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Yangtze River: Waterways and Landmarks of China

Program Number: 6071RJ
Start and End Dates:
3/31/2013 - 4/18/2013; 9/1/2013 - 9/19/2013; 10/6/2013 - 10/24/2013; 4/13/2014 - 5/1/2014; 5/4/2014 - 5/22/2014; 8/31/2014 - 9/18/2014; 10/12/2014 - 10/30/2014;
Duration: 18 nights
Location: China
Price starting at: $3,894.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Adventure Afloat Study Cruise; River Boats
Meals: 48; 17 Breakfasts, 15 Lunches, 16 Dinners    
Meal Options: Gluten Free; Vegetarian    

The rivers of China, one of the most mountainous countries in the world, have connected and delineated its peoples for millennia. The Yangtze (Long River) marks the border between south and north China, its dramatic gorges figuring in myth and legend. The serene waters of the Li River, flowing among mist-enshrouded green mountains, have long inspired Chinese poetry and painting. In this program, learn about China's heritage, contemporary life, its vast and varied terrain, and sail its renowned waterways.




Activity Particulars

Walking up to two miles over uneven terrain, unpaved paths, cobblestones, uneven stone stairs, steep stairs at Yangtze docks, some without railings.



Optional tai chi and Chinese conversation classes when time permits. Group leaders are full-time Chinese Foreign Affairs Office staff, university graduates who are fluent in English, well-educated in safety and protocol, and supported by offices nationwide.



Itinerary At-a-Glance

Beijing (China), 4 nights; aboard Yangtze study vessel, 4 nights; Xi’an, 3 nights; Yangshuo, 3 nights; Shanghai, 3 nights.



Day 1:
Overnight flight from the U.S.A. / cross International Date Line




Days 2-5:
Arrival Beijing (China):

Walk the Great Wall and enter the Forbidden City. Explore "old Beijing" alleys and lanes; chat with courtyard residents at a family-hosted lunch and experience the magnitude of Tiananmen Square.
Lodging: Three-star hotel.



Days 6-9:
On the Yangtze:

After exploring Beijing’s architectural masterpiece, the Temple of Heaven, fly to Yichang to board the Yangtze study vessel. Sailing through the Yangtze’s gorges, examine area history, culture, ecology, traditional medical practices and modern life. Visit river towns and the Three Gorges Dam, and pass through exquisite narrow gorges of a Yangtze tributary on traditional sampans, where you might catch glimpses of red monkeys amongst the trees.



Days 10-12:
Fly to Xi’an:

Talk with students as they introduce you to the campus of Xi’an International Studies University. Experience the wonder of the terracotta army, buried in the tomb of a Qin Emperor 2,200 years ago. After a presentation of Chinese cultural history, explore Xi’an’s unparalleled Museum of History and then savor the special dumplings for which the city is famous.
Newly renovated three-star hotel located within Xi'an's city wall.



Days 13-15:
Fly to Guilin/Yangshuo:

Sail down the Li River, amidst the beautiful karst mountains celebrated in painting and poetry. Learn about Chinese landscape painting at a master’s demonstration. Enjoy the open-air musical, "Third Sister Liu," directed by world-renowned Zhang Yi Mou, and discover traditional Chinese music at a private concert at Guilin Music Institute.
Lodging: Comfortable, centrally located hotel overlooking the River Li.



Days 16-19:
Shanghai / departures:

Stroll along Shanghai’s riverfront for views of colonial buildings and the skyscrapers of new Shanghai across the river. Discover China’s rich art treasures at its famed Art Museum and learn about classic Chinese landscaping at the Ming Dynasty Yu Garden. Visit the newly developed area of Pudong — until recently undeveloped farmland and now a glittering forest of skyscrapers. Enjoy an evening of amazing skill and prowess at a performance by the world-famous Shanghai Acrobatics Troupe.
Lodging: Four-star hotel.




China

From the opening of the Silk Road in the 1st Century BC, marking the beginning of trade between Central Asia and the burgeoning empires in the West, China has inspired global evolution. Six millennia of calligraphy, music, and dance emerged from the behemoth land during a dozen dynasties marked by conflicts of religion, power, and territory. Ruling emperors gave way to Communism and to Modern China, home to a fifth of the world’s population.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
China's Cultural History Yang Hongying
Professor Yang Hongying is an expert in the study of foreign language and linguistics at Xi'an International Studies University, where she leads courses in Chinese culture and international studies. She has received numerous teaching awards, and also has received advanced degrees in cultural heritage studies from the Institute of European Studies in Macau, and in education from the University of New South Wales in Australia. Yang has published numerous papers on museum text translations and international culture studies, and has given lectures on Chinese culture and heritage in China, Macau, and Singapore. She has worked with and taught Road Scholar groups for more than 10 years.
 
Liu Hao
Liu Hao grew up in a northern Chinese city close to Beijing, near Hebei University where he majored in American literature and English, and completed research on Chinese history and culture. During his spare time he shows great interest in classical music, calligraphy, tai chi and Chinese history. He has traveled to America, Vietnam and other countries for cultural exchanges, making him a valued contributor to China's national culture.
 
Meals and Lodgings
   Qianmen Jianguo Hotel
  Beijing, China 4 nights
   Victoria Cruise Lines
  Yangtze Gorges, China 4 nights
   Grand Noble Hotel
  Xi'an, China 3 nights
   Sovereign Hotel
  Guilin (Yangshuo), China 3 nights
   Equatorial Hotel
  Shanghai, China 3 nights
 Qianmen Jianguo Hotel
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Originally built in the 1950s, this modernized hotel is located in a traditional district south of Beijing's famous Chan An Avenue and short distance from many of Beijing's historic and monumental sites, including Tian'anmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, and the Forbidden City. It also maintains a well-known theater devoted to nightly performances of Beijing Opera.
  Ship Information: na
  Contact info: 175 Yonggan Road
Xuanwu District
Beijing, NA 100050 China
phone: +86 -10-6301-6688
web: www.qianmenhotel.com
  Room amenities: Air-conditioning, satellite television, free room non-wifi internet access, international direct-dial telephone, safe-deposit box, mini-bar, laundry service, coffee- and tea-making facilities. All rooms are non-smoking.
  Facility amenities: Four restaurants with Western and Chinese cuisine, rooftop bar, business center, fitness center, beauty salon, Liyuan Peking Opera theater.Wi-Fi is available in the hotel lobby with free cost.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: Program Provider (CAEE) Additional nights pre-program can be arranged by your Program Provider.Contact Chinese American Educational Exchange: email: toc@ix.netcom.com tel: 212 334 1971

 Victoria Cruise Lines
Type: Cruise Ship
  Ship Information: First class Yangtze River Cruise ship. All boats in Victoria Cruise Lines have iron, double-bottom hulls and have been built or totally refurbished between 2001-2004. Total capacity of 130-266 persons.
  Contact info: Woodside , NY, NY 11377 USA
  Room amenities: Air conditioning, TV, all outside cabins with private balcony, and private bathrooms with showers. Lower berth single beds.
  Facility amenities: Gym, Internet access, laundry service, beauty salon, barbershop, shops, currency exchange, bar.Wi-Fi is not available, Wi-Fi is not available
  Smoking allowed: Yes

 Grand Noble Hotel
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Located inside the city walls in the heart of 'downtown' Xi'an, the Grand Noble (formerly known as the Royal Garden Hotel) is close to the city's main attractions, including the Bell Tower and Muslim Section.
  Contact info: 334 DongDaJie (East) Street
Xi'an, NA 710001 China
phone: +86 29 87690000
  Room amenities: air-conditioning, television, mini-bar, hair dryer
  Facility amenities: laundry service, business center, coffee bar, room service,Wi-Fi is available in the hotel lobby with free cost.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Sovereign Hotel
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Facing the beautiful Li River, this centrally located hotel is close to many of the scenic spots of the area and is convenient for leisurely walks around town.
  Ship Information: .
  Contact info: 28 Guanlian Road
Yangshuo, GU  541900 China
phone: +86 -773-888 9988
web: www.yangshuohotel.net/en/index.asp
  Room amenities: A/C, TV, hair dryer, minibar, laundry service.
  Facility amenities: Business center with copy service, fax service, conference rooms, several restaurants, beauty salon, shops.Wi-Fi is not available.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Equatorial Hotel
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Located in the center of Shanghai and close to Huihai Road, an avenue with upscale shops.
  Ship Information: na
  Contact info: 65 Yanan West Road
Shanghai,  200040 China
phone: +86 -21-6248-1688
web: www.equatorial.com/sha/
  Room amenities: air conditioning, TV, iron, hair dryer, mini bar
  Facility amenities: fitness center, indoor swimming pool, beauty parlor, barbershop, shopping, currency exchange, bar,Wi-Fi is available in the hotel lobby with free cost.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights after: Contact program provider Contact program provider for rates and reservations


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Meet your Group Leader in the hotel lobby at 6:00 pm on the arrival day and join a welcome meeting. Check-in time for your hotel is 2:00 pm You will be staying at Qianmen Jianguo Hotel that night.
  End of Program:
Your program ends at 11:30 am. Check-out time from your hotel is 12:00 pm/noon. You will be staying at Equatorial Hotel the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. A passport which must be valid for at least 6 months past trip return date; US passports need a minimum of 2 blank visa pages and Canadian citizens also need a minimum of 2 blank visa pages. A visa is required for travel in China and is not included in the program fee.
  Parking availability:
Not applicable
Transportation (For Independent Travelers)
  Train or bus availability: Not applicable
To Start of Program
  Location:  Beijing
  Transportation to site: Arrive in Beijing from international flight. For those who purchased International air from Road Scholar Travel Services, and are arriving on the same day program begins, meet your Group Leader at the airport for included transfer to the hotel. Participants making their own international travel arrangements or arriving a day or more before the program begins can take a taxi from the airport. Program materials include a sheet in English and Chinese with hotel information to show taxi drivers plus Beijing phone contact information. Taxi cost is about $25 US (170 Chinese yuan) per car. TIP NOT EXPECTED.
  From End of Program
  Location:  Shanghai
  Transportation from site: For those who have purchased International air from Road Scholar Travel Services, depart for Shanghai International Airport with your Group Leader. For those who are Program Only Participants (POP), your Group Leader can help you arrange a taxi. Cost is about $35 US (240 Chinese yuan) per car. TIP NOT EXPECTED.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: In Flight
(Sunday, March 31)
   
 In Transit: International flight

Day 2: Arrive Beijing/Welcome Meeting
(Monday, April 1)
   
 Afternoon: Arrive at Beijing International Airport where your group leader/national guide will be waiting for you. After check-in and a short rest, get together for a Welcome Meeting at your hotel.
 Dinner: at hotel dining room
 Evening: at your leisure.
   
Accommodations: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 3: Forbidden City/ China's Land and Peoples/ Peking Duck
(Tuesday, April 2)
   
 Breakfast: After optional morning tai ji exercise, enjoy hotel's buffet breakfast.
 Morning: Explore the monumental Forbidden City, seat of the Qing rulers whose reception halls and living quarters contain many of the Qing Emperors' treasures.
 Lunch: at restaurant nearby
 Afternoon: After lunch return to your hotel for a Talk: 'China’s Land and Peoples.'
 Dinner: A Welcome Banquet features one of Beijing's culinary delights: Peking Duck.
   
Accommodations: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Great Wall/Sacred Way/Tian'anmen Square/Chinese Conversation
(Wednesday, April 3)
   
 Breakfast: hotel buffet
 Morning: This morning depart for a section of the Great Wall outside of the city. Your walk on the wall affords spectacular views of the Wall climbing and cascading over the surrounding mountains.
 Lunch: at a restaurant near the Great Wall.
 Afternoon: On the way back to Beijing walk the Sacred Way, the entrance alley to the Ming Tombs (also known as the Alley of Animals because of the majestic, oversized animal sculptures that line the lane). (Note that we won’t enter the Tombs themselves as all artifacts have been removed.) Before returning to your hotel visit ‘the heart’ of Beijing -- Tian’anmen Square, about 15 minutes from your hotel.
 Dinner: hotel dining room
 Evening: Get together with your national guide and learn some useful Chinese phrases.
   
Accommodations: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Hutongs/Free Afternoon/Beijing Opera
(Thursday, April 4)
   
 Breakfast: hotel buffet after optional morning tai ji
 Morning: Explore a neighborhood of old ‘hutongs’ (residential lanes and alleys) near Beihai Park. While there, visit a local school, families in their homes, and the former residence of Song Qing Ling (political activist and widow of Dr. Sun Yat Sen).
 Lunch: Enjoy a simple lunch hosted by neighborhood families.
 Afternoon: The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.
 Dinner: at restaurant nearby
 Evening: At a nearby theater, enjoy a taste of Beijing opera, a unique art form that uses brilliant costumes, mannerized make-up, acrobatics and martial arts, various types of falsetto singing, and exuberant percussionists. The performance is presented with English and modern Chinese supertitles above the stage. Chinese Opera is an ‘acquired taste’ for Western ears. For an introduction to Beijing Opera and its traditions, try to see the film ‘Farewell My Concubine.’
   
Accommodations: Qianmen Jianguo Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Temple of Heaven/Yichang/board Yangtze River vessel
(Friday, April 5)
   
 Breakfast: after morning tai ji, hotel buffet breakfast
 Morning: This morning coach to the nearby Temple of Heaven. This architectural masterpiece was begun in the 15th century and symbolizes the relationship between heaven and earth. Walk the extensive grounds to the Temple itself or stay in its environs and enjoy the activities of local people practicing calligraphy and tai ji, playing musical instruments, dancing, or flying silk kites.
 Lunch: en route to Beijing airport
 Afternoon: Fly to the city of Yichang to board your Yangtze vessel
 Dinner: Dinner is at a restaurant in Yichang
 Evening: This evening, board your Yangtze vessel and set sail for 3 days cruising upstream on the Yangtze River (known in Chinese as 'Chang Jiang' or Long River). The rest of the evening is at your leisure.
   
Accommodations: Victoria Cruise Lines
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Three Gorges Dam Site/Xiling Gorge
(Saturday, April 6)
   
 Breakfast: Tai ji on deck followed by ship’s buffet breakfast.
 Morning: This morning, take a short coach ride to the Three Gorges Dam site. From an observation deck, you will have a bird's-eye view of the dam, five-step ship lock, diversion canal, and power station. A nearby exhibition displays a dam model; a briefing will explain this project, one of the largest construction ventures ever.
 Lunch: ship's buffet
 Afternoon: After passing through Gezhou Dam ship lock, enter Xiling Gorge. Though historically Xiling Gorge was the most treacherous, it was made safe during the 1950's when dangerous shoals were dynamited out of the river.
 Dinner: Captain's Reception followed by dinner in ship's dining room
 Evening: Ship's entertainment or Chinese conversation practice with program leader.
   
Accommodations: Victoria Cruise Lines
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Wu Gorge/Sampan excursion/Qu Tang Gorge
(Sunday, April 7)
   
 Breakfast: Before breakfast, review tai ji steps you already know and learn new ones. Then, enjoy boat's buffet breakfast.
 Morning: This morning, pass through Wu Gorge, the most beautiful of the gorges with 12 famous peaks.
 Lunch: ship's buffet lunch
 Afternoon: On this afternoon's excursion, cruise in sampans up a mini-gorge on a pristine tributary of the Yangtze where you may catch glimpses of red monkeys amongst the trees, goats clinging to craggy cliffs, and 'hanging coffins' secured in the cliff face by the Ba people centuries ago. After returning to ship, set sail and pass through Qu Tang Gorge.
 Dinner: in ship's dining room
 Evening: Ship's entertainment or Chinese language practice.
   
Accommodations: Victoria Cruise Lines
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Relocated Village/River Sailing
(Monday, April 8)
   
 Breakfast: morning optional tai ji followed by ship's buffet breakfast.
 Morning: Today visit a new village for relocated families. Explore their agricultural market and visit with a local family.
 Lunch: ship's buffet
 Afternoon: Enjoy sailing on the river, ship's presentations, and Chinese language learning with your program leader.
 Dinner: Captain's Farewell Banquet
 Evening: at your leisure
   
Accommodations: Victoria Cruise Lines
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Disembark /Chongqing Pandas/Old Town/ Xi'an
(Tuesday, April 9)
   
 Breakfast: ship's buffet
 Morning: This morning disembark in the city of Chongqing, an important port on the Yangtze. Coach to the Zoological gardens to view the pandas which are indigenous to this part of China only.
 Lunch: in restaurant on the way to Chongqing's Old Town
 Afternoon: Explore Chongqing's old town and visit Ming and Qing Dynasty homes. Then, fly to Xi'an in late afternoon.
 Dinner: at restaurant
 Evening: Join your group leader to practice useful Chinese phrases.
   
Accommodations: Grand Noble Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: 'Chinese Cultural History'/Get-together with University Students/ History Museum/Dumpling Banquet
(Wednesday, April 10)
   
 Breakfast: Enjoy optional tai ji before hotel buffet breakfast
 Morning: A Talk at Xi'an International Studies University discusses Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism as a way of illuminating the Chinese 'character' and world views.
 Lunch: at University dining room. After lunch, walk the campus and speak with university students to learn about China's new generation.
 Afternoon: Follow Chinese Dynastic history via the exquisite displays of artifacts in China's oustanding Shaanxi Museum of History.
 Dinner: Tonight enjoy an array of special dumplings, for which Xi'an is famous. Some come in shapes of tiny animals, fruits and vegetables and with a myriad of fillings from meat to wild mushrooms.
 Evening: Join your program leader for Chinese conversation practice.
   
Accommodations: Grand Noble Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Qin Terra Cotta Warriors Tomb/'English Corner'
(Thursday, April 11)
   
 Breakfast: hotel buffet breakfast
 Morning: Today experience what many refer to as one of the great man-made wonders of the world -- the army of life-size terra cotta warriors and horses buried with a Qin Emperor 2,200 years ago and uncovered by farmers in 1974.
 Lunch: at a restaurant near the warriors site
 Afternoon: Return to your hotel about mid-afternoon. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.
 Dinner: Dinner at restaurant.
 Evening: At nearby Xi'an International Studies University, join their 'Thursday English corner' for informal chats with students and local citizens who get together once a week to speak in English.
   
Accommodations: Grand Noble Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: 'China Since 1949'/Guilin:Yangshuo
(Friday, April 12)
   
 Breakfast: after tai ji practice enjoy hotel's buffet breakfast
 Morning: A talk at your hotel discusses the development of modern-day China from 1949 to the present. Then, depart for Xi'an airport to fly to Guilin.
 Lunch: lunch will be in a restaurant en route.
 Afternoon: After arrival at Guilin, travel by coach (about 2 hrs) to the small town of Yangshuo set amongst the green karst mountains on the beautiful Li River.
 Dinner: at a nearby restaurant
 Evening: Use the evening to stroll about town or join your program leader for Chinese conversation practice.
   
Accommodations: Sovereign Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14: Chinese Painting/Li River Cruise
(Saturday, April 13)
   
 Breakfast: hotel buffet after optional tai ji practice.
 Morning: Learn about Chinese landscape painting in a demonstration by a Master at your hotel. Following walk to West Street for lunch.
 Lunch: at nearby restaurant.
 Afternoon: Depart for the banks of the Li River, a source of much Chinese landscape painting and poetry. Embark on an afternoon's cruise amid this serene and unique landscape.
 Dinner: This evening is free for you to explore local fare in a restaurant of your own choosing.
 Evening: The evening is at your leisure
   
Accommodations: Sovereign Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15: Local villages/Free Afternoon/'Third Sister Liu'
(Sunday, April 14)
   
 Breakfast: Morning tai ji is followed by hotel buffet breakfast.
 Morning: Local electric carriages transport you to the nearby countryside where you can explore local villages enveloped by magnificent karst mountains.
 Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a riverside restaurant.
 Afternoon: The afternoon is at your leisure.
 Dinner: Dinner at your hotel
 Evening: This evening, enjoy the open-air musical, 'Third Sister Liu,' directed by the renowned Zhang Yi Mou (the director of Beijing 2008 Olympics magnificent Opening and Closing Ceremonies). Set amidst the natural scenery of the Li River and surrounding mountains, Zhang's musical Folk Opera uses actors and singers from local fishing families wearing ethnic costume and singing traditional folk songs in an extraordinary setting.
   
Accommodations: Sovereign Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16: 'Chinese Music'/fly to Shanghai
(Monday, April 15)
   
 Breakfast: hotel buffet breakfast
 Morning: This morning, on the way to Guilin airport, stop at Guilin Music Institute for an introduction to Chinese music and instruments followed by a private performance.
 Lunch: Lunch at airport or en route
 Afternoon: Fly to Shanghai.
 Dinner: at a local restaurant in Shanghai en route to your hotel.
 Evening: The evening is at your leisure.
   
Accommodations: Equatorial Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17: Shanghai Museum/Xin Tian Di/Bund and Pudong/Acrobatics
(Tuesday, April 16)
   
 Breakfast: hotel buffet breakfast
 Morning: This morning explore the new state-of-the-art Shanghai Museum, home to China's exquisite and unparalleled collection of ancient ceramics, paintings, sculpture, and bronzes. If you like, join your local guide and travel to the museum via Shanghai's new metro -- or go there by coach.
 Lunch: Coach to Shanghai's nearby Xin Tian Di ('New Heaven and Earth') district -- a restoration project that has set a benchmark for Asia. Walk about this renewed and fashionable area; take lunch on your own in one of its many cafes or international cuisine restaurants.
 Afternoon: Depart for a walkabout on the Bund and then cross by coach or underground tram to the east side of Shanghai’s busy Huangpu River to the newly developed area of Pudong – until recently undeveloped farmland and now a glittering forest of skyscrapers. From Pudong enjoy views of classic ‘old Shanghai’s’ waterfront whose art deco and neo-classic buildings date from its colonial past.
 Dinner: at restaurant
 Evening: After dinner at a local restaurant, enjoy an evening of amazing skill and prowess at a performance by the world-famous Shanghai Acrobatics Troupe. Acrobatics has, for thousands of years, been considered one of the 'treasures' of Chinese performing arts and figures in other genres such as Chinese Opera.
   
Accommodations: Equatorial Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 18: Yu Garden/Bazaar/Free Afternoon/Farewell Banquet
(Wednesday, April 17)
   
 Breakfast: hotel buffet
 Morning: This morning, explore the 400 year old Ming Dynasty Yu Garden whose classical pavilions, fountains, and arching bridges exemplify traditional Chinese landscaping. After, if time permits, wander through Shanghai's old section and bazaar where you can discover traditional shops or cross a zigzagging bridge to the center of a small pond for a pot of tea at the classic Hu Xin Ting ('Heart of the Lake')Teahouse.
 Lunch: Enjoy a delicious vegetarian lunch supervised by monks at the active Longhua Temple. This imaginative and healthy Buddhist cuisine often uses plants, vegetables, mushrooms and tofu to simulate meat and seafood dishes.
 Afternoon: Enjoy the afternoon at your leisure.
 Dinner: Farewell dinner at restaurant
 Evening: at your leisure
   
Accommodations: Equatorial Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 19: Depart for U.S. or Post-Program Travel
(Thursday, April 18)
   
 Breakfast: hotel buffet
 Morning: Depart for Shanghai Airport for international departures or post-program travel
   
Meals Included: Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Xi'an City Wall
Take stairs up to the restored city wall for a walk or bike rental. The wall is a wide road that provides views of the city.
  Beilin Museum
Forest of Stone Steles Museum (Beilin Museum) This small, pleasant museum - once a temple and with peaceful gardens-- houses ancient stone tablets with exemplary Chinese calligraphy. It also has a small collection of sculpture and ceramics.
  Herb Market
Explore Xi'an's large herb and wild produce market. A good place to bargain for saffron.
  Guilin (Yangshuo) Bicycle rental
Rent a bicycle in the hotel courtyard and ride out to the nearby countryside on level, lightly trafficked roads.
  Sightseeing
Walk around town or to the banks of the Li River, or shop for folk items and local goods on the street. Visit the local agricultural market, or take a pedicab ride to some of Yangshuo's famous karst formations.
  Shanghai Hall of Urban Planning Center
The Shanghai Exhibition Hall of Urban Planning (not far from the Shanghai Museum) includes archival photos and a vast scale model of Shanghai as projected in 2020.
  Peace Hotel
This art deco hotel built by the Sassoon family has recently been restored. Enjoy the lobby or walk up to the roof and garden bar for spectacular views of the Bund and the Huangpu River and the newly developed Pudong area on the opposite bank.
  Oriental Pearl TV Tower
Built in 1994, situated on the Pudong side of the river, the TV tower offers 365 degree views of Shanghai. Lines can sometimes be quite long.
  French Concession
Within walking distance of your hotel, the former French concession contains mansions from colonial past, many now turned into chic restaurants and pubs, often with garden seating. The area also includes Huaihai Road with upscale shops and the former residence of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, now a small and pleasant museum open to the public.
  Huangpu River Cruise
There are many cruise offerings both night and day and differing in length of time. Ask your local guide in Shanghai how to arrange for tickets. Evening cruises can sometimes be very crowded.
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


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