Great Wall China Tour
Beijing 10N Itinerary
Beijing Program - 10 nights
Thursday 6 May - Monday 17 May
Early morning flight on United Airlines or United Express from your hometown to one of the following gateway cities. Change planes.
Thu 6May 1114 Leave San Francisco SFO
on UNITED AIRLINES UA/889, Boeing 747-400, non-stop! Lunch and dinner served aloft. En route over Alaska, crossing the International Dateline.
Fri 7May 1425 Arrive BEIJING, China
OR:
Thu 6May 1246 Leave Chicago ORD
on UNITED AIRLINES UA/851, Boeing 777, non-stop. Lunch and dinner served aloft. En route, over Alaska then crossing the International Dateline.
Fri 7May 1500 Arrive BEIJING, China
Beijing
On arrival in Beijing
Meet&Greet by our Chinese local hosts and transfer to your
a fine 5-star hotel centrally located only 10 minutes walk from the famous Tiananmen Square. Settle in at the hotel and relax this evening from your journey.
Dinner on own.
Forbidden City
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Sat 8May In Beijing
Early risers enjoy an optional, easy jog from the hotel to the Tiananmen Square to watch the traditional flag raising ceremony at dawn, witnessed every day by several thousand local Chinese. Continue jog during sunrise around the Forbidden City complex and back to the hotel. Guided personally by Kathy and Kurt.
Breakfast at the hotel.
0830 Morning Forbidden City Tour visiting Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City's Imperial Palace. Lunch at a local Restaurant. Afternoon at leisure. Start exploring the city on your own for the greatest shopping opportunities you can imagine. Visit the silk alley, the pearl market, the Friendship Store, or any of the many other exciting shopping areas. Your US dollar is strong in China, making everything look like a bargain.
Eve: Spectacular Acrobatic Show at the famous Chao Yang Theatre. Includes transfers.
Dinner on own.
Sun 9May In Beijing
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning optional free shuttle service to/from the Beijing Silk Exhibition Hall.
Afternoon at leisure.
1700 Welcome to China "Happy Hour" at our hotel.
Dinner on own.
Mon 10May In Beijing
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure.
OR JOIN THE OPTIONAL 2-NIGHT AIR EXCURSION TO XIAN
TO SEE THE FASCINATING TERRA COTTA WARRIOR EXCAVATIONS PLUS SPECTACULAR TANG DYNASTY DINNER-SHOW.
Dinner on own.
Tue 11May In Beijing
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure for shopping, or join an optional morning tour to the famous "Summer Palace" with lunch. Opportunity for optional, independent visit to "Bird's Nest" by taxi.
Dinner on own.
Wed 12May In Beijing
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure.
Dinner on own. Optional Dinner outing to one of the leading Sichuan Restaurants in the Hutong area, or optional Peking Duck Dinner at the Bianyi Fang Roast Duck Restaurant.
Inspection day
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Thu 13May In Beijing
Early morning light breakfast at the hotel. Every traveler to China wants to climb the Great Wall, and today your dreams come true on this "mandatory" site inspection. Full day trip by motorcoach to the isolated section of the Great Wall of China where the runs will take place on 15May. This visit is mandatory for all runners in order to familiarize yourself with the Great Wall and the run route. You will be walking the actual 4-km, incredibly spectacular section of the Great Wall which is included on the run. Sandwich lunch is included. Return directly to your hotel in the mid-afternoon.
Eve: A special, exclusive carbo-loading Pasta Dinner is included this evening for our group at our hotel.
Fri 14May In Beijing
Breakfast at the hotel.
0830 Morning Hutong Tour A visit to the Old Beijing section where a lot of the local Beijing people still live, and are known as a window into Beijing folk life. Includes a pedicab ride, a visit to a kindergarten, and lunch with local families.
Afternoon at leisure. Optional free shuttle service to/from the Beijing Silk Exhibition Hall with stop at the "Bird's Nest". Or treat yourself to a traditional Chinese massage or a foot reflexology, all available at your hotel. Or just take advantage of the hotel's indoor swimming pool (swim cap required!), the gym, the 4-lane bowling alley or the billiard room for your enjoyment.
Dinner on own. Plan to tuck in early!
race day
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Sat 15May RACE DAY!
This is surely going to be one of the most exciting and memorable days of your life...
Coffee and juices and light breakfast items at the hotel. THIS IS YOUR DAY! Very early morning wake-up call for 2-hour, 130 km drive by motorcoach (yes, you can sleep on the bus) to "our" piece of the Great Wall at Huangyaguan for THE event, the Great Wall Marathon or Half Marathon or 10k, whichever you have chosen. It takes place on a part of the 6,000 km long Great Wall which is not generally visited by tourists.
This is an official international event with chip timing, medals, and certificates for all participants. The primary objective is not time, but fun and the experience of having "done" the Great Wall Marathon or Half Marathon or 10k. What a thrill it is - just talk to Kathy Loper or Kurt Bodmer who have done it several times, or to some of the nearly 1400 people who went with us in the last eight years. For the accompanying "spectators", non-runners, lunch will be
provided at the Wall and the bus will take them to various places along the village route to cheer on the runners. Perfect for family members of participating runners.
All KLE participants (including spectators) will be treated to a special 20-minute cool-down massage at our own "exclusive KLE massage tent" at the finish line. Afternoon bus back to your hotel, feeling exhausted and yet, triumphant!
Dinner on own.
Sun 16May In Beijing
Breakfast at the hotel. Sleep in and recover! No particular plans today, although adventurous souls may wish to explore the city further and do some more shopping. For those interested, we will offer an optional morning tour to the Lama Temple, one of the most interesting religious buildings in Beijing, originally built in 1694. Includes a visit to a carpet factory, to see how carpet is woven by hand.
Eve: Gala Dinner for all participating runners and non-runners. A very special, elaborate Chinese Banquet to celebrate the runners' triumph over the Great Wall. A fun evening, sharing the experience with others. Includes transfers.
Mon 17May Beijing-USA
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for one of the following flights home:
Mon 17May 1205 Leave Beijing on UNITED AIRLINES UA/888, Boeing 747-400, non-stop!. Dinner and breakfast served aloft. Cross the International Dateline, gain one day.
Mon 17May 0822 Arrive San Francisco SFO
OR:
Mon 17May 1610 Leave Beijing on UNITED AIRLINES UA/850, Boeing 777, non-stop. Dinner and breakfast served aloft. Cross the International Dateline, gain one day.
Mon 17May 1617 Arrive Chicago ORD
On arrival at your above US gateway city, clear Immigration & customs.
Connect to your hometown on United Airlines or United Express.
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