. From here, we explore the Forbidden City, once the home of the powerful Ming and Qing Dynasties, who restricted access to members of the royal family and their households. Hence, the name, Forbidden City. In the afternoon, we will visit the Summer Palace. Stroll the grounds of this magnificent residence of China’s last empress. See her unique marble barge, as well as the brilliant miniature paintings on the ceiling of the empress’ covered walkway alongside her private lake, Lake Kunming, which we will cruise. Evening brings a Peking Duck dinner followed by a fabulous Acrobat performance.

Day 5:
Before flying to Xi’an in the afternoon we visit the beautiful Temple of Heaven, one of the most photographed structures in China, located in a large park and housing the impressive Hall of Prayer. During the Middle Ages, Xi’an was one of the largest cities in the world & the capital of 11 dynasties. We fly here this afternoon to experience this part of Chinese history firsthand. (2:20pm-4:05pm). We will meet our local guide and transfer to our hotel. Evening brings a Jiaozi Dumpling dinner, a specialty of Xi’an.

Day 6:
Today, we will visit the Tomb of China’s First Emperor, Qin Shihuang and his astounding terra-cotta army of life-size soldiers and horses, accidentally discovered by farmers in 1974 digging a well. The actual tomb is still to be unearthed and is reputed to contain extravagant palaces and pavilions filled with rare gems. We will spend time at the excavation site as well as the Museum on the grounds. On our return trip we will stop by a local village and visit with its residents. Enjoy a magnificent theatrical performance of “The Tang Dynasty” in the evening.

Day 7:
This morning we will explore the Xi’an Old City Wall and The Wild Goose Pagoda (where the first Buddhist scripts were translated into Chinese centuries ago) before flying to Guilin in the afternoon (4:40pm-6:35pm)

Day 8:
Guilin is one of China’s most beautiful cities. Today, we will cruise the meandering Li River & delight in the lovely views of the area’s unique limestone hills, which have inspired poets and artists since the founding of the “The City of Legends” 2,000 years ago. Watch cormorants trained by fishermen to dive into the river, catch the fish in their beaks and return them to the boats.

Day 9:
Today brings visits to Elephant Trunk Hill and Seven Stars Park and Reed Flute cave before flying to Shanghai in the evening (7:35pm-9:35pm).

Day 10:
We will begin by visiting the world-famous Shanghai Museum where we will spend ample time viewing bronze, jade & ivory as well as artwork representing all of China’s Dynasties. Afterwards, we will visit the Children’s Palace, a unique school where children are at play or practicing various skills from playing the piano to ballet. In the evening, we will have a night cruise on the Huangpu river, witnessing the nightlights of this remarkable cosmopolitan city.

Day 11:
Spend the day exploring the charming Old city town area, reminiscent of Shanghai long ago including Yuyuan Garden and Jade factory. We will be flying back to Beijing in the evening to prepare for our trip home (6:30pm-8:30pm).

Day 12:
We say goodbye to China and depart for home (11:15am), regaining the 12 hours we lost on the way to China.

All Regent China Tours Include:

• Flights - Round trip air transportation. All intra-China flights.
• Accomodations - All lodging in china is first class 4 or 5 star
• American standard international hotels, wherever available.
• Meals - All meals: American breakfast and Chinese lunch and dinner
• Sightseeing - Listed in the itinerary

Guides - Escorted by a Tour Director from Regent and English speaking hosts in each city plus a National Guide throughout China for all groups of 15 or more. All entrance fees are included.

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If you would like a brochure or have any other questions, feel free to contact me. Phone: 818/240-4738. email: ault@consciousco.com   If you know you want to go, call Regent China Tours at 800-896-1916 for a reservation form. You're also free to forward this to any friends and relatives that you think might be a good addition to our group. Come join us on this wonderful adventure to China! David Ault