SUMMER 2009 PROGRAM ITINERARY

Day 1 (Wednesday, July 22, 2009):
SAN FRANCISCO 
Group departure. Leave on Wednesday from San Francisco International Airport via United Airlines flight 857.

Day 2-3 (Thursday & Friday, July 23 & 24, 2009) :
SHANGHAI (2 nights)
Arrive and overnight in Shanghai. We take the high-speed Maglev train into the city. In Shanghai, China’s largest and most modern city, we explore the city’s sights, including the Bund, the Shanghai Museum, take a river cruise and see the marvelous acrobats. (BLD, no D on July 23).

Day 4 (Saturday, July 25, 2009):
URUMQI (1 night)
This afternoon we fly to Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. This unremarkable capital has the unenviable distinction of being the most landlocked city on earth. We visit the Regional Museum to see the famous Xinjiang Mummies, and visit the Uyghur market.
(B, L).

Day 5-7 (Sunday to Tuesday, July 26 - 28, 2009):
TURFAN  (2 nights)
We drive to Turfan from Urumqi. Turfan was once the ancient capital of the flourishing Uyghur kingdom. On the brink of the Turfan depression (the second deepest on earth), we visit the village of Toyoq and the nearby Buddhist caves, and  Gaochang or Bezeklik Grottoes. We also visit the Imin Minaret, the Uyghur bazaar, the ancient karez irrigation system and Jiaohe ancient city. In the evening we enjoy a Uyghur singing and dancing performance. On the evening of July 28, we board an overnight train for Dunhuang. (No dinner July 27).

Day 8-9 (Wednesday and Thursday, July 29 - 30, 2009) :
DUNHUANG and MOGAO GROTTOES (2 nights)
Dunhuang, an old Han dynasty garrison town founded in 111 B.C. by order of the Emperor Wu, is called the “Treasury of the Desert”. Here the Silk Road split into northern and southern routes. After arrival, we begin our exploration of Dunhuang and environs with a visit to Yangguan (South Pass) and Yumenguan (Jade Gate Pass) at the western end of the Great Wall. On Thursday, we visit the magnificent Mogao Grottoes. Near Dunhuang, the Serindian art of northern India and Greek Central Asia crystallized into a style that fused with Chinese art coming from the east. The greatest testament to this fusion is in the Mogao Grottoes, the finest treasury of Buddhist mural art in the world. We also have an optional camel ride to Crescent Spring Lake at the Singing Sand Dunes. (No dinner on July 30).

Day 10-13 Friday to Tuesday, July 31 - August 3):
XI’AN (3 nights)
In the morning of July 31, we take a flight to Xi’an, ancient capital of 11 dynasties and the eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road, linking China to the West. We witness one of China’s greatest archaeological wonders: the spectacular terra cotta warriors. We also visit the Yangling Tomb Museum on the way to the city. We take a day trip to the imperial Tang tombs at Qianling, and visit the beautiful Xi’an mosque. Also on our itinerary are the Shaanxi History Museum, the Little Wild Goose Pagoda and the Xi’an City Museum. Enjoy an evening dumpling dinner. On the evening of August 3, we board an overnight train to Beijing.

Day 14 (Tuesday, August 4) :
BEIJING (1 night)
We arrive Beijing early morning , and check in to our hotel and have breakfast before exploring the city. In the morning we tour through classic hutongs (small alleyways usually flanked by the gates and walls of traditional courtyard houses) will give you a better sense of Beijing as a working city; in the afternoon we visit the Capital Museum, the restored Confucius Temple and Guozijian next door. We enjoy an evening farewell Peking Duck dinner.

Day 15 (Wednesday, August 5) :
BEIJING to USA
This morning we transfer to the airport for our departing flight to San Francisco. We arrive the same day.

PLEASE NOTE: Trip itinerary is subject to revision due to weather, transportation, government restriction and other reasons beyond our control.