GT052115 Itinerary (Richmond
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ULTIMATE CHINA Itinerary Prepared For Distinguished Guests RICHMOND BALLET – CHINA MAY 2015 FOLLOW THE DANCERS – BEIJING, DEZHOU, JINAN, SHANGHAI Rosemary Hodges at Covington Travel 1 WHY COVINGTON TRAVEL When selecting a company to manage your travel needs, we understand that you have a number of options available to you and that it can be difficult to distinguish between the services. We strive for the best and below are some aspects that make our company stand out from the others. Covington Moments "Everything seemed to happen without any Our ambition is to give guests at least one "wow!" experience each day. By developing relationships with a broad range of specialists across the effort: flight reservations, country and negotiating private access at prestigious sites, we created a hotel check-in, rolodex of exclusive experiences. sightseeing and time for shopping – everything made to order for us, China Host knowing perfectly to The China Host is part cultural attaché and part traveling concierge. accommodate our He or she is a Westerner who has been living in China for many years different interests and and speaks Chinese fluently. This gives you the best of both worlds. needs. Many thanks to Your China Host knows where you are coming from and helps create the experience you seek in China. our China Host – who made the difference between Excellence and Hotels Perfection.“ Hotels are selected for their facilities, design, spaciousness, service and location. Our long-standing relationships with the best hotels and hoteliers result in preferential treatment for our clients in terms of “I have to say that the room choice, service and amenities. Imperial Tours logistics were first class. Good clean spacious buses, and Restaurants for once someone who For most, dining is an integral part of any travel experience. Our understands that you restaurants are the best available in the destination and can introduce a don't cram 7 people in a vast array of experiences and flavors. Taking into account any dietary minibus. Well- chosen preferences you cite, we will design the menus throughout your stay to introduce you to popular dishes and regional styles so that you will get rooms, great selections of the most out of each and every meal. restaurants.” "Your attention to detail Private Car Service provided many extra- We provide the best available vehicles in each city. Our smallest vehicle is a Buick or Toyota Alphard 7 seat MPV of high quality. Using special moments & gave Chinese and lesser quality vehicles is how other companies can cut us a priceless gift: an costs, but we feel your comfort and safety should not be compromised. introduction to China we Upgrades to Mercedes, BMW or Rolls Royce vehicles are available. will always cherish..” Shopping "We have traveled to all Most people traveling to China will be directed to one commission paying tourist factory after another. We cannot abide by this practice. seven continents Instead, we keep abreast of the newest and most unique designers, including organized tour showrooms and shops and relay this information to you. Ask your requirements to places China Host for advice. such as but not limited to Antarctica, Australia, Botswana, Galapagos Islands, Israel, Jordan, South Africa, Turkey & Zambia - it bears repeating, you are the BEST!" 2 Ultimate China YOUR QUICK VIEW ITINERARY Beijing Jinan Shanghai May 21 Thursday Arrive VIP Airport Pickup (1 group) Beijing Transfer to Raffles Hotel (1 group) May 22 Friday Beijing Hutong Tour Tian’anmen Square Forbidden City Richmond Ballet Performance May 23 Saturday Beijing Great Wall with Private Banquet Richmond Ballet Performance May 24 Sunday Beijing Temple of Heaven Summer Palace [Embassy Event – TBC] 3 Ultimate China YOUR QUICK VIEW ITINERARY May 25 Monday Beijing High Speed Train to Jinan Jinan Transfer to Melia Hotel May 26 Tuesday Jinan Jinan highlights (Baotu Spring, Daming Lake) Drive to/from Dezhou for Richmond Ballet Performance May 27 Wednesday Jinan Day trip to Qufu May 28 Thursday Jinan Day trip to Tai Shan (Mount Tai) Richmond Ballet Performance May 29 Friday Jinan High Speed Train to Shanghai Shanghai Transfer to Four Seasons Puxi Hotel May 30 Saturday Shanghai Shanghai Museum Yu Gardens Richmond Ballet Performance May 31 Sunday Shanghai Transfers to Airport (1/group) 4 Ultimate China DAY BY DAY ITINERARY ARRIVE B E I J I N G RAFFLES HOTEL B E I J I N G Established in 1905, Raffles Beijing Hotel has long stood as an icon of Beijing’s colonial heritage in the heart of the city. The French– inspired colonnade façade looks onto the northern section of the Legation quarter. COVINGTON AMENITIES Beijing Airport Forbidden City -Buffet breakfast for two -In-room Wi-Fi internet DAY 1 DAY 2 access THURSDAY MAY 21 FRIDAY MAY 22 B/L LOCATION Upon arrival at Beijing International We start the day with an intimate tour Within walking distance of Airport, you will be met at the gate by through Beijing’s traditional alleyways (or Tian’anmen Square and the airport VIP staff , holding a sign with your hutong). This is one of the rare chances Forbidden City. name, who will lead you through that you will see Chinese people in their ROOMS immigration, baggage claim and customs everyday setting. If you wish, you will have 171 (1/group ). Your China Host will then meet the opportunity to visit the home of a www.raffles.com you after you have claimed your luggage and Chinese family and ask them questions passed through customs. The China Host about their way of life. will accompany you during the remainder of your stay in China (our China Host acts Whether by force of irony or expediency, as a personal concierge to you throughout China’s government has been located in the your stay in China, allowing you to make same area continuously for over six hundred changes as you see fit…this may mean years. You will walk back in time; strolling adding a site or taking out a site, changing a across Tian’anmen Square , one of the restaurant or booking a foot massage!) largest squares of the modern era, you will pass the Monument to the People’s Heroes - Upon transferring to the hotel, you will - dedicated to the ravages of the hundred have the remainder of the evening at leisure year long Opium War -- and finally enter (no other services included this evening). the ancient epicenter of Imperial Power, the Pricing is based on one transfer per group . Forbidden City . Additional transfers will be subject to an extra charge. (Raffles Hotel – Business Room) Richmond Ballet performance in the evening (7:30pm: National Centre for the Performing Arts) . B / L / D denotes breakfast, lunch, and dinner 5 Ultimate China DAY BY DAY ITINERARY B E I J I N G B E I J I N G Summer Palace Great Wall DAY 3 DAY 4 SATURDAY MAY 23 B / L SUNDAY MAY 24 B/L Today, you will visit the Great Wall of The Temple of Heaven was once the China . Built to protect China from the center of a square world where the leader incursions of predatory nomads, the of a Confucianist superpower performed utility and meaning of this fortification sacred sacrificial rites to a circular heaven . has been contested for centuries. The The “noblest example of religious unprecedented scale and unexpected architecture in the whole of China” was charm of the Great Wall may inspire you. the place where the emperor came to The section that we most highly mediate in the affairs of God and man. recommend is the furthest away, about Today the 10 acres of ancient trees 2.5 hours drive, but is generally surrounding the marble terrace altar serve considered one of the most beautiful as a public park, free for pensioners and sections of the Great Wall. popular with amateur Peking Opera performers. Once there, you will be treated to a private banquet on the Wall itself Afterwards, we take a tour of the Imperial (weather permitting). Lunch is catered Summer Palace , a retreat said to have inside a turret which will be hired out been given to the Empress Dowager Cixi privately for this group. Lunch itself is a in return for political favors. Whether or white linen affair complete with wine, not you believe the popular demonization gourmet food and a scrumptious of this female leader, she certainly had chocolate cake! After lunch you will be taste. Her enchanting mansion, set on given some time for a stroll along this 700 acres of land, incorporates stunning most magnificent of sites. temples, arched bridges, capacious pavilions and the world’s longest covered National Centre for the Performing Arts You will then be transferred back to corridor, all within a landscape crafted Beijing in time to get ready for the according to the dictates of fengshui. Richmond Ballet performance in the evening (7:30pm: National Centre for the Performing Arts) . B / L / D denotes breakfast, lunch, and dinner 6 Ultimate China DAY BY DAY ITINERARY B E I J I N G JINAN JINAN MELIA HOTEL J I N A N LOCATION Near West High Speed Railway station; Near Shenghui Grand Theatre; Approx. 20 minutes away from the city centre and major tourist attractions www.melia.com Jinan Grand Theatre Baotu Spring DAY 5 DAY 6 MONDAY MAY 25 B/L TUESDAY MAY 26 B/L/D This morning will be at your leisure . This morning we will explore Jinan’s highlights, the Baotu Springs , an artesian After lunch, you will be transferred to karst spring, and Daming Lake , fed by the Beijing South Train Station in time to board area’s springs and dotted by historical a High-speed Train** to Jinan (G17; 15:00- buildings and pavilions.