Day 1
Destinations: Arrive in Beijing
Today's Activities:Beijing is a city of amazing contrasts - an ancient capital with some incredible historical sites and a bustling modern metropolis getting ready to host the 2008 Olympics. Upon your arrival in Beijing, our guide will meet you and transfer you to your Hotel. The guide will give you some tips on local restaurants that we recommend and you can do some shopping in streets nearby. The rest of the day is free to rest to recover from jetlag or to explore by yourself.
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Day 2
Destinations: Beijing
Today's Activities:After breakfast head out for Tian'anmen Square, the world's largest public square, which is closely linked to the Forbidden City, from which the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties governed for over 500 years. In the afternoon you'll visit the Temple of Heaven, where the Emperors prayed for good harvests and rain, or gave thanks for the harvest. Near the temple we will visit a work shop gathering many old masterss of Beijing's traditional crafts.
Meals: lunch |  |
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Day 3
Destinations: Beijing
Today's Activities:Leave town in the morning for the drive (a bit under two hours) to the Badaling Section of The Great Wall, which stretches for over 6000 km, and was originally built to protect China from the barbarians. You can walk and climb at your own pace, or enjoy spectacular views from the cable car. Then visit a Cloisonne (enamelware) workshop. Before returning to the city you'll enjoy visiting the Changling (one of the Ming tombs), and the attractive tree-lined Sacred Road, bordered by stone statues, along which the Emperors once trod to conduct their sacred ceremonies. Dinner tonight is at Quanjude Restaurant, where you'll eat some of the best 'Peking Duck' in Beijing.
Meals: lunch | |
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Day 4
Destinations: Beijing
Today's Activities:In the morning we will learn Chinese cooking lesson which covers not only how the dishes are prepared, but also the culture and customs. During the class, you will cook three popular dishes with your own set of cooking equipment provided by us. And after the class you can sit down to enjoy your culinary creations and to share your new skills with other students like you. In the afternoon followed by a rickshaw tour to Hutongs (small back lanes) to see daily life of Beijinger. You can also learn how to make a kite with local craftsman. In the evening enjoy a Peking Opera Show. You can come to the back stage to find out how actors and actress do make-up and even have photos with them.
Meals: lunch |  |
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Day 5
Destinations: Beijing to Chengde
Today's Activities:Arrive at Chengde after 4.5 hours train and have lunch. In the afternoon we will take round-way cable car to the Qingchuifeng Peak, which is also called "Wooden Club Peak" because of its shape. From top of the peak you can have a bird's eye view of the small Chengde city. Followed by the Puning Temple. The temple has also in its time been known as the Big Buddha Temple (Dafo si), a reference to the huge statue of Avalokiteshvara, Goddess of Mercy, within.
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Day 6
Destinations: Chengde
Today's Activities:The Putuozongcheng Temple, also known as Little Potala Palace, was built in 1767 and it is the largest of the eight remaining outer temples in Chengde, with an area of 220,000 square meters. Despite much renovation, it is still possible to understand the awe that visiting dignitaries, mainly from the far western provinces and Mongolia, felt for the temple. After lunch you will visit Imperial Summer Resort, which is a key national cultural protection unit, was listed in the World Cultural Heritage Directory in 1994. It was built in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and took about 90 years (1703-1792) to construct. Then we will visit a local old master of paper cutting. You can learn to cut red papers into different things like flowers, rabits, fish or anything you like.
Meals: lunch | |
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Day 7
Destinations: Chengde to Beijing
Today's Activities:In the morning visit Pule Temple (Temple of Universal Happiness). Within its main pavilion is the temple's namesake, a copper statue of the Buddha of Happiness (Huanxi Fo), unembarrasingly caught in acts unmentionable! After lunch take train back to Beijing.
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Day 8
Destinations: Depart from Beijing
Today's Activities:Your time is your own, until you are ready to be transferred to the airport for your departure.
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