China International Travel CA Digital Brochure

Home , Bingling Temple, Cang Mountain, Cemetery of Confucius, Danxia landform, Golden Temple Park, Hanging coffins

Table of Contents

Click on a section title below to jump straight to that section.

About Us 2 Mysterious Tibet 16-Day Tour (CIT008): 41 Beijing – Three Gorges – Xi’an – Lhasa – Why Book With CIT? 2 Shanghai

Tour Suggestions 5 Northeast China 15-Day Tour (CIT009): 47 Harbin (Haerbin) – Changchun – Jilin – China Highlights 11-Day Tour (CIT001): 7 Shenyang – Dalian – Lüshun – Yantai – Beijing – Xi’an – Guilin/Yangshuo – Qingdao – Lao Mountain – Weifang – Shanghai Ji’nan – Mount Tai – Qufu

China Highlights 15-Day Tour (CIT002): 11 Majestic Scenery 15-Day Tour (CIT010): 52 Beijing – Xi’an – Guilin/Yangshuo – Mounigou – Jiuzhaigou – Chengdu – Leshan Shanghai – Zhouzhuang – Suzhou – Wuxi – Mount Emei – Zhangjiajie – Fenghuang – Hangzhou China Discovery 11-Day Tour (CIT011): 57 Jiangnan Gourmet Cuisine / Yellow 17 Beijing – Xi’an – Shanghai – Hong Kong Mountain 10-Day Tour (CIT003): Shanghai – Zhouzhuang – Suzhou – Wuxi Ancient and Modern China 13-Day Tour 61 – Hangzhou – Hong Village – Huangshan (CIT012): Beijing – Xi’an – Guilin/Yangshuo (Yellow Mountain) – Shanghai – Hong Kong

Yunnan Highlands Local Culture 11-Day 21 Beijing 4-Day Tour Extension (CITBJ1) 66 Tour (CIT004): Kunming – Stone Forest – Jiuxiang Caverns – Dali – Lijiang – Tiger Guilin/Yangshuo 3-Day Tour Extension 68 Leaping Gorge – Xianggelila (Shangri-La) (CITGL1)

Magnificent Yangtze / Ancient Capitals 25 Hong Kong 3-Day Tour Extension 69 Deluxe 15-Day Tour (CIT005): Beijing – (CITHK1) Three Gorges – Xi’an – Guilin/Yangshuo – Shanghai Shanghai 3-Day Tour Extension (CITSH1) 70

Roots of Chinese Culture 14-Day Tour 31 Xi’an 3-Day Tour Extension (CITXA1) 71 (CIT006): Taiyuan – Wutai Mountain – Heng Mountain – Yingxian – Datong – Booking Information, Terms and 72 Pingyao – Linfen – Yuncheng – Luoyang – Conditions, Statement of Responsibility Dengfeng (Shaolin Monastery) – Zhengzhou – Kaifeng Acknowledgments 78

Silk Road 16-Day Tour (CIT007): Ürümqi – 36 Addenda: CIT Tour Reservation Form, Turpan – Dunhuang – Jiayuguan – Lanzhou CIT Credit Card Form, Travel Insurance – Xining – Xi’an Enrollment Form

The cover of this brochure shows the misty cliffs of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), which is featured on our Jiangnan Gourmet Cuisine/Yellow Mountain 10-Day Tour (CIT003); the First Emperor’s terracotta army, which is featured on all of our tours that stop in Xi’an; a mural at Xianggelila’s Songzanlin Monastery, which is featured on our Yunnan Highlands Local Culture 11-Day Tour (CIT004); and Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower, which you can see on any tour that includes Shanghai. (All photos by CIT)

About Us

We are experienced travel agents who decided to open our own travel agency in San Mateo, California, as partners. Having observed the questionable business practices of some companies in the China travel industry, we were determined to take better care of our customers and run our business in a transparent, ethical manner. We specialize in ticketing and tour arrangements for travel to China, but we also handle travel arrangements to and from the United States and other East Asian countries, including Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Our wide variety of carefully designed tour packages will please most customers, but we're also happy to prepare custom tour packages to suit individual travelers' needs. We know China extremely well because most of us are originally from China, and we are all experienced travelers there. In addition, we have native speakers of Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghainese, and English on staff, so we can communicate well with both our clients and our partners in China, most of whom are members of the China International Travel Service network, the largest and most successful domestic travel agency in China.

Please visit our website (http://www.chinatravelca.com) for more information about us and our services, and read our China travel blog while you're there. You're also welcome to call us or write to us, and it will be our pleasure to provide you with friendly, thoughtful, and knowledgeable service. If you'd like to come visit us in person, please note that our office suite is located on the lower level of the Comerica Bank building. Enter the building from the 5th Avenue entrance, then take the elevator down to the bottom level.

Contact Information

(650) 513-1502 toll-free: (888) 648-1568 fax: (650) 513-1503 [email protected] [email protected]

2 West 5th Avenue Lower Level Suite 200 San Mateo, CA 94402

Business Hours

Monday–Friday: 9:30 AM–6 PM Saturday: 10 AM–2 PM for telephone inquiries; office visits by appointment Sunday: Closed

California Seller of Travel Registration #2095947-40

Image source: Google Maps

Why Book With CIT?

Here are a plethora of reasons why booking with us is the right move:

• We are experts on the China travel industry with a tremendous amount of experience.

Since we have worked in the China travel industry for many years, we have expert knowledge of the complexi- ties of planning, booking, and managing individual and group travel in China. We also have extensive experience traveling, living, and working in China. As both travelers and agents, we have dealt with just about every situation that might arise, so we know how to ensure that you have a pleasant, trouble-free journey.

• Our quality control is excellent because we have access to unsurpassed resources.

Since we have many partners throughout China with whom we have long-term working relationships, most of them part of the China International Travel Service network, we can ensure that the meals you eat, the hotels you stay in, the tour guides and drivers who serve you, and the attractions you visit are of the best quality for the price you pay. You may or may not find cheaper deals at another travel agency, but lower prices probably mean that they’re cutting corners at the expense of your safety, comfort, or the quality of your experience. (As with so many other things, if it seems too good to be true, it is.) A CIT tour group in Tiananmen Square

• We also have the freedom and flexibility to make the best arrangements for our clients.

As independent agents, we are not tied down to any particular itinerary, tour package, or service provider. We have the flexibility to make any changes we feel are necessary, and we can make whatever arrangements are best for your individual needs based on your input and our experience.

• Our tour guides are experienced, accredited, and multilingual.

The tour guides we contract with are professional, experienced guides who speak various combinations of English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and even Spanish. All of them have received government accreditation for their qualifications from China’s National Tourism Administration, and they all have a minimum of three years of experience before they are put in charge of our tour groups.

• CIT has communication covered.

With native speakers of English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Shanghainese on staff (all of whom are at least bilingual), as well as itineraries and other informational materials written by native speakers of both Chinese and English, China International Travel CA has the linguistic resources to ensure clear communication with our clients. That means we can be sure that you know exactly what you’re getting and that you have the best possible travel experience. It also means we can easily communicate with the local tour guides, drivers, hotel representatives, and airline representatives who will be serving you in China.

• We do business the right way.

Our travel agents are veterans of other China travel agencies, and they have witnessed the questionable business practices that are, unfortunately, too common in this industry. The desire to do business in an ethical, transparent, and customer-friendly manner is one of the main reasons we decided to start our own company. We give you up-front information about our tours and practices, with no unpleasant surprises or fine-print deception.

• As a U.S.-based company, we are directly accountable to our clients.

If you book a tour with a travel agency based in China, they may not be motivated or able to ensure your satisfaction. CIT, on the other hand, is a locally owned company, so you can always reach us, and you can be sure that we will be responsive to your questions, requests, and concerns. A CIT custom tour group waving our flag for us • We ensure your safety and peace of mind with insurance policies.

CIT provides a travel accident insurance policy free of charge to everyone who participates in one of our Mainland China tours. For all of our standard tours (CIT001–CIT012), we will provide a more comprehensive

―Preferred Benefits Silver Plan‖ insurance policy free of charge to all customers who make full payment no later than 60 days prior to departure. (Jump to the Booking Information section below for details on these policies.)

• We won’t cancel your tour, and we won’t make you join a larger group.

If you book with another travel agency, you may find your tour suddenly cancelled and your vacation plans ruined if your group isn’t large enough. At CIT, on the other hand, our policy is that as long as your tour group (for our standard tours, CIT001–CIT012) has at least two members, your tour is guaranteed to proceed as planned. In addition, we won’t make your group join other groups from other agencies to cut costs at the expense of your comfort—your tour group is independent, and your guides are yours alone.

• We don’t let shopping arrangements interfere with your enjoyment of the trip.

In the China travel industry, it is a universal practice to keep tour costs down by taking tour participants to prearranged shopping destinations. To keep our prices competitive, we must do so as well. However, unlike many other travel agencies specializing in travel to China, we ensure that the number and duration of such stops are strictly limited, that you have a chance to buy good products that you are likely to be interested in, and that you will not face any pressure from your tour guides to buy anything you don’t want to buy.

• We offer a great variety of standardized tour packages, but A CIT tour guide shares insights with her group we also arrange custom tours.

Our itineraries, based on our own experience as well as input from our past clients, are carefully designed to maximize your enjoyment. However, we also routinely arrange customized, private tours for clients with special needs and desires. We will work with you to create a travel plan that’s perfect for you.

• On our website, you can see exactly what you’ll be getting.

We have put a tremendous amount of thought and effort into the materials we provide to you: our detailed text itineraries in both Chinese and English, our photo itineraries, and our photo galleries. Instead of the slickly produced, artificial propaganda with which many travel agencies try to lure customers, we present photos and video clips taken by us, by other travelers, and by our friends and tour guides. What you see is what you will get. And our China travel blog tells you about China as it really is—perpetually fascinating and beautiful, but sometimes also chaotic and backward—instead of giving you a sanitized, idealized impression of China.

• Our reputation and our future are important to us.

Unlike some fly-by-night travel agencies that focus on making a quick buck with no regard for their own sustainability, we plan to be in business for a long time. We offer quality service for reasonable prices that will keep you happy and keep us in business—and help us continue building a sterling reputation that will bring more clients our way. Everyone at CIT has a personal stake in the success and the future of the company, so we are all highly motivated to keep our clients coming back.

• Most importantly, each of us cares about our customers. A CIT009 tour group in Lüshun If you book with us, you’ll get to know us as friends, and we’ll get to know you. We take personal satisfaction in making sure our clients have smooth, exciting, memorable travel experiences that they can share with family and friends, including us. We look forward to hearing your stories and seeing your photos!

Tour Suggestions

The overwhelming number of beautiful, fascinating, and stimulating places to visit in China and Taiwan can make it difficult to decide where to go, especially when you have limited time. Here are a few suggestions to get you started. You might also find our website’s extensive photo galleries and photo itineraries helpful.

Click on the name of a tour to jump straight to its itinerary.

Most Popular Destinations China Highlights 11-Day Tour (CIT001): Beijing – Xi’an – Guilin/Yangshuo – Shanghai

If you want to focus on the most popular cities and attractions China Highlights 15-Day Tour (CIT002): Beijing – in China such as Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, and Shanghai, check Xi’an – Guilin/Yangshuo – Shanghai – Zhouzhuang – out our China Highlights 11-day and 15-day tours, our China Suzhou – Wuxi – Hangzhou Discovery Tour featuring Hong Kong, or our Ancient and China Discovery 11-Day Tour (CIT011): Beijing – Xi’an Modern China Tour, which includes all of China’s 5 most – Shanghai – Hong Kong popular destinations. Collectively, these places serve as an excellent introduction to the great variety of China’s historical, Ancient and Modern China 13-Day Tour (CIT012): cultural, and modern attractions. Beijing – Xi’an – Guilin/Yangshuo – Shanghai – Hong Kong

China’s Natural Wonders Yunnan Highlands Local Culture 11-Day Tour (CIT004): Kunming – Stone Forest – Jiuxiang Caverns – If you’re primarily interested in China’s stunning natural Dali – Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Xianggelila scenery, consider our Yunnan Highlands and Majestic Sce- (Shangri-La) nery tours, which will transport you to a world of transcendent beauty. Remote and well-preserved yet tourist-friendly, places Majestic Scenery 15-Day Tour (CIT010): Mounigou – Jiuzhaigou – Chengdu – Leshan – Mount Emei – like Lijiang and Zhangjiajie (an inspiration for the Pandoran Zhangjiajie – Fenghuang landscapes in Avatar) are for many travelers the highlight of their China adventure.

Culture and History in Depth Roots of Chinese Culture 14-Day Tour (CIT006): Taiyuan – Wutai Mountain – Heng Mountain – Yingxian Those who would like to explore China’s culture and history – Datong – Pingyao – Linfen – Yuncheng – Luoyang – more deeply should try our Roots of Chinese Culture Tour, Dengfeng (Shaolin Monastery) – Zhengzhou – Kaifeng which will take you to see the Shaolin Monastery and the Northeast China 15-Day Tour (CIT009): Harbin ancient Yungang Grottoes, or our Northeast China Tour, (Haerbin) – Changchun – Jilin – Shenyang – Dalian – which will allow you to visit Confucius’ hometown and the Lüshun – Yantai – Qingdao – Lao Mountain – Weifang – spectacular Mount Tai. Ji’nan – Mount Tai – Qufu

The Fascinating Silk Road

Silk Road 16-Day Tour (CIT007): Ürümqi – Turpan – To journey to even more remote and exotic destinations in Dunhuang – Jiayuguan – Lanzhou – Xining – Xi’an northwestern China, where for thousands of years Chinese culture has mingled with influences from the outside world, choose our Silk Road 16-Day Tour.

Dynamic, Spectacular, Extra-Affordable Jiangnan Gourmet Cuisine / Yellow Mountain 10-Day Our Jiangnan Gourmet Cuisine/Yellow Mountain Tour fea- Tour (CIT003): Shanghai – Zhouzhuang – Suzhou – tures a great combination of authentic local cuisine, relaxing Wuxi – Hangzhou – Hong Village – Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) environments, mountain scenery, traditional culture, and the fast-paced world of cosmopolitan Shanghai.

Luxurious Yangtze Cruise, Mysterious Tibet Magnificent Yangtze / Ancient Capitals Deluxe 15- Those who want to take a cruise through the famed Three Day Tour (CIT005): Beijing – Three Gorges – Xi’an – Gorges of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) and also visit Guilin/Yangshuo – Shanghai popular destinations like Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai should Mysterious Tibet 16-Day Tour (CIT008): Beijing – look at our Magnificent Yangtze/Ancient Capitals and Three Gorges – Xi’an – Lhasa – Shanghai Mysterious Tibet tours, the latter of which also features a three-day stop in Lhasa, Tibet, the most important center for Tibetan Buddhism.

Budget Tour Packages: Hoping to travel to China on a little tighter budget? We also offer a number of discount tours that take you to many of the destinations above, as well as some destinations that are not featured in our standard tours. Please visit our website’s Specials page for information about our latest discount tour packages.

Beyond Mainland China: We also offer fantastic tour packages to places other than Mainland China, such as Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Check our homepage for announcements about our latest packages.

CIT Itinerary Choice Chart for Popular Destinations

Use this chart to help you choose the itinerary that’s most appropriate for you. Keep in mind that you can add Beijing, Guilin/Yangshuo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Xi’an tour extensions to any CIT itinerary.

CIT001 CIT002 CIT003 CIT005 CIT008 CIT011 CIT012 Beijing       Guilin/Yangshuo     Hangzhou   Hong Kong   Yellow Mountain + Hong Village  Lhasa, Tibet  Shanghai        Suzhou   Yangtze Cruise (Three Gorges)   Wuxi   Xi’an       Zhouzhuang  

For each standard tour package (CIT001–CIT012), the listed total price includes the following:

 air tickets  hotels (double occupancy)  fuel surcharge  bilingual tour guides (Chinese/English)  taxes and fees  complimentary accident insurance  land transportation  all of the attractions listed on the  three meals a day (with some exceptions itinerary (including the ―special on international arrival and departure days arrangements‖) and as noted on some itineraries)

An additional “single occupancy” charge applies to individual travelers who request a separate room.

China Highlights 11-Day Tour (CIT001) Beijing 北京 – Xi’an 西安 – Guilin/Yangshuo 桂林/阳朔 – Shanghai 上海

Day 1: U.S.A. – Beijing Today you will board a plane bound for China, where you will witness the vicissitudes of China’s five thousand- year history. Your tour will begin with the dynamic capital city of Beijing, a city that encompasses the vast range of China’s cultural styles.

Day 3: Beijing Forbidden City, Beijing After breakfast, you will visit Tiananmen Square. Originally the front entrance of (photo by Richard Fisher) the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Tiananmen (―the Gate of Heavenly Peace‖) was built in the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Yongle. When it was renovated during the Qing Dynasty, its name was changed to Tiananmen to suggest the idea that the emperor’s mandate to pacify and rule the nation came from heaven. You will make a special trip to see the National Centre for the Performing Arts, whose exterior looks like an enormous eggshell, earning it the nickname ―The Egg.‖ Next, you will tour the Forbidden City, which served as the royal palace for 24 consecutive emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There you can explore art exhibits from every dynasty, exhibitions of Qing Dynasty cultural relics, the Three Great Halls, the Imperial Garden, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and other attractions. In the afternoon an expert guide will take you on a pedicab tour of Beijing’s hutong, or ―narrow alleyways,‖ where you can take pictures that will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time, and afterward you will stroll along the shore of Shicha Hai, a picturesque man-made lake. After dinner you will enjoy a theatrical kung fu show. Day 3 Attractions: Tiananmen Square (天安门广场, Tiānānmén Guǎngchǎng) National Centre for the Performing Arts (国家大剧院, Guójiā Dàjùyuàn) Forbidden City (故宫, Gù Gōng, or 紫禁城, Zǐjìn Chéng) Three Great Halls (三大殿, Sān Dàdiàn) Imperial Garden (御花园, Yùhuā Yuán) Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫, Qiánqīng Gōng) Beijing’s hutong, (胡同, hútòng) Shicha Hai (什刹海, Shíchà Hǎi) Great Wall of China at Badaling Special Arrangements: theatrical kung fu show (功夫秀, gōngfū xiù) (photo by Mark Kao)

Day 4: Beijing After breakfast, you will visit the Great Wall of China, one of the Eight Wonders of the Ancient World. Located in a strategically important area that military commanders throughout history have sought to control, the Badaling stretch of the Great Wall is the best-preserved, most representative, and most finely constructed section from the Ming Dynasty. After visiting the Great Wall, you will tour the Summer Palace used by the imperial family during the Qing Dynasty. Originally called ―Clear Ripple Garden,‖ the Summer Palace was burned down in 1860 by the allied forces of England and France. Beginning in 1888, the Empress Dowager Cixi rebuilt it with a huge sum of money embezzled from the navy. After its reconstruction was completed ten years later, it was given its current name. Next, you will tour the largest extant temple complex in China, the Temple of Heaven, where the emperor held sacrificial rites. The famous Echo Wall and Three-Tone Stone are located here. Afterward, you will visit the famous sites of many 2008 Beijing Olympics events: the National Aquatics Center, or ―Water Cube,‖ and the National Stadium, or ―Bird’s Nest.‖ Day 4 Attractions: Great Wall of China at Badaling (八达岭长城, Bādálǐng Chángchéng) Summer Palace (颐和园, Yíhé Yuán) Shicha Hai, Beijing (photo by Fang Chen)

Temple of Heaven (天坛, Tiāntán) Echo Wall (回音壁, Huíyīn Bì) Three-Tone Stone (三音石, Sānyīn Shí) National Aquatics Center (国家游泳中心, Guójiā Yóuyǒng Zhōngxīn), or Water Cube (水立方, Shuǐ Lìfāng) National Stadium (国家体育馆, Guójiā Tǐyùguǎn), or Bird’s Nest (鸟巢, Niǎo Cháo) Special Arrangements: gondola (cable car) transport up and down the Great 烤鸭全聚德 Wall; Peking duck ( , kǎoyā) at Quanjude ( , Quánjùdé), a famous Temple of Heaven, Beijing restaurant (photo by Saad Akhtar)

Day 5: Beijing – Xi’an After breakfast, you will fly to the ancient city of Xi’an in Shaanxi Province. Formerly called Chang’an (―Eternal Peace‖), it is considered one of the great cities of the ancient world along with Athens, Cairo, and Rome. Over the course of Chinese history, Xi’an was the capital of eleven dynasties. Because Xi’an was the eastern endpoint of the legendary Silk Road, it features numerous cultural relics and historical sites. First, you will tour Big Goose Pagoda, which was built to preserve the valuable scriptures that the famous monk Master Xuán Zàng brought back from India. Since ancient times, distinguished and cultured men have been inspired by the view from the tower to write timeless works. Afterward, you will tour Xi’an’s enormous City Walls, which have a history of more than 600 years. For dinner, we have arranged a meal of authentic Shaanxi-style food for you. Xi’an’s delicious cuisine is a highlight of any visit to Xi’an and has earned it a reputation as a ―gourmet food capital.‖ Day 5 Attractions: Big Goose Pagoda (大雁塔, Dàyàn Tǎ) Xi’an’s City Walls (城墙, Chéngqiáng) Special Arrangements: authentic Shaanxi-style dinner Xi’an Accommodations: Titan Times Hotel 西安天朗时代大酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.titantimeshotel.com/ Big Goose Pagoda, Xi’an (photo by CIT) Day 6: Xi’an If you haven’t seen the First Emperor’s terracotta army, known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, you haven’t really been to Xi’an. The pit where the terracotta army is still in the process of being excavated is an ancillary section of the tomb of the infamous First Emperor, Qín Shǐhuáng. Your next stop is Huaqing Hot Springs, which since ancient times has been famed for the high quality of both its hot springs and its beautiful scenery, but even more for its description in the famous poem ―Song of Eternal Sorrow‖ by Bái Jūyì: ―Allowed to bathe at Huaqing on a cold spring day, she washed her creamy skin with the warm, silky water; languid and tired, she was helped out of the water by a maid, and the Emperor’s love for her was renewed.‖ Because of this poem, the story of the tragic love affair that occurred here between Yáng Guìfēi and Emperor Xuánzōng of the Tang Dynasty has been passed down through the ages. After dinner, you will have a chance to admire modern musicians and dancers as they present an opulently staged show, re-created from historical materials, in imitation of Tang Dynasty performances. Day 6 Attractions: the First Emperor’s terracotta army (兵马俑, Bīngmǎyǒng) Huaqing Hot Springs (华清池, Huáqīng Chí) Special Arrangements: authentic Defachang dumplings ( 德发长饺子, Défācháng jiǎozi), Tang Dynasty-style performance (仿唐乐歌舞, Fǎng Terracotta soldiers, Xi’an Táng yuègēwǔ) (photo by CIT)

Day 7: Xi’an – Guilin Today you will say goodbye to Xi’an and travel to a city with ―mountain and water‖ scenery that ranks among the finest in the world: Guilin, whose verdant hills, picturesque rivers, and unusual landscapes make it deserving of its fame. Reed Flute Cave, the first stop on your Guilin itinerary, boasts some of Guilin’s most iconic scenery and enjoys a reputation as ―nature’s architectural wonder‖; it contains rock formations of every shape and color, including stone pillars, stone curtains, stone flowers, and all kinds of strange things. Seen under bright lights of

8 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. every color, they dazzle the eyes like a dream or a hallucination. Another famous sight, Elephant Trunk Hill, looks like an enormous elephant with its trunk dangling in the water as if it were about to drink from the river. For dinner we will arrange for you to enjoy a meal of Guilin-style rice-flour noodles, which are even more famous than Guilin’s scenery. So long they seem to never end, rice-flour noodles of the finest quality are soft and silky as well as tasty; with some peanuts or pickled cabbage on top, they’re even more delicious, and they will give you a tremendous appetite. Day 7 Attractions: Reed Flute Cave (芦笛岩, Lúdí Yán) Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山, Xiàngbí Shān) Special Arrangements: authentic Guilin-style rice-flour noodles (米粉, mǐfěn) Guilin Accommodations: Guilin Bravo Hotel 桂林宾馆 (4-Star) or equivalent Reed Flute Cave, Guilin http://www.glbravohotel.com/ (photo by Robin Poll)

Day 8: Guilin – Yangshuo Thanks to the beauty of the Li River, Yangshuo’s scenery may be even better than Guilin’s. The most picturesque part of the Li River is universally acknowledged to be the stretch located between Guilin and Yangshuo. Today at dawn, in the clear and crisp morning air, you will board a ship to tour the river, which will make you feel as if you’re in nature’s art gallery, with one beautiful painting after another slowly unfolding before your eyes. At noon you will enjoy a meal as you continue to admire the scenery, basking in the boundless pleasure of the journey. After arriving in Yangshuo, you can have a little something to drink and do some people watching: in the afternoon, we have arranged a bamboo raft trip along Yangshuo’s tranquil Yulong River. In the evening you can also enjoy Yangshuo’s lively night market. Chinese and Western cafes and restaurants line the street like trees in a forest, and the souvenirs everywhere are a feast for the eyes. Day 8 Attractions: boat tour of the Li River (漓江, Lí Jiāng) bamboo raft trip on the Yulong River (遇龙河, Yùlóng Hé) Yangshuo night market (夜市, yèshì) Special Arrangements: ―beer fish‖ (啤酒鱼, píjiǔ yú, a famous local Yangshuo dish), a special bamboo raft route arranged just for you Yangshuo Accommodations: Yangshuo New Century Hotel 阳朔新世纪 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.ysxsj.com/ Li River, Guilin (photo by Cyril Bele) Day 9: Yangshuo – Guilin – Shanghai After breakfast, you will depart Yangshuo and return to Guilin Airport, from which you will fly to Shanghai, the largest city in China. After your arrival, you will tour the architectural complex of the Bund, which lies along the Huangpu River in the downtown area. The Bank of China tower, Peace Hotel, Customs House tower, and other famous buildings built by Western nations during the colonial era are all located along the Bund, where the historical elegance of the ―Wall Street of the Far East‖ has reappeared. On the opposite shore of the Huangpu River in Pudong stands a cluster of modern skyscrapers that represent China’s new era of prosperity, conveying a sense of vigor, majesty, and luxury. After your stroll along the Bund, you will spend an hour enjoying Shanghai’s bright and colorful night scenery as you cruise along the Huangpu River in a tourist boat. Later, you will walk among a sea of people on Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s famed shopping district. Day 9 Attractions: The Bund (外滩, Wàitān) view of Pudong (浦東, Pǔdōng) Huangpu River (黃浦江, Huángpǔ Jiāng) Nanjing Road (南京路, Nánjīng Lù) Special Arrangements: Mongolian barbecue (蒙古烧烤, Ménggǔ shāokǎo) for dinner, Huangpu River boat tour Shanghai Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Hotel Shanghai Fudan 上海复旦皇冠假日酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent Shanghai: Pudong, Huangpu River, the Bund http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/shgfd (photo by Aapo Haapanen)

CIT001 2013 Prices and Departure Dates

From SFO/LAX Departure Sunday Air Ticket Single Fuel Taxes & Total Land Only & Land Occupancy Surcharge Fees Price* 1/13,27 $1,699 $2,199 add $400 $360 $100 $2,659 2/10,24 $1,699 $2,199 add $400 $360 $100 $2,659 3/10,24 $1,799 $2,299 add $450 $360 $100 $2,759 4/7,21 $1,899 $2,399 add $450 $360 $100 $2,859 5/5,19 $1,899 $2,399 add $450 $360 $100 $2,859 6/2,16,30 $1,799 $2,599 add $450 $360 $100 $3,059 7/14,28 $1,799 $2,599 add $450 $360 $100 $3,059 8/11,25 $1,799 $2,599 add $450 $360 $100 $3,059 9/8,22 $1,899 $2,399 add $450 $360 $100 $2,859 10/6,20 $1,899 $2,399 add $450 $360 $100 $2,859 11/3,17 $1,699 $2,199 add $400 $360 $100 $2,659 12/1,29 $1,699 $2,199 add $400 $360 $100 $2,659

China Highlights 15-Day Tour (CIT002) Beijing 北京 – Xi’an 西安 – Guilin/Yangshuo 桂林/阳朔 – Shanghai 上海 – Zhouzhuang 周庄 – Suzhou 苏州 – Wuxi 无锡 – Hangzhou 杭州

Note: The Chinese names listed in the itinerary are written with the simplified characters used in Mainland China.

Day 2: Arrival in Beijing Today, after arriving in Beijing, you will be greeted at the airport by CIT’s professional bilingual tour guide and escorted to the hotel where you will be staying overnight. Beijing Accommodations: Grand Gongda Jianguo Hotel 工大建国 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.bjut-hoteljianguo.com/en/hotelinfo.html Summer Palace, Beijing (photo by Jim G.) Day 3: Beijing After breakfast, you will visit Tiananmen Square. Originally the front entrance of the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Tiananmen (―the Gate of Heavenly Peace‖) was built in the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Yongle. When it was renovated during the Qing Dynasty, its name was changed to Tiananmen to suggest the idea that the emperor’s mandate to pacify and rule the nation came from heaven. You will make a special trip to see the National Centre for the Performing Arts, whose exterior looks like an enormous eggshell, earning it the nickname ―The Egg.‖ Next, you will tour the Forbidden City, which served as the royal palace for 24 consecutive emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There you can explore art exhibits from every dynasty, exhibitions of Qing Dynasty cultural relics, the Three Great Halls, the Imperial Garden, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and other attractions. In the afternoon an expert guide will take you on a pedicab tour of Beijing’s hutong, or ―narrow alleyways,‖ where you can take pictures that will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time, and afterward you will stroll along the shore of Shicha Hai, a picturesque man-made lake. After dinner you will enjoy a theatrical kung fu show. Day 3 Attractions: Tiananmen Square (天安门广场, Tiānānmén Guǎngchǎng) National Centre for the Performing Arts (国家大剧院, Guójiā Dàjùyuàn) Forbidden City (故宫, Gù Gōng, or 紫禁城, Zǐjìn Chéng) Three Great Halls (三大殿, Sān Dàdiàn) Imperial Garden (御花园, Yùhuā Yuán) Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫, Qiánqīng Gōng) Beijing’s hutong, (胡同, hútòng) Tiananmen, “Gate of Heavenly Peace” Shicha Hai (什刹海, Shíchà Hǎi) (photo by Craig Maccubbin) Special Arrangements: theatrical kung fu show (功夫秀, gōngfū xiù)

Day 6: Xi’an If you haven’t seen the First Emperor’s terracotta army, known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, you haven’t really been to Xi’an. The pit where the terracotta army is still in the process of being excavated is an ancillary section of the tomb of the infamous First Emperor, Qín Shǐhuáng. Your next stop is Huaqing Hot Springs, which since ancient times has been famed for the high quality of both its hot springs and its beautiful scenery, but even more for its description in the famous poem ―Song of Eternal Sorrow‖ by Bái Jūyì: ―Allowed to bathe at Huaqing on a cold spring day, she washed her creamy skin with the warm, silky water; languid and tired, she was helped out of the water by a maid, and the Emperor’s love for her was renewed.‖ Because of this poem, the story of the tragic love affair that occurred here between Yáng Guìfēi and Emperor Xuánzōng of the Tang Dynasty has been passed down through the ages. After dinner, you will have a chance to admire modern musicians and dancers as they present an opulently staged show, re-created from historical materials, in imitation of Tang Dynasty performances. Day 6 Attractions: the First Emperor’s terracotta army (兵马俑, Bīngmǎyǒng) Huaqing Hot Springs (华清池, Huáqīng Chí) Special Arrangements: authentic Defachang dumplings (德发长饺子, Défācháng jiǎozi), Tang Dynasty-style performance (仿唐乐歌 Main excavation pit, terracotta army, Xi’an 舞, Fǎng Táng yuègēwǔ) (photo by CIT)

12 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. its fame. Reed Flute Cave, the first stop on your Guilin itinerary, boasts some of Guilin’s most iconic scenery and enjoys a reputation as ―nature’s architectural wonder‖; it contains rock formations of every shape and color, including stone pillars, stone curtains, stone flowers, and all kinds of strange things. Seen under bright lights of every color, they dazzle the eyes like a dream or a hallucination. Another famous sight, Elephant Trunk Hill, looks like an enormous elephant with its trunk dangling in the water as if it were about to drink from the river. For dinner we will arrange for you to enjoy a meal of Guilin-style rice-flour noodles, which are even more famous than Guilin’s scenery. So long they seem to never end, rice-flour noodles of the finest quality are soft and silky as well as tasty; with some peanuts or pickled cabbage on top, they’re guaranteed to give you a tremendous appetite. Day 7 Attractions: Reed Flute Cave (芦笛岩, Lúdí Yán) Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山, Xiàngbí Shān) Special Arrangements: authentic Guilin-style rice-flour noodles (米粉, mǐfěn) Guilin Accommodations: Guilin Bravo Hotel 桂林宾馆 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.glbravohotel.com/ Downtown Guilin (photo by Luciano) Day 8: Guilin – Yangshuo Thanks to the beauty of the Li River, Yangshuo’s scenery may be even better than Guilin’s. The most picturesque part of the Li River is universally acknowledged to be the stretch located between Guilin and Yangshuo. Today at dawn, in the clear and crisp morning air, you will board a ship to tour the river, which will make you feel as if you’re in nature’s art gallery, with one beautiful painting after another slowly unfolding before your eyes. At noon you will enjoy a meal as you continue to admire the scenery, basking in the boundless pleasure of the journey. After arriving in Yangshuo, you can have a little something to drink and do some people watching: in the afternoon, we have arranged a bamboo raft trip along Yangshuo’s tranquil Yulong River. In the evening you can also enjoy Yangshuo’s lively night market. Chinese and Western cafes and restaurants line the street like trees in a forest, and the souvenirs everywhere are a feast for the eyes. Day 8 Attractions: boat tour of the Li River (漓江, Lí Jiāng) bamboo raft trip on the Yulong River (遇龙河, Yùlóng Hé) Yangshuo night market (夜市, yèshì) Special Arrangements: ―beer fish‖ (啤酒鱼, píjiǔ yú, a famous local Yangshuo dish), a special bamboo raft route arranged just for you Yangshuo Accommodations: Yangshuo New Century Hotel 阳朔新世纪 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.ysxsj.com/ Tea rafts, Yangshuo (photo by Hector Garcia) Day 9: Yangshuo – Guilin – Shanghai After breakfast, you will depart Yangshuo and return to Guilin Airport, from which you will fly to Shanghai, the largest city in China. After your arrival, you will tour the architectural complex of the Bund, which lies along the Huangpu River in the downtown area. The Bank of China tower, Peace Hotel, Customs House tower, and other famous buildings built by Western nations during the colonial era are all located along the Bund, where the historical elegance of the ―Wall Street of the Far East‖ has reappeared. On the opposite shore of the Huangpu River in Pudong stands a cluster of modern skyscrapers that represent China’s new era of prosperity, conveying a sense of vigor, majesty, and luxury. After your stroll along the Bund, you will spend an hour enjoying Shanghai’s bright and colorful night scenery as you cruise along the Huangpu River in a tourist boat. Later, you will walk among a sea of people on Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s famed shopping district. Day 9 Attractions: The Bund (外滩, Wàitān) view of Pudong (浦東, Pǔdōng) Huangpu River (黃浦江, Huángpǔ Jiāng) Nanjing Road (南京路, Nánjīng Lù) Special Arrangements: Mongolian barbecue (蒙古烧烤, Ménggǔ shāokǎo) for dinner, Huangpu River boat tour Shanghai Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Hotel Shanghai Fudan 上海复旦皇冠假日酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent Crowds on Nanjing Road http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/shgfd (photo by Jakob Montrasio)

Day 11: Shanghai – Zhouzhuang – Suzhou Today, after breakfast, you will visit Zhouzhuang, a famous ―water village‖ built around a series of canals, with buildings dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Like flipping through a series of well-preserved old photos, walking through Zhouzhuang will give you an intense feeling of nostalgia. You will also tour the village via a traditional gondola-like boat and savor the poetic atmosphere of life along the canals. Afterward, you will proceed to Suzhou to visit another place rich with poetic atmosphere: Cold Mountain Temple (also called Hanshan Temple). Then you will tour the Humble Administrator’s Garden, one of the most famous of Suzhou’s traditional gardens and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Finally, as evening approaches, you will have some time to relax at Shantang Street, an old-style street lined with traditional houses and featuring a picturesque canal. There you can enjoy a boat ride on the canal and take in a distant view of Tiger Hill, with its famous leaning tower. Day 11 Attractions: Zhouzhuang (周庄, Zhōuzhuāng) Cold Mountain Temple / Hanshan Temple (寒山寺, Hánshān Sì) Humble Administrator’s Garden (拙政园, Zhuōzhèng Yuán) Shantang Street (山塘街, Shāntáng Jiē) view of Tiger Hill (虎丘山, Hǔqiū Shān) view of Tiger Hill Leaning Tower/Cloud Rock Pagoda (虎丘斜塔, Hǔqiū Xiétǎ / 云岩塔, Yúnyán Tǎ) Zhouzhuang canals Special Arrangements: gondola ride on the canals of Zhouzhuang, riverboat ride (photo by Chen Zhao) on Shantang Street canal Suzhou Accommodations: Holiday Inn Youlian Suzhou 苏州友联假日 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.holidayinn.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/suzyl

Day 12: Suzhou – Wuxi – Hangzhou After breakfast, you will proceed to the prosperous city of Wuxi. There you will tour Xihui Park, the location of the Hui Mountain Spring, traditionally considered the ―second best spring in the world.‖ Xihui Park offers a distinctive synthesis of serene mountain forest scenes, cultural relics and attractions, and leisure activities in one expansive park. At the summit of Xihui Park’s West Hill stands the iconic Dragon Light Pagoda, a seven-story tower that affords a magnificent view of the park, the city, and nearby Lake Tai. For lunch you will have authentic Wuxi spareribs. Afterward you will visit Three Kingdoms City, a re- creation of a Three Kingdoms-era town featuring architecture, costumes, and performances from the 3rd century A.D. Then you will take a boat tour of Lake Tai, which is the most iconic symbol of Wuxi and is also famous for its pearls. Finally, you will head to Hangzhou, where you will enjoy a dinner featuring Hangzhou-style “red clay pot” cuisine. Day 12 Attractions: Xihui Park (锡惠公园, Xīhuì Gōngyuán) Hui Mountain Spring (惠山泉, Huìshān Quán) Xihui Park, Wuxi (photo by 龍)

Dragon Light Pagoda (龙光宝塔, Lóngguāng Bǎotǎ) Three Kingdoms City (三国城, Sānguó Chéng) Lake Tai (太湖, Tài Hú), including a boat tour Special Arrangements: Wuxi-style spare ribs, Lake Tai boat trip, Hang- zhou “red clay pot” cuisine Hangzhou Accommodations: Best Western Premier Hangzhou 瑞丰格林 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.premierhotelhz.com

Feilai Peak carvings, Hangzhou Day 13: Hangzhou (photo by CIT) In the morning you will tour Lingyin Temple, which according to legend was originally built by a Buddhist monk from India. The legend also says that Feilai Peak (―Peak Flying from Afar‖), just across from the temple, was transported through the air to the site directly from India. Next you will visit the opulent Residence of Hu Xueyan. Built with an enormous sum of money by a 19th-century pharmaceutical magnate, it has been called ―China’s Number One Mansion.‖ The iconic West Lake is Hangzhou’s most famous attraction. We have made special arrangements for you to take a relaxing boat tour to enjoy the scenery of West Lake, which is bounded on one side by a modern downtown area and on the other sides by the natural beauty of Hangzhou’s hills. This scenery is one of the main reasons for the Chinese expression ―Up above, there’s Heaven; down here, there’s Suzhou and Hangzhou.‖ We have also set aside plenty of time for you to walk along the shore of West Lake and take in its many famous sights, such as Red Carp Pond and Liulang Wenying Park. Day 13 Attractions: Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺, Língyǐn Sì) Feilai Peak (飞来峰, Fēilái Fēng) Residence of Hu Xueyan (胡雪岩故居, Hú Xuěyán Gùjū) West Lake (西湖, Xī Hú), including a boat tour Red Carp Pond (花港观鱼, Huāgǎng Guānyú) Liulang Wenying Park (柳浪闻莺, Liǔlàng Wényīng) Special Arrangements: We have arranged for you to stay two nights in Hangzhou to ensure that you have plenty of time to see its most iconic scenery and experience what West Lake this cultured city has to offer. (photo by R. Guy)

Day 14: Hangzhou – Shanghai Today marks the end of our itinerary, as you head back to Shanghai on our tour bus after a full night’s sleep. After lunch you will have a free afternoon and evening to indulge in shopping or any other activities. Each member of the group can decide where to eat dinner, and you will have plenty of leisure time to spend the last night of the trip doing whatever you’d like. If you’re not sure where you’d like to go or what you’d like to eat, your tour guide will be happy to make some recommendations. Shanghai Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Hotel Shanghai Fudan 上海复旦皇冠假日酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/shgfd Note: In order to allow tour participants the freedom to choose where to eat in this culinary capital, dinner is not included on today’s itinerary. Free time in Shanghai (photo by Christopher) Day 15: Departure from China via Shanghai Today you will say farewell to Shanghai and return home. First, you will take an exhilarating ride on the Shanghai Maglev Train, the world’s only commercial high-speed maglev (magnetic levitation) train. The western end of the line leaves from Longyang Road Station on Shanghai’s No. 2 subway line, and its eastern end is at Pudong International Airport; its total length is 30 kilometers. With a maximum speed of 431 kilometers per hour, the train takes only 7 minutes and 20 seconds to transport you the entire length of the track to the airport, where you will take a flight back to the United States. Special Arrangements: Maglev Train (磁浮列车, Cífú Lièchē)

CIT002 2013 Prices and Departure Dates

From SFO/LAX Departure Air Ticket Single Fuel Taxes & Total Sunday Land Only & Land Occupancy Surcharge Fees Price* 1/13,27 $1,899 $2,399 add $550 $360 $100 $2,859 2/10,24 $1,899 $2,399 add $550 $360 $100 $2,859 3/10,24 $1,999 $2,499 add $550 $360 $100 $2,959 4/7,21 $2,199 $2,699 add $600 $360 $100 $3,159 5/5,19 $2,199 $2,699 add $600 $360 $100 $3,159 6/2,16,30 $2,099 $2,899 add $550 $360 $100 $3,359 7/14,28 $2,099 $2,899 add $550 $360 $100 $3,359 8/11,25 $2,099 $2,899 add $550 $360 $100 $3,359 9/8,22 $2,199 $2,699 add $600 $360 $100 $3,159 10/6,20 $2,199 $2,699 add $600 $360 $100 $3,159 11/3,17 $1,899 $2,399 add $550 $360 $100 $2,859 12/1,29 $1,899 $2,399 add $550 $360 $100 $2,859

Jiangnan Gourmet Cuisine / Yellow Mountain 10-Day Tour (CIT003) Shanghai 上海 – Zhouzhuang 周庄 – Suzhou 苏州 – Wuxi 无锡 – Hangzhou 杭州 – Hong Village 宏村 – Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 黄山

Day 1: U.S.A. – Shanghai Today you will board a plane bound for China, where you will witness the vicissitudes of China’s five thousand- year history. Your tour will begin in Shanghai, the largest city in China.

Day 2: Arrival in Shanghai Today, after arriving in Shanghai, you will be greeted at the airport by CIT’s professional bilingual tour guide and escorted to the hotel where you will be staying overnight. Shanghai Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Hotel Shanghai Fudan 上海复旦皇冠假日酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/shgfd Downtown Shanghai (photo by Joi Ito) Day 3: Shanghai – Zhouzhuang – Suzhou Today, after breakfast, you will visit Zhouzhuang, a famous ―water village‖ built around a series of canals, with buildings dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Like flipping through a series of well-preserved old photos, walking through Zhouzhuang will give you an intense feeling of nostalgia. You will also tour the village via a traditional gondola-like boat and savor the poetic atmosphere of life along the canals. Lunch will consist of local family-style dishes made with food produced by the area’s farms, whose fields are rich and fertile. The dishes you will sample include the famous ―Wansan pig trotters‖ (Wànsān Tí) and a freshly picked local vegetable called ―Āpó Cài,‖ which might be translated as ―Grandma’s greens.‖ Afterward, you will proceed to Suzhou to visit another place rich with poetic atmos-phere: Cold Mountain Temple (also called Hanshan Temple). Then you will tour the Humble Administrator’s Garden, one of the most famous of Suzhou’s traditional gardens and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Finally, as evening approaches, you will have some time to relax at Shantang Street, an old-style street lined with traditional houses and featuring a picturesque canal. There you can enjoy a boat ride on the canal and take in a distant view of Tiger Hill, with its famous leaning tower. Your dinner will feature authentic Suzhou cuisine, famed for its simple yet delicately flavorful character, and Suzhou-style cake, sweet and delicious but not greasy. Day 3 Attractions: Zhouzhuang (周庄, Zhōuzhuāng) Cold Mountain Temple / Hanshan Temple (寒山寺, Hánshān Sì) Humble Administrator’s Garden (拙政园, Zhuōzhèng Yuán) Shantang Street (山塘街, Shāntáng Jiē) view of Tiger Hill (虎丘山, Hǔqiū Shān) view of Tiger Hill Leaning Tower/Cloud Rock Pagoda (虎丘斜塔, Hǔqiū Xiétǎ / 云岩塔, Yúnyán Tǎ) Special Arrangements: gondola ride on the canals of Zhouzhuang, riverboat ride on Shantang Street canal A Suzhou canal Suzhou Accommodations: Holiday Inn Youlian Suzhou 苏州友联假日 (4-Star) or equi- (photo by S. Hanafin) valent http://www.holidayinn.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/suzyl

Day 4: Suzhou – Wuxi – Hangzhou After breakfast, you will proceed to the prosperous city of Wuxi. There you will tour Xihui Park, the location of the Hui Mountain Spring, traditionally considered the ―second best spring in the world.‖ Xihui Park offers a distinctive synthesis of serene mountain forest scenes, cultural relics and attractions, and leisure activities in one expansive park. At the summit of Xihui Park’s West Hill stands the iconic Dragon Light Pagoda, a seven-story tower that affords a magnificent view of the park, the city, and nearby Lake Tai. For lunch you can dig into some authentic Wuxi spareribs and sample the cuisine unique to the Lake Tai area, including a shrimp dish whose light seasoning allows you to savor the shrimps’ own natural flavors. Afterward you will visit Three Kingdoms City, a re-creation of a Three Kingdoms-era town featuring architecture, costumes, and performances from the 3rd century A.D. Then you will take a boat tour of Lake Tai, which is the most iconic symbol of Wuxi and is also famous for its pearls. Finally, you will head to Hangzhou, where you will enjoy a dinner featuring Hangzhou-style “red clay pot” cuisine. Hangzhou’s cuisine has a distinguished status among China’s regional cuisines, and we

17 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. have arranged a meal that will delight your senses. It would be difficult for you to reproduce these dishes in your own kitchen, so be sure to bring your appetite and take full advantage of this opportunity! Day 4 Attractions: Xihui Park (锡惠公园, Xīhuì Gōngyuán) Hui Mountain Spring (惠山泉, Huìshān Quán) Dragon Light Pagoda (龙光宝塔, Lóngguāng Bǎotǎ) Three Kingdoms City (三国城, Sānguó Chéng) Lake Tai (太湖, Tài Hú), including a boat tour Special Arrangements: Wuxi-style spare ribs, Lake Tai boat trip, Hangzhou “red clay pot” cuisine Hangzhou Accommodations: Best Western Premier Hangzhou 瑞丰格林 (4- West Lake, Hangzhou Star) or equivalent http://www.premierhotelhz.com (photo by Lu Yu)

Day 5: Hangzhou In the morning you will tour Lingyin Temple, which according to legend was originally built by a Buddhist monk from India. The legend also says that Feilai Peak (―Peak Flying from Afar‖), just across from the temple, was transported through the air to the site directly from India. Next you will visit the opulent Residence of Hu Xueyan. Built with an enormous sum of money by a 19th-century pharmaceutical magnate, it has been called ―China’s Number One Mansion.‖ The iconic West Lake is Hangzhou’s most famous attraction. We have made special arrangements for you to take a relaxing boat tour to enjoy the scenery of West Lake, which is bounded on one side by a modern downtown area and on the other sides by the natural beauty of Hangzhou’s hills. This scenery is one of the main reasons for the Chinese expression ―Up above, there’s Heaven; down here, there’s Suzhou and Hangzhou.‖ We have also set aside plenty of time for you to walk along the shore of West Lake and take in its many famous sights, such as Red Carp Pond and Liulang Wenying Park. Your meals today will feature world-renowned Hangzhou dishes such as ―West Lake Vinegar Fish,‖ ―Dragon Well Shrimp,‖ and duck stewed with bamboo shoots. Day 5 Attractions: Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺, Língyǐn Sì) Feilai Peak (飞来峰, Fēilái Fēng) Residence of Hu Xueyan (胡雪岩故居, Hú Xuěyán Gùjū) West Lake (西湖, Xī Hú), including a boat tour Red Carp Pond (花港观鱼, Huāgǎng Guānyú) Liulang Wenying Park (柳浪闻莺, Liǔlàng Wényīng) Special Arrangements: We have arranged for you to stay two nights in Hangzhou to ensure that you have plenty of time to see its most iconic scenery and experi- Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou ence what this cultured city has to offer. (photo by CIT)

Day 6: Hangzhou – Hong Village – Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) After breakfast you will head to Huangshan. First you will visit Anhui Province’s famous Hong Village, which was built in 1131. Laid out in the shape of an ox, Hong Village is considered by many to be the most beautiful village in China and has been called ―the village of Chinese paintings‖ because of its oft-painted scenery. For its beauty and history, it has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After your tour of the village, you will have time to rest in preparation for tomorrow’s trip up to the top of Yellow Mountain. Your meals today will feature the Huizhou-style cuisine eaten in the Huangshan area. Traditionally considered one of China’s ―eight major cuisines,‖ it is said to be so delicious that tasting just one or two dishes will make you wish you were from Huizhou. Its apparent simplicity is belied by the range of colors, aromas, and flavors found in Huizhou cuisine. The dishes you can enjoy today include smoked duck and Huizhou-style glutinous rice balls. Day 6 Attractions: Hong Village (宏村, Hóngcūn) Huangshan Accommodations, Day 6: Media Hotel Huangshan 黄山梅地亚酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.hsmediahotel.com/

Day 7: Huangshan Today you will take a gondola (cable car) to the top of Yellow Mountain. The incomparable majesty of Yellow Mountain is described in the writings of Chinese thinkers and expressed in ancient sayings. Yellow Mountain’s natural scenery, Hong Village (photo by CIT associate T. Chen)

18 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. including exotic pine trees, strange rock formations, a ―sea of clouds,‖ and hot springs, makes it truly special. There are no less than 72 famous peaks in the Yellow Mountain area, each of them unique in appearance. Its three most famous peaks, Heavenly Capital Peak, Lotus Flower Peak, and Bright Summit Peak, all rise to an elevation of more than 1,800 meters above sea level. In addition to its numerous peaks, Yellow Mountain’s clouds are a major aspect of its beauty, and people who visit Yellow Mountain invariably say that the most striking views are from the highest peaks when there are clouds and mist. Today’s meals will include local dishes such as mountain-grown “tree-ear” (mù ér), renowned for its nutritive power, and chicken stewed with wild mushrooms. Due to the remote location of Yellow Mountain’s summit, the selection of dishes available today may lack the variety of the cuisine you will eat elsewhere, but we will ensure that your meals include only the freshest ingredients, and the experience of dining in this picturesque mountain setting is uniquely enjoyable. Day 7 Attractions: the spectacular scenery of Yellow Mountain (黄山, Huángshān) Special Arrangements: an overnight stay at the top of the mountain and the opportunity enjoy a Yellow Mountain sunrise the next morning Huangshan Accommodations, Day 7: Xi Hai Hotel Huangshan 黄山西海 (4- Star) or equivalent http://www.hsxihaihotel.cn/ Yellow Mountain sunrise (photo by Philip Lai) Day 8: Huangshan – Shanghai Early in the morning you can stop and appreciate the endless variety of atmospheric phenomena that accompany sunrise on Yellow Mountain, after which you will return to the hotel to enjoy breakfast. After breakfast you will enjoy more of the many spectacular sights Yellow Mountain has to offer, with names like Bright Summit Peak, Flying Rock, Lion Peak, Echo Cliff, Wall Hanging Pine, Black Tiger Pine, Beginning to Believe Peak, and Refreshing Terrace, the views from which will make you wonder whether you have entered a fairytale world. As the name ―Beginning to Believe Peak‖ suggests, a visit to Yellow Mountain will change your outlook on the world. Afterward, you will take the gondola back down the mountain and then board a tour bus for the trip back to Shanghai. Upon your arrival, to help you recover from your journey, you can enjoy a delicious meal of local Shanghai cuisine, which, like Shanghai itself, combines many different influences into a unique style that seems to suit the tastes of just about everyone. The dishes available tonight include smoked fish and ―drunken chicken‖ (zuìjī). Day 8 Attractions: sunrise on Yellow Mountain sightseeing tour of Yellow Mountain Special Arrangements: gondola (cable car) rides up and down the mountain Shanghai Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Hotel Shanghai Fudan 上海复旦皇冠假日酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/shgfd Yellow Mountain peaks (photo by CIT’s T. Chen)

Day 9: Shanghai After breakfast, you will head to the Old Town area (also known as Old Street) to visit Yuyuan Gardens and the Temple of the Town Gods Shopping Center. Here you will find goods of every description, including artworks, jewelry, clothes, snacks, souvenirs, toys, and special folk handicrafts. For lunch today, you will have a meal of Shanghai-style dimsum, featuring popular dishes like pan-fried steamed buns with meat filling and jujube cake. Afterward, you will tour the Shanghai Museum, whose artworks and artifacts are appreciated both within China and internationally. For dinner we have arranged a night of authentic Shanghai dishes at a famous local restaurant, including flash-fried river shrimp, sweet-and-sour spare ribs, and ―Eight Treasures‖ (Bābǎo Jiàng). You won’t find these dishes prepared this well anywhere else. In the evening you will enjoy a mesmerizing performance by a famous Shanghai-based troupe of acrobats. Day 9 Attractions: Old Town (老城市, Lǎo Chéngshì) Yuyuan Gardens (豫园, Yùyuán) Temple of the Town Gods Shopping Center (城隍庙商圈, Jade cup, Shanghai Museum Chénghuáng Miào Shāngquān) (photo by Allan Siew) Shanghai Museum (上海博物馆, Shànghǎi Bówùguǎn) Special Arrangements: a taste of authentic Shanghainese food, Shanghai acrobats (杂技, zájì)

Day 10: Departure from China via Shanghai Today you will say farewell to Shanghai and return home. First, you will take an exhilarating ride on the Shanghai Maglev Train, the world’s only commercial high-speed maglev (magnetic levitation) train. The western end of the line leaves from Longyang Road Station on Shanghai’s No. 2 subway line, and its eastern end is at Pudong Inter- national Airport; its total length is 30 kilometers. With a maximum speed of 431 kilometers per hour, the train takes only 7 minutes and 20 seconds to transport you the entire length of the track to the airport, where you will take a flight back to the United States. Special Arrangements: Maglev Train (磁浮列车, Cífú Lièchē) Vinegar fish, Hangzhou (photo by CIT)

CIT003 2013 Prices and Departure Dates

From SFO/LAX Departure Monday Land Air Ticket Single Fuel Taxes & Total Only & Land Occupancy Surcharge Fees Price* 1/7,21 $1,299 $1,799 add $400 $300 $100 $2,199 2/4,18 $1,299 $1,799 add $400 $300 $100 $2,199 3/4,18 $1,399 $1,899 add $450 $300 $100 $2,299 4/1,15,29 $1,499 $1,999 add $450 $300 $100 $2,399 5/13,27 $1,499 $1,999 add $450 $300 $100 $2,399 6/10,24 $1,399 $2,199 add $450 $300 $100 $2,599 7/8,22 $1,399 $2,199 add $450 $300 $100 $2,599 8/5,19 $1,399 $2,199 add $450 $300 $100 $2,599 9/2,16,30 $1,499 $1,999 add $450 $300 $100 $2,399 10/14,28 $1,499 $1,999 add $450 $300 $100 $2,399 11/11,25 $1,299 $1,799 add $400 $300 $100 $2,199 12/2,30 $1,299 $1,799 add $400 $300 $100 $2,199

Yunnan Highlands Local Culture 11-Day Tour (CIT004) Kunming 昆明 – Stone Forest 石林 – Jiuxiang Caverns 九乡溶洞群 – Dali 大理 – Lijiang 丽江 – Tiger Leaping Gorge 虎跳峡 – Xianggelila (Shangri-La) 香格里拉

Day 1: U.S.A. – Hong Kong Today you will take a flight to China’s ―Pearl of the Orient‖—Hong Kong.

Day 2: Hong Kong – Kunming After arriving in Hong Kong, you will take a connecting flight to Kunming. There you will be greeted at the airport by CIT’s professional bilingual tour guide and escorted to the hotel where you will be staying overnight. Kunming Accommodations: Weilong Hotel 威龙饭店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.wlhotel.com.cn/ Stone Forest (photo by Gilad Rom) Day 3: Kunming – Shilin (Stone Forest) – Jiuxiang Caverns – Kunming Kunming, called the ―Spring City‖ or the ―City of Eternal Spring‖ because its weather is mild throughout the year, is the capital of Yunnan Province. Among its approximately 7 million inhabitants, there are members of many ethnic groups: the majority Han, as well as numerous minority groups like the Bai, Ni, Dai, Hani, and Naxi. First you will visit a place famous for its natural scenery: the Shilin (―Stone Forest‖) Scenic Area, which takes its name from the limestone pillars that rise like giant trees over the landscape, creating a truly strange and unique sight. The tallest of these pillars rises to a height of 30 meters. You can stroll along footpaths through the ―forest‖ and enjoy the famous sights in the area, which include Lion Pavilion, Sword Peak Pond, Lotus Peak, and Sea of Romance. From Shilin you will proceed to Jiuxiang, a ―key national scenic area‖ whose main feature is a cluster of limestone caverns. Among other striking sights, the caves feature a spectacular waterfall that produces a sound like thunder. After touring the caves, you will return to Kunming for a dinner of ―mushroom hot pot,‖ a famous local dish. Day 3 Attractions: Shilin Scenic Area (石林风景区, Shílín Fēngjǐngqū) Lion Pavilion (狮子亭, Shīzi Tíng) Sword Peak Pond (剑峰池, Jiànfēng Chí) Lotus Peak (莲花峰, Liánhuā Fēng) Sea of Romance (爱情海, Àiqíng Hǎi) ...and other famous sights Jiuxiang Caverns (九乡溶洞群, Jiǔxiāng Róngdòng Qún) Special Arrangements: authentic Yunnan cuisine—mushroom hot pot (菌菇火锅, Jiuxiang Caverns jùngū huǒguō) (photo by CIT’s Anna Qin)

Day 4: Kunming – Dali Kunming is China’s largest producer of fresh flowers, so after breakfast, you will head to Kunming’s traditional Fresh Flower Market, where you will overwhelmed by a fantastic array of flowers and flower arrangements. If you’d like, you can buy dried flower handicrafts as a souvenir of your visit. Next, you will tour Grand View Tower, located in Grand View Park, whose gates feature an engraving of a famous poem written during the Qing Dynasty that is believed to be the longest ―antithetical couplet‖ ever written. Admire the view of the many boats dotting the waters of Lake Dian, to the south of the park, against the backdrop of the nearby Western Hills. Afterward, you will travel to Singing Phoenix Hill to visit Golden Temple, a well-preserved Taoist temple made of bronze that is the largest such temple in China. Then you will head to Dali to tour Dali Old Town, originally built in 1382; along the way, you will stop to take in the imposing sight of Chongsheng Temple’s three towering pagodas. You will have some free time to experience all the sights of the ancient city of Dali, including Foreigner Street, with its distinctive blend of Eastern and Western, ancient and modern. Day 4 Attractions: Fresh Flower Market (鲜花市场, Xiānhuā Shìchǎng) Grand View Park (大观公园, Dàguān Gōngyuán) Grand View Tower (大观楼, Dàguān Lóu) view of Lake Dian (滇池, Diānchí) and the Western Hills (西山, Xī Shān) Grand View Park, Kunming (photo by C.T. Leow*)

Golden Temple Park (金殿公园, Jīndiàn Gōngyuán) Singing Phoenix Hill (鸣凤山, Míngfèng Shān) Golden Temple (金殿, Jīndiàn) view of Three Pagodas (崇圣三塔, Chóngshèng Sāntǎ) Dali Old Town (大理古城, Dàlǐ Gǔchéng) Foreigner Street (洋人街, Yángrén Jiē) Dali Accommodations: Asia Star Hotel Dali Yunnan 大理亚星酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.asiastargroup.com/index.htm Lake Er, Dali (photo by Jo Schmaltz) Day 5: Dali After breakfast, you will head to the docks at Lake Er (sometimes called Erhai Lake), the second-largest lake in Yunnan Province, to take a boat trip. Shaped like an ear, from which it takes its name, the lake has an elevation of 1,972 meters above sea level and covers an area of 251 square kilometers. Lake Er and Cang Mountain (―Jade Green Mountain‖), which rises on one side of the lake, combine to form a harmonious ―mountain-and-water‖ (shānshuǐ) scene. You will visit Erhai Park on the south side of the lake to admire the view. We have also arranged for you to stop in Xizhou, a lakeside town famous for its architecture, to tour the traditional family estate of the Yan clan and see a “Three Courses of Tea” song and dance show, traditionally performed by the Bai ethnic group as a way of welcoming guests. Afterward, you will ride up Cang Mountain on a chairlift to enjoy a distant view of the lake, spread beneath you like a crescent moon. Day 5 Attractions: Lake Er / Erhai Lake (洱海, Ěrhǎi / 洱海湖, Ěrhǎi Hú) Erhai Park (洱海公園, Ěrhǎi Gōngyuán) Xizhou (喜州, Xǐzhōu) family estate of the Yan clan (严家大院, Yán Jiā Dàyuàn) Cang Mountain (苍山, Cāngshān) Special Arrangements: boat tour of Erhai Lake, “Three Courses of Tea” song and dance show (三道茶歌舞秀表演, Sāndào Chá Gēwǔxiù Biǎoyǎn), View from Cang Mountain chairlift ride up Cang Mountain (photo by Jo Schmaltz)

Day 6: Dali – Lijiang Today you will take a tour bus to the ―Switzerland of the Far East‖: Lijiang, which literally means ―beautiful river.‖ First you will head to Wangu Pavilion, located on Lion Hill, where a stunning view of picturesque Lijiang will be laid out before your eyes. Slowly scan the sea of trees around you; to the north you can see the thirteen peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and to the east you can see Lijiang Old Town and the palatial spread of the Mu Family Mansion (or Mu Palace), which was modeled upon the Forbidden City by Governor Mu of the Ming Dynasty; together they create a spectacular sight. Next, you will visit the mansion itself, whose complex of buildings is an architectural masterpiece. Later you will have free time to explore the shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars that line the charming streets of Dayan, the most popular ―old town‖ area of Lijiang. Day 6 Attractions: Lion Hill (狮子山, Shīzi Shān) Wangu Pavilion (万古楼, Wàngǔ Lóu) view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (玉龙雪山, Yùlóngxuě Shān) view of Lijiang Old Town (丽江古城, Lìjiāng Gǔchéng) Mu Family Mansion / Mu Palace (木王府, Mù Wángfǔ or 木府, Mùfǔ) Dayan Town (大研镇, Dàyán Zhèn) Lijiang Accommodations: Yunnan Aviation Sightseeing Hotel Lijiang 云南航空丽江观光酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.lj-ggjd.com/ Old Town rooftops, Lijiang (photo by Hsinghao Wang) Day 7: Lijiang After breakfast, you will proceed to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which rises like a tower over the Jinsha River in the northwestern part of Lijiang. Its main peak has a height of 5,596 meters above sea level and is snow- capped throughout the year. Your trip to the mountain will take you across Dry Sea Meadow, a vast open part of Lijiang Valley, to reach the best position from which to admire its peaks. Then you will take a gondola up the mountain and walk through an unspoiled forest for ten minutes or so. Suddenly a broad, beautiful field will appear before you: Cloud Fir Meadow. After taking time to stroll along the path and absorb the magnificence of the

22 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. scene before and around you, you will head back down the mountain and stop to admire the falls at White Water River, where you can get up close and personal with a group of trained yaks. Then you will visit Jade Water Village, whose beauty people have described by saying that the pure ―jade water‖ of its pools and streams extends all the way up to the top of the mountain. The Naxi people, whose ancestral homeland is Lijiang, believe the area to have special fēngshuǐ (Chinese geomancy) characteristics. Afterward, you will return to Dayan, which also features a strong Naxi cultural influence, for more relaxed leisure time; one visit is insufficient to fully explore and appreciate this expansive old town area. Day 7 Attractions: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area (玉龙雪山风景区, Yùlóng Xuěshān Fēngjǐng Qū) Dry Sea Meadow (甘海子, Gānhǎizi) Cloud Fir Meadow (云杉坪, Yúnshān Píng) White Water River (白水河, Báishuǐ Hé) Jade Water Village (玉水山寨, Yùshuǐ Shānzhài) Dayan Town (大研镇, Dàyán Zhèn) Special Arrangements: gondola (cable car) ride up Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (photo by CIT)

Day 8: Lijiang – Xianggelila (Shangri-La) After breakfast you will begin your journey to Xiānggélǐlā (the Mandarin equivalent of ―Shangri-La‖), located in a mountain basin at an elevation of over 3,300 meters above sea level. It combines snowy mountains, canyons, prairies, lakes, unspoiled forests, and ethnic culture into one stunning scene. Along the way, you will enjoy a view of the headwaters of the mighty Chang Jiang (the Yangtze River)—here, it is actually called the Jinsha River— and stop at the world-famous Tiger Leaping Gorge, which will thrill you as you travel along the gorge and come to an extremely narrow stretch where the water roils thunderously. After you arrive at Xianggelila, you will take a tour of the Songzanlin Monastery, the capital of Tibetan Buddhism in Yunnan Province, where 700 Tibetan monks reside. Day 8 Attractions: view of the Chang Jiang/Jinsha River (长江, Cháng Jiāng / 金沙江, Jīnshā Jiāng) Tiger Leaping Gorge (虎跳峡, Hǔtiào Xiá) Songzanlin Monastery (松赞林寺, Sōngzànlín Sì) Xianggelila Accommodations: Holy Palace Hotel – Shangri-la 龙凤祥 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.ynlfx.com/ Songzanlin Monastery (photo by CIT) Day 9: Xianggelila After breakfast you will visit Pudacuo National Park. Among the many lakes in the area, the most beautiful is Bita Lake (―Emerald Pagoda Lake‖), whose water has an emerald-like quality throughout the year. From there, you will head to Shudu Lake, whose crystal-clear water is replete with fish swimming peacefully to and fro. Surrounding the lake is forest growth thick enough to screen out the sun and sky, and adjacent to the lake there is still a pasture for cows and sheep, giving the area the appeal of traditional Tibetan life. Afterward, you will tour the Xiagei Tibetan Culture Village, a classical Tibetan-style village nestled between mountain and stream, where the atmosphere of folk traditions is strong. The Xiagei Cultural Eco-Tourism Village, a ―village within a village,‖ is also located here. More than twenty Tibetan families live here, keeping their traditional culture intact. Here you can enjoy sights representative of Tibetan Buddhism such as Buddha statues, pillars inscribed with Buddhist scripture, water-powered prayer wheels, bronze prayer wheels, and even sheepskin prayer wheels, each of them unique. Your dinner will feature authentic Tibetan-style food. Afterward, you will have free time to stroll along the streets of Zhongdian Old Town, where you can buy unique local souvenirs and soak up the area’s distinctive culture, a combination of Tibetan and Naxi influences. Day 9 Attractions: Pudacuo National Park (普达措景区, Pǔdácuò Jǐngqū) Pudacuo National Park Bita Lake (碧塔海, Bìtǎ Hǎi) (photo by Zhengmao Hu) Shudu Lake (属都湖, Shǔdū Hú)

Xiagei Tibetan Culture Village (霞给藏族文化村, Xiágěi Zàngzú Wénhuà Cūn) Xiagei Cultural Eco-Tourism Village (迪庆霞给藏族文化生态旅游村, Déqìng Xiágěi Zàngzú Wénhuà Shēngtài Lǚyóu Cūn) Zhongdian Old Town (中甸古镇, Zhōngdiàn Gǔzhèn) Special Arrangements: authentic Tibetan-style meal

Day 10: Xianggelila – Kunming Today you will take a flight back to Kunming. There you will visit Yuantong Horses in Xianggelila Temple, the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Kunming, which boasts (photo by Edwin Lee) spectacular sights like the Yuantong Treasure Hall and the Octagonal Pavilion. The temple contains halls devoted to all three major branches of Buddhism. Over Yuantong Temple’s 1,200-year history, artists have inscribed its many jagged mountain rocks with expres-sions of praise for the temple. Day 10 Attractions: Yuantong Temple (圆通寺, Yuántōng Sì) Yuantong Treasure Hall (圆通宝殿, Yuántōng Bǎodiàn) Octagonal Pavilion (八角亭, Bājiǎo Tíng) Kunming Accommodations: Weilong Hotel 威龙饭店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.wlhotel.com.cn/ Yuantong Temple, Kunming (photo by G. Isling) Day 11: Kunming – Hong Kong Today you will wrap up your tour by taking a flight to Hong Kong, where you can catch a connecting flight to the U.S.A. and home, sweet home.

CIT004 2013 Prices and Departure Dates

From SFO/LAX Departure Saturday Air Ticket Single Fuel Taxes & Total Land Only & Land Occupancy Surcharge Fees Price* 2/23 $1,499 $1,999 add $400 $360 $100 $2,459 3/9,23 $1,599 $2,099 add $450 $360 $100 $2,559 4/6,20 $1,599 $2,099 add $450 $360 $100 $2,559 5/4,18 $1,599 $2,199 add $450 $360 $100 $2,659 6/1,15,29 $1,599 $2,399 add $450 $360 $100 $2,859 7/13,27 $1,599 $2,399 add $450 $360 $100 $2,859 8/10,24 $1,599 $2,299 add $450 $360 $100 $2,759 9/7,21 $1,599 $2,299 add $450 $360 $100 $2,759 10/5,19 $1,599 $2,199 add $450 $360 $100 $2,659 11/2 $1,399 $1,899 add $400 $360 $100 $2,359

Magnificent Yangtze / Ancient Capitals Deluxe 15-Day Tour (CIT005) Beijing 北京 – Three Gorges 三峡 – Xi’an 西安 – Guilin/Yangshuo 桂林/阳朔 – Shanghai 上海

Day 2: Arrival in Beijing Today, after arriving in Beijing, you will be greeted at the airport by CIT’s professional bilingual tour guide and escorted to the hotel where you will be staying overnight. Beijing Accommodations: Grand Gongda Jianguo Hotel 工大建国 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.bjut-hoteljianguo.com/en/hotelinfo.html National Centre for the Performing Arts (photo by Hui Lan) Day 3: Beijing After breakfast, you will visit Tiananmen Square. Originally the front entrance of the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Tiananmen (―the Gate of Heavenly Peace‖) was built in the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Yongle. When it was renovated during the Qing Dynasty, its name was changed to Tiananmen to suggest the idea that the emperor’s mandate to pacify and rule the nation came from heaven. You will make a special trip to see the National Centre for the Performing Arts, whose exterior looks like an enormous eggshell, earning it the nickname ―The Egg.‖ Next, you will tour the Forbidden City, which served as the royal palace for 24 consecutive emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There you can explore art exhibits from every dynasty, exhibitions of Qing Dynasty cultural relics, the Three Great Halls, the Imperial Garden, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and other attractions. In the afternoon an expert guide will take you on a pedicab tour of Beijing’s hutong, or ―narrow alleyways,‖ where you can take pictures that will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time, and afterward you will stroll along the shore of Shicha Hai, a picturesque man-made lake. After dinner you will enjoy a theatrical kung fu show. Day 3 Attractions: Tiananmen Square (天安门广场, Tiānānmén Guǎngchǎng) National Centre for the Performing Arts (国家大剧院, Guójiā Dàjùyuàn) Forbidden City (故宫, Gù Gōng, or 紫禁城, Zǐjìn Chéng) Three Great Halls (三大殿, Sān Dàdiàn) Imperial Garden (御花园, Yùhuā Yuán) Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫, Qiánqīng Gōng) Beijing’s hutong, (胡同, hútòng) Shicha Hai (什刹海, Shíchà Hǎi) The Great Wall at Badaling Special Arrangements: theatrical kung fu show (功夫秀, gōngfū xiù) (photo by Rafael Gomez)

Temple of Heaven (天坛, Tiāntán) Echo Wall (回音壁, Huíyīn Bì) Three-Tone Stone (三音石, Sānyīn Shí) National Aquatics Center (国家游泳中心, Guójiā Yóuyǒng Zhōngxīn), or Water Cube (水立方, Shuǐ Lìfāng) National Stadium (国家体育馆, Guójiā Tǐyùguǎn), or Bird’s Nest (鸟巢, Niǎo Cháo) Special Arrangements: gondola (cable car) transport up and down the Great Wall; Peking duck (烤鸭, kǎoyā) at Quanjude (全聚德, Quánjùdé), a famous Kunming Lake, Summer Palace (photo by Kim S.) restaurant

Day 5: Beijing – Yichang Today, you will take a flight to the city of Yichang, where you will start your unforgettable tour of the Three Gorges. The Three Gorges area of the Yangtze River (also known as the Cháng Jiāng) stretches from Chongqing in the west to Yichang in the east and is made up of Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge. With a total length of 192 kilometers, the Three Gorges area is like a gallery of paintings in its striking beauty. It has long been world-famous for its spectacular scenery: the towering peaks pressing in on both sides, the narrow and winding river, the rocks and shoals scattered through the river like chess pieces, the rushing and surging of the turbulent water. With lofty mountain ridges and overhanging precipices rising on either side of the river, the scene is astonishing and unique: the continual line of peaks has an average height of 700-800 meters, and the river gets as narrow as a mere 100 meters wide. You will enjoy this magnificent scenery from the comfort of a 5-star cruise ship. Three Gorges Accommodations: President No. 2 总统二号 (5-Star) Three Gorges Dam or equivalent http://www.yzcruises.com/cruises/C1202 (photo by Wikitravel)

Day 6: Three Gorges Your tour of the Yangtze River’s lofty mountains and flowing waters, as well as of the changes that have occurred since the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, begins today. But first, three hours will be spent simply passing through the dam’s enormous locks, which will raise the ship about 100 meters, allowing you time to absorb the splendid scenery. This experience will undoubtedly give you indelible memories as you take in the magnificence of the Three Gorges Dam, the most impressive feat of engineering in human history. With a length of 2 miles and a height of 600 feet, it is the product of the boundless power of a spirit capable of conquering mountains. No other dam can compare to it; it is the biggest dam in the world and also produces the most electricity. As the ship passes into Xiling Gorge, you can see that the dam has transformed the area’s rushing waters and dangerous shoals into the largest artificial lake in the world. Day 6 Attractions: Three Gorges Dam (三峡大坝, Sānxiá Dàbà) Xiling Gorge (西陵峡, Xīlíng Xiá) Yangtze River’s Xiling Gorge (photo by Robin Poll) Day 7: Three Gorges Today the ship will stop at Wushan, where you will take a side trip on the Daning River through the Little Three Gorges, beginning with the gorge known as Dragon Gate Gorge.* Here you can still hear the cries of the monkeys that live in the area and see the ―hanging coffins,‖ which used to be high up on the cliff but now seem almost close enough to reach up and touch. As a result of the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the river is less dangerous than before, and now you can go deep into gorges that were previously inaccessible by boat. After your trip along the Little Three Gorges, you will return to the cruise ship and enter Wu Gorge. The second of the Three Gorges, it has a length of 36 kilometers and features 12 peaks with wildly varied shapes, such as Peak of the Immortals and Goddess Peak, which still presents the imposing figure of a woman standing straight and tall; she now simply seems a little closer. Here, precipitous cliffs confront each other across the river, proving

* Depending on local conditions, you may instead go on a side trip to Shennong Stream (Shénnóng Xī), which also features beautiful natural scenery and hanging coffins.

26 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. that the beautiful scenery of the Three Gorges still exists. As you prepare to go to sleep in your cabin tonight, allow your imagination to be inspired by the wondrous sights you’ve seen. Day 7 Attractions: Daning River (大宁河, Dàníng Hé) Little Three Gorges (小三峡, Xiǎo Sānxiá), including Dragon Gate Gorge (龙门峡, Lóngmén Xiá) Wu Gorge (巫峡, Wūxiá) Peak of the Immortals (集仙峰, Jíxiān Fēng) Goddess Peak (神女峰, Shénnǚ Fēng) ...and 10 other famous peaks

Day 8: Three Gorges Fengdu, the Yangtze’s “City of Ghosts” (photo by Gary Larson) The ship’s horn blows like thunder as you enter the most magnificent of the Three Gorges, Qutang Gorge, which is just as impressive as ever; the only difference is that some of the famous stone engravings are now underwater. Gaze upward at the ancient settlement of White King Town, mentioned in one of China’s most famous books, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The cruise ship will stop at Fengdu, the ―City of Ghosts,‖ which features many ancient tombs as well as many temples dedicated to the gods of the Underworld; the effect of it all is to serve as a potent reminder of the importance of being a good person. Alternatively, the ship might dock at Wanxian (or Wanzhou), known as ―Big Gate of the Eastern River‖ (川东大门, Chuāndōng Dàmén). Wanxian’s famous ―hundred stone stairs‖ up the side of the gorge are now underwater, and a new, modern town has been constructed at a higher elevation. Tonight, you will again sleep on the cruise ship. Day 8 Attractions: Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峡, Qútáng Xiá) White King Town (白帝城, Báidìchéng) Fengdu (酆都, Fēngdū) or Wanxian (万县, Wànxiàn), also called Wanzhou Qutang Gorge (万州, Wànzhōu) (photo by Gary Larson)

Day 9: Three Gorges – Chongqing – Xi’an Today your ship will arrive at the mountain city of Chongqing, temporarily the capital of China during the Japanese occupation, where you will board a flight to the ancient capital city of Xi’an. Formerly called Chang’an (―Eternal Peace‖), it is considered one of the great cities of the ancient world along with Athens, Cairo, and Rome. Over the course of Chinese history, Xi’an was the capital of eleven dynasties. Because Xi’an was the eastern endpoint of the legendary Silk Road, it features numerous cultural relics and historical sites. First, you will tour Big Goose Pagoda, which was built to preserve the valuable scriptures that the famous monk Master Xuán Zàng brought back from India. Since ancient times, distinguished and cultured men have been inspired by the view from the tower to write timeless works. Afterward, you will tour Xi’an’s enormous City Walls, which have a history of more than 600 years. For dinner, we have arranged a meal of authentic Shaanxi-style food for you. Xi’an’s delicious cuisine is a highlight of any visit to Xi’an and has earned it a reputation as a ―gourmet food capital.‖ Day 9 Attractions: Big Goose Pagoda (大雁塔, Dàyàn Tǎ) Xi’an’s City Walls (城墙, Chéngqiáng) Special Arrangements: authentic Shaanxi-style dinner Xi’an Accommodations: Titan Times Hotel 西安天朗时代大酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.titantimeshotel.com/ Big Goose Pagoda (photo by CIT) Day 10: Xi’an If you haven’t seen the First Emperor’s terracotta army, known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, you haven’t really been to Xi’an. The pit where the terracotta army is still in the process of being excavated is an ancillary section of the tomb of the infamous First Emperor, Qín Shǐhuáng. Your next stop is Huaqing Hot Springs, which since ancient times has been famed for the high quality of both its hot springs and its beautiful scenery, but even more for its description in the famous poem ―Song of Eternal Sorrow‖ by Bái Jūyì: ―Allowed to bathe at Huaqing on a cold spring day, she washed her creamy skin with the warm, silky water; languid and tired, she was helped out of the water by a maid, and the Emperor’s love for her was renewed.‖ Because of this poem, the story of the

27 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. tragic love affair that occurred here between Yáng Guìfēi and Emperor Xuánzōng of the Tang Dynasty has been passed down through the ages. After dinner, you will have a chance to admire modern musicians and dancers as they present an opulently staged show, re-created from historical materials, in imitation of Tang Dynasty performances. Day 10 Attractions: the First Emperor’s terracotta army (兵马俑, Bīngmǎyǒng) Huaqing Hot Springs (华清池, Huáqīng Chí) Special Arrangements: authentic Defachang dumplings (德发长饺子, Huaqing Hot Springs, Xi’an Défācháng jiǎozi), Tang Dynasty-style performance (仿唐乐歌舞, Fǎng Táng (photo by CIT) Yuègēwǔ)

Day 11: Xi’an – Guilin Today you will say goodbye to Xi’an and travel to a city with ―mountain and water‖ scenery that ranks among the finest in the world: Guilin, whose verdant hills, picturesque rivers, and unusual landscapes make it deserving of its fame. Reed Flute Cave, the first stop on your Guilin itinerary, boasts some of Guilin’s most iconic scenery and enjoys a reputation as ―nature’s architectural wonder‖; it contains rock formations of every shape and color, including stone pillars, stone curtains, stone flowers, and all kinds of strange things. Seen under bright lights of every color, they dazzle the eyes like a dream or a hallucina-tion. Another famous sight, Elephant Trunk Hill, looks like an enormous elephant with its trunk dangling in the water as if it were about to drink from the river. For dinner we will arrange for you to enjoy a meal of Guilin-style rice-flour noodles, which are even more famous than Guilin’s scenery. So long they seem to never end, rice-flour noodles of the finest quality are soft and silky as well as tasty; with some peanuts or pickled cabbage on top, they’re even more delicious, and they will give you a tremendous appetite. Day 11 Attractions: Reed Flute Cave (芦笛岩, Lúdí Yán) Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山, Xiàngbí Shān) Special Arrangements: authentic Guilin-style rice-flour noodles (米粉, mǐfěn) Guilin Accommodations: Guilin Bravo Hotel 桂林宾馆 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.glbravohotel.com/ Elephant Trunk Hill, Guilin (photo by Kent Wang)

Day 12: Guilin – Yangshuo Thanks to the beauty of the Li River, Yangshuo’s scenery may be even better than Guilin’s. The most picturesque part of the Li River is universally acknowledged to be the stretch located between Guilin and Yang- shuo. Today at dawn, in the clear and crisp morning air, you will board a ship to tour the river, which will make you feel as if you’re in nature’s art gallery, with one beautiful painting after another slowly unfolding before your eyes. At noon you will enjoy a meal as you continue to admire the scenery, basking in the boundless pleasure of the journey. After arriving in Yangshuo, you can have a little something to drink and do some people watching: in the afternoon, we have arranged a bamboo raft trip along Yangshuo’s tranquil Yulong River. In the evening you can also enjoy Yangshuo’s lively night market. Chinese and Western cafes and restaurants line the street like trees in a forest, and the souvenirs everywhere are a feast for the eyes. Day 12 Attractions: boat tour of the Li River (漓江, Lí Jiāng) bamboo raft trip on the Yulong River (遇龙河, Yùlóng Hé) Yangshuo night market (夜市, yèshì) Special Arrangements: ―beer fish‖ (啤酒鱼, píjiǔ yú, a famous local Yangshuo dish), a special bamboo raft route arranged just for you Yangshuo Accommodations: Yangshuo New Century Hotel 阳朔新世纪 (4- Star) or equivalent http://www.ysxsj.com/ Yulong River (photo by Andre Kiwitz) Day 13: Yangshuo – Guilin – Shanghai After breakfast, you will depart Yangshuo and return to Guilin Airport, from which you will fly to Shanghai, the largest city in China. After your arrival, you will tour the architectural complex of the Bund, which lies along the Huangpu River in the downtown area. The Bank of China tower, Peace Hotel, Customs House tower, and other famous buildings built by Western nations during the colonial era are all located along the Bund, where the

28 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. historical elegance of the ―Wall Street of the Far East‖ has reappeared. On the opposite shore of the Huangpu River in Pudong stands a cluster of modern skyscrapers that represent China’s new era of prosperity, conveying a sense of vigor, majesty, and luxury. After your stroll along the Bund, you will spend an hour enjoying Shanghai’s bright and colorful night scenery as you cruise along the Huangpu River in a tourist boat. Later, you will walk among a sea of people on Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s famed shopping district. Day 13 Attractions: The Bund (外滩, Wàitān) view of Pudong (浦東, Pǔdōng) Huangpu River (黃浦江, Huángpǔ Jiāng) Nanjing Road (南京路, Nánjīng Lù) Special Arrangements: Mongolian barbecue (蒙古烧烤, Ménggǔ shāokǎo) for dinner, Huangpu River boat tour Shanghai Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Hotel Shanghai Fudan 上海复旦

皇冠假日酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent The Bund, Shanghai http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/shgfd (photo by CIT)

Day 14: Shanghai After breakfast, you will head to Old Town (also known as Old Street) to tour Yuyuan Gardens and the Temple of the Town Gods Shopping Center. Here you will find goods of every description, including artworks, jewelry, clothes, snacks, souvenirs, toys, and special folk handicrafts. After lunch you will visit the Shanghai Museum, whose artworks and artifacts are appreciated both within China and internationally. In the evening you will enjoy a mesmerizing performance by a Shanghai-based troupe of acrobats. Day 14 Attractions: Old Town (老城市, Lǎo Chéngshì) Yuyuan Gardens (豫园, Yùyuán) Temple of the Town Gods Shopping Center (城隍庙商圈, Chénghuáng Miào Shāngquān) Shanghai Museum (上海博物馆, Shànghǎi Bówùguǎn) Special Arrangements: a taste of authentic Shanghainese food, Shang- hai acrobats (杂技, zájì) Lanterns in Old Town, Shanghai (photo by D. Fuka)

Day 15: Shanghai – U.S.A. Today you will say farewell to Shanghai and return home. First, you will take an exhilarating ride on the Shanghai Maglev Train, the world’s only commercial high-speed maglev (magnetic levitation) train. The western end of the line leaves from Longyang Road Station on Shanghai’s No. 2 subway line, and its eastern end is at Pudong International Airport; its total length is 30 kilometers. With a maximum speed of 431 kilometers per hour, the train takes only 7 minutes and 20 seconds to transport you the entire length of the track to the airport, where you will take a flight back to the United States. Special Arrangements: Maglev Train (磁浮列车, Cífú Lièchē)

CIT005 2013 Prices and Departure Dates

From SFO/LAX Departure Sunday Air Ticket Single Fuel Taxes & Total Land Only & Land Occupancy Surcharge Fees Price* 3/10,24 $2,099 $2,599 add $700 $360 $100 $3,059 4/7,21 $2,199 $2,799 add $780 $360 $100 $3,259 5/5,19 $2,199 $2,799 add $780 $360 $100 $3,259 6/2,16,30 $2,099 $2,899 add $700 $360 $100 $3,359 7/14,28 $2,099 $2,899 add $700 $360 $100 $3,359 8/11,25 $2,099 $2,899 add $700 $360 $100 $3,359 9/8,22 $2,199 $2,799 add $780 $360 $100 $3,259 10/6,20 $2,199 $2,799 add $780 $360 $100 $3,259 11/3 $2,099 $2,599 add $700 $360 $100 $3,059

Roots of Chinese Culture 14-Day Tour (CIT006) Taiyuan 太原 – Wutai Mountain 五台山 – Heng Mountain 恒山 – Yingxian 应县 – Datong 大同 – Pingyao 平遥 – Linfen 临汾 – Yuncheng 运城 – Luoyang 洛阳 – Dengfeng (Shaolin Monastery) 登封 – Zhengzhou 郑州 – Kaifeng 开封

Day 1: U.S.A. – Beijing Today you will board a plane bound for China, where you will witness the vicissitudes of China’s five thousand-year history. Your tour will begin in the dynamic capital city of Beijing, a city that encompasses the vast range of China’s cultural styles.

Day 2: Arrival in Beijing Today, after arriving in Beijing, you will be greeted at the airport by CIT’s professional bilingual tour guide and escorted to the hotel where you will be staying overnight. Yungang Caves, Datong Beijing Accommodations: Grand Gongda Jianguo Hotel 工大建国 (5-Star) or (photo by Llee Wu) equivalent http://www.bjut-hoteljianguo.com/en/hotelinfo.html

Day 3: Beijing – Taiyuan Today you will take a high-speed train to the capital of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, which has been an important line of defense against foreign invasion since ancient times. There you will visit the Interactive Coal Museum of China. China mines more coal than any other country, and the construction of this museum is a major event in the development of China’s coal technology. Its function is to collect and preserve important relics and historical data in order to review and summarize China’s advances in coal technology and mining industry safety, thereby demonstrating the progress that has been made in these areas. The museum features an underground mine designed to vividly and realistically show the entire process of coal mining, from the discovery of coal to its excavation, so that you may better understand the richness of the long history of Shanxi’s coal industry. After you have watched a documentary on coal mining, descended into the bowels of the earth in a cage elevator, and taken a ride on a mine train, you will have personally penetrated the mysterious world of coal mines. Following your tour of the museum, you will have a chance to enjoy authentic Shanxi-style noodles. Day 3 Attractions: Interactive Coal Museum of China (中国煤炭体验馆, Zhōngguó Méitàn Tǐyànguǎn) Taiyuan Accommodations: Yuyuan Hotel 愉园大酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.yuyuanhotel.com/ Temples at Wutai Mountain (photo by Tim Wang) Day 4: Taiyuan – Wutai Mountain Today you will travel to Wutai Mountain, the most important of the ―four great Buddhist mountains‖ in China and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. First, you will visit Bodhisattva Peak, one of the ―five sacred Buddhist sites‖ on Wutai Mountain and the most opulent of its temples. From there you will go to one of the first temples built in China, Xiantong Temple, which is just as renowned as Luoyang’s famous White Horse Temple. Xiantong Temple is the oldest temple at Wutai Mountain and is also the largest and most influential. The third sacred site you will visit, Tayuan Temple, known for the soaring white tower that houses sacred bones of the Buddha, is traditionally called ―the Great White Tower‖ and is considered a symbol of Wutai Mountain. The fourth and last site you will visit is the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas; also known as ―the Temple of Five Grandfathers,‖ it is where visitors to Wutai Mountain feel inspired to burn the most incense. For dinner this evening, you will enjoy a Buddhist vegetarian banquet. Day 4 Attractions: Wutai Mountain (五台山, Wǔtái Shān) Bodhisattva Peak (菩萨顶, Púsà Dǐng) Xiantong Temple (显通寺, Xiǎntōng Sì) Tayuan Temple (塔院寺, Tǎyuàn Sì) Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas (万佛阁, Wànfó Gé) Special Arrangements: Wutai Mountain vegetarian banquet Xiantong Temple (photo by Llee Wu)

Wutai Mountain Accommodations: Wutai Mountain Flower Hotel 五台山花卉山庄 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.xn--dlqq8ikoe6yba003ae65g.com/

Day 5: Wutai Mountain – Heng Mountain – Yingxian – Datong After breakfast, you will tour Wutai Mountain’s temple complex, which includes Shuxiang Temple and Puhua Temple. Then you will go sightseeing at Heng Mountain, one of the ―five famous Taoist mountains.‖ There you will take a tour of Xuankong Temple (also known as the Hanging Temple), famed for its scenery, the precariousness of its mountainside location, and the strangeness and skill of its construction. Made entirely of wood, the temple has a small foundation that only covers an area of 152.5 square meters, but it contains 40 rooms. Finally, you will stop in Yingxian (―Ying County‖) to visit the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, also known as the Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple or simply the Muta (―wooden pagoda‖). Built in 1056, the 200-foot tall Muta is the oldest temple made completely of wood still standing in China. Afterward, you will travel to Datong, where you will have dinner. Day 5 Attractions: Wutai Mountain (五台山, Wǔtái Shān) Shuxiang Temple (殊像寺, Shūxiàng Sì) Puhua Temple (普化寺, Pǔhuà Sì) Heng Mountain (恒山, Héngshān) Xuankong Temple or Hanging Temple (悬空寺, Xuánkōng Sì) Fogong Temple (佛宫寺, Fógōng Sì) Yingxian Wooden Pagoda (应县木塔, Yìngxiàn Mùtǎ) Hanging Temple, Hengshan Datong Accommodations: Yungang International Hotel 云岗国际 (5-Star) or (photo by Steve Cadman) equivalent http://www.ygih.com/

Day 6: Datong – Taiyuan After breakfast, you will tour the Yungang Caves (or Yungang Grottoes), a complex of 45 ancient Buddhist caves that are known as an ―Oriental treasure house‖ because they contain some 51,000 stone Buddha statues. The Yungang Caves, whose construction began more than 1,500 years ago, are one of the three biggest such Buddhist grotto complexes in China. After lunch you will return to Taiyuan, where in the evening you can take a relaxing stroll in the ―pedestrian street‖ shopping area near your hotel and take in the local culture. Day 6 Attractions: Yungang Caves (云岗石窟, Yúngāng Shíkū) Taiyuan Accommodations: Yuyuan Hotel 愉园大酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.yuyuanhotel.com/

Day 7: Taiyuan – Pingyao Yungang Caves carvings Today, after breakfast, you will visit the Shanxi Museum, where you can explore (photo by Steve Cadman) Shanxi’s thousands of years of history and see how each period of China’s history has influenced Shanxi culture. After lunch, you will travel to Pingyao. Among China’s ancient cities, Pingyao stands out as the one whose traditional character is the best-preserved. Pingyao’s ancient city wall is one of the four most famous in China, and it’s also one of the oldest and largest brick city walls of any small city in Shanxi and even in all of China. The city’s Sunrise Prosperity Draft Bank, the rural ancestor of China’s modern banks, was the first private financial organization to provide banking services to customers in different areas. You will also visit Mingqing Street, which has been a commercial distribution center since the Ming Dynasty; there are storefronts lining the street and shops everywhere, once earning the area a reputation as ―the number one financial center of the Qing Dynasty.‖ Afterward, you will take a nostalgic tour of some of the city’s ancient establishments. Day 7 Attractions: Shanxi Museum (山西博物院, Shānxī Bówùyuàn) Pingyao City Wall (平遥古城墙, Píngyáo Gǔchéngqiáng) Sunrise Prosperity Draft Bank (日升昌票号, Rìshēng Chāng Piàohào) Mingqing Street (平遥明清街, Píngyáo Míngqīng Jiē) Pingyao Accommodations: Shanxi Grand Hotel 洪善驿民俗宾馆 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.sxpyhsy.com/ Pingyao City Wall (photo by Llee Wu)

Day 8: Pingyao – Linfen After breakfast you will take a tour of Pingyao’s Shuanglin Temple, famous for its rare painted statues from the Song and Yuan dynasties. Then you will travel to Linfen to see its Yao Temple, which was built during the Jin Dynasty in memory of Emperor Yao, who according to legend was the first emperor of China. It is said that Emperor Yao discussed matters of state with four trusted high-ranking officials in Five-Phoenix Tower, one of several famous buildings located on the temple grounds. The tower gets its name from the fact that these officials were called ―the Four Phoenixes,‖ and Emperor Yao himself was called ―the King of the Phoenixes.‖ Day 8 Attractions: Shuanglin Temple (双林寺, Shuānglín Sì) Yao Temple (尧庙, Yáo Miào) Five-Phoenix Tower (五凤楼, Wǔ Fèng Lóu) Linfen Accommodations: Tang Yao Hotel 唐尧大酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.lftyhotel.com/

Day 9: Linfen – Yuncheng After breakfast, you will first visit the Paleolithic-era Ding Village Ruins before heading to Guandi Temple in Xiezhou, near the city of Yuncheng. Guandi Temple is the largest extant temple in China dedicated to Guan Yu, a formidable general from Chinese history who became one of China’s most popular gods. Because Xiezhou was General Yu’s hometown, this grand temple has a lofty status among China’s temples and has garnered people’s respect and interest for hundreds of years. Day 9 Attractions: Ding Village Ruins (丁村文化遗址, Dīngcūn Wénhuà Yízhǐ) Guandi Temple (关帝庙, Guāndì Miào) Yingxian Wooden Pagoda Yuncheng Accommodations: Tongbao International Hotel 通宝国际酒店 (4-Star) (photo by Llee Wu) or equivalent http://www.tongbaohotel.cn

Day 10: Yuncheng – Luoyang After breakfast, our tour bus will take you to the city of Luoyang in Henan Province, to see White Horse Temple, which was built more than 1,900 years ago during the Eastern Han Dynasty and was the first Buddhist temple built in China. Afterward, you will tour the Longmen Caves (or ―Dragon Gate Grottoes‖), one of China’s ―four great cave complexes,‖ which was dug 1,500 years ago; now there are more than 1,300 caves that contain more than 100,000 Buddhist statues and more than 40 Buddhist pagodas. The Longmen Caves were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the most famous sights in the area are Guyang Cave, Fengxian Temple, Lotus Cave, and Ten Thousand Buddha Cave, all of them invaluable cultural sites and relics. Next you will proceed to Guanlin, where the decapitated head of Guan Gong (Guan Yu) is buried. Because Guan Gong was venerated as a military sage in the ancient world, his tomb was built to be grand and imposing. Finally, you will visit Tianzijia Museum, which boasts relics dating back to the 8th century B.C., when Luoyang (then called Luoyi) was the capital of the Zhou Dynasty. For dinner, we have arranged a truly unique “shuixi”-style meal. Day 10 Attractions: White Horse Temple (白马寺, Báimǎ Sì) Longmen Caves (龙门石窟, Lóngmén Shíkū) Guyang Cave (古阳洞, Gǔyáng Dòng) Fengxian Temple (奉仙寺, Fèngxiān Sì) Lotus Cave (莲花洞, Liánhuā Dòng) Ten Thousand Buddha Cave (万佛洞, Wànfó Dòng) Guanlin (关林, Guānlín) Tianzijia Museum (天子架, Tiānzǐjià Bówùguǎn) Special Arrangements: a taste of “shuixi”-style (水席, shuǐxí) cuisine Luoyang Accommodations: Hua-Yang Plaza Hotel 华阳广场国际酒店 Longmen Caves (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.huayanghotel.com/ (photo by Dr. Mark Tu)

Day 11: Luoyang – Dengfeng – Zhengzhou Today you will venture to Song Mountain to visit the Shaolin Monastery, the ancestral home of the Chan branch of Buddhism (―Zen‖ in Japan) and also the birthplace of the Shaolin school of martial arts. Within the temple are many stelae, or stone tablets, of great aesthetic value. Thousand-Buddha Hall and White Clothes Hall are named for the exquisite paintings featured within. During your visit, you will also have the opportunity to watch a Shaolin martial arts performance of matchless brilliance. Next you will see the Pagoda Forest, a cemetery filled with hundreds of stupas, or tomb pagodas, where many eminent Shaolin monks are buried. Afterward, you will enjoy a feast of authentic Henan-style cuisine, followed by a visit to the Henan Museum, which features a fabulous collection of relics from Henan Province’s glorious past. Finally, you will travel to Zhengzhou, where you will eat dinner and spend the night. Day 11 Attractions: Song Mountain (嵩山, Sōngshān) Shaolin Monastery (少林寺, Shàolín Sì) Thousand-Buddha Hall (千佛殿, Qiānfó Diàn) White Clothes Hall (白衣殿, Báiyī Diàn) Pagoda Forest (塔林, Tǎlín) Henan Museum (河南博物馆, Hénán Bówùguǎn) Special Arrangements: Shaolin martial arts performance (武术表演, wǔshù biǎoyǎn), Henan-style cuisine Zhengzhou Accommodations: Jianguo Hotel Xinhua Henan 新华建国 Shaolin kung fu performers (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.xhjg.cn/ (photo by Kevin Poh)

Day 12: Zhengzhou – Kaifeng After breakfast, you will drive to Kaifeng to visit the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, a reconstruction of a Song Dynasty riverside town based on the famous painting ―Along the River During Qingming Festival,‖ by the Song Dynasty painter Zhang Zerui. As in Virginia’s Colonial Williamsburg, people in the town wear Song Dynasty-style clothing, and as you walk among them it will seem as though you have journeyed a thousand years into the past. Afterward, you will visit the Memorial Hall of Lord Bao, which was constructed in honor of Bao Zheng, a revered high official of the Northern Song Dynasty. You will then continue onward to the Northern Song Pagoda, which has been officially recognized as a ―national treasure‖ of China. Though nicknamed ―the Iron Pagoda‖ because of its deep brown color, its bricks are actually made of liuli (―colored glaze‖), which is similar to crystal glass. After dinner at the restaurant that serves the most famous steamed buns (包子, bāozi) in Kaifeng, you can stroll along Imperial Song Street, which features Song Dynasty-style restaurants and shops that sell antiques, calligraphy, and souvenirs, and visit the Shanxi-Shaanxi-Gansu Guild Hall. Day 12 Attractions: Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden (清明上河图, Qīngmíng Shànghé Tú) Memorial Hall of Lord Bao (包公祠, Bāogōng Cí) Northern Song Pagoda (北宋宝塔, Běisòng Bǎotǎ) Imperial Song Street (宋都御街, Sòngdū Yùjiē) Shanxi-Shaanxi-Gansu Guild Hall (山陕甘会馆, Shānshǎngān Huìguǎn) Kaifeng Accommodations: New Century Grand Hotel Kaifeng 开元名都 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.kaiyuanhotels.com/default.html

Day 13: Kaifeng – Zhengzhou Today you will return to Zhengzhou, which is located in central Henan Province, on the south bank of the Yellow River. Zhengzhou is one of the most important industrial cities in China, and because it is situated on China’s Central Plains, it is of great importance as a center of transportation. It is also known as a commercial city because of its commercial prosperity in ancient times. After your arrival in Zhengzhou, you will proceed to the Yellow River Scenic Area, whose sights include Five Dragons Peak, the famous “Yellow River Mother” Statue, and the Yellow River Stone Tablet Forest, a cluster of many stelae (stone tablets) of every description. Northern Song Pagoda You will also take a tour of the Yellow River on a hovercraft. As night approaches, (photo by Kevin Poh) you will stroll through the Gulou Night Market and enjoy a dinner of Cantonese food and “Old Ma” hot pot.

Day 13 Attractions: Yellow River Scenic Area (黄河游览区, Huáng Hé Yóulǎn Qū) Five Dragons Peak (五龙峰, Wǔ Lóng Fēng) Yellow River Mother Statue (黄河母亲塑像, Huáng Hé Mǔqīn Sùxiàng) Yellow River Stone Tablet Forest (黄河碑林, Huáng Hé Bēilín) Gulou Night Market (鼓楼夜市, Gǔlóu Yèshì) Special Arrangements: hovercraft tour of the Yellow River, Cantonese dinner with hot pot Zhengzhou Accommodations: Jianguo Hotel Xinhua Henan 新华建国 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.xhjg.cn/

Day 14: Zhengzhou / departure from China via Beijing or Shanghai Memorial Hall of Lord Bao Today you will take a flight to Beijing or Shanghai, where you can either fly back (photo by Kevin Poh) to the United States or continue your vacation in China; if you’d like to make additional travel arrangements, please let us know.

CIT006 2013 Prices and Departure Dates

From SFO/LAX Departure Saturday Land Air Ticket Single Fuel Taxes & Total Only & Land Occupancy Surcharge Fees Price* 1/26 $1,899 $2,399 add $500 $360 $100 $2,859 2/16 $1,899 $2,399 add $500 $360 $100 $2,859 3/2,16 $1,899 $2,399 add $500 $360 $100 $2,859 4/6,20 $2,099 $2,699 add $600 $360 $100 $3,159 5/4,18 $2,099 $2,699 add $600 $360 $100 $3,159 6/1,15,29 $1,999 $2,799 add $600 $360 $100 $3,259 7/13,27 $1,999 $2,799 add $600 $360 $100 $3,259 8/10,24 $1,999 $2,799 add $600 $360 $100 $3,259 9/7,21 $2,099 $2,699 add $600 $360 $100 $3,159 10/5,19 $2,099 $2,699 add $600 $360 $100 $3,159 11/2,16,30 $1,899 $2,399 add $500 $360 $100 $2,859 12/28 $1,899 $2,399 add $500 $360 $100 $2,859

Silk Road 16-Day Tour (CIT007) Ürümqi 乌鲁木齐 – Turpan 吐鲁番 – Dunhuang 敦煌 – Jiayuguan 嘉峪关 – Lanzhou 兰州 – Xining 西宁 – Xi’an 西安

Day 1: U.S.A. – Beijing Today you will board a plane bound for China, where you will witness the vicissitudes of China’s five thousand- year history. Your tour will begin in the dynamic capital city of Beijing, a city that encompasses the vast range of China’s cultural styles.

Day 3: Beijing – Ürümqi Today you will take a flight to Ürümqi in northwestern China. After your arrival, you will visit the biggest bazaar in the area, where you can enjoy the wide variety of goods for sale and barter with the merchants. For dinner, we have arranged a meal of roasted whole lamb that is of better quality than the roasted lamb that travel agencies typically arrange in Turpan. Day 3 Attractions: bazaar (巴紮, bāzā) Special Arrangements: roasted whole lamb Ürümqi Accommodations: Mirage Hotel Ürümqi 美丽华酒店 (4-Star) Bazaar, Ürümqi or equivalent http://www.mirage-hotel.cn/yw/index.html (photo by 29cm)

Day 4: Ürümqi After breakfast, you will head to ―the Pearl of the Tianshan Mountains,‖ Heavenly Lake, located at an elevation of 1,980 meters. According to Chinese legend, this is the land of the ―heavenly emperor’s‖ wife; with its crystal-clear jade water, a dense growth of fir trees blanketing the surrounding area, and the snow-capped Peak of God in the background, the reflective surface of the lake creates a truly captivating mountain scene. Even in midsummer, the cool temperatures of the area around Heavenly Lake make it a great place to escape the summer heat, and during the winter it’s ideal for ice skating. Day 4 Attractions: Heavenly Lake Heavenly Lake (天池, Tiān Chí) (photo by Dave and Melody) view of the Peak of God (柏格达峰, Bògédá Fēng)

Day 5: Ürümqi – Turpan Today you will travel to Turpan, nicknamed ―the Land of Fire‖ because of its location in the lowest basin in China, where the climate is scorching hot. You will pass by the Flaming Mountains, where the Buddhist monk Master Xuanzang studied Buddhist scripture more than 1,300 years ago on his way to India, and tour the Bozi (or ―Bezeklik‖) Thousand-Buddha Caves, one of the famous Buddhist ―grotto temples‖ of Xinjiang Province. The construction of the caves began during the Northern and Southern Dynasties (around 1,500 years ago) and continued through the Tang Dynasty, the Five Dynasties period, the Song Dynasty, and the Yuan Dynasty until it became one of the most important centers of Buddhism in western China. Afterward, you will visit the Sugong Pagoda (also called Emin Minaret), which was built in 1778. It is constructed almost entirely of uniformly greyish-yellow brick, and its exterior is composed of layer upon layer of 14 different traditional geometric designs of the Uighur minority group that are characteristic of the engraved murals found in Islamic temple architecture. Afterward, you will head to your hotel in Turpan. Day 5 Attractions: Emin Minaret, Turpan (photo by Kevin Hale) Flaming Mountains (火焰山, Huǒyàn Shān)

Bozi (Bezeklik) Thousand-Buddha Caves (柏孜克里克千佛洞, Bózīkèlǐkè Qiānfó Dòng) Sugong Pagoda (苏公塔, Sūgōng Tǎ) or Emin Minaret (额敏塔, Émǐn Tǎ) Turpan Accommodations: Huozhou Hotel 吐鲁番火洲大酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent

Day 6: Turpan – Dunhuang Today you will visit Grape Valley; Turpan’s abundant and sweet fruit is one of its most distinctive features. You will then tour Jiaohe Ancient City (also known as the Jiaohe Ruins), the well-preserved remains of an ancient city whose buildings are made of mudbricks, before proceeding to nearby Uighur Village. There, an exhibit hall on the folk customs of the Uighur minority, along with the traditional homes of the village’s inhabitants, will reveal the changes that have occurred over the course of the Uighur people’s history. You will also visit the Karez Museum, which features exhibits about Xinjiang’s special ―karez‖ irrigation system. This irrigation system is considered one of ancient China’s three greatest feats of engineering, along with the Great Wall and the Grand Canal; there are nearly 1,000 karez canals in Turpan alone. After dinner, you will board a ―sleeper‖ train for an overnight trip to Dunhuang. Day 6 Attractions: Grape Valley (葡萄沟, Pútao Gōu) Jiaohe Ancient City or Jiaohe Ruins (交河故城, Jiāohé Gùchéng) Uighur Village (维吾尔古村, Wéiwúěr Gǔcūn) Karez Museum (坎儿井博物馆, Kǎnérjǐng Bówùguǎn) Jiaohe Ruins, Turpan Day 6 Accommodations: soft seats on the train to Dunhuang (photo by Mike Locke)

Day 7: Arrival in Dunhuang After your arrival this morning, you will head to your hotel for breakfast and then go to your rooms to rest briefly and recover from your train trip. Afterward, you will visit the desert spectacle of Singing Sand Mountain, an enormous sand dune where you can enjoy the unique beauty of the desert scene and ride a camel, the ―boat of the desert.‖ At the foot of the dune in the middle of the desert is Crescent Moon Spring, which for thousands of years has miraculously avoided being swallowed up by the desert sands. Its water is still crystal clear, like a mirror, and its existence is an eternal mystery. Day 7 Attractions: Singing Sand Mountain (鸣沙山, Míngshā Shān) Crescent Moon Spring (月牙泉, Yuèyá Quán) Special Arrangements: camel ride Dunhuang Accommodations: Dunhuang Hotel South Tower 敦煌宾馆南楼 (4-Star) or equivalent Crescent Moon Spring (photo by Fever Z.) Day 8: Dunhuang With a history of more than 2,000 years, the city of Dunhuang is famous for its national, cultural, and historical significance. Today you will tour the Mogao Grottoes (or Mogao Caves), a treasure trove of Eastern art whose construction began in 366 A.D. In 1987 the Mogao Grottoes were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Their extraordinary aesthetic character can be seen primarily in the organic unity of their architecture, statues, and murals, which reflect the artistic styles of many Chinese dynasties. The grottoes truly live up to their reputation as a treasure house; more than 50,000 priceless artifacts and manuscripts were recovered from one cave alone, including Buddhist scrolls, books, woven and embroidered goods, paintings, and statues. Day 8 Attractions: Mogao Grottoes or Mogao Caves (莫高窟, Mògāo Kū)

Day 9: Dunhuang – Jiayuguan (Great Wall) – Lanzhou Mogao Caves mural After breakfast, you will head to Jiayuguan (―Jiayu Pass,‖ or ―Excellent Valley Pass‖), the westernmost section of the Great Wall. Along the way, you can admire the view of the Great Gobi Desert and watch as mirages appear and disappear before your eyes. After you arrive at Jiayuguan, you will tour Jiayuguan Fortress, known as ―the most imposing gatehouse in the world.‖ Because of the strategic importance of its location, troop regiments have been stationed here through dynasty after dynasty. During your visit, you will

37 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. also tour Jiayuguan’s Museum of the Great Wall. After dinner, you will board a ―sleeper‖ train for an overnight trip to Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province. Day 9 Attractions: Great Gobi Desert (大戈壁滩, Dà Gēbì Tān) Great Wall at Jiayuguan (嘉峪关长城, Jiāyùguān Chángchéng) Jiayuguan Fortress (嘉峪关城楼, Jiāyùguān Chénglóu) Jiayuguan Museum of the Great Wall (嘉峪关长城博物馆, Jiāyùguān Chángchéng Bówùguǎn) Day 9 Accommodations: soft seats on the train to Lanzhou Jiayuguan Fortress (photo by Kevin Hale) Day 10: Lanzhou After your arrival in Lanzhou, you will visit the Yellow River Mother Sculpture and the Yellow River Iron Bridge, which is known as ―the first bridge built over the Yellow River.‖ Located near White Pagoda Hill and Golden City Pass, it is one of Lanzhou’s most iconic structures. Next you will tour the Yellow River Stone Forest, a geologic marvel formed millions of years ago by movements of the earth’s crust that created strange landforms of every shape imaginable. Here you will have a chance to ride in a donkey cart to experience this distinctive local form of transportation. Day 10 Attractions: Yellow River Mother Sculpture (黄河母亲塑像, Huáng Hé Mǔqīn Sùxiàng) Yellow River Iron Bridge (黄河第一铁桥, Huáng Hé Dìyī Tiěqiáo) views of White Pagoda Hill (白塔山, Báitǎ Shān) and Golden City Pass (金城关, Jīnchéng Guān) White Pagoda Yellow River Stone Forest (黃河石林, Huáng Hé Shílín) (photo by Kevin Hale) Special Arrangements: donkey cart ride Lanzhou Accommodations: Sapphire Hotel Lanzhou 蓝宝石酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.lanbaoshihotel.com/

Day 11: Lanzhou – Xining Today you will tour the Liujia Gorge Hydropower Station and the Bingling Temple Grottoes. Afterward, you can savor the taste of authentic Lanzhou-style hand-pulled noodles; then you will take an express train to Xining. Day 11 Attractions: Liujia Gorge Hydropower Station (刘家峡水电站, Liújiā Xiá Shuǐdiàn Zhàn) Bingling Temple Grottoes (炳灵寺石窟, Bǐnglíng Sì Shíkū) Xining Accommodations: Qinghai Hotel 青海宾馆 (4-Star) or equivalent http://hotel.tw128.com/3418/hotel_IntroAll.shtml Bingling Buddha (photo by D&M) Day 12: Xining Today you will visit Qinghai Lake, the largest inland saltwater lake in China. Vast and tranquil, the blue water of the lake creates an enchanting scene. The lake is located at an elevation of 3,260 meters above sea level and covers an area of 4,400 square kilometers. The mountains, desert, grassland, and pastures surrounding Qinghai Lake combine to form a spectacular scene. Along the way you will also have a chance to admire sights such as the Daotang River and Sun and Moon Mountain. Day 12 Attractions: Qinghai Lake (青海湖, Qīnghǎi Hú) Qinghai Lake views of the Daotang River (倒淌河, Dàotǎng Hé) and Sun and Moon (photo by Jaye Zhou) Mountain (日月山, Rìyuè Shān)

Day 13: Xining In the morning you will tour the Ta’er Monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located at the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, a famous teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, to whom the monastery is dedicated. It features a cluster of ancient Sino-Tibetan buildings, the most famous of which is known as the ―Golden-Tiled Temple‖ because its roof is literally made of gold. Ta’er Monastery also boasts a great variety of relics, including exquisite examples of

38 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. its ―three incomparable arts‖: murals, ―duīxiù‖ embroidery, and butter sculptures, which are similar to wax sculptures. In the afternoon, you will visit a ―Tu‖ ethnic minority (土族, Tǔzú) village in Huzhu County. There, you will experience the traditional Tu lifestyle, enjoy traditional song and dance performances, and savor the taste of authentic local dishes. Day 13 Attractions: Ta’er Monastery (塔尔寺, Tǎěr Sì) Golden-Tiled Temple (大金瓦殿, Dà Jīnwǎ Diàn) Huzhu County Tu Village (互助土族之乡, Hùzhù Tǔzú Zhī Xiāng) Golden-Tiled Temple Special Arrangements: traditional Tu performances (photo by Gill Penney)

Day 14: Xining – Xi’an In the morning, you will tour Beichan Temple (also called Beishan Temple), nestled among ―mountain and water‖ scenery in the Danxia Landform area, whose numerous caves are varied and unusual in appearance. Afterward, you will take a flight to the culturally and historically rich city of Xi’an, one of the great cities of the ancient world along with Athens, Cairo, and Rome. Over the course of Chinese history, it was the capital of eleven dynasties. As it was also the eastern endpoint of the Silk Road, Xi’an features numerous cultural relics and historical sites. After your arrival, you will visit Xi’an’s enormous City Walls, which have a history of more than 600 years, and the Bell Tower. You will also tour Big Goose Pagoda, built to preserve the valuable scriptures that the famous monk Master Xuán Zàng brought back from India. Since ancient times, distinguished and cultured men have been inspired by the view from the tower to write timeless works. Afterward, you will have a banquet featuring authentic local dumplings and enjoy a Tang Dynasty-style song and dance performance. Day 14 Attractions: Beichan Temple (北禪寺, Běichán Sì), also called Beishan Temple (北山寺, Běishān Sì) Xi’an’s City Walls (城墙, Chéngqiáng) Bell Tower (钟楼, Zhōnglóu) Big Goose Pagoda (大雁塔, Dàyàn Tǎ) Special Arrangements: authentic Defachang dumplings (德发长饺子, Défācháng jiǎozi), Tang Dynasty-style performance (仿唐乐歌舞, Fǎng Táng Yuègēwǔ) Xi’an Accommodations: Titan Times Hotel 西安天朗时代大酒店 (5-Star) or Xi’an City Walls equivalent http://www.titantimeshotel.com/ (photo by CIT)

Day 15: Xi’an Today, you will travel to the village of Lintong to see the First Emperor’s terracotta army, which was accidentally discovered in 1974 by a villager while he was digging a well. Its excavation revealed to the world the political, economic, cultural, and military achievements of ancient China in the time of the First Emperor. After the opening of the vast Terracotta Army Museum in 1979, the terracotta army became an international sensation and began to be called the Eighth Wonder of the World; it was one of the most important archaeological discoveries of its time. The scope of the terracotta army, its aura of might, and the great scientific and aesthetic achievements it represents leave spectators astounded. After returning to Xi’an, you will take a stroll along Huimin Street in Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter, a section of the city whose character was directly influenced by the Silk Road. Day 15 Attractions: the First Emperor’s terracotta army (秦始皇兵马俑, Qín Shǐhuáng Bīngmǎyǒng) Huimin Street (回民街, Huímín Jiē)

Day 16: Xi’an – Beijing – U.S.A. Today you will say goodbye to Xi’an and fly to Beijing, where you will then take a connecting flight to the United States and home, sweet home. Terracotta horses, Xi’an (photo by CIT)

CIT007 2013 Prices and Departure Dates

From SFO/LAX Departure Saturday Land Air Ticket Single Fuel Taxes & Total Only & Land Occupancy Surcharge Fees Price* 3/23 $2,499 $3,099 add $650 $360 $100 $3,559 4/13,27 $2,699 $3,299 add $700 $360 $100 $3,759 5/11,25 $2,699 $3,299 add $700 $360 $100 $3,759 6/8,22 $2,599 $3,499 add $700 $360 $100 $3,959 7/6,20 $2,599 $3,499 add $700 $360 $100 $3,959 8/3,17,31 $2,599 $3,499 add $700 $360 $100 $3,959 9/14,28 $2,699 $3,299 add $700 $360 $100 $3,759 10/12,26 $2,699 $3,299 add $700 $360 $100 $3,759 11/9 $2,499 $3,099 add $650 $360 $100 $3,559

Mysterious Tibet 16-Day Tour (CIT008) Beijing 北京 – Three Gorges 三峡 – Xi’an 西安 – Lhasa 拉萨 – Shanghai 上海

Day 1: U.S.A. – Beijing Today you will board a plane bound for China, where you will witness the vicissitudes of China’s five thousand-year history. Your tour will begin with the dynamic capital city of Beijing, a city that encompasses the vast range of China’s cultural styles.

Day 3: Beijing After breakfast, you will visit Tiananmen Square. Originally the front entrance of the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Tiananmen (―the Gate of Heavenly Peace‖) was built in the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Yongle. When it was renovated during the Qing Dynasty, its name was changed to Tiananmen to suggest the idea that the emperor’s mandate to pacify and rule the nation came from heaven. You will make a special trip to see the National Centre for the Performing Arts, whose exterior looks like an enormous eggshell, earning it the nickname ―The Egg.‖ Next, you will tour the Forbidden City, which served as the royal palace for 24 consecutive emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There you can explore art exhibits from every dynasty, exhibitions of Qing Dynasty cultural relics, the Three Great Halls, the Imperial Garden, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and other attractions. In the afternoon an expert guide will take you on a pedicab tour of Beijing’s hutong, or ―narrow alleyways,‖ where you can take pictures that will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time, and afterward you will stroll along the shore of Shicha Hai, a picturesque man-made lake. After dinner you will enjoy a theatrical kung fu show. Day 3 Attractions: Tiananmen Square (天安门广场, Tiānānmén Guǎngchǎng) National Centre for the Performing Arts (国家大剧院, Guójiā Dàjùyuàn) Forbidden City (故宫, Gù Gōng, or 紫禁城, Zǐjìn Chéng) Three Great Halls (三大殿, Sān Dàdiàn) Imperial Garden (御花园, Yùhuā Yuán) Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫, Qiánqīng Gōng) Beijing’s hutong, (胡同, hútòng) Shicha Hai (什刹海, Shíchà Hǎi) Forbidden City, Beijing (photo by Thierry) Special Arrangements: theatrical kung fu show (功夫秀, gōngfū xiù)

Summer Palace (颐和园, Yíhé Yuán) Temple of Heaven (天坛, Tiāntán) Echo Wall (回音壁, Huíyīn Bì) Three-Tone Stone (三音石, Sānyīn Shí) National Aquatics Center (国家游泳中心, Guójiā Yóuyǒng Zhōngxīn), or Water Cube (水立方, Shuǐ Lìfāng) National Stadium (国家体育馆, Guójiā Tǐyùguǎn), or Bird’s Nest (鸟巢, Niǎo Cháo) Special Arrangements: gondola (cable car) transport up and down the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, Beijing Great Wall; Peking duck (烤鸭, kǎoyā) at Quanjude (全聚德, Quánjùdé), (photo by Momo Wong) a famous restaurant

Day 5: Beijing – Yichang Today, you will take a flight to the city of Yichang, where you will start your unforgettable tour of the Three Gorges. The Three Gorges area of the Yangtze River (also known as the Cháng Jiāng) stretches from Chongqing in the west to Yichang in the east and is made up of Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge. With a total length of 192 kilometers, the Three Gorges area is like a gallery of paintings in its striking beauty. It has long been world-famous for its spectacular scenery: the towering peaks pressing in on both sides, the narrow and winding river, the rocks and shoals scattered through the river like chess pieces, the rushing and surging of the turbulent water. With lofty mountain ridges and overhanging precipices rising on either side of the river, the scene is astonishing and unique: the continual line of peaks has an average height of 700-800 meters, and the river gets as narrow as a mere 100 meters wide. You will enjoy this magnificent scenery from the comfort of a 5-star cruise ship. 总统二号 Three Gorges Accommodations: President No. 2 (5-Star) or equivalent Fishing in the Yangtze mist http://www.yzcruises.com/cruises/C1202 (photo by Clark Gregor)

Day 7: Three Gorges Today the ship will stop at Wushan, where you will take a side trip on the Daning River through the Little Three Gorges, beginning with the gorge known as Dragon Gate Gorge.* Here you can still hear the cries of the monkeys that live in the area and see the ―hanging coffins,‖ which used to be high up on the cliff but now seem almost close enough to reach up and touch. As a result of the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the river is less dangerous than before, and now you can go deep into gorges that were previously inaccessible by boat. After your trip along the Little Three Gorges, you will return to the cruise ship and enter Wu Gorge. The second of the Three Gorges, it has a length of 36 kilometers and features 12 peaks with wildly varied shapes, such as Peak of the Immortals and Goddess Peak, which still presents the imposing figure of a woman standing straight

* Depending on local conditions, you may instead go on a side trip to Shennong Stream (Shénnóng Xī), which also features beautiful natural scenery and hanging coffins.

42 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. and tall; she now simply seems a little closer. Here, precipitous cliffs confront each other across the river, proving that the beautiful scenery of the Three Gorges still exists. As you prepare to go to sleep in your cabin tonight, allow your imagination to be inspired by the wondrous sights you’ve seen. Day 7 Attractions: Daning River (大宁河, Dàníng Hé) Little Three Gorges (小三峡, Xiǎo Sānxiá), including Dragon Gate Gorge (龙门峡, Lóngmén Xiá) Wu Gorge (巫峡, Wūxiá) Peak of the Immortals (集仙峰, Jíxiān Fēng) Shennong Stream Goddess Peak (神女峰, Shénnǚ Fēng)...and 10 other famous peaks (photo by Robin Poll)

Day 8: Three Gorges The ship’s horn blows like thunder as you enter the most magnificent of the Three Gorges, Qutang Gorge, which is just as impressive as ever; the only difference is that some of the famous stone engravings are now underwater. Gaze upward at the ancient settlement of White King Town, mentioned in one of China’s most famous books, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The cruise ship will stop at Fengdu, the ―City of Ghosts,‖ which features many ancient tombs as well as many temples dedicated to the gods of the Underworld; the effect of it all is to serve as a potent reminder of the importance of being a good person. Alternatively, the ship might dock at Wanxian (or Wanzhou), known as ―Big Gate of the Eastern River‖ (川东大门, Chuāndōng Dàmén). Wanxian’s famous ―hundred stone stairs‖ up the side of the gorge are now underwater, and a new, modern town has been constructed at a higher elevation. Tonight, you will again sleep on the cruise ship. Day 8 Attractions: Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峡, Qútáng Xiá) White King Town (白帝城, Báidìchéng) Fengdu (酆都, Fēngdū) or Wanxian (万县, Wànxiàn), also called Wanzhou (万 Sunrise in Qutang Gorge 州, Wànzhōu) (photo by Robin Poll)

Day 10: Xi’an If you haven’t seen the First Emperor’s terracotta army, known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, you haven’t really been to Xi’an. The pit where the terracotta army is still in the process of being excavated is an ancillary section of the tomb of the infamous First Emperor, Qín Shǐhuáng. Your next stop is Huaqing Hot Springs, which since ancient times has been famed for the high quality of both its hot springs and its beautiful scenery, but even more for its description in the famous poem ―Song of Eternal Sorrow‖ by Bái Jūyì: ―Allowed to bathe at Huaqing on a cold spring day, she washed her creamy skin with the warm, silky water; languid and tired, she was helped

43 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. out of the water by a maid, and the Emperor’s love for her was renewed.‖ Because of this poem, the story of the tragic love affair that occurred here between Yáng Guìfēi and Emperor Xuánzōng of the Tang Dynasty has been passed down through the ages. After dinner, you will have a chance to admire modern musicians and dancers as they present an opulently staged show, re-created from historical materials, in imitation of Tang Dynasty performances. Day 10 Attractions: the First Emperor’s terracotta army (兵马俑, Bīngmǎyǒng) Huaqing Hot Springs (华清池, Huáqīng Chí) 德发长饺子 Special Arrangements: authentic Defachang dumplings ( , Défācháng jiǎozi), Terracotta soldier Tang Dynasty-style performance (仿唐乐歌舞, Fǎng Táng Yuègēwǔ) (photo by CIT)

Day 11: Xi’an – Lhasa Today you will depart Xi’an and proceed to the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, also called the ―City of Sunshine‖ and a holy land: Lhasa. The Tibet Autonomous Region is located in the center of the Tibetan Plateau, with an average elevation of more than 4,000 meters above sea level, a cold climate, low air pressure, thin air, and long days of sunshine; because of these characteristics it is sometimes referred to as ―the earth’s third pole.‖ The city of Lhasa, with an elevation of 3,658 meters, is located at the confluence of the Yarlung Zangbo River and its tributary, the Lhasa River. Lhasa’s extreme elevation and isolation have always shrouded it in a veil of mystery and made it difficult for the outside world to understand. After your arrival, you will head straight to your hotel and avoid doing any activities so that you can get ample rest and have time to acclimate to the thinner air of the plateau; this will reduce the effects of the high altitude on your body. Lhasa Accommodations: Xin-Ding Hotel 新鼎大酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent Potala Palace building http://www.xddjd.com/ (photo by Bernt Rostad)

Day 12: Lhasa After breakfast, you will visit Potala Palace, which was built by the Tibetan king Songsten Gampo in the 7th century A.D. for his Chinese wife who had come from afar, Princess Wencheng. Potala Palace, along with some of the nearby sites you will visit, has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built atop Lhasa’s ―Red Mountain‖ (红山, Hóng Shān) at an elevation of over 3,700 meters, it contains 999 rooms, and its main building is 13 stories tall, with a height of 115 meters. The palace is constructed entirely of stone and wood, with five roofs covered in gilded bronze tiles that shine brightly with golden light, giving a grand and imposing impression. Potala Palace was previously used by the Dalai Lama as his winter palace, and it was also a political and religious center for the rulers of old Tibet. After lunch you will proceed to the southeastern section of the city to tour Jokhang Temple, the oldest wooden building in the Tibetan region that was built by a Tibetan and Chinese cooperative effort in imitation of Tang Dynasty architecture. More importantly, it is the center of Tibetan Buddhism; every year thousands of religious pilgrims come from their homes thousands of miles away, kowtowing once every three steps along the way, to pay homage to Sammāsambuddha (the Supreme Buddha) and pray for his blessing. Day 12 Attractions: Potala Palace (布达拉宫, Bùdálā Gōng) Jokhang Temple pilgrims Jokhang Temple (大昭寺, Dàzhāo Sì) (photo by Roy Kim)

Day 13: Lhasa Today you will tour one of the three major temples of the Gelukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism and the largest temple in Tibet: Drepung Monastery. Afterward, you will visit Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama’s summer residence and Lhasa’s equivalent to Beijing’s Summer Palace. This elegant garden palace is the place where past Dalai Lamas managed government affairs and held religious ceremonies. Finally, you will take a tour of Sera Monastery, which contains more than ten thousand statues of the Buddha and his warrior attendants. Here you may also have an opportunity to witness the fascinating sight of lamas debating matters of scripture. In the afternoon you will visit Barkhor Street, also known as Bājiǎo (Octagon) Street, in Lhasa’s Old City, whose

44 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. traditional appearance and Tibetan flavor have been kept intact. Although the street, paved with hand-smoothed stones, is not very wide, it is packed with the greatest concentration of visitors to Lhasa. Stores line the street like trees in a forest, and there are more than 1,000 street vendors selling their wares from portable stalls. Tibetan goods of every kind are sold here, including prayer wheels, Tibetan robes, Tibetan knives, and simple religious implements, as well as many items imported from faraway India and Nepal; Barkhor Street is a treasure that you can’t miss. Day 13 Attractions: Drepung Monastery (哲蚌寺, Zhébàng Sì) Norbulingka (罗布林卡, Luóbùlínkǎ) Sera Monastery (色拉寺, Sèlā Sì) Barkhor Street (八廓街, Bākuò Jiē) Sera Monastery monks (photo by Steve Taylor)

Day 14: Lhasa – Shanghai Today you will fly to Shanghai, the largest city in China. After your arrival, you will tour the architectural complex of the Bund, which lies along the Huangpu River in the downtown area. The Bank of China tower, Peace Hotel, Customs House tower, and other famous buildings built by Western nations during the colonial era are all located along the Bund, where the historical elegance of the ―Wall Street of the Far East‖ has reappeared. On the opposite shore of the Huangpu River in Pudong stands a cluster of modern skyscrapers that represent China’s new era of prosperity, conveying a sense of vigor, majesty, and luxury. After your stroll along the Bund, you will spend an hour enjoying Shanghai’s bright and colorful night scenery as you cruise along the Huangpu River in a tourist boat. Later, you will walk among a sea of people on Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s famed shopping district. Day 14 Attractions: The Bund (外滩, Wàitān) view of Pudong (浦東, Pǔdōng) Huangpu River (黃浦江, Huángpǔ Jiāng) Nanjing Road (南京路, Nánjīng Lù) Special Arrangements: Mongolian barbecue (蒙古烧烤, Ménggǔ shāokǎo) for dinner, Huangpu River boat tour Shanghai Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Hotel Shanghai Fudan 上海复旦皇冠假日酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent Pudong and the Bund http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/shgfd (photo by CIT)

Day 15: Shanghai After breakfast, you will head to Old Town (also known as Old Street) to tour Yuyuan Gardens and the Temple of the Town Gods Shopping Center. Here you will find goods of every description, including artworks, jewelry, clothes, snacks, souvenirs, toys, and special folk handicrafts. After lunch you will visit the Shanghai Museum, whose artworks and artifacts are appreciated both within China and internationally. In the evening you will enjoy a mesmerizing performance by a Shanghai- based troupe of acrobats. Day 15 Attractions: Old Town (老城市, Lǎo Chéngshì) Yuyuan Gardens (豫园, Yùyuán) Temple of the Town Gods Shopping Center (城隍庙商圈, Chénghuáng Miào Shāngquān) Shanghai Museum (上海博物馆, Shànghǎi Bówùguǎn) Special Arrangements: a taste of authentic Shanghainese food, Shanghai acrobats (杂技, zájì) Yuyuan Gardens (photo by B. Fick)

Day 16: Shanghai – U.S.A. Today you will say farewell to Shanghai and return home. First, you will take an exhilarating ride on the Shanghai Maglev Train, the world’s only commercial high-speed maglev (magnetic levitation) train. The western end of the line leaves from Longyang Road Station on Shanghai’s No. 2 subway line, and its eastern end is at Pudong International Airport; its total length is 30 kilometers. With a maximum speed of 431 kilometers per hour,

45 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. the train takes only 7 minutes and 20 seconds to transport you the entire length of the track to the airport, where you will take a flight back to the United States. Special Arrangements: Maglev Train (磁浮列车, Cífú Lièchē)

Lhasa from Potala Palace (photo by Marc van der Chijs)

CIT008 2013 Prices and Departure Dates

From SFO/LAX Departure Sunday Land Air Ticket Single Fuel Taxes & Total Only & Land Occupancy Surcharge Fees Price* 3/10,24 $2,799 $3,399 add $800 $360 $100 $3,859 4/7,21 $2,799 $3,399 add $800 $360 $100 $3,859 5/5,19 $2,799 $3,399 add $800 $360 $100 $3,859 6/2,16,30 $2,799 $3,599 add $850 $360 $100 $4,059 7/14,28 $2,899 $3,699 add $850 $360 $100 $4,159 8/11,25 $2,899 $3,699 add $850 $360 $100 $4,159 9/8,22 $2,899 $3,599 add $850 $360 $100 $4,059 10/6,20 $2,899 $3,599 add $850 $360 $100 $4,059 11/3 $2,799 $3,399 add $800 $360 $100 $3,859

Northeast China 15-Day Tour (CIT009) Harbin (Haerbin) 哈尔滨 – Changchun 长春 – Jilin 吉林 – Shenyang 沈阳 – Dalian 大连 – Lüshun 旅顺 – Yantai 烟台 – Qingdao 青岛 – Lao Mountain 崂山 – Weifang 潍坊 – Ji’nan 济南 – Mount Tai 泰山 – Qufu 曲阜

Day 2: Transfer to Harbin after arrival in Beijing Today you will take a flight to Harbin (Haerbin), ―the Moscow of the Far East‖ and the capital of Heilongjiang Province. With a 900-year history, Harbin has a distinctively foreign feel thanks to its history of Russian influence. CIT’s professional bilingual tour guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel, where you can recover from your trip. Harbin Accommodations: Fortune Days Hotel 福顺天天大酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.fortunedayshotel.com/ St. Sophia Cathedral (photo by Ivan Walsh) Day 3: Harbin Today you will visit Harbin’s Siberian Tiger Park, currently the largest facility in the world dedicated to the raising and breeding of Siberian tigers; the park also has exhibits of other ―big cats‖ such as white tigers, black pumas, and lions. Afterward, you will visit St. Sophia Cathedral Square, featuring a magnificent Russian-style cathedral, before heading to Stalin Park, on the south bank of the Songhua River. The park, which features a monument commemorating Harbin’s successes at flood control, draws big crowds with its many nearby stores. You can then do some further shopping at a shopping center featuring Russian products. For dinner, you will have a chance to savor Harbin-style lamb hot pot. Day 3 Attractions: Siberian Tiger Park (东北虎林园, Dōngběi Hǔ Línyuán) St. Sophia Cathedral Square (圣索菲亚教堂广场, Shèng Suǒfēiyà Jiàotáng Guǎngchǎng) Stalin Park (斯大林公园, Sīdàlín Gōngyuán) Songhua River (松花江, Sōnghuā Jiāng) flood control monument (防洪胜利纪念塔, Fánghóng Shènglì Jìniàn Tǎ) Russian market (俄罗斯精品商城, Éluósī Jīngpǐn Shāngchéng or 俄罗斯工艺品店, Éluósī Gōngyì Pǐndiàn) Siberian tigers, Harbin Special Arrangements: Harbin-style lamb hot pot (photo by Chen Wu)

Day 4: Harbin – Changchun After breakfast, you will take a trip of roughly 4 hours and 300 kilometers to Changchun, the ―Garden City of the North,‖ known for its forests, culture, automobiles, movies, and orchids. After your arrival, you will tour the Puppet Emperor’s Palace, which was used by China’s last emperor, Puyi, when Japan installed him as figurehead ruler of the puppet state of Manchukuo and made Changchun its capital; you will also see the Eight Ministries of Manchukuo. Then you will visit what some consider the most beautiful place in Changchun: Xinmin Street, a boulevard lined with buildings from the Manchukuo era that features a public square on one end and a lake on the other. Day 4 Attractions: Puppet Emperor’s Palace (伪满洲国皇宫, Wěi Mǎnzhōuguó Huánggōng) Eight Ministries of Manchukuo (伪八大部, Wěi Bā Dàbù) Xinmin Street (新民大街, Xīnmín Dàjiē) Changchun Accommodations: HNA Hotel Noble Changchun 名门海航酒店 (5- Changchun, the Garden City Star) or equivalent http://www.hnahotel.com/en/ (photo by Derek)

Day 5: Changchun – Jilin After breakfast, you will proceed to the city of Jilin. Your first stop will be North Hill Park, famous for its Buddhist temples and mountain scenery. Afterward, you will visit the Jilin Meteorite Museum before heading to Century Square, a scenic park that reflects the special character of Jilin. The square is composed of the Jilin City Museum, the south bank of the Songhua River, and a choreographed musical fountain. Day 5 Attractions: North Hill Park (北山公园, Běishān Gōngyuán) Jilin Meteorite Museum (吉林陨石博物馆, Jílín Yǔnshí Bówùguǎn) Century Square (世纪广场, Shìjì Guǎngchǎng) Jilin Accommodations: HNA Hotel Empire Garden 皇家花园海航酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.eghotel.com/ “Laobian” dumplings (photo by Prince Roy) Day 6: Jilin – Shenyang The next stop on your tour is Shenyang, the largest city in northeastern China. There you will visit the Former Imperial Palace of Shenyang, a complex of palace buildings dating back to the Qing Dynasty that is second only to Beijing’s Forbidden City in historical importance and aesthetic value. Afterward, you will tour the Former Residence of General Zhang Xueliang, a mansion built by a warlord who was briefly named president of China after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. For dinner you will enjoy ―laobian‖ dumplings. Day 6 Attractions: Former Imperial Palace of Shenyang or Mukden Palace (沈阳故宫, Shěnyáng Gùgōng) Former Residence of General Zhang Xueliang (张学良将军的少帅府, Zhāng Xuéliáng Jiāngjūn de Shàoshuài Fǔ) Special Arrangements: authentic local “laobian” dumplings ( 老边饺子, lǎobiān jiǎozi) Residence of General Zhang Shenyang Accommodations: Sheraton Hotel Shenyang 喜来登大酒店 (5- (photo by Richard Summers) Star) or equivalent http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1184

Day 7: Shenyang – Dalian Today you will proceed to Dalian, known as a ―garden city‖ and ―capital of romance‖ for its beauty and extensive greenery. First you will head to picturesque Tiger Beach, surrounded by mountains on three sides and the ocean on the other, with a huge rock formation that looks like a crouching tiger lying in the water. After dinner you will enjoy the city’s stirring night scenery at Xinghai (―Stars and Sea‖) Park, a seaside park that according to legend was where a large meteorite once fell, and then visit the Qingniwa Bridge shopping center and the People’s Square. Day 7 Attractions: Tiger Beach (老虎滩群雕, Lǎohǔ Tān Qúndiāo) Xinghai Park (星海公园, Xīnghǎi Gōngyuán) Qingniwa Bridge shopping center (清泥洼桥购物广场, Qīngníwā Gòuwù Guǎngchǎng) People’s Square (人民广场, Rénmín Guǎngchǎng)

Dalian Accommodations: Hotel Nikko Dalian 日航饭店 (5-Star) or equivalent Xinghai Square, Dalian http://www.nikkodalian.com.cn/en/common/index.html (photo by Mike Saechang)

Day 8: Dalian – Lüshun – Dalian Today you will head to Lüshun, located at the southernmost tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, a site that once had great strategic importance. There you will visit a few of Lüshun’s places of scenic and historical interest such as its military port, the Russo-Japanese Prison, and former artillery site Height 203; the entire area is like a museum of modern history. Before returning to Dalian, you will also visit North Bridge and the scenic Binhai Road. For dinner, you will enjoy a meal of local seafood.

Binhai Road ocean view, Dalian (photo by Kan Wu)

Day 8 Attractions: Lüshun’s military port (旅顺军港, Lǚshùn Jūngǎng) Russo-Japanese Prison (日俄监狱, Rì È Jiānyù) Height 203 (203 高地, Èr Líng Sān Gāodì) North Bridge (北大桥, Běi Dàqiáo) Binhai Road (滨海路, Bīnhǎi Lù) Special Arrangements: Dalian-style seafood Lüshun scenery Day 9: Dalian – Yantai (photo by Jerry Luo) Today you will take a ferry to the city of Yantai. First, you will visit Yantai Hill, where beacon-fires were formerly lit to warn fishing fleets of approaching pirates. Next you will tour the Changyu Wine Culture Museum, located on the site of the Changyu Wine Company, which dates back to 1892. Afterward, you will stop at Yuhuangding Park. Day 9 Attractions: Yantai Hill (烟台山, Yāntái Shān) Changyu Wine Culture Museum (张裕酒文化博物馆, Zhāng Yù Jiǔ Wénhuà Bówùguǎn) Yuhuangding Park (毓璜顶公园, Yùhuángdǐng Gōngyuán) Yantai Accommodations: Jinghai Hotel 静海大酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent Zhan Bridge, Qingdao http://www.yt-jinghaihotel.com/ (photo by Taylor and Ayumi)

Day 10: Yantai – Qingdao Today you will travel to Qingdao, a city often compared to Switzerland. First, you will stop at Zhan Bridge, a famous symbol of Qingdao. Strolling along the seashore at Zhan Bridge, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the crescent-shaped city. The best place to visit in Qingdao is the Eight Passes Villas Scenic Area, with its streets crisscrossing like a giant chessboard and its quiet atmosphere. In addition, it features numerous turn-of-the-century European villas, giving the area pleasant elegance and tranquility. To walk amongst its clusters of pine trees in the early morning is even more deeply satisfying! Day 10 Attractions: Zhan Bridge (栈桥, Zhànqiáo) Eight Passes Villas Scenic Area (八大关风景区, Bā Dàguān Fēngjǐng Qū) Qingdao Accommodations: Hai Tian Hotel 海天大酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.hai-tian-hotel.com/haitian/ Tsingtao Brewery, Qingdao (photo by Daniel Ng) Day 11: Qingdao – Lao Mountain – Qingdao After breakfast, you will travel to ―the Alps of the Far East,‖ Lao Mountain, which with its magnificent mountain views has been a popular site throughout history for the construction of Taoist temples. You will see famous local sights such as Frog Rock, Old Man of Stone, and Great Purity Palace, where famous Taoist priests such as Qiu Chuji, Liu Zhijian, and Zhang Sanfeng practiced Taoist arts. Afterward, you will return to Qingdao to visit Donghai Sculpture Park, which features an indoor sculpture museum and an outdoor sculpture garden, and May Fourth Square, with its large lawn area and choreographed musical fountain. We’ve also made special arrangements for you to tour the Olympic Sailing Center, followed by a visit to Little Fish Hill Park, whose distinctive buildings all have an ocean or fish motif. Finally, you will tour the Tsingtao (Qingdao) Brewery, which has long carried on the art of brewing German beer and is now internationally famous. Here you can enjoy drinking your fill of China’s number one beer. Day 11 Attractions: Lao Mountain (崂山, Láoshān) Frog Rock (青蛙石, Qīngwā Shí) Old Man of Stone (石老人, Shí Lǎorén) Great Purity Palace (太清宫, Tàiqīng Gōng) Donghai Sculpture Park (东海雕塑园, Dōnghǎi Diāosùyuán) May Fourth Square (五四广场, Wǔ Sì Guǎngchǎng) Olympic Sailing Center (奥运帆船赛基地, Àoyùn Fánchuán Sài Jīdì) Lao Mountain scenery (photo by Takwing Kwong)

Little Fish Hill Park (小鱼山公园, Xiǎoyú Shān Gōngyuán) Tsingtao Brewery (青岛啤酒厂, Qīngdǎo Píjiǔchǎng) Special Arrangements: fresh Tsingtao beer

Day 12: Qingdao – Weifang – Ji’nan Today you will take a deluxe tour bus to Ji’nan, the capital of Shandong Province. On the way, you will stop in Weifang, known as the ―kite capital,‖ to tour Yangjiafu Park, which features exhibits of various traditional handicrafts that the area is famous for. The city of Ji’nan contains more than 100 natural May Fourth Square, Qingdao springs spread throughout the city in clusters, the most famous of which are (photo by Utpala) Baotu Springs, Black Tiger Springs, Five-Dragon Springs, and Pearl Spring. You will visit Daming Lake, formed by the convergence of three springs, which boasts crystal-clear water and fish swimming to and fro. The lake is surrounded by a ring of more than 800 willow trees and more than 40 lotus flowers, and a number of the city’s most famous sights can be seen here. Day 12 Attractions: Yangjiafu Park (杨家埠风情园, Yángjiāfù Fēngqíngyuán) Daming Lake (大明湖, Dàmíng Hú) Ji’nan Accommodations: The Grand Tower Hotel 山东明珠怡和国际酒店 (5- Star) or equivalent http://www.4008110531.com/index.php Daming Lake, Ji’nan (photo by Bruce McAdam) Day 13: Ji’nan – Mount Tai After breakfast, you will head to Mount Tai, known as ―the chief of China’s five great mountains.‖ From Midway Gate to Heaven, you will ride in a gondola up the mountain to South Gate to Heaven, where the vast view of the plains of northern China spread out below gave rise to the expression ―For he who climbs Mount Tai, the world is small.‖ From there you will proceed to Heaven Street, a shop-lined street located at the summit of the mountain that is considered one of the ―ten most unique markets in China.‖ Whether you’re looking to buy something or just looking, a visit to Heaven Street will leave you satisfied. Next, you will tour Jade Emperor Temple, on Jade Emperor Summit, before taking the gondola back down the mountain. Day 13 Attractions: Midway Gate to Heaven (中天门 , Zhōngtiānmén) South Gate to Heaven (南天门, Nántiānmén) Heaven Street (天街, Tiān Jiē) Jade Emperor Summit (玉皇顶, Yùhuáng Dǐng) Jade Emperor Temple (玉皇庙, Yùhuáng Miào) Special Arrangements: gondola (cable car) ride up and down the mountain Taishan Accommodations: Ramada Plaza Taian 东尊华美达大酒店 (5-Star) Mount Tai scenery or equivalent http://www.ramadaplazataian.com/ (photo by Dr. Mark Tu)

Day 14: Mount Tai – Qufu – Ji’nan Today you will go to southwestern Shandong Province to visit Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius (―Kongzi‖ or ―Kongfuzi‖) and an ancient city famous for its culture significance. You will proceed to the center of the city to tour the Temple of Confucius, the largest and oldest Confucian temple in China. For lunch you will have the chance to dig into a ―Kong Family Mansion Banquet,‖ after which you will visit the Cemetery of Confucius, a forested area where the descendants of Confucius have been buried for more than 2,400 years. Finally, you will tour the Kong Family Mansion, formerly the residence of direct descendants of Confucius. After your trip to Qufu, you will return to Ji’nan to visit the gardens, fountains, and shops of Spring City Square, where you will have some leisure time to stroll around and do some shopping. Day 14 Attractions: Qufu (曲阜, Qūfù) Temple of Confucius (孔庙, Kǒng Miào) Cemetery of Confucius (孔林, Kǒng Lín) Kong Family Mansion (孔府, Kǒng Fǔ) Spring City Square (泉城广场, Quánchéng Guǎngchǎng) Special Arrangements: Confucian banquet Confucius display, Qufu (photo by Dr. Mark Tu)

Ji’nan Accommodations: The Grand Tower Hotel 山东明珠怡和国际酒店 (5-Star) http://www.4008110531.com/index.php

Day 15: Ji’nan / Departure from China via Beijing or Shanghai Today you will take a flight to Beijing or Shanghai, where you will catch a connecting flight back to the U.S.A. and home, sweet home. You can also continue your vacation in China, if you so choose; please let us know if you’d like to make additional travel arrangements. Qingdao waterfront (photo by Damien Farrell)

CIT009 2013 Prices and Departure Dates

From SFO/LAX Departure Saturday Air Ticket Single Fuel Taxes & Land Only Total Price* & Land Occupancy Surcharge Fees

1/12,26 $1,999 $2,499 add $550 $360 $100 $2,959 2/16 $1,999 $2,499 add $550 $360 $100 $2,959 3/16,30 $2,099 $2,599 add $650 $360 $100 $3,059 4/13,27 $2,199 $2,799 add $650 $360 $100 $3,259 5/11,25 $2,199 $2,799 add $650 $360 $100 $3,259 6/8,22 $2,099 $2,899 add $650 $360 $100 $3,359 7/6,20 $2,099 $2,899 add $650 $360 $100 $3,359 8/3,17,31 $2,099 $2,899 add $650 $360 $100 $3,359 9/14,28 $2,199 $2,799 add $650 $360 $100 $3,259 10/12,26 $2,199 $2,799 add $650 $360 $100 $3,259 11/9,23 $2,099 $2,599 add $550 $360 $100 $3,059 12/7,28 $1,899 $2,399 add $550 $360 $100 $2,859

Majestic Scenery 15-Day Tour (CIT010) Mounigou 牟尼沟 – Jiuzhaigou 九寨沟 – Chengdu 成都 – Leshan 乐山 – Mount Emei 峨眉山 – Zhangjiajie 张家界 – Fenghuang 凤凰

Day 1: Departure from U.S.A. Today you will board a plane bound for China, where you will witness the vicissitudes of China’s five thousand-year history. Your tour will begin in the dynamic capital city of Beijing, a city that encompasses the vast range of China’s cultural styles.

Day 2: Beijing – Chengdu Today you will arrive in Beijing and take a connecting flight to the famous city of Chengdu, in Sichuan Province. CIT will have a professional bilingual tour guide greet you at the airport and accompany you to the hotel where you will be staying overnight to recover from your trip. Chengdu Accommodations: Green Land Hotel 绿洲大酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.greenland-hotel.com Bianlian show (photo by S.W.J.)

Day 3: Chengdu – Huanglong – Jiuzhaigou After breakfast, you will head to the airport to take a domestic flight to Huanglong Airport. After your arrival, you will board a bus to go sightseeing at Mouni (or Muni) Valley, which features primeval forests and magnificent waterfalls, the most famous of which is Zhaga Waterfall, the most famous ―calcified waterfall‖ in China. As the water rushes down the staircase-like course of the falls, it produces a thunderous sound that echoes through the forest. Day 3 Attractions: Mouni (or Muni) Valley (牟尼沟, Móunígōu or Mùnígōu) Zhaga Waterfall (扎嘎瀑布, Zhāgā Pùbù) Jiuzhaigou Accommodations: Grand Jiuzhaigou Hotel 星宇國際大酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.xingyuhotel.com Sword Stone, Jiuzhaigou Day 4: Jiuzhaigou (photo by Alpha) After enjoying your breakfast, you will enter Jiuzhaigou (literally ―Nine-Village Valley‖) National Park, named for its nine villages populated by people of the Tibetan minority. Jiuzhaigou is famous for its breathtaking scenery, including 108 mountain lakes, waterfalls, snowy peaks, and forests, as well as for its Tibetan cultural atmosphere, and its beauty is so spectacular that it is often described as a ―paradise on earth‖ or a ―fairytale world.‖ After you have been to Jiuzhaigou, you will have enjoyed some of the most beautiful scenery the world has to offer. For dinner, you will enjoy a buffet-style dinner featuring local foods, and we have arranged a Tibetan-style song and dance performance for you as well. Day 4 Attractions: Jiuzhaigou National Park (九寨沟国家公园, Jiǔzhàigōu Guójiā Gōngyuán) Special Arrangements: buffet of local foods, Tibetan song and dance per- Jiuzhaigou waterfall and lake formance (photo by Christopher)

Day 5: Jiuzhaigou – Chengdu After breakfast, you will head to the airport to board a flight back to Chengdu. Then you will proceed to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, where you will be able to get an up-close look at the lives of pandas, China’s ―national treasures‖ and ―living fossils,‖ in natural habitats, and even take pictures with them. Afterward, you will visit Chengdu’s China Alley (literally ―Wide and Narrow Alleys‖), where you can get a taste of how life in the city has changed over the last 300 years. Although Chengdu has taken on a modern vibe in recent years, here you can feel the energy of traditional life that is at the root of modern Chengdu. After dinner, you will take in a Sichuan Opera “Face-Changing” performance, in which the performer inexplicably flashes through a long series of masks that seem to change magically. The performance will leave you awestruck as you struggle to figure out how the trick is accomplished. Day 5 Attractions: Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (熊猫基地, Xióngmāo Jīdì) Jiuzhaigou lake (photo by S. Luo)

China Alley (宽窄巷子, Kuānzhǎi Xiàngzi) Special Arrangements: Sichuan Opera “Face-Changing” (变脸, Biànliǎn) performance Chengdu Accommodations: Green Land Hotel 绿洲大酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.greenland-hotel.com

Day 6: Chengdu – Leshan – Mount Emei After breakfast, you will travel to the city of Leshan (―Happy Mountain‖), where you will board a riverboat to see the Leshan Giant Buddha, which at a height of 71 meters is the largest stone Buddha statue in the world. Giant panda, Chengdu The aesthetic knowledge and skill of the ancient artisans who created it over (photo by Chen Wu) 1200 years ago will deeply impress you. Next, you will head south of Chengdu to Mount Emei, one of China’s ―four great Buddhist mountains‖ and also one of its most beautiful mountains, where you will take a tour of both the badly translated Declare Nation Temple, Mount Emei’s most famous temple, and Crouching Tiger Temple, named for its secluded location in the midst of a forest. Day 6 Attractions: Leshan Giant Buddha (乐山大佛, Lèshān Dàfó) Mount Emei (峨眉山, Éméi Shān) Declare Nation Temple (报国寺, Bàoguó Sì) Crouching Tiger Temple (伏虎寺, Fúhǔ Sì) Special Arrangements: riverboat trip on the Minjiang River (岷江, Mín Jiāng) Mount Emei Accommodations: Hua Sheng Hotel 華生大酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.hasun.com/ Leshan Giant Buddha Day 7: Mount Emei (Éméi Shān) (photo by Bernt Rostad) After breakfast, you will have a chance to enjoy Mount Emei’s famed Cloud Sea, whose constantly transforming appearance will dazzle and move you. Afterward, you will take a bus to the gondola station and then proceed to the top of the Golden Summit, which offers a spectacular view of the surrounding area. If you are lucky, you will witness a fantastic light phenomenon, called by various names including ―Buddha’s Light‖ or ―Buddha’s Aureole,‖ caused by the sunlight striking the clouds at a specific angle. There you will also see the tallest gold-plated bronze Buddha statue in the world, at a height of 48 meters and with a total weight of 660 metric tons (including the base it stands on). The fruit of the efforts of artists from both Taiwan and mainland China, the statue is an marvel of aesthetic beauty and cultural value. You will also take a tour of Emeishan Museum, whose exhibits emphasize both the cultural depth and the natural beauty of Mount Emei. Day 7 Attractions: Cloud Sea (云海, Yúnhǎi) Golden Summit (金頂, Jīndǐng) Emeishan Museum (峨眉山博物館, Éméishān Bówùguǎn) Special Arrangements: gondola (cable car) trip to the top of Mount Emei Mount Emei scenery (photo by Lyle Vincent) Day 8: Mount Emei – Chengdu After leaving Mount Emei, you will head to Luodai Ancient Town, which is notable for the Qing Dynasty-style architecture of its buildings and for its many historic sites. Many of these sites are connected to China’s famous Hakka minority group, including the ―four great Hakka guild halls of northern Sichuan,‖ Hakka museums, and Hakka parks. Next, you will visit the Jinsha Ruins Museum, which was built after the ruins of an important center of government, culture, and commerce that flourished more than 3,000 years ago were accidentally discovered on the site in 2001. Until this discovery, this civilization was entirely unknown, as there is no historical record of its existence. The museum features many fascinating artifacts unearthed at the site, as well as an excavation exhibit that some consider even more stunning than the First Emperor’s terracotta soldiers. Day 8 Attractions: Luodai Ancient Town (洛带古城, Luòdài Gǔchéng) Jinsha Ruins Museum (金沙遗址博物馆, Jīnshā Yízhǐ Bówùguǎn) Gold mask, Jinsha Ruins (photo by Einar Fredriksen)

Chengdu Accommodations: Green Land Hotel 绿洲大酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.greenland-hotel.com

Day 9: Chengdu – Zhangjiajie (Wulingyuan) Today you will take a flight to Wulingyuan Scenic Area (often referred to as ―Zhangjiajie‖) in northwestern Hunan Province. This area includes Zhangjiajie, a town where minority groups, including the Tujia, Bai, and Miao, make up 69% of the population. Wulingyuan, which in December of 1992 was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been called ―the origin of Chinese landscape painting.‖ It features hundreds of mountain peaks, surrounded by thousands of peak-like rock formations called ―karst upthrusts‖ and crisscrossed by numerous streams, and the scenery here is simultaneously strange, elegant, stimulating, and tranquil. Zhangjiajie Accommodations: Kai Tian International Hotel 凯天国际大酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.kaitianhotel.com/ Zhangjiajie peaks (photo by Philip Lai) Day 10: Zhangjiajie After breakfast, you will head to Son of Heaven Mountain in the northeast part of Wulingyuan. The mountain’s fame began in the Song Dynasty, when a leader of the Tujia minority group declared himself emperor but later died tragically. You will take a gondola high up the mountain to witness the strange and breathtaking sight of the ―thousand peaks‖ rising through the clouds and mist. Afterward, you will visit He Long Park, which was built in 1986 for the 90th anniversary of the famous General He Long’s birthday. The park features a combination of natural and artificial landscapes, as well as the largest bronze statue designed and built in China in the last hundred years. Next, you will see a naturally formed stone bridge connecting two peaks, called the First Bridge in the World because its great height and width make it so breathtaking. The next stop on your tour is Yuanjiajie, another part of Wulingyuan in which there is a high concentration of remarkable sights, including Houhuayuan (―Backyard Garden‖). This area takes its name from its natural landscape of stone formations interspersed with streams, which seems almost as if it had been designed for an emperor’s palace. You will also take a ride up the side of a cliff in the Bailong (―Hundred Dragons‖) Sightseeing Elevator, which holds world records as the world’s fastest, highest-capacity, and tallest sightseeing elevator, as well as the tallest outdoor elevator. From the elevator you will enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the Zhangjiajie area. Day 10 Attractions: Son of Heaven Mountain (天子山, Tiānzǐ Shān) He Long Park (贺龙公园, Hè Lóng Gōngyuán) First Bridge in the World (天下第一桥, Tiānxià Dìyī Qiáo) Yuanjiajie (袁家界, Yuánjiājiè) Houhuayuan (后花园, Hòuhuāyuán) Bailong Sightseeing Elevator (百龙电梯, Bǎilóng Diàntī) Special Arrangements: gondola (cable car) ride up Son of Heaven Mountain, Karst peaks, Zhangjiajie sightseeing elevator ride (photo by Angel Xu)

Day 11: Zhangjiajie After breakfast, you will head to Yellow Lion Village (also called Yellow Stone Village), located on a mountain plateau at an elevation of 1300 meters above sea level, where the mountains, rivers, rocks, clouds, forests, and animals are all wondrous and strange. You will visit the Golden Whip Stream scenic area, which features the most beautiful scenery in all of Wulingyuan. The stream itself is 5.7 kilometers long, winding among peaks and clouds; with its crystal-clear water, fish swimming to and fro, lush flowers and plants, and singing birds, it’s as if you’re walking in a painting. As you approach the beginning of the stream at ―Water Flowing Among Four Gates,‖ you will see a series of striking sights considered by many the best scenery in all of Wulingyuan, with fanciful names like ―Thousand-Mile Meeting‖ and ―Split the Mountain to Save Mother.‖ You will also take in the Ten-Mile Art Gallery, a scenic area with about 200 different rock formations that resemble various human and animal shapes. Day 11 Attractions: Yellow Lion Village (黄狮寨, Huángshīzhài), also called Yellow Stone Village (黄石寨, Huángshí-zhài) Golden Whip Stream (金鞭溪, Jīnbiān Xī) Ten-Mile Art Gallery (十里画廊, Shílǐ Huàláng) Golden Whip Stream (photo by Jason) 54 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc.

Day 12: Zhangjiajie – Fenghuang Today you will travel to Fenghuang, a riverside town with ancient city walls and gate towers located in western Hunan Province near the northern part of Guizhou Province. During the Qing Dynasty, it became a government and military center. A number of minority groups are represented in Fenghuang, including the Miao, Tujia, and Hui groups, so the town has a rich multicultural atmosphere. If you want to witness authentic Hunan culture, you can’t miss Fenghuang Old Town. Fenghuang Accommodations: Phoenix Grand Hotel 天下鳳凰大酒店 (4- Star) or equivalent http://www.txfhdjd.com/ Gondolas in Fenghuang Day 13: Fenghuang (photo by Quentin Scouflaire) After breakfast, you will take a leisurely tour of Fenghuang (―Phoenix‖) Old Town, which features sights and scenes from traditional life in the city such as the market on the Tuo River, women washing clothes in the river, outdoor cafes along the river, an old outdoor theater where many artists still gather today, and numerous old temples and famous buildings (including Three Kings Temple, Wuhou Temple, and Wenchang Pavilion, which you can find on a city map and explore). Then you will tour Diaojiao Louqun, a cluster of traditional Miao buildings where you will have a chance to observe the culture and lifestyle of some of China’s ethnic minority groups up close, and walk the area’s cobble- stone streets (石板街, shíbǎn jiē), famously described by the writer Shen Congwen in the novel Frontier City. Day 13 Attractions: Fenghuang Old Town (凤凰古城, Fènghuáng Gǔchéng) Tuo River (沱江, Tuó Jiāng) Three Kings Temple (三王庙, Sānwáng Miào) Wuhou Temple (武候庙, Wǔhòu Miào) Wenchang Pavilion (文昌阁, Wénchāng Gé) Fenghuang’s Tuo River Diaojiao Louqun (吊脚楼群, Diàojiǎo Lóuqún) (photo by Ken Marshall)

Day 14: Fenghuang – Zhangjiajie – Guangzhou Today you will leave the elegance of Fenghuang’s traditional atmosphere and return to Zhangjiajie, where you will take a flight to the modern and prosperous city of Guangzhou (Canton) in southern China. After your arrival, your guide will escort you to your hotel to rest. You will then be free to do whatever you would like: explore the city or just visit with your family and friends. Guangzhou Accommodations: Landmark Canton Hotel 华厦大酒店 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.hotel-landmark.com.cn/

Day 15: Departure from China via Guangzhou After breakfast, you will wrap up your tour of China’s most majestic natural Fenghuang Old Town scenery by boarding a flight back to the United States and home, sweet home! (photo by Quentin Scouflaire)

Pearl River, downtown Guangzhou (photo by Xiquinho da Silva)

CIT010 2013 Prices and Departure Dates

From SFO/LAX Departure Thursday Land Air Ticket Single Fuel Taxes & Total Only & Land Occupancy Surcharge Fees Price* 2/21 $2,299 $2,799 add $650 $360 $100 $3,259 3/7,21 $2,399 $2,899 add $650 $360 $100 $3,359 4/4,18 $2,499 $2,999 add $650 $360 $100 $3,459 5/9,23 $2,499 $2,999 add $700 $360 $100 $3,459 6/6,20 $2,499 $3,299 add $700 $360 $100 $3,759 7/4,18 $2,499 $3,299 add $700 $360 $100 $3,759 8/1,15,29 $2,499 $3,299 add $700 $360 $100 $3,759 9/12,26 $2,599 $3,199 add $750 $360 $100 $3,659 10/10,24 $2,599 $3,199 add $750 $360 $100 $3,659 11/7,21 $2,299 $2,799 add $650 $360 $100 $3,259

China Discovery 11-Day Tour (CIT011) Beijing 北京 – Xi’an 西安 – Shanghai 上海 – Hong Kong 香港

Day 2: Arrival in Beijing Today, after arriving in Beijing, you will be greeted at the airport by CIT’s professional bilingual tour guide and escorted to the hotel where you will be staying overnight. Beijing Accommodations: Grand Gongda Jianguo Hotel 工大建国 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.bjut-hoteljianguo.com/en/hotelinfo.html Walls of the Forbidden City, Beijing (photo by Momo Wong) Day 3: Beijing After breakfast, you will visit Tiananmen Square. Originally the front entrance of the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Tiananmen (―the Gate of Heavenly Peace‖) was built in the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Yongle. When it was renovated during the Qing Dynasty, its name was changed to Tiananmen to suggest the idea that the emperor’s mandate to pacify and rule the nation came from heaven. You will make a special trip to see the National Centre for the Performing Arts, whose exterior looks like an enormous eggshell, earning it the nickname ―The Egg.‖ Next, you will tour the Forbidden City, which served as the royal palace for 24 consecutive emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There you can explore art exhibits from every dynasty, exhibitions of Qing Dynasty cultural relics, the Three Great Halls, the Imperial Garden, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and other attractions. In the afternoon an expert guide will take you on a pedicab tour of Beijing’s hutong, or ―narrow alleyways,‖ where you can take pictures that will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time, and afterward you will stroll along the shore of Shicha Hai, a picturesque man-made lake. After dinner you will enjoy a theatrical kung fu show. Day 3 Attractions: Tiananmen Square (天安门广场, Tiānānmén Guǎngchǎng) National Centre for the Performing Arts (国家大剧院, Guójiā Dàjùyuàn) Forbidden City (故宫, Gù Gōng, or 紫禁城, Zǐjìn Chéng) Three Great Halls (三大殿, Sān Dàdiàn) Imperial Garden (御花园, Yùhuā Yuán) Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫, Qiánqīng Gōng) Beijing’s hutong, (胡同, hútòng) Shicha Hai (什刹海, Shíchà Hǎi) Kung fu show, Beijing Special Arrangements: theatrical kung fu show (功夫秀, gōngfū xiù) (photo by Dave and Melody)

Day 4 Attractions: Great Wall of China at Badaling (八达岭长城, Bādálǐng Chángchéng) Summer Palace (颐和园, Yíhé Yuán) Temple of Heaven (天坛, Tiāntán) Echo Wall (回音壁, Huíyīn Bì) Three-Tone Stone (三音石, Sānyīn Shí) National Aquatics Center (国家游泳中心, Guójiā Yóuyǒng Zhōngxīn), or Water Cube (水立方, Shuǐ Lìfāng) National Stadium (国家体育馆, Guójiā Tǐyùguǎn), or Bird’s Nest (鸟巢, Niǎo Cháo) Special Arrangements: gondola (cable car) transport up and down the Great Wall; Peking duck (烤鸭, kǎoyā) at Quanjude (全聚德, Quánjùdé), a famous restaurant Temple of Heaven Day 5: Beijing – Xi’an (photo by J.A. Farr) After breakfast, you will fly to the ancient city of Xi’an in Shaanxi Province. Formerly called Chang’an (―Eternal Peace‖), it is considered one of the great cities of the ancient world along with Athens, Cairo, and Rome. Over the course of Chinese history, Xi’an was the capital of eleven dynasties. Because Xi’an was the eastern endpoint of the legendary Silk Road, it features numerous cultural relics and historical sites. First, you will tour Big Goose Pagoda, which was built to preserve the valuable scriptures that the famous monk Master Xuán Zàng brought back from India. Since ancient times, distinguished and cultured men have been inspired by the view from the tower to write timeless works. Afterward, you will tour Xi’an’s enormous City Walls, which have a history of more than 600 years. For dinner, we have arranged a meal of authentic Shaanxi-style food for you. Xi’an’s delicious cuisine is a highlight of any visit to Xi’an and has earned it a reputation as a ―gourmet food capital.‖ Day 5 Attractions: Big Goose Pagoda (大雁塔, Dàyàn Tǎ) Xi’an’s City Walls (城墙, Chéngqiáng) Special Arrangements: authentic Shaanxi-style dinner Xi’an Accommodations: Titan Times Hotel 西安天朗时代大酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent Big Goose Pagoda http://www.titantimeshotel.com/ (photo by CIT)

Day 6: Xi’an If you haven’t seen the First Emperor’s terracotta army, known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, you haven’t really been to Xi’an. The pit where the terracotta army is still in the process of being excavated is an ancillary section of the tomb of the infamous First Emperor, Qín Shǐhuáng. Your next stop is Huaqing Hot Springs, which since ancient times has been famed for the high quality of both its hot springs and its beautiful scenery, but even more for its description in the famous poem ―Song of Eternal Sorrow‖ by Bái Jūyì: ―Allowed to bathe at Huaqing on a cold spring day, she washed her creamy skin with the warm, silky water; languid and tired, she was helped out of the water by a maid, and the Emperor’s love for her was renewed.‖ Because of this poem, the story of the tragic love affair that occurred here between Yáng Guìfēi and Emperor Xuánzōng of the Tang Dynasty has been passed down through the ages. After dinner, you will have a chance to admire modern musicians and dancers as they present an opulently staged show, re- created from historical materials, in imitation of Tang Dynasty performances. Day 6 Attractions: the First Emperor’s terracotta army (兵马俑, Bīngmǎyǒng) Huaqing Hot Springs (华清池, Huáqīng Chí) Special Arrangements: authentic Defachang dumplings (德发长饺子, Défācháng jiǎozi), Tang Dynasty-style performance (仿唐乐歌舞, Fǎng Táng yuègēwǔ) Terracotta army, Xi’an (photo by CIT)

Day 7: Xi’an – Shanghai Today you will say goodbye to Xi’an and travel to Shanghai, the largest city in China. First, you will tour the architectural complex of the Bund, which lies along the Huangpu River in the downtown area. The Bank of China tower, Peace Hotel, Customs House tower, and other famous buildings built by Western nations during the colonial era are all located along the Bund, where the historical elegance of the ―Wall Street of the Far East‖ has

58 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. reappeared. On the opposite shore of the Huangpu River in Pudong stands a cluster of modern skyscrapers that represent China’s new era of prosperity, conveying a sense of vigor, majesty, and luxury. After your stroll along the Bund, you will spend an hour enjoying Shanghai’s bright and colorful night scenery as you cruise along the Huangpu River in a tourist boat. Later, you will walk among a sea of people on Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s famed shopping district. Day 7 Attractions: The Bund (外滩, Wàitān) view of Pudong (浦東, Pǔdōng) Huangpu River (黃浦江, Huángpǔ Jiāng) Nanjing Road (南京路, Nánjīng Lù) Special Arrangements: Mongolian barbecue (蒙古烧烤, Ménggǔ shāokǎo) for dinner, Huangpu River boat tour Shanghai Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Hotel Shanghai Fudan 上海复旦皇冠假日酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent Huangpu River tour, Shanghai http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/shgfd (photo by Curt Smith)

Day 8: Shanghai After breakfast, you will head to Old Town (also known as Old Street) to tour Yuyuan Gardens and the Temple of the Town Gods Shopping Center. Here you will find goods of every description, including artworks, jewelry, clothes, snacks, souvenirs, toys, and special folk handicrafts. After lunch you will visit the Shanghai Museum, whose artworks and artifacts are appreciated both within China and internationally. In the evening you will enjoy a mesmerizing performance by a Shanghai-based troupe of acrobats. Day 8 Attractions: Old Town (老城市, Lǎo Chéngshì) Yuyuan Gardens (豫园, Yùyuán) Temple of the Town Gods Shopping Center (城隍庙商圈, Chénghuáng Miào Shāngquān) Shanghai Museum (上海博物馆, Shànghǎi Bówùguǎn) Special Arrangements: a taste of authentic Shanghainese food, Shanghai acrobats (杂技, zájì) Teahouse at Yuyuan Gardens (photo by Jason Wesley Upton) Day 9: Shanghai – Hong Kong Today you will take the Shanghai Maglev Train, the world’s only commercial high-speed maglev (magnetic levitation) train, to Pudong International Airport. With a maximum speed of 431 kilometers per hour, the train takes only 7 minutes and 20 seconds to transport you the entire 30-kilometer distance to the airport. From there you will fly to Hong Kong, known as a ―shopping capital‖ and ―bargainer’s paradise.‖ The rest of the day is free for you to do all the shopping and sightseeing you wish in one of the world’s most beautiful, fascinating, and dynamic cities. Because of its history as a British colony, its modern and Wes- ternized culture, and its cosmopolitan atmosphere, Hong Kong is a convenient and tourist-friendly environment for Westerners to explore. Note: To give you the freedom to choose where you want to eat in Hong Kong, one of the world's great culinary capitals, we have not included meals for the Hong Kong portion of the itinerary in the prices below. Special Arrangements: Maglev Train (磁浮列车, Cífú Lièchē) Hong Kong Accommodations: Metropark Hotel Kowloon 九龍維景酒店 (4- Star) or equivalent http://hongkonghotel.metroparkhotelkowloon.com/

Day 10: Hong Kong Hong Kong Island Today you will take a bus tour of Hong Kong that will give you spectacular (photo by CIT) views of the city and take you to the most popular destinations on Hong Kong Island. You will stop at Man Mo Temple, a famous Taoist temple in the downtown area; Stanley Market, where you can explore the myriad shops and stalls and do some bargain hunting; fashionable Repulse Bay, where you can take photos of the lovely scene laid out before you; Aberdeen’s ―floating community,‖ where you will take a boat tour of the traditional community of fishermen who live in their boats; and Victoria Peak, where you will take a jaunt by cable car up the mountain to admire a panoramic vista of Victoria Harbour. The evening is free for leisure activities.

Day 10 Attractions: Man Mo Temple (文武廟, Wénwǔ Miào) Stanley Market (赤柱市場, Chìzhù Shìchǎng or 斯坦利市場, Sītǎnlì Shìchǎng) Repulse Bay (淺水灣, Qiǎnshuǐ Wān) Aberdeen (香港仔, Xiānggǎng Zǎi) Victoria Peak (太平山, Tàipíng Shān or 維多利亞山, Wéiduōlìyà Shān) view of Victoria Harbour (維多利亞港, Wéiduōlìyà Gǎng) View from Victoria Peak (photo by CIT) Day 11: Hong Kong – U.S.A. Today you will say goodbye to Hong Kong and fly back to the United States and home, sweet home, taking many great memories of China with you.

World-class shopping in HK: bargain and upscale options (photos by CIT)

CIT011 2013 Prices and Departure Dates

From SFO/LAX Departure Sunday Air Ticket Single Fuel Taxes & Total Land Only & Land Occupancy Surcharge Fees Price* 1/13,27 $1,699 $2,199 add $400 $360 $100 $2,659 2/10,24 $1,699 $2,199 add $400 $360 $100 $2,659 3/10,24 $1,799 $2,299 add $450 $360 $100 $2,759 4/7,21 $1,899 $2,399 add $450 $360 $100 $2,859 5/5,19 $1,899 $2,399 add $450 $360 $100 $2,859 6/2,16,30 $1,799 $2,599 add $450 $360 $100 $3,059 7/14,28 $1,799 $2,599 add $450 $360 $100 $3,059 8/11,25 $1,799 $2,599 add $450 $360 $100 $3,059 9/8,22 $1,899 $2,399 add $450 $360 $100 $2,859 10/6,20 $1,899 $2,399 add $450 $360 $100 $2,859 11/3,17 $1,799 $2,299 add $400 $360 $100 $2,759 12/1,29 $1,699 $2,199 add $400 $360 $100 $2,659

Ancient and Modern China 13-Day Tour (CIT012) Beijing 北京 – Xi’an 西安 – Guilin/Yangshuo 桂林/阳朔 – Shanghai 上海 – Hong Kong 香港

Day 3: Beijing Vast Forbidden City courtyard (photo by Jordan Wooley) After breakfast, you will visit Tiananmen Square. Originally the front entrance of the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Tiananmen (―the Gate of Heavenly Peace‖) was built in the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Yongle. When it was renovated during the Qing Dynasty, its name was changed to Tiananmen to suggest the idea that the emperor’s mandate to pacify and rule the nation came from heaven. You will make a special trip to see the National Centre for the Performing Arts, whose exterior looks like an enormous eggshell, earning it the nickname ―The Egg.‖ Next, you will tour the Forbidden City, which served as the royal palace for 24 consecutive emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There you can explore art exhibits from every dynasty, exhibitions of Qing Dynasty cultural relics, the Three Great Halls, the Imperial Garden, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and other attractions. In the afternoon an expert guide will take you on a pedicab tour of Beijing’s hutong, or ―narrow alleyways,‖ where you can take pictures that will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time, and afterward you will stroll along the shore of Shicha Hai, a picturesque man-made lake. After dinner you will enjoy a theatrical kung fu show. Day 3 Attractions: Tiananmen Square (天安门广场, Tiānānmén Guǎngchǎng) National Centre for the Performing Arts (国家大剧院, Guójiā Dàjùyuàn) Forbidden City (故宫, Gù Gōng, or 紫禁城, Zǐjìn Chéng) Three Great Halls (三大殿, Sān Dàdiàn) Imperial Garden (御花园, Yùhuā Yuán) Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫, Qiánqīng Gōng) Beijing’s hutong, (胡同, hútòng) Shicha Hai (什刹海, Shíchà Hǎi) 功夫秀 Temple of Heaven Special Arrangements: theatrical kung fu show ( , gōngfū xiù) (photo by Julien Lozelli)

Temple of Heaven (天坛, Tiāntán) Echo Wall (回音壁, Huíyīn Bì) Three-Tone Stone (三音石, Sānyīn Shí) National Aquatics Center (国家游泳中心, Guójiā Yóuyǒng Zhōngxīn), or Water Cube (水立方, Shuǐ Lìfāng) National Stadium (国家体育馆, Guójiā Tǐyùguǎn), or Bird’s Nest (鸟巢, Niǎo Cháo) Special Arrangements: gondola (cable car) transport up and down the View of downtown Beijing and Great Wall; Peking duck (烤鸭, kǎoyā) at Quanjude (全聚德, Quánjùdé), Kunming Lake from Summer Palace a famous restaurant (photo by John Barker)

Day 5: Beijing – Xi’an After breakfast, you will fly to the ancient city of Xi’an in Shaanxi Province. Formerly called Chang’an (―Eternal Peace‖), it is considered one of the great cities of the ancient world along with Athens, Cairo, and Rome. Over the course of Chinese history, Xi’an was the capital of eleven dynasties. Because Xi’an was the eastern endpoint of the legendary Silk Road, it features numerous cultural relics and historical sites. First, you will tour Big Goose Pagoda, which was built to preserve the valuable scriptures that the famous monk Master Xuán Zàng brought back from India. Since ancient times, distinguished and cultured men have been inspired by the view from the tower to write timeless works. Afterward, you will tour Xi’an’s enormous City Walls, which have a history of more than 600 years. For dinner, we have arranged a meal of authentic Shaanxi-style food for you. Xi’an’s delicious cuisine is a highlight of any visit to Xi’an and has earned it a reputation as a ―gourmet food capital.‖ Day 5 Attractions: Big Goose Pagoda (大雁塔, Dàyàn Tǎ) Xi’an’s City Walls (城墙, Chéngqiáng) Special Arrangements: authentic Shaanxi-style dinner Xi’an Accommodations: Titan Times Hotel 西安天朗时代大酒店 (5-Star) or An ancient bathing pool at equivalent http://www.titantimeshotel.com/ Huaqing Hot Springs, Xi’an (photo by CIT) Day 6: Xi’an If you haven’t seen the First Emperor’s terracotta army, known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, you haven’t really been to Xi’an. The pit where the terracotta army is still in the process of being excavated is an ancillary section of the tomb of the infamous First Emperor, Qín Shǐhuáng. Your next stop is Huaqing Hot Springs, which since ancient times has been famed for the high quality of both its hot springs and its beautiful scenery, but even more for its description in the famous poem ―Song of Eternal Sorrow‖ by Bái Jūyì: ―Allowed to bathe at Huaqing on a cold spring day, she washed her creamy skin with the warm, silky water; languid and tired, she was helped out of the water by a maid, and the Emperor’s love for her was renewed.‖ Because of this poem, the story of the tragic love affair that occurred here between Yáng Guìfēi and Emperor Xuánzōng of the Tang Dynasty has been passed down through the ages. After dinner, you will have a chance to admire modern musicians and dancers as they present an opulently staged show, re-created from historical materials, in imitation of Tang Dynasty performances. Day 6 Attractions: the First Emperor’s terracotta army (兵马俑, Bīngmǎyǒng) Huaqing Hot Springs (华清池, Huáqīng Chí) Special Arrangements: authentic Defachang dumplings (德发长饺子, Défācháng jiǎozi), Tang Dynasty-style performance (仿唐乐歌舞, Fǎng Táng yuègēwǔ) Ancient bell, Xi’an Day 7: Xi’an – Guilin (photo by Jakob Today you will say goodbye to Xi’an and travel to a city with ―mountain and water‖ scenery Montrasio) that ranks among the finest in the world: Guilin, whose verdant hills, picturesque rivers, and unusual landscapes make it deserving of its fame. Reed Flute Cave, the first stop on your Guilin itinerary, boasts some of Guilin’s most iconic scenery and enjoys a reputation as ―nature’s architectural wonder‖; it contains rock formations of every shape and color, including stone pillars, stone curtains, stone flowers, and all kinds of strange things. Seen under bright lights of every color, they dazzle the eyes like a dream or a hallucination. Another famous sight,

Elephant Trunk Hill, looks like an enormous elephant with its trunk dangling in the water as if it were about to drink from the river. For dinner we will arrange for you to enjoy a meal of Guilin-style rice-flour noodles, which are even more famous than Guilin’s scenery. So long they seem to never end, rice-flour noodles of the finest quality are soft and silky as well as tasty; with some peanuts or pickled cabbage on top, they’re even more delicious, and they will give you a tremendous appetite. Day 7 Attractions: Reed Flute Cave (芦笛岩, Lúdí Yán) Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山, Xiàngbí Shān) Special Arrangements: authentic Guilin-style rice-flour noodles (米粉, mǐfěn) Guilin Accommodations: Guilin Bravo Hotel 桂林宾馆 (4-Star) Rafts on the Li River, Guilin or equivalent http://www.glbravohotel.com/ (photo by Christopher)

Day 9: Yangshuo – Guilin – Shanghai After breakfast, you will depart Yangshuo and return to Guilin Airport, from which you will fly to Shanghai, the largest city in China. After your arrival, you will tour the architectural complex of the Bund, which lies along the Huangpu River in the downtown area. The Bank of China tower, Peace Hotel, Customs House tower, and other famous buildings built by Western nations during the colonial era are all located along the Bund, where the historical elegance of the ―Wall Street of the Far East‖ has reappeared. On the opposite shore of the Huangpu River in Pudong stands a cluster of modern skyscrapers that represent China’s new era of prosperity, conveying a sense of vigor, majesty, and luxury. After your stroll along the Bund, you will spend an hour enjoying Shanghai’s bright and colorful night scenery as you cruise along the Huangpu River in a tourist boat. Later, you will walk among a sea of people on Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s famed shopping district. Day 9 Attractions: The Bund (外滩, Wàitān) view of Pudong (浦東, Pǔdōng) Huangpu River (黃浦江, Huángpǔ Jiāng) Nanjing Road (南京路, Nánjīng Lù) Special Arrangements: Mongolian barbecue (蒙古烧烤, Ménggǔ shāokǎo) for dinner, Huangpu River boat tour Shanghai Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Hotel Shanghai Fudan 上海复旦皇冠假日酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent Ancient food vessel, http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/shgfd Shanghai Museum (photo by Dennis Jarvis)

Day 10: Shanghai After breakfast, you will head to Old Town (also known as Old Street) to tour Yuyuan Gardens and the Temple of the Town Gods Shopping Center. Here you will find goods of every description, including artworks, jewelry, clothes, snacks, souvenirs, toys, and special folk handicrafts. After lunch you will visit the Shanghai Museum, whose artworks and artifacts are appreciated both within China and internationally. In the evening you will enjoy a mesmerizing performance by a Shanghai-based troupe of acrobats. Day 10 Attractions: Old Town (老城市, Lǎo Chéngshì) Yuyuan Gardens (豫园, Yùyuán) Temple of the Town Gods Shopping Center ( 城隍庙商圈 , Chénghuáng Miào Shāngquān) Shanghai Museum (上海博物馆, Shànghǎi Bówùguǎn) Special Arrangements: a taste of authentic Shanghainese food, Shanghai acrobats (杂技, zájì) Skyscrapers rise over Old Town (photo by D. Fuka) Day 11: Shanghai – Hong Kong Today you will take the Shanghai Maglev Train, the world’s only commercial high-speed maglev (magnetic levitation) train, to Pudong International Airport. With a maximum speed of 431 kilometers per hour, the train takes only 7 minutes and 20 seconds to transport you the entire 30-kilometer distance to the airport. From there you will fly to Hong Kong, known as a ―shopping capital‖ and ―bargainer’s paradise.‖ The rest of the day is free for you to do all the shopping and sightseeing you wish in one of the world’s most beautiful, fascinating, and dynamic cities. Because of its history as a British colony, its modern and Westernized culture, and its cosmopolitan atmosphere, Hong Kong is a convenient and tourist-friendly environment for Westerners to explore. Note: To give you the freedom to choose where you want to eat in Hong Kong, one of the world's great culinary capitals, we have not included meals for the Hong Kong portion of the itinerary in the prices below. Special Arrangements: Maglev Train (磁浮列车, Cífú Lièchē) Hong Kong Accommodations: Metropark Hotel Kowloon 九龍維景酒店 (4- Star) or equivalent http://hongkonghotel.metroparkhotelkowloon.com/ Man Mo Temple, Hong Kong (photo by CIT) Day 12: Hong Kong Today you will take a bus tour of Hong Kong that will give you spectacular views of the city and take you to the most popular destinations on Hong Kong Island. You will stop at Man Mo Temple, a famous Taoist temple in the downtown area; Stanley Market, where you can explore the myriad shops and stalls and do some bargain hunting; fashionable Repulse Bay, where you can take photos of the lovely scene laid out before you; Aberdeen’s ―floating community,‖ where you will take a boat tour of the traditional community of fishermen who live in their boats; and Victoria Peak, where you will take a jaunt by cable car up the mountain to admire a panoramic vista of Victoria Harbour. The evening is free for leisure activities. Day 12 Attractions: Man Mo Temple (文武廟, Wénwǔ Miào) Stanley Market (赤柱市場, Chìzhù Shìchǎng or 斯坦利市場, Sītǎnlì Shìchǎng) Repulse Bay (淺水灣, Qiǎnshuǐ Wān) Aberdeen (香港仔, Xiānggǎng Zǎi) Victoria Peak (太平山, Tàipíng Shān or 維多利亞山, Wéiduōlìyà Shān) Shoppers at bustling Stanley Market view of Victoria Harbour (維多利亞港, Wéiduōlìyà Gǎng) (photo by Edwin)

Day 13: Hong Kong – U.S.A. Today you will say goodbye to Hong Kong and fly back to the United States and home, sweet home, taking many great memories of China with you.

CIT012 2013 Prices and Departure Dates

From SFO/LAX Departure Sunday Air Ticket Single Fuel Taxes & Total Land Only & Land Occupancy Surcharge Fees Price* 1/13,27 $1,899 $2,399 add $500 $400 $100 $2,899 2/10,24 $1,899 $2,399 add $500 $400 $100 $2,899 3/10,24 $1,999 $2,499 add $550 $400 $100 $2,999 4/7,21 $2,099 $2,599 add $550 $400 $100 $3,099 5/5,19 $2,099 $2,699 add $550 $400 $100 $3,199 6/2,16,30 $1,999 $2,799 add $550 $400 $100 $3,299 7/14,28 $1,999 $2,799 add $550 $400 $100 $3,299 8/11,25 $1,999 $2,799 add $550 $400 $100 $3,299 9/8,22 $2,099 $2,699 add $550 $400 $100 $3,199 10/6,20 $2,099 $2,699 add $550 $400 $100 $3,199 11/3,17 $1,999 $2,499 add $500 $400 $100 $2,999 12/1,29 $1,899 $2,399 add $500 $400 $100 $2,899

Beijing 4-Day Tour Extension (CITBJ1)

Day 1: Arrival in Beijing Today, after arriving in Beijing, you will be greeted at the airport by CIT’s professional bilingual tour guide and escorted to the hotel where you will be staying overnight. Beijing Accommodations: Grand Gongda Jianguo Hotel 工大建国 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.bjut-hoteljianguo.com/en/hotelinfo.html

Day 2: Beijing (B/L/D) Forbidden City rooftops After breakfast, you will visit Tiananmen Square. Originally (photo by Stas Kulesh) the front entrance of the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Tiananmen (―the Gate of Heavenly Peace‖) was built in the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Yongle. When it was renovated during the Qing Dynasty, its name was changed to Tiananmen to suggest the idea that the emperor’s mandate to pacify and rule the nation came from heaven. You will make a special trip to see the National Centre for the Performing Arts, whose exterior looks like an enormous eggshell, earning it the nickname ―The Egg.‖ Next, you will tour the Forbidden City, which served as the royal palace for 24 consecutive emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. There you can explore art exhibits from every dynasty, exhibitions of Qing Dynasty cultural relics, the Three Great Halls, the Imperial Garden, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and other attractions. In the afternoon an expert guide will take you on a pedicab tour of Beijing’s hutong, or ―narrow alleyways,‖ where you can take pictures that will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time, and afterward you will stroll along the shore of Shicha Hai, a picturesque man-made lake. After dinner you will enjoy a theatrical kung fu show. Day 2 Attractions: Tiananmen Square (天安门广场, Tiānānmén Guǎngchǎng) National Centre for the Performing Arts (国家大剧院, Guójiā Dàjùyuàn) Forbidden City (故宫, Gù Gōng, or 紫禁城, Zǐjìn Chéng) Three Great Halls (三大殿, Sān Dàdiàn) Imperial Garden (御花园, Yùhuā Yuán) Palace of Heavenly Purity (乾清宫, Qiánqīng Gōng) Beijing’s hutong, (胡同, hútòng) Shicha Hai (什刹海, Shíchà Hǎi) Hutong, Beijing Special Arrangements: theatrical kung fu show (功夫秀, gōngfū xiù) (photo by Ellen)

Day 3: Beijing (B/L/D) After breakfast, you will visit the Great Wall of China, one of the Eight Wonders of the Ancient World. Located in a strategically important area that military commanders throughout history have sought to control, the Badaling stretch of the Great Wall is the best-preserved, most representative, and most finely constructed section from the Ming Dynasty. After visiting the Great Wall, you will tour the Summer Palace used by the imperial family during the Qing Dynasty. Originally called ―Clear Ripple Garden,‖ the Summer Palace was burned down in 1860 by the allied forces of England and France. Beginning in 1888, the Empress Dowager Cixi rebuilt it with a huge sum of money embezzled from the navy. After its reconstruction was completed ten years later, it was given its current name. Next, you will tour the largest extant temple complex in China, the Temple of Heaven, where the emperor held sacrificial rites. The famous Echo Wall and Three-Tone Stone are located here. Afterward, you will visit the famous sites of many 2008 Beijing Olympics events: the National Aquatics Center, or ―Water Cube,‖ and the National Stadium, or ―Bird’s Nest.‖ Day 3 Attractions: Great Wall of China at Badaling (八达岭长城, Bādálǐng Chángchéng) Summer Palace (颐和园, Yíhé Yuán) Temple of Heaven (天坛, Tiāntán) Echo Wall (回音壁, Huíyīn Bì) Three-Tone Stone (三音石, Sānyīn Shí) National Aquatics Center (国家游泳中心, Guójiā Yóuyǒng Zhōngxīn), or Great Wall at Badaling Water Cube (水立方, Shuǐ Lìfāng) (photo by J. Aaron Farr)

National Stadium (国家体育馆, Guójiā Tǐyùguǎn), or Bird’s Nest (鸟巢, Niǎo Cháo) Special Arrangements: gondola (cable car) transport up and down the Great Wall; Peking duck (烤鸭, kǎoyā) at Quanjude (全聚德, Quánjùdé), a famous restaurant

Day 4: Departure from Beijing (B) Today your tour guide will escort you to the airport, where you will say goodbye to Beijing. Marble boat, Summer Palace (photo by Edwin Lee)

Single Single Hotel Rating Low Season High Season Occupancy Occupancy

Grand Gongda 5-Star $339* add $139 $399* add $199 Jianguo Hotel

* Price includes land transportation, meals (as noted on the itinerary), hotel, tour guide, complimentary accident insurance, and all of the attractions listed on the itinerary (including the “special arrangements”) but does NOT include the additional charge for single occupancy; the base price per traveler assumes that hotel rooms are shared by two people. “Low Season” refers to January – March, June – August, and November – De- cember; “High Season” refers to April – May and September – October.

Guilin/Yangshuo 3-Day Tour Extension (CITGL1)

Day 1: Arrival in Guilin (L/D) Today you will travel to a city with ―mountain and water‖ scenery that ranks among the finest in the world: Guilin, whose verdant hills, picturesque rivers, and unusual landscapes make it deserving of its fame. Reed Flute Cave, the first stop on your Guilin itinerary, boasts some of Guilin’s most iconic scenery and enjoys a reputation as ―nature’s architectural wonder‖; it contains rock formations of every shape and color, including stone pillars, stone curtains, stone flowers, and all kinds of strange things. Seen under bright lights of every color, they dazzle the eyes like a dream or a hallucination. Another famous sight, Elephant Trunk Hill, looks like an enormous elephant with its trunk dangling in the water as if it were about to drink from the river. For dinner we will arrange for you to enjoy a meal of Guilin-style rice-flour noodles, which are even more famous than Guilin’s scenery. So long they seem to never end, rice-flour noodles of the finest quality are soft and silky as well as tasty; with some peanuts or pickled cabbage on top, they’re even more delicious, and they will give you a tremendous appetite. Day 1 Attractions: Reed Flute Cave (芦笛岩, Lúdí Yán) Elephant Trunk Hill (象鼻山, Xiàngbí Shān) Special Arrangements: authentic Guilin-style rice-flour noodles (米粉, mǐfěn) Guilin Accommodations: Guilin Bravo Hotel 桂林宾馆 (4-Star) or equivalent http://www.glbravohotel.com/ Reed Flute Cave, Guilin (photo by Dennis Jarvis) Day 2: Guilin – Yangshuo (B/L/D) Thanks to the beauty of the Li River, Yangshuo’s scenery may be even better than Guilin’s. The most picturesque part of the Li River is universally acknowledged to be the stretch located between Guilin and Yangshuo. Today at dawn, in the clear and crisp morning air, you will board a ship to tour the river, which will make you feel as if you’re in nature’s art gallery, with one beautiful painting after another slowly unfolding before your eyes. At noon you will enjoy a meal as you continue to admire the scenery, basking in the boundless pleasure of the journey. After arriving in Yangshuo, you can have a little something to drink and do some people watching: in the afternoon, we have arranged a bamboo raft trip along Yangshuo’s tranquil Yulong River. In the evening you can also enjoy Yangshuo’s lively night market. Chinese and Western cafes and restaurants line the street like trees in a forest, and the souvenirs everywhere are a feast for the eyes. Day 2 Attractions: boat tour of the Li River (漓江, Lí Jiāng) bamboo raft trip on the Yulong River (遇龙河, Yùlóng Hé) Yangshuo night market (夜市, yèshì) Special Arrangements: ―beer fish‖ (啤酒鱼, píjiǔ yú, a famous local Yangshuo dish), a special bamboo raft route arranged just for you Yangshuo Accommodations: Yangshuo New Century Hotel 阳朔新世纪 (4- Star) or equivalent http://www.ysxsj.com/ Cormorant fishermen, Guilin Day 3: Departure from Guilin (B) (photo by J.G.) Today your tour guide will escort you to the airport, where you will say goodbye to Guilin.

Single Single Hotel Rating Low Season High Season Occupancy Occupancy Bravo Hotel + New Century 4-Star $350* add $125 $390* add $165 Hotel

Hong Kong 3-Day Tour Extension (CITHK1)

Please note: To give you the freedom to choose where you want to eat in Hong Kong, one of the world's great culinary capitals, we have not included meals on the itinerary or in the price below.

Day 1: Arrival in Hong Kong Today you will fly to Hong Kong, known as a ―shopping capital‖ and ―bargainer’s paradise.‖ After your arrival, the rest of the day is free for you to do all the shopping and sightseeing you wish in one of the world’s most beautiful, fascinating, and dynamic cities. Because of its history as a British colony, its modern and Westernized culture, and its cosmopolitan atmosphere, Hong Kong is a convenient and tourist-friendly environment for Westerners to explore. Hong Kong Accommodations: Metropark Hotel Kowloon 九龍維景酒店 Hong Kong Island (4-Star) or equivalent http://hongkonghotel.metroparkhotelkowloon.com/ (photo by Dennis Wong)

Day 2: Hong Kong Today you will take a bus tour of Hong Kong that will give you spectacular views of the city and take you to the most popular destinations on Hong Kong Island. You will stop at Man Mo Temple, a famous Taoist temple in the downtown area; Stanley Market, where you can explore the myriad shops and stalls and do some bargain hunting; fashionable Repulse Bay, where you can take photos of the lovely scene laid out before you; Aberdeen’s ―floating community,‖ where you will take a boat tour of the traditional community of fishermen who live in their boats; and Victoria Peak, where you will take a jaunt by cable car up the mountain to admire a panoramic vista of Victoria Harbour. The evening is free for leisure activities. Day 2 Attractions: Man Mo Temple (文武廟, Wénwǔ Miào) Stanley Market (赤柱市場, Chìzhù Shìchǎng or 斯坦利市場, Sītǎnlì Shìchǎng) Repulse Bay (淺水灣, Qiǎnshuǐ Wān) Aberdeen (香港仔, Xiānggǎng Zǎi) Victoria Peak (太平山, Tàipíng Shān or 維多利亞山, Wéiduōlìyà Shān) view of Victoria Harbour (維多利亞港, Wéiduōlìyà Gǎng) Aberdeen Floating Community (photo by CIT) Day 3: Departure from Hong Kong Your brief but exciting tour comes to a close as you board your flight back home or back to your point of origin in China.

Single Single Hotel Rating Low Season High Season Occupancy Occupancy Metropark Hotel 4-Star $299* add $159 $399* add $199 Kowloon

* Price not valid during Canton Fair: 4/10–5/5 and 10/10–11/10. Price includes land transportation, hotel, tour guide, complimentary accident insurance, and all of the attractions listed on the itinerary but does NOT include the additional charge for single occupancy; the base price per traveler assumes that hotel rooms are shared by two people. “Low Season” refers to January – March, June – August, and November – De-cember; “High Season” refers to April – May and September – October.

Shanghai 3-Day Tour Extension (CITSH1)

Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai (L/D) Today you will arrive in Shanghai, the largest city in China. First, you will tour the architectural complex of the Bund, which lies along the Huangpu River in the downtown area. The Bank of China tower, Peace Hotel, Customs House tower, and other famous buildings built by Western nations during the colonial era are all located along the Bund, where the historical elegance of the ―Wall Street of the Far East‖ has reappeared. On the opposite shore of the Huangpu River in Pudong stands a cluster of modern skyscrapers that represent China’s new era of prosperity, conveying a sense of vigor, majesty, and luxury. After your stroll along the Bund, you will spend an hour enjoying Shanghai’s bright and colorful night scenery as you cruise along the Huangpu River in a tourist boat. Later, you will walk among a sea of people on Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s famed shopping district. Day 1 Attractions: The Bund (外滩, Wàitān) view of Pudong (浦東, Pǔdōng) Huangpu River (黃浦江, Huángpǔ Jiāng) Nanjing Road (南京路, Nánjīng Lù) Special Arrangements: Mongolian barbecue ( 蒙古烧烤 , Ménggǔ shāokǎo) for dinner, Huangpu River boat tour Shanghai Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Hotel Shanghai Fudan 上海复旦皇冠假日酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/shgfd Pudong skyscrapers (photo by CIT)

Day 2: Shanghai (B/L/D) After breakfast, you will head to Old Town (also known as Old Street) to tour Yuyuan Gardens and the Temple of the Town Gods Shopping Center. Here you will find goods of every description, including artworks, jewelry, clothes, snacks, souvenirs, toys, and special folk handicrafts. After lunch you will visit the Shanghai Museum, whose artworks and artifacts are appreciated both within China and internationally. In the evening you will enjoy a mesmerizing performance by a Shanghai-based troupe of acrobats. Day 2 Attractions: Old Town (老城市, Lǎo Chéngshì) Yuyuan Gardens (豫园, Yùyuán) Temple of the Town Gods Shopping Center (城隍庙商圈, Chénghuáng Miào Shāngquān) Shanghai Museum (上海博物馆, Shànghǎi Bówùguǎn) Special Arrangements: a taste of authentic Shanghainese food, Shanghai acrobats (杂技, zájì) Nanjing Road pedestrian area (photo by Khalid Albaih) Day 3: Shanghai – U.S.A. (B) Today you will say farewell to Shanghai and return to your point of origin or to the next stop on your extended itinerary. First, you will take an exhilarating ride on the Shanghai Maglev Train, the world’s only commercial high-speed maglev (magnetic levitation) train. The total length of the maglev train line is 30 kilometers. With a maximum speed of 431 kilometers per hour, the train takes only 7 minutes and 20 seconds to transport you the entire length of the track to the airport, where you will take a flight to your destination. Special Arrangements: Maglev Train (磁浮列车, Cífú Lièchē)

Single Single Hotel Rating Low Season High Season Occupancy Occupancy

Crowne Plaza 5-Star $320* add $130 $360* add $160

Xi’an 3-Day Tour Extension (CITXA1)

Day 1: Arrival in Xi’an (L/D) Today you will fly to the ancient city of Xi’an in Shaanxi Province. Formerly called Chang’an (―Eternal Peace‖), it is considered one of the great cities of the ancient world along with Athens, Cairo, and Rome. Over the course of Chinese history, Xi’an was the capital of eleven dynasties. Because Xi’an was the eastern endpoint of the legendary Silk Road, it features numerous cultural relics and historical sites. First, you will tour Big Goose Pagoda, which was built to preserve the valuable scriptures that the famous monk Master Xuán Zàng brought back from India. Since ancient times, distinguished and cultured men have been inspired by the view from the tower to write timeless works. Afterward, you will tour Xi’an’s enormous City Walls, which have a history of more than 600 years. For dinner, we have arranged a meal of authentic Shaanxi-style food for you. Xi’an’s delicious cuisine is a highlight of any visit to Xi’an and has earned it a reputation as a ―gourmet food capital.‖ Day 1 Attractions: Big Goose Pagoda (大雁塔, Dàyàn Tǎ) Xi’an’s City Walls (城墙, Chéngqiáng) Special Arrangements: authentic Shaanxi-style dinner Xi’an Accommodations: Titan Times Hotel 西安天朗时代大酒店 (5-Star) or equivalent http://www.titantimeshotel.com/ South Gate, Xi’an City Walls (photo by CIT) Day 2: Xi’an (B/L/D) If you haven’t seen the First Emperor’s terracotta army, known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, you haven’t really been to Xi’an. The pit where the terracotta army is still in the process of being excavated is an ancillary section of the tomb of the infamous First Emperor, Qín Shǐhuáng. Your next stop is Huaqing Hot Springs, which since ancient times has been famed for the high quality of both its hot springs and its beautiful scenery, but even more for its description in the famous poem ―Song of Eternal Sorrow‖ by Bái Jūyì: ―Allowed to bathe at Huaqing on a cold spring day, she washed her creamy skin with the warm, silky water; languid and tired, she was helped out of the water by a maid, and the Emperor’s love for her was renewed.‖ Because of this poem, the story of the tragic love affair that occurred here between Yáng Guìfēi and Emperor Xuánzōng of the Tang Dynasty has been passed down through the ages. After dinner, you will have a chance to admire modern musicians and dancers as they present an opulently staged show, re-created from historical materials, in imitation of Tang Dynasty performances. Day 2 Attractions: the First Emperor’s terracotta army (兵马俑, Bīngmǎyǒng) Huaqing Hot Springs (华清池, Huáqīng Chí) Special Arrangements: authentic Defachang dumplings (德发长饺子, Défācháng jiǎozi), Tang Dynasty-style performance (仿唐乐歌舞, Fǎng Táng yuègēwǔ)

Day 3: Departure from Xi’an (B) Today your tour guide will escort you to the airport, where you will say goodbye to Xi’an Terracotta soldiers and head back to your point of origin or to the next stop on your extended itinerary. (photo by CIT)

Single Single Hotel Rating Low Season High Season Occupancy Occupancy

Titan Times Hotel 5-Star $318* add $129 $388* add $189

Booking Information

Reservation: Please mail, fax, e-mail, or deliver valid travel documents to our offices for booking. Copies of all travelers’ passports and a completed and signed reservation form are required for booking. China International Travel CA, Inc. (hereafter referred to as ―CIT‖) will use customers’ names as they appear on their passports for reservations and ticketing.

Deposit: A $300 deposit per person is required when making a reservation. In the event that the deposit does not reach us within 7 days after the booking is made, we will assume that you no longer wish to travel with us and we will release any arrangements reserved for you. The booking becomes a contract at the time you submit your deposit, and CIT reserves the right to purchase your air tickets at any time afterward.

Final Payment: Final payment must be received no later than 45 days prior to departure. If CIT does not receive your final payment 45 days before departure, we reserve the right to cancel your reservation and charge cancellation fees accordingly. If the booking is made less than 50 days before departure, the full amount should be paid when booking.

Cancellation:

Notice of cancellation must be received by fax or mail; verbal notice only will not be considered sufficient. Please contact CIT to confirm that we have received your cancellation notice. A cancellation fee will be charged according to the following criteria*:

- 60 or more days prior to departure: $200 per person will be assessed. - 45-59 days prior to departure: $300 per person will be assessed. - 30-44 days prior to departure: $400 per person will be assessed. - 15-29 days prior to departure: $500 per person will be assessed. - 3-14 days prior to departure: $1000 per person will be assessed. - Less than 3 days or nonappearance: 100% of total charge.

* If the listed amount is greater than the cost of the services rendered by CIT, the cancellation fee will be limited to the full cost of the services.

If tickets for any form of transportation (including, but not limited to, airline, cruise, or train) have already been issued or final confirmation has been received at time of cancellation, an additional penalty will be assessed in accordance with the policies of the company providing the transportation.

Travel Insurance:

CIT provides a complimentary travel accident insurance policy to customers traveling within Mainland China at no additional charge.

Complimentary Mainland China Travel Accident Insurance provisions: During the coverage period, which begins after travelers enter Mainland China and start participating in the itinerary activities arranged by the travel agency and ends when the itinerary concludes, departure procedures are completed, and the tour participants leave China, the policy provides the following benefits: ¥200,000 (renminbi) for accidental death and disability, ¥48,000 for death caused by acute disease, ¥14,000 for medical expenses, and ¥24,000 for repatriation of remains; the total amount covered is ¥286,000 renminbi. (The coverage period does not include early arrival or late departure periods arranged by clients that are not part of the standard tour itinerary.) Although we do not anticipate any changes to the terms of this policy, it is your responsibility to ask us for up-to-date information.

As it is important for your self-interest and protection to make certain you have adequate insurance protection against all eventualities throughout your trip, we strongly recommend that you purchase these additional protection plans:

• Preferred Benefits Gold Plan: trip cancellation/interruption, travel delay, loss or delay of baggage or travel documents, accidental death and dismemberment • Preferred Benefits Silver Plan: medical expenses due to injury or illness, emergency dental treatment, medical evacuation, expenses for a physician-recommended escort, repatriation of remains CIT provides, at no additional cost, a complimentary Silver Plan policy to customers who make full payment no later than 60 days prior to departure date. Please ask us about these policies at the time you make your initial reservation. For information about exclusions and limitations, please refer to the Preferred Benefits Description of Coverage brochure.

Travel Protection Insurance Details

Preferred Benefits Silver Plan:

Benefits (Per Person) Maximum Limit Medical Expense (Primary) $100,000 Emergency Medical Evacuation $1,000,000

Trip Length Premium per Traveler 11 Days or less $24 12–21 Days $36 22–36 Days $56 37–48 Days $72 49-180 Days $72 + $4 per day

Preferred Benefits Gold Plan:

Benefits (Per Person) Maximum Limit Trip Cancellation Up to Trip Cost (Max. $25,000) Trip Interruption Up to 125% of Trip Cost Baggage/Personal Effects Loss Up to $1,000 Baggage Delay $100 Travel Delay Up to $200 per day (Max. $1000) Accidental Death & Dismemberment (Principal Sum) $25,000

Trip Cost x .055 = Premium (Per Traveler) (5.5%)

Where to present a claim: Preferred Benefits Claims Department PO Box 47 Stevens Point, WI 54481 Tel: 1-866-221-0578

Air Ticketing:

A round-trip economy class ticket is included with the tour for passengers departing from SFO or LAX to Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong. Please call a representative of CIT to upgrade your air ticket to business class at a special rate. Early departure or late return will incur an additional charge of $50 per person.

All taxes, fees, and surcharges associated with airline tickets vary by airline and travel destinations and are subject to change at any time during the year. Clients are responsible for any such extra charges should they occur.

Shopping: In most cities you visit, your itinerary will include one or two prearranged shopping stops, a method of keeping tour costs down that is universally practiced in China. However, these stops will be of limited duration, and you should not face pressure from your tour guides or anyone associated with CIT to make purchases. If you do, or if you feel the time spent at any stop is inordinately long, please notify us as soon as possible.

Hotel Accommodations:

The hotel ratings listed on our itineraries are their official ratings as determined by China’s National Tourism Administration; this is the standard used throughout the China travel industry.

Tour fares are based on two adults sharing one twin-bed room; a ―single occupancy‖ or ―single supplement‖ charge applies to travelers who request a single room. Please notify us of your desired accommodations when booking. CIT will use the hotels listed in our brochures or other promotional materials. We reserve the right to substitute hotels of similar quality and accommodations if the hotels listed in our brochures or other promotional materials are not available.

It's our pleasure to help you find someone to share a room with you, but CIT makes no guarantee of being able to do so.

Meals: Meals will be provided in hotels, local restaurants, or on board domestic or international flights as specified in the itinerary. In general, three meals a day are included in the cost of the itinerary.

Sightseeing: While the sightseeing program is specified in the itinerary, final arrangements will be determined by your local tour escort or tour manager as affected by circumstances beyond the control of CIT, such as weather, acts of God, dangerous circumstances, transportation difficulties, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of government or authorities, and other local conditions such as military conflicts or civil unrest. However, we will adhere to the original itinerary as closely as possible.

Admission/Entrance Fees: All necessary main entrance fees for the programs or places mentioned in the itinerary will be included in the price of the tour.

Tour fares do not include the following:

- Fees for extended stays. - Tips for tour leader, tour guides, driver, bellhops, etc. We suggest $8 to $10 per person per day. - Chinese visa processing fee, passport application or renewal. - Airfares for travel between your hometown and the gateway city. - Any other charges caused by the acts of God, natural disasters, fires, weather, acts of government or authorities, political changes, strikes, war, riots, quarantine, customs regulations, damages or injury caused by accidents beyond the responsibilities of travel agents and/or incurred due to violations of the law by tour participants. - Any items not listed in the itinerary. - Any personal charges, such as phone bills, laundry, postage, additional baggage charges (for overweight, oversized, and/or excess baggage), insurance, beverages, water, etc.

Charges for children: Children 11 years and under who share a room with two adults and do not ask for an extra bed will be charged the listed child fare or 75% of the regular adult price; if they need an extra bed in the same room with two adults, the cost will be 90% of the regular adult price. Children 12 and older will be charged at the regular adult price.

Airfare: Prices listed are for departures from Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO), based on Air China (CA) V Class. For New York (JFK) departures, the additional tour fare is $100; fuel surcharge, taxes and fees are as listed. Fuel surcharge and taxes are associated with airlines and are subject to change at any time without prior notice. For departure gateways other than Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and New York (JFK), please add appropriate USA domestic add-on fare (certain exclusions may apply):

Eastern Time Zone: add $350 Central Time Zone: add $350 Mountain Time Zone: add $250 Pacific Time Zone: add $100

Terms and Conditions

All tour prices are in US dollars and are based on tariffs and rates of currency exchange in effect in November 2009 ($1 = 6.8 RMB). These rates are subject to change as deemed necessary and fair by CIT (excluding customers who have already paid in full).

When the total number of tour participants falls below 6 persons, CIT reserves the right to cancel the tour 30 days or more prior to departure. Liability is limited to full refund of money received by CIT. However, depending on air ticketing circumstances, tours with fewer participants may still proceed.

All customers who plan to travel abroad must have passports that are valid for at least 7 months from the time of entry into China. For non-US passports, please consult a representative of CIT for details. CIT is not responsible for any rejection of entry by immigration and/or customs officials, even if the tour participant holds a valid passport and proper visas. Tour costs cannot be refunded, exchanged, or transferred under such circumstances.

If the services included in the tour cannot be provided or there are changes in an itinerary for reasons beyond the control of CIT, any additional expenses will be payable by tour participants. The tour participant agrees that neither CIT nor its affiliates shall be liable for tour schedule changes, delays, damages, losses, robbery, fraud, violence, sickness, and injury caused by acts of God, natural disasters, fires, acts of government or authorities, a political change, strikes, war, riots, quarantine, and customs regulations, nor shall we be liable for damages caused by any accidents beyond the responsibilities of travel agents and/or incurred due to violations of the law by tour participants.

The checked baggage allowance (as of April 2009) for transpacific flights is two pieces per person with combined total dimensions not exceeding 106 inches, provided that neither piece exceeds 62 inches or 50 pounds; the carry-on baggage allowance is one carry-on bag with total dimensions not exceeding 45 inches and one personal item such as a purse, briefcase, or laptop. Please note that for domestic flights within China, the baggage allowance is one piece of checked baggage only, not to exceed 44 pounds; carry-on baggage is limited to one piece with combined total dimensions not exceeding 45 inches. Because of the limited checked baggage allowance for domestic flights within China, we strongly recommend that our customers plan to check in only one piece of baggage per person. Customers of CIT are responsible for any excess baggage charges and insurance. Please check the airlines’ websites for more specific information and for the most recent baggage allowance information, as these regulations are subject to change at any time.

Children under 12 who share a room with 2 adults and do not request an extra bed in the same room will be charged 75% of the adult price. Those who request an extra bed in a room shared with 2 adults will be charged 90% of the adult price. Children 12 and over will be charged at the regular adult price.

Although CIT will be happy to assist customers with any shopping needs, we do not take any responsibility for any items purchased at shops on the tour. Any after-sale correspondence must be between the customer and the shops. Observe US customs restrictions when bringing home any goods from the tour.

CIT reserves the right to exclude any customer from participation in a tour (or from the remainder of a tour already in progress) when such a person’s health, mental or physical condition, physical infirmity or general deportment might impede the operation of the tour or the rights, welfare, comfort, or enjoyment of other tour participants. Any unused tour feature, including air transportation, other forms of transportation, and other activities and arrangements, is not refundable, exchangeable, or transferable.

To ensure the smooth operation of the tour, CIT recommends that travelers be in good health. CIT will bear no legal responsibility for any factors that may affect your health; your health is your own responsibility. Please consult your physician regarding your wellness and ability to travel long distances; any travelers with serious health conditions should get permission from their doctor to participate in a CIT tour. Out of consideration for your own safety and for the benefit of any other travelers in the group, you are responsible for honestly informing CIT at the time you make your reservation of any physical or mental disability that requires special treatment or attention or that makes long-distance travel or participation in a tour inconvenient or difficult for you. CIT will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the special needs of disabled participants but is not responsible for any denial of services by carriers, hotels, restaurants, or other suppliers. Tour buses are not equipped with wheelchair ramps.

Wheelchairs and walkers cannot be carried on tour buses due to space limitations. We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to travelers with walking, getting on or off tour buses and other transportation vehicles, or other personal needs. A qualified travel companion must accompany travelers who need assistance. Any tour feature that is unused as a result of a health condition, including air transportation, other forms of transportation, and other activities and arrangements, is not refundable, exchangeable, or transferable.

The carriers, hotels, and other suppliers providing tour services are independent contractors and are not agents, employees, or servants of, or joint ventures with, CIT or its affiliates. All certificates and travel documents for tour services issued by CIT are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the suppliers and to the laws of the countries in which the services are provided.

The English translations of CIT’s itineraries are based on the Chinese versions but may not include every expression or detail included in the original Chinese version due to translation difficulties or space limitations. CIT accepts no responsibility for any printing errors or omissions in either the Chinese version or the English version.

CIT Privacy Policy: CIT will not discuss or disclose any client’s personal information or details of any client’s travel arrangements with any third party other than the client’s authorized agent, airlines, hotels, or land and cruise operators. CIT will not use any personal information obtained from any client for any purpose other than making travel arrangements for, providing services to, and communicating with said client without the explicit permission of the client.

The act of making a reservation with and/or payment to CIT for any travel arrangements shall be construed as agreement with and consent to these terms and conditions as well as the following statement of responsibility.

Statement of Responsibility

CIT, as tour operator, acts only as agent. All travel arrangements included in your trip are made on clients’ behalf upon the express condition that neither CIT nor its agents and affiliates shall be liable or responsible in the absence of its or their negligence for any direct or indirect consequence or irregularity of any kind which may be construable as having occurred by reason of any act or omission of any person or entity, including without limitation, any act of negligence or breach of contract by any third party such as an airline, train operator, motor coach operator, private car operator, cruise vessel operator, boat operator, the operator of any other conveyance, hotel operator, sightseeing provider, local ground handler, etc., which is scheduled to supply or does supply any goods or services for customers of CIT. Participant understands that CIT neither owns nor operates such third party suppliers and accordingly agrees to seek remedies directly and only with those suppliers and also agrees not to hold CIT responsible for their acts, whether of omission or commission. Without their limiting the foregoing, CIT and its agents are not responsible for any losses or expenses due to delay or changes of schedule, overbooking of accommodations, default of any third parties, sickness, weather, strikes, acts of God, acts of terrorism, force majeure, acts of government, civil disturbances, war, quarantine, customs regulations, epidemics, criminal activity, or for any other cause beyond its control. All such losses or expenses must be paid for by the participant.

CIT accepts no responsibility for the value, reliability, quality, or authenticity of any goods purchased while on tour or for any mailing, freight, or shipping arrangements.

CIT reserves the right to exclude any customer from participation in a tour (or from the remainder of a tour already in progress) if such a person’s health, mental or physical condition, physical infirmity or general deportment might impede the operation of the tour or the rights, welfare, comfort, or enjoyment of other tour participants.

CIT reserves the right to substitute hotels, alter the itinerary, withdraw any tour, and make any other desirable alteration to travel arrangements to ensure the smooth operation of tours. CIT reserves the right to cancel the tour prior to departure for any reason. Liability for such cancellation is limited to a full refund of money received by CIT from the client, and such a refund will constitute full settlement with the client.

All tour fares shown, except in China, are based on the value of foreign currencies in relation to the US dollar in effect in November 2009 ($1 = 6.8 RMB) and on the status of tariffs on the same date, and tour fares are subject to adjustment (excluding customers who have already paid in full). In China, costs are quoted by the CIT home office in US dollars. However, the CIT home office reserves the right to alter or adjust its costs. In the event of an increase in CIT’s cost for providing any service within China, tour fares are subject to adjustment. CIT also reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason. In such a case, a full refund of all payment will constitute full settlement with tour participants. The CIT home office has sole and exclusive control over the operation of all tours in China. The CIT home office reserves the right to make alterations or adjustments in the itinerary as to destinations, transportation, accommodations, and all other services. Neither CIT nor any agent, subsidiary, or affiliate of CIT shall be responsible for any such alterations made by the CIT home office. Baggage is carried at the owner’s own risk, and baggage insurance is recommended.

CIT highly recommends that all travelers secure adequate insurance coverage, and CIT accepts no responsibility for any costs or expenses that may occur as result of a client’s failure to secure adequate insurance coverage. Many health insurance policies do not cover expenses outside the USA.

CIT is not responsible for any client’s visa or passport requirements and will not give any refund for unused services or reimbursement of any additional expenditure if a client is denied entry to a country for this or any other reason.

CIT is not responsible for typographical or printing errors or omissions in its promotional materials, including brochures, flyers, and advertisements. CIT reserves the right to make changes to the itineraries presented in its promotional materials for any reason. Clients should refer to CIT’s website, at www.chinatravelca.com, for the most recent versions of our itineraries.

The general conditions under which you agree to utilize the services of CIT may not be amended in any way, except in writing and by an authorized officer of CIT. By utilizing the services of CIT, you agree that the exclusive venue for all claims shall be the County of San Mateo, State of California, and such claims shall be determined according to the laws and jurisdiction of the State of California.

The act of making a reservation with and/or payment to CIT for any travel arrangements shall be construed as agreement with and consent to the above terms and conditions as well as to this statement of responsibility.

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, thanks to the many clients who have supported us by allowing us to serve you. We appreciate your decision to bring your business to us, and we will continue to provide the best service we can to ensure that you have smooth, exciting, and unforgettable travel experiences. Special thanks to K.C. Tan, Fook Wong, Ivan Pung, Janny Lee, Frank Chan, Eva Lew, Anthony Chiu, Dina Chu, Chean-Kung Cheng, Judy Lee, Gordon Yung, Edison Tseng, Alfred Lee, and Harry Chui, among many others, for their invaluable support.

Many thanks to the talented photographers who have made their work available through Creative Commons licenses for public use. Your generosity helps us introduce our clients to the many wonders of China in a legal, ethical manner, and in return we hope that our photo credits will help draw attention to your beautiful work. Credits for the tour icons used in this brochure are as follows: Saad Akhtar (CIT001), Romain Guy (CIT002), Philip Lai (CIT003), Doug Knuth (CIT004), Gary Larson (CIT005), Llee Wu (CIT006), ―29cm‖ (CIT007), Bernt Rostad (CIT008), Taylor and Ayumi (CIT009), ―Alpha‖ (CIT010), D. Fukagawa (CIT012), J. Aaron Farr (CITBJ1), J.G. (CITGL1), and Dennis Wong (CITHK1). Credits for the background photos in the Suggestions section are as follows: Matthew Yeo (Forbidden City, Beijing), Mark Tu (Longmen Grottoes), Mike Locke (Taklamakan Desert dunes), Rasheel Karmacharya (Potala Palace, Lhasa), and Andrew Ciceri (Yellow Mountain). (Click on the name of each photographer to see his or her work.)

Thanks to Mark Kao for sharing his treasure trove of beautiful China photos with us, and to Tina Chen for providing numerous stunning photos of Huangshan and Hong Village for us to use. More of their photography can be enjoyed on our website.

Photos marked with an asterisk are used by special permission of the photographer. Thanks to all who have allowed us to use their copyrighted work in our company’s promotional materials.

The photo of a painting in the Mogao Caves, used in the CIT007 itinerary, was anonymously donated to the public domain.

The footer image is from a photo of Hong Village taken by Mark Kao.

All other uncredited photos and images are © China International Travel CA, Inc. If you would like to use some of our photos, please see our blog announcement about Creative Commons licenses.

Special thanks to Sylvia Sun for her unfailing friendship, support, and advice.

Deepest thanks to Kevin Omura and Dan Strickland of San Francisco’s Kuleana Design, creators of our logo and website templates, whose generous assistance with so much more than just design issues has been profoundly helpful.

Thanks to Tracy Liu for her hard work, including the many helpful photographs she took for the company, which are featured on our website.

Finally, our continued gratitude to Anna Qin for her many contributions to our company’s success. We couldn’t have done it without you, Anna!

78 © 2009-2012 China International Travel CA, Inc. China International Travel CA, Inc. 中國國旅假期［加州］ 2 West 5th Avenue / Lower Level Suite 200 (650) 513-1502 / fax (650) 513-1503 San Mateo, CA 94402 / www.chinatravelca.com (888) 648-1568 / [email protected]

Tour Reservation Form 旅行團報名表

Please fill out this form and mail or e-mail it to us, along with a copy of the photo and personal information pages of each traveler’s passport and a $300 deposit per traveler. (Payment may be made by check, money order, Visa, or MasterCard—see our credit card payment form for credit card payments.) If you fill out this form on your computer, please print it out and sign it.

Travelers’ Personal Information 客人資料

Last name / First Name / Middle Initial Passport Number Expiration Date Date of Birth 姓 / 名 / 中間名縮寫護照號碼護照有效期出生日期

Traveler #1 第一位

Traveler #2 第二位

Traveler #3 第三位

Traveler #4 第四位

Special Requirements or Requests 特殊要求

Mailing Address 郵寄地址

Phone Number 電話號碼 Daytime Evening Cell Phone 白天晚上手機

E-Mail Address 電子信箱

Tour Details and Cost Breakdown 旅行團信息

Tour Code Departure Date 團號出發日期

Price Tax Earlier Departure / 價格稅金 Later Return 提前出發或延後返回

Visa Other Air Tickets Extra Nights’ Stay 簽證其他機票其他酒店

Single Room Extra Bed Total Price 單人房加床合計價格

China International Travel CA cancellation policy: Notice of cancellation must be received by fax or mail. Please contact us to confirm that we have received your cancellation notice. The cancellation fee varies, depending on when we receive notice: 60 days or more prior to departure, $200; 45-59 days prior to departure, $300 per person; 30-44 days, $400 per person; 15-29 days, $500 per person; 3-14 days, $1000 per person; less than 3 days (or nonappearance), no refund will be given. If tickets for any form of transportation (including, but not limited to, airline, cruise, or train) have already been issued or final confirmation has been received at time of cancellation, an additional penalty will be assessed in accordance with the policies of the company providing the transportation. I fully acknowledge these conditions and terms regarding cancellation of travel arrangements. I have also read and fully acknowledge the terms and conditions for booking travel through China International Travel CA, Inc. available on our Booking page. My signature indicates my acceptance of these terms.

Signature: Date: Agent: 簽名: 日期: 業務代表:

All of us at CIT hope you enjoy your trip! China International Travel CA, Inc. 中國國旅假期［加州］ 2 West 5th Avenue / Lower Level Suite 200 (650) 513-1502 / fax (650) 513-1503 San Mateo, CA 94402 / www.chinatravelca.com (888) 648-1568 / [email protected]

Credit Card Authorization Form

Please fill in all applicable fields below. If you fill out this form on your computer, print it out and sign it before sending it to us.

Credit Card Information 信用卡資料

Credit Card Number 信用卡號碼

Expiration Date 過期日

Card Type 信用卡種類 Visa MasterCard

Cardholder’s Name 信用卡持有人 (Please print the cardholder’s name exactly as it appears on the card.)

Billing Address 信用卡付款地址

Work Phone 工作電話號碼

Home Phone 住家電話號碼

Amount Authorized to Charge 授權中國國旅假期收取金額

Group Payment Information 服務項目

Name of Traveler (if other than cardholder) 第一位消費者姓名

Name of Additional Traveler 第二位消費者姓名

Name of Additional Traveler 第三位消費者姓名

Name of Additional Traveler 第四位消費者姓名

Itineraries or Services 路綫或服務內容

Signature: Date: 簽名: 日期:

I fully acknowledge the general conditions and terms explained on China International Travel CA’s reservation form regarding cancellation of travel arrangements. I have also read and fully acknowledge the terms and conditions for booking travel through China International Travel CA available at www.chinatravelca.com. My signature indicates my acceptance of these terms.

Please scan or photocopy your credit card (both front and back) and a picture ID, then send by e-mail or mail to the address above. Preferred Benefits™ Travel Insurance & Assistance Premium Rates Enrollment Form - Maximum 180 days Coverage Gold Plan - Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Baggage Loss, Baggage Delay, Accidental Purchasing Preferred Benefits™ is easy. Complete this enrollment form with your choice of the Gold or Silver Death Plan - or combine both Plans for maximum protection. Then mail your enrollment with payment. Multiply the Total Trip Cost for each Traveler by 5.5% 1. Trip Participants 2. Premium Calculation (.055) to calculate each Traveler’s Gold Plan Premium. (Optional) Date of Birth Gold Plan Cancel for Any Reason Traveler (T-1) ______/___/___ Mo. Day Year Total Trip Cost Rate (5.5%) Premium To add this Optional benefit, multiply your Gold Plan Premium by 50% for each traveler and include it in your Traveler (T-2) ______/___/___ T-1: $ ______X ______.055 = $ ______Mo. Day Year Total Premium calculation for all Travelers. Address______T-2: $ ______X ______.055 = $ ______Silver Plan - Medical Expense and Emergency Medical Cancel for Any Reason (Optional) Evacuation & Assistance City ______(Requires purchase within 15 days of Initial Trip Payment. Not available to NY residents.) 1-11 Days $24 State ______Zip Code ______12-21 Days $36 Premium (Above) Rate (50%) 22-36 Days $56 Day Phone ( ______) ______T-1: $ ______X ______.50 = $ ______37-48 Days $72 For 49-180 days of travel, add $4/day to the $72 rate T-2: $ ______X ______.50 = $ ______Evening Phone ( ______) ______above. Departure Date Return Date Silver Plan ___/___/______/___/______X ______= $ ______Travel Insurance Benefits -Per Traveler Premium per Traveler # of Travelers Mo. Day Year Mo. Day Year Gold Plan Trip Length ______Days (Count each calendar day Total Premium (all Travelers) = $ ______Trip Cancellation/Interruption including your departure and return days - Max. 180 days.) Pays up to insured Trip Cost (Max. $25,000) for non- 3. Payment Method refundable payments/deposits if the Trip is canceled prior Destination ______to departure; or up to 125% of insured Trip Cost for any Make Check Payable to China International Travel CA, unused land or sea arrangements and up to a one-way Emergency Contact Name ______Inc. economy airfare to return home or rejoin the Trip if the Trip is interrupted or cancelled after departure. Emegency Contact Phone ( _____ ) ______4. Mail Enrollment with Payment to: Cancellation/Interruption must be due to a covered reason such as: Injury, sickness, death; Financial Default of an Please Note China International Travel CA, Inc. airline, cruise line or tour operator occurring 14 days or 2 W. 5th Ave, Lower Level, Suite 200 reference. this portion future for and retain Detach here more after policy purchase, provided the premium is paid 1. If your travel supplier cancels, changes or cannot San Mateo, CA 94402 within 15 days of initial trip deposit; weather or strike confirm you on a trip, and refunds your trip cost in full, causing cancellation of travel; a personal residence being premium is fully refundable. made uninhabitable; a call to jury duty; subpoena; hijacking; 2. See the reverse of this Enrollment Form for answers 5. Insurance Acceptance: quarantine; a call to military service for a natural disas- to frequently asked questions about this program. ter; Terrorist Incident in an itinerary city; an automobile I Accept Decline accident en route to a departure; theft of passports or the purchase of the Insurance Plan. visas; a 250 mile or greater transfer of employment; and lay off or termination from the same employer of 2 or X ______more years. Optional Cancel for Any Reason Benefit (if purchased) Increase the Gold Plan premium by 50% to cover cancellation of the trip for any reason not otherwise covered by 01/10 (Continued on reverse)

Check Payable to Travel Insurance Services Visa M/C Discover Card # ______Exp. ___/____

Signature ______Date ______(Continued from reverse) Important: Time Sensitive Provisions the policy, and receive up to 75% of the non-refundable trip loss. This benefit only applies if: 1) purchased within The Pre-Existing Conditions Exclusion can be waived, 15 days of the initial trip payment; 2) purchased for the and benefits for operator Financial Default as well as Enrollment Form full cost of all prepaid arrangements subject to cancella- the benefit for Cancel for Any Reason (if purchased) & tion penalties; and 3) cancellation occurs 2 or more days can all be included if the policy is purchased within 15 days prior to scheduled departure. (Note: This benefit is not of initial Trip Deposit. Insurance Acceptance available to NY residents.) These benefits will not be included if you purchase the $1,000 Travel Delay policy later. Covers additional accommodation and traveling expenses up to $200 per day (maximum $1000) when your Trip is delayed 12 hours or more due to a covered reason Frequently Asked Questions such as: Common carrier delay, lost or stolen documents, quarantine, inclement weather which prohibits Common Q. Can the Gold and Silver Plans be purchased Carrier departure, natural disaster, sickness or injury. separately? A. Yes, or you may purchase both for maximum $1,000 Baggage Loss/$100 Baggage Delay Covers up to $1,000 loss or damage to baggage, personal protection. You are eligible only for the benefits of effects and travel documents during your Trip. A $100 the Plan(s) you purchase. benefit is included for the purchase of additional clothing Travel Insurance & Assistance and personal articles when baggage is delayed more than Q. Why is the Gold Plan recommended? 24 hours. A. Trip Cancellation/Interruption, is especially Protection for You and Your Travel Investment important to protect your trip investment since $25,000 Accidental Death & Dismemberment as much as 100% of your trip cost can be non- Pays in the event of death or loss of limb or eyesight within refundable if you must cancel. 365 days of an accident. Gold & Silver Plans Q. Why is the Silver Plan recommended? with Optional Cancel for Any Reason Benefit* Silver Plan A. The Silver Plan provides high-limit Medical Expense $100,000 Medical Expense and Medical Evacuation benefits. These coverages $1,000,000 Emergency Medical Evacuation can be extremely important, as many people have Covers: Medical expenses incurred within one year of an injury or sickness that first occurs during your Trip; limited or non-existent coverages when traveling, emergency dental treatment by a dentist during your Trip; especially outside the U.S. evacuation and transportation as directed by a physician to the nearest adequate medical facility, and/or to your home; Q. Can I extend my coverage to include expenses for a Physician recommended escort; or in the additional independent air, land or sea event of death, transportation of your remains home. arrangements that immediately precede or follow this tour? China International Travel CA, Inc. Terms and Conditions A. Yes, provided you include such arrangements under the Gold Plan in your total premium calculation Toll-free: (888) 648-1568 Certain exclusions and limitations apply and are detailed and increase your trip length accordingly (Max. 180 in the Description of Coverages brochure. For example, days). coverage does not apply to: Any sickness or injury or condition of you, a traveling companion, a business part- Designed & Marketed by ner, or immediate family member traveling with you, that If you have other questions about this program existed during the 60 days prior to the effective date contact: of the coverages; suicide; mental or nervous disorders; USI Travel Insurance Services normal pregnancy; war or any acts of war; Default of the 800-937-1387 or 925-932-1387 company you made direct payment to for the Trip; or Financial Default that occurs less than 14 days following your premium payment. *Cancel for Any Reason not available to NY residents