Great Wall China Tour
"China Highlights" Itinerary
"China Highlights" - 15 nights (featuring Beijing/ Guilin/ Li River/ Kunming/ Stone Forest)
Friday 8 May - Sunday 24 May
Early morning flight on United Airlines or United Express from your hometown to one of the following gateway cities. Change planes.
Fri 8May 1114 Leave San Francisco SFO
on UNITED AIRLINES UA/889, Boeing 747-400, non-stop! Dinner served aloft. En route over Alaska, crossing the International Dateline.
Sat 9May 1425 Arrive BEIJING, China
OR:
Fri 8May 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.
Sat 9May 1500 Arrive BEIJING, China
Beijing
On arrival in Beijing
Meet&Greet by our Chinese local hosts and transfer to your
a fine 4 1/2-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.
Sun 10May In Beijing
Flag raising - Tiananmen Square
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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.
Forbidden City
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Breakfast at the hotel.
0800 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...
1700 Welcome to China "Happy Hour" at our hotel.
Eve: Acrobatic Show at the famous Chao Yang Theatre. Includes transfers.
Dinner on own.
Mon 11May In Beijing
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure.
Dinner on own.
Tue 12May In Beijing
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure for shopping, or join an optional morning tour to the Summer Palace with lunch, or a free afternoon shuttle service to/from the Beijing Silk Exhibition Hall.
Dinner on own.
Wed 13May In Beijing
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure for shopping. Join a free afternoon shuttle service to/from the Beijing Silk Exhibition Hall.
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.
Thu 14May In Beijing
Great Wall - Inspection Day
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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 16May. This visit is mandatory for everyone 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 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 15May 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. 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!
Sat 16May RACE DAY!
Great Wall Marathon start
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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 3-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 over 1400 people who went with us in the last seven 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 17May 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 18May ~ Beijing - Guilin
Early morning coffee and rolls available.
0500 Transfer to airport by Guo Feng coach and guide.
0715 Leave Beijing to Guilin by flight via air China CA1311
1020 Arrive Guilin.
Upon arrival in Guilin, visit Fobo Hill, Reed Flute Cave and Elephant trunk hill with lunch at Banyan Lake Hotel restaurant.
You walk in and out the Cave and find more picturesque sights wherever you are willing to take photos. Check into ...
A deluxe 5 star Hotel located on the bank of Li River.
1800 Dinner at local restaurant - Zuo An Café Restaurant.
1930 Go to take sampan on the Liver River with the guide accompanied, see the wonderful show of the cormorant fishing coached by fisherman.
2030 Back to the hotel and relax.
Guilin - Li River
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Tue 19May ~ Guilin/Yangshuo
0830 Take morning cruise along the Li River by the covered boat with local lunch on board, see the beautiful green hills and fisherman rowing sampan along the river.
1530 Upon arrival in Yangshuo, walking through the old town to see the local market and folk paintings studioes. Check into...
A popular 4 star western tourist hotel built with Chinese style in bustling new west street of Yangshuo, with nature park and picturesque hill background surrounding.
1800 Dinner at local restaurant - Yue Ban Wan (crescent bay) Restaurant.
In the evening, enjoy the famous performance for folk singing and dancing show "Liu San Jie".
Wed 20 May ~ Guilin - Kunming
Breakfast at the hotel.
0830 Morning visit to Moon Mount with some hiking. Walking in the terrace of paddy rice, see the local farmers working with water buffalo plowing in the water field.
1230 Lunch at local restaurant - Mei You Restaurant.
1350 Transfer to Guilin airport .
1550 Depart Guilin via China Southern Airline CZ3247.
1555 Arrive Kunming.
Upon arrival, check into...
A deluxe 5 star hotel in Kunming with a best location in the center of the city facing the lake.
Dinner at local restaurant.
Thu 21 May ~ Kunming/Stone Forest/Dragon Gate
Breakfast at the hotel.
0800 Half Day tour to Stone Forest. Enjoy the miracle stone features in the nature, while you are walking through the stone forest, imagination can be explored utmost.
1200 Lunch at local restaurant - Stone Forest Restaurant.
After lunch drive back and see the Dragon Gate at the West Hill where you may get a full screen view on Kunming Lake before the Sun set.
Dinner at local restaurant.
Fri 22 May ~ Kunming-Shanghai
Breakfast at hotel.
0900 Transfer to airport.
1055 Depart Kunming on China Eastern Airlines MU/5805, Airbus A320, snack served, non-stop.
1405 Arrive Shanghai Hongqiao Airport. Meet & Greet and transfer to ...
5-star with all suite rooms, centrally located near the famous Nanjing Road and the Bund.
Balance of afternoon with a visit to the Nanjing Road and the Bund. Dinner at local restaurant. This evening, a highlight - Huangpu River Night Cruise arranged to observe the sparkling night view along the bund as well as the splendid integration of the old and the new.
Sat 23 May ~ In Shanghai
Breakfast at hotel.
0800 Morning tour of the city including sit-down "tea-tasting" at the Jade Buddha Temple, YuYuan Garden and the Shanghai Museum. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon at leisure for touring or shopping on your own in this exciting city.
1800 Leave hotel for Dim Sum Dinner at Lu Bo Lang Restaurant.
Sun 24 May ~ Shanghai - USA
Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer to the airport for one of the following flights home:
1245 Leave Shanghai on UNITED AIRLINES UA/858, Boeing 747-400, non-stop. Dinner and breakfast served, Cross the International Dateline, gain one calendar day.
Sun 24 May 0825 Arrive San Francisco SFO.
OR
Sun 24 May 1555 Leave Shanghai Pudong Airport on UNITED AIRLINES UA/836, Boeing 777, non-stop. dinner and breakfast served aloft.
Cross the International Dateline, gain one day.
Sun 24 May 1614 Arrive Chicago ORD.
Sun 24 May On arrival at your above US gateway city, clear Immigration and Customs.
Connect to your hometown on United Airlines or United Express.
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