Best of China Singles Tour

Beijing / Xi'an / Shanghai

9 Days - 7 Nights

August 2007

www.singlestravelservice.com

Tours for Singles

1040 First Ave, New York. N.Y. 10022

212-752-2429

Aug 10th (Fri)    Arrive Beijing (Dinner)

On arrival meet and transfer to hotel.  This afternoon meet your host for a welcome briefing. The rest of the day is at leisure to unwind from your flight.

Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China, the political and cultural heart of China, Beijing is an extraordinary place with one of the world's oldest civilizations. It has been in existence as a settlement for over 3,000 years and the capital of the nation over many centuries, yet it is now a vibrant metropolis that is moving toward the future at hyper-speed and home to 11 million citizens.

Some of China's most stunning sights can be found in Beijing: the Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, the Lama Temple and the Great Wall, etc.

Overnight stay at Paragon Howard Johnson Hotel

Aug 11th (Sat)    Beijing (Breadfast/Lunch/Dinner)

This morning visit Tiananmen Square, the world's largest and most famous square, followed by a visit to the Forbidden City, where exquisite architecture and a vast glimpse of the staggeringly opulent lifestyles of the Chinese Emperors could be found.

Tiananmen Square - With a total area of 440,000 square meters, the Tiananmen Square boasts is the largest of its kind in the center of Beijing. Over hundred years, many ceremonies and demonstrations have been held at Tiananmen Square.  Found here are the Museum of the Chinese Revolution, the Museum of Chinese History, the Monument to the People's Heroes and most popular with the Chinese, the remains of Chairman Mao in the Memorial Hall. In summer the queue can be rather long.             

Forbidden City - Located just half a mile from Tiananmen Square is the 250 acre imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is also called the Palace Museum and known to be the world’s largest palace with over 9000 rooms. It was closed to the common people for many years and only opened to the public in 1949.

After lunch, visit the picturesque Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven, where the former emperors prayed for good harvest. 

Summer Palace - Located 9 miles from Beijing, the Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China, with a history of over 800 years. It’s worth a visit to these gardens.

Aug 12th (Sun)   Beijing (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Today explore a part of the great wall which is not frequently visited by visitors.

You will have the unique opportunity to trek a part of the Great Wall which is not commonly used by general tourists. Your guide will drop you at one end of the wall where will start your trek which is approximately 4 hours. This trek will take you through parts of the wall which are broken and remain in their original state and where you will not run into many visitors. (The trek is strenuous and only fit for those with stamina and a group activity to be taken by the entire group).   Thereafter proceed for lunch and continue your visit to the Ming Tombs.

Great Wall - The highlight of your stay in this ancient city is a visit to the Great Wall, built 2300 years ago and extends 3,750 miles. (visible from space). It’s a must see for every visitor.

Ming Tombs - Located in close proximity to the Great Wall are the Ming Tombs built from 1409 A.D. - 1644 A.D. where 13 emperors of the Ming (1368-1644) and their empresses/ concubines were buried.

Aug 13th (Mon)      Beijing (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Today visit the Temple of Heaven, where the former emperors prayed for good harvest. Thereafter continue your visit of Beijing by taking a rickshaw ride in the “Hutongs” – the alleys which run through shops and courtyards which are residences to the older generation. You will also visit a local family and learn the art of making “Chinese Dumplings”.

Temple of Heaven - situated in the southern part of the city in Chongwen district. Famous as the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, it is a "must" for each visitor.

After lunch continue your tour and visit the Lama Temple and thereafter proceed to the Olympic stadium construction site.

Lama Temple - Yonghe Lamasery is a renowned lama temple situated at the northeast part of Beijing city. This once served as an imperial palace. The layout of the temple is quite different from other temples and worth a visit and seeing the resident lamas in this temple. For a small fee, you can also get the lamas to bless things for you, such as jade pendants etc., In close proximity to this temple is the Beijing Zoo where Panda bears are on exhibit.

Aug 14th (Tue)   Beijing / Xi’an (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Xian.                                    

Met on arrival and transferred to your hotel.

Xian is one of China’s six historic capital cities. From 1027 BC onwards eleven dynasties chose it as their seat of government. It probably possesses more items of archaeological interest that any other town or city in China, the most important, of course being the world famous Terra Cotta Warriors.

This afternoon proceed on a city tour of Xian with visits to the the Wild Goose Pagoda, one the famous Buddhist pagodas in China, followed by a visit to the ancient City Wall.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda, situated in the Da Ci'en Temple, is one of the famous Buddhist pagodas in China about 2.4 miles from the urban center. Originally built in 589 A.D. in the Sui dynasty, the temple was named Wu Lou Si Temple till 648 A.D. when Emperor Li Zhi, (then still a crown prince), sponsored a repair project on the temple. This was a symbol of thanksgiving to his mother for her kindness, after she had suffered an early death.

City Wall of Xi'an is an extension of the old Tang dynasty structure, and the building was built by Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of Ming dynasty (from 1370 A.D. - 1375 A.D.). After the enlargement the city wall stands 40 feet high and 40-46 feet across the top. It is 50-60 feet wide at bottom and 8.5 miles in length with deep moats surrounding the wall. It boasts to be the most complete city wall to have survived through China's long history.

Overnight stay at Jian Guo Hotel.

Aug 15th (Wed)        Xi’an (Breakfast/Luch/Dinner)

This morning visit the burial site of an incredible army of 8000 lifelike Terra-cotta Warriors, horses, and chariots.  Thereafter visit the History Museum.

Terra Cotta Warriors - In 1974 a group of peasants digging a well, made what was to become the greatest archaeological find of the 20th century when they unearthed fragments of a life sized Terra Cotta Warrior. Excavation of the vault revealed thousands of warriors and their horses, an entire army designed follows its emperor into eternity.

Evening enjoy a traditional Tang Dynasty Dinner Show.

Aug 16th (Thu)      Xi’an / Shanghai (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Xian.           

Met on arrival and transferred to your hotel.

Shanghai - was a small town supported by the fishing and weaving industry before the first Opium War. Late in 1990 when the central government starting developing the area, the city's economy boomed and today it is a scintillating city boiling with rapid cultural change. Since market restrictions were lifted, Shanghai has embraced the forces of business and design and rewritten its rule book shaping a fresh, new city that is sophisticated, innovative and living a life it has never lived before.

This afternoon proceed on a tour with visits to the Bund the former foreign settlement, ranged along with imposing buildings of the colonial period, Yu Garden, characteristic of the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty and used to be a private garden with a 400 year history. Thereafter visit the old town of Shanghai.

The Bund offers views of the colorful traffic on the Huangpu River with colonial buildings built by the Europeans during the 19th and early 20th century. It’s a beautiful place to walk in the evenings.

Yu Garden, maybe the most celebrated classical Chinese garden in Shanghai and is located in the northeast part of the old town with an area of fives acres. In 1559, a Ming official named Pan Yunduan launched the construction of this private garden for his father. The construction lasted for 19 years. Later, due to the decline of the Pan family, the garden gradually fell into oblivion. Furthermore several civil conflicts in the mid-19th century caused great damage to it. After several large-scale re-constructions since 1949, Yu Yuan was finally opened to the public in 1961. The garden attracts countless visitors from China and overseas. Built in the Suzhou style, Yuyuan garden is characterized by its exquisite layout, beautiful scenery and the artistic architecture. Each pavilion, hall, stone and stream in the garden can express the quintessence of South China’s landscape designed from the Ming and Qing dynasties

Overnight stay at Best Western New Century Hotel.

Aug 17th (Fri)       Shanghai (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

This morning proceed on a tour of Zujiajiao - also known as the Venice of China. Enjoy a boat ride.

Located in a suburb of Shanghai city, Zhujiajiao is an ancient water town well-known throughout the country, with a history of more than 1700 years. Covering an area of 18 square miles, the little fan-shaped town glimmers like a bright pearl in the landscape of lakes and mountains.

Endowed with another elegant name ‘Pearl Stream' the little town is the best-preserved among the four ancient towns in Shanghai. Unique old bridges across bubbling streams, small rivers shaded by willow trees, and houses with courtyards attached all transport people who have been living amidst the bustle and hustle of the modern big city to a brand-new world full of antiquity, leisure and tranquility.

This afternoon at leisure.

Overnight stay at Best Western New Century Hotel.

Aug 18th (Sat)    Shanghai / USA (Breakfast)

www.singlestravelservice.com

Tours for Singles

1040 First Ave, New York. N.Y. 10022

212-752-2429