Itinerary II

8 Days to Beijing and Xian

(The length of the trip, cities, sights, performance preferences can be changed if you like to personalize your Performance Itinerary. A visit to a present capital of China – Beijing, and an ancient capital of China -Xian, which is famous for the discovery of the Terra Cotta Soldiers)

Day 1: International flight from U.S. to Beijing. Meals will be served in flight.

Day 2: Arrive in Beijing; your tour guide will pick you up at the gate and take you to your hotel.

Day 3: Today you will be a “true hero”, as chairman Mao said “you will not be a true hero until you climbed the Great Wall of China. Late morning Performance on the Great Wall of China – one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and then free time to explore the wall. On the way back after lunch visits the jade factory to see how jade is carved, then visit the Birds Nest, Olympic village, where the official 2008 Beijing Olympic took place. In the afternoon, see the amazing Chinese Acrobatic Show.

Day 4: A city tour of Beijing to the center of the city -Tianan-Men Square – the largest open plaza in the world accommodating half a million people at one time. Then walk across the street to the Forbidden City (Palace Museum), the former Imperial Palace for the 24 Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. After lunch go and see the magnificent Temple of Heaven, the largest temple and altar complex in China, where the Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasty worshipped Heaven and prayed for good harvests. Dinner in Beijing. (Overnight sleeper train to your next city)

Day 5: Xi’an, which was also known as Changan, was a major ancient capital and has more than 3,000 years of history.

Visit the Shanxi History Museum, where you will see a showcase of ancient civilizations of the Shan Xi province. Being one of the cities inside Shan Xi province, Xian City was the capital city in thirteen dynasties that in total lasted over 1100 years. Since this museum was opened to the public in 1991, its architectural buildings, internal apparatus, and exhibits have made it famous as a first-class museum in China. Lunch, followed by set up and rehearse for tonight’s concert. If time permit visit a local art gallery to try writing Chinese characters with a brush, while there you’ll also get a chance to see watercolor paintings done by local student artists. Evening Performance at a Concert Hall.

Day 6: Today you will visit the famous Museum of the Terra-Cotta Legion, built as a memorial to Qin Shihuang, the first emperor to unite China. The 8,000 men clay army of warriors and horsemen, complete with weapons, was ordered by the emperor as a young man, and took decades to complete. After lunch visit a local school, perform for the whole school and then afterward cultural exchange with the students there; take pictures with newly made friends and exchange email addresses. Dinner in Xian. (Overnight sleeper train to Beijing)

Day 7: In the morning visit the Beijing Zoo; have fun watching the playful pandas and take pictures. In the afternoon visit the Wang Fu Jing Street, the busiest street in Beijing, here is your last chance for shopping in China. In the evening, enjoy a banquet of Peking duck dinner.

Day 8: sadly we have to say goodbye to friends in China, but will always remember the wonderful memories. Board the International flight back home.