Itinerary

China Trip
Tour Itinerary

March 16-26, 2001

March 16 Depart from San Francisco, Los Angeles or New York on Air China wide-body 747's.

March 17 Arrive in Shanghai, China in the late afternoon or early evening. (losing one day, crossing the International Dateline)

March 18 Morning city tour of Shanghai. Today's Shanghai weaves the infamous seaport legacy of its past together with impressive new 21st-century architecture and grand 4 and 5 star hotels and shopping complexes. It is an intriguing, fast-paced city, where East meets West. No other city in the world is quite like it. While Shanghai is China's largest city, with 14 million people, it manages to remain both densely populated and highly sophisticated and exhilarating. Visit Temple of the Jade Buddha, Yuyuan Garden, the Bund and Nanjing Road shopping district. Outdoor concert performance at the famous Bund or a parade. In the evening enjoy a famous Acrobatic show.

March 19 Morning flight to Xi'an (pronounced "she-on"). City tour in the afternoon. Located two hours from Shanghai, Xi'an is home of the world-famous life-size Terra Cotta Army, unearthed in 1974 after being buried with the first Qin Emperor for 22 centuries. Xi'an was the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization dating back to 4000 BC, and the capital city for 11 dynasties up to the 9th century. It is from here that caravans started on the Silk Road to Europe, changing the Western world forever. The massive City Wall and Moat that surround the city are a monument to the importance of Xi'an. In the evening enjoy a 21 course dumpling dinner at one of the finest dumpling restaurants in the world.

March 20 Morning visit to the Terra Cotta Warriors, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Also visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In the late afternoon or early evening perform with Chinese Youth groups in a parade or in a concert hall.

March 21 Morning flight to Beijing. (a one and a half hour flight) In the afternoon visit the Beijing Central Conservatory. In the evening perform with Chinese Youth in the music hall of the Conservatory.

March 22 Morning visit to Tian'anmen Square and The Palace Museum. (Forbidden City) Tian'anmen Square is known as the Gate of Heavenly Peace. It is located across the street from the main entrance to the Forbidden City. Built in 1651, it is the largest public square in the world, covering 110 acres. Surrounding the square are many of China's most impressive monuments, government buildings, and museums. Mao Zedong's Mausoleum and the Great Hall of the People legislative buildings are located on either side of the square. Tian'anmen Square is an excellent place for people watching and is a great location for wide-angle photo of the Forbidden City or any of the monuments. The Forbidden City is a 250-acre city-within-a-city complex. Construction began during the Ming Dynasty in 1406. It is the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world, with more than 800 buildings and 9,000 rooms. Home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but off-limits to commoners, it has been transformed into a magnificent museum, where you can view an enormous collection of cultural relics and precious art objects. Massive gates that lead to three great halls formerly used for official purposes dominate the Outer Palace, at the museum's entrance. To the rear, the Inner Palace contains the living quarters of the Imperial Family, which was last occupied as the royal residence in 1924 by Puyi, the last Emperor of China. In the afternoon transfer to the city of Shijiazhuang by deluxe coach. In the evening the Provencial Leader will meet the leaders of the bands and key members. Banquet hosted by the Provincial Leader. Overngiht in Shijiazhuang.

March 23 In the morning visit the Longxing Monastery and the Hebei Provincial Museum. In the afternoon an outdoor performance at Culture Square and a parade with Chinese youth performers. In the evening the Symphonic Band Competition in the Hebei Music Hall. Award ceremony follows. Overnight in Shijiazhuang.

March 24 In the morning take a deluxe coach to Beijing. In the afternoon visit the Summer Palace and the Beijing Zoo Panda department. In the evening the Jazz Ensemble competition. Award ceremony follows. Overnight in Beijing.

March 25 Visit the Great Wall - one of the Seven Wonders of the World. On the way visit the Ming Tombs. As you look first upon the Great Wall, it is impossible not to be awestruck at the man-made structure. Construction started in the 7th century BC with additions and re-building continuing until the 16th century AD. The Great Wall was built to keep out warring invaders of the north, but additional sections were extended eastward for nearly 4,000 miles. The Ming Tombs - large stone animals and human figures line the famous Sacred Way, the entrance to the burial-grounds site. This long drive leads to a large mountain valley, where a complex of tombs are set into the hillside sheltering well-preserved artifacts of 13 emperors from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). The entire complex covers all 13 hillsides of the valley. The main tomb of Emperor Wanli (1562-1620 AD) is open to the public for exploration; some sections have yet to be excavated. This is another excellent example of the grandeur of the Ming dynasty. Special Beijing Roast Duck dinner in the evening. Do your last minute shopping at a number of merchants.

March 26 In the early afternoon depart China for flights back to the USA. Arrive in the USA on the same day. (picking up the day lost at the beginning of the tour) Arriving at West Coast cities by noontime.

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March 16	Depart from San Francisco, Los Angeles or New York on Air China wide-body 747's.
March 17	Arrive in Shanghai, China in the late afternoon or early evening. (losing one day, crossing the International Dateline)
March 18	Morning city tour of Shanghai. Today's Shanghai weaves the infamous seaport legacy of its past together with impressive new 21st-century architecture and grand 4 and 5 star hotels and shopping complexes. It is an intriguing, fast-paced city, where East meets West. No other city in the world is quite like it. While Shanghai is China's largest city, with 14 million people, it manages to remain both densely populated and highly sophisticated and exhilarating. Visit Temple of the Jade Buddha, Yuyuan Garden, the Bund and Nanjing Road shopping district. Outdoor concert performance at the famous Bund or a parade. In the evening enjoy a famous Acrobatic show.
March 19	Morning flight to Xi'an (pronounced "she-on"). City tour in the afternoon. Located two hours from Shanghai, Xi'an is home of the world-famous life-size Terra Cotta Army, unearthed in 1974 after being buried with the first Qin Emperor for 22 centuries. Xi'an was the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization dating back to 4000 BC, and the capital city for 11 dynasties up to the 9th century. It is from here that caravans started on the Silk Road to Europe, changing the Western world forever. The massive City Wall and Moat that surround the city are a monument to the importance of Xi'an. In the evening enjoy a 21 course dumpling dinner at one of the finest dumpling restaurants in the world.
March 20	Morning visit to the Terra Cotta Warriors, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Also visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. In the late afternoon or early evening perform with Chinese Youth groups in a parade or in a concert hall.
March 21	Morning flight to Beijing. (a one and a half hour flight) In the afternoon visit the Beijing Central Conservatory. In the evening perform with Chinese Youth in the music hall of the Conservatory.
March 22	Morning visit to Tian'anmen Square and The Palace Museum. (Forbidden City) Tian'anmen Square is known as the Gate of Heavenly Peace. It is located across the street from the main entrance to the Forbidden City. Built in 1651, it is the largest public square in the world, covering 110 acres. Surrounding the square are many of China's most impressive monuments, government buildings, and museums. Mao Zedong's Mausoleum and the Great Hall of the People legislative buildings are located on either side of the square. Tian'anmen Square is an excellent place for people watching and is a great location for wide-angle photo of the Forbidden City or any of the monuments. The Forbidden City is a 250-acre city-within-a-city complex. Construction began during the Ming Dynasty in 1406. It is the largest and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world, with more than 800 buildings and 9,000 rooms. Home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but off-limits to commoners, it has been transformed into a magnificent museum, where you can view an enormous collection of cultural relics and precious art objects. Massive gates that lead to three great halls formerly used for official purposes dominate the Outer Palace, at the museum's entrance. To the rear, the Inner Palace contains the living quarters of the Imperial Family, which was last occupied as the royal residence in 1924 by Puyi, the last Emperor of China. In the afternoon transfer to the city of Shijiazhuang by deluxe coach. In the evening the Provencial Leader will meet the leaders of the bands and key members. Banquet hosted by the Provincial Leader. Overngiht in Shijiazhuang.
March 23	In the morning visit the Longxing Monastery and the Hebei Provincial Museum. In the afternoon an outdoor performance at Culture Square and a parade with Chinese youth performers. In the evening the Symphonic Band Competition in the Hebei Music Hall. Award ceremony follows. Overnight in Shijiazhuang.
March 24	In the morning take a deluxe coach to Beijing. In the afternoon visit the Summer Palace and the Beijing Zoo Panda department. In the evening the Jazz Ensemble competition. Award ceremony follows. Overnight in Beijing.
March 25	Visit the Great Wall - one of the Seven Wonders of the World. On the way visit the Ming Tombs. As you look first upon the Great Wall, it is impossible not to be awestruck at the man-made structure. Construction started in the 7th century BC with additions and re-building continuing until the 16th century AD. The Great Wall was built to keep out warring invaders of the north, but additional sections were extended eastward for nearly 4,000 miles. The Ming Tombs - large stone animals and human figures line the famous Sacred Way, the entrance to the burial-grounds site. This long drive leads to a large mountain valley, where a complex of tombs are set into the hillside sheltering well-preserved artifacts of 13 emperors from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). The entire complex covers all 13 hillsides of the valley. The main tomb of Emperor Wanli (1562-1620 AD) is open to the public for exploration; some sections have yet to be excavated. This is another excellent example of the grandeur of the Ming dynasty. Special Beijing Roast Duck dinner in the evening. Do your last minute shopping at a number of merchants.
March 26	In the early afternoon depart China for flights back to the USA. Arrive in the USA on the same day. (picking up the day lost at the beginning of the tour) Arriving at West Coast cities by noontime.