Classical Highlights of China & Giant Pandas June 25 - July 7, 2017 May 12-25, 2019 Beijing • Xian • Chengdu • Chongqing • Yangzi River • Yichang • Shanghai Dear Friends of the San Diego Zoo, We are very excited to offer our popular China Panda tour once again in 2019 — an ex- cursion sure to provide the ultimate giant panda experience! Travel with us to Cheng- du and enjoy the beautiful Panda Breeding Center, a natural home to approximately 100 giant pandas — viewing so many adorable pandas, particularly the panda cubs at their “kindergarten”, has been among the most memorable highlights for past travelers. We continue on to the recently opened Dujiangyan Panda Park, which features 50 of its own playful pandas. At the newly reopened Wolong Panda Preserve, you will enjoy an exclusive experience with the pandas — go behind the scenes and work side-by-side with panda caretakers to help clean panda enclosures, prepare panda cakes and feed the pandas. After volunteering, you will even have your photo taken with a panda! San Diego Zoo Global has a decades-long relationship with the Wolong Breeding Center, conducting essential research to help recover wild populations and remove obstacles to panda reproduction. This 2019 program also includes visits to Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai, as well as a 3- day cruise on the Yangzi River; the longest river in China. A San Diego Zoo escort will ac-company you on your journey, along with a national tour director from Asia Sublime. We cordially invite you to join us on this special adventure. Space is limited to 25 trav-elers and your early reservation is encouraged. With spectacular scenery, fascinating historical landmarks, friendly people and, the endearing giant pandas, your magical memories from this journey to China will be treasured forever. Sincerely, Amy Parrott WorldWild Tours San Diego Zoo Global *San Diego Zoo host’s participation is based on a minimum group size of 15 travelers, and the National Tour Director will accompany a group of 10 or more travelers. The Great Wall Classical Highlights of China & Giant Pandas ITINERARY May 12–13 • U.S. to Beijing the Great Wall of China. Encounter this Depart the U.S. on your flight to extraordinary rampart at Mutianyu, a Beijing. Cross the international dateline rugged section of the wall that offers and arrive in China the next day. Transfer easy access by foot or cable car. The to your hotel, located in the heart of Bei- Great Wall presents a visual experience jing’s downtown historic district. (Meals that dramatically exceeds visitors’ expec- aloft) tations every time. Construction of a few • Accommodations at the New World miles of the wall on such jagged peaks Hotel Beijing (3 nights) seems nearly miraculous, but the ram- part stretches for 3,700 miles and passes May 14 • Beijing through 16 provinces. This morning, arrive at the gate of Enjoy lunch at Xiaolongpu Restau- the Forbidden City, the abiding symbol rant at the foothills of the wall, famous of imperial China. Truly one of the great for farmers’ fresh produce and unique achievements of civilization, its construc- local cuisine. tion employed hundreds of thousands of On the way back to Beijing, tour the workers between 1406 and 1420. Marvel 798 Dashanzi Art and Culture district. at its expansive architecture, magnificent This renovated factory district is distin- imperial gardens, and many museums of guished as the “Soho” of Beijing. More Chinese antiquities and other treasures. than 100 galleries are here, in addition Tour the picturesque Houhai district, to artist studios, fashion boutiques, and where well-preserved courtyard homes design ateliers. and narrow hutongs (alleys) border This evening, savor the imperial tree-lined lakes. Explore the district by city’s most famous delicacy, Peking duck, pedicab for a closer and more engaging along with other Beijing specialties. experience of traditional Chinese life. (B,L,D) Meet a local family and have lunch in their home. May 16 • Beijing–Xian Visit the Temple of Heaven, one of This morning, fly to the ancient Tang the finest creations of the Ming dynasty. dynasty capital of Xian. Upon arrival, This stunning architecture realizes the tour the tomb of China’s first emperor, eternal Chinese desire to manifest heav- Qin Shi Huang, home to the extraordi- en in material form and represents the nary 2,300-year-old Terracotta Warriors. most advanced principles of mechanics The warriors still stand on the original and geometry of that time. Evening is site of the emperor’s burial complex, free with dinner on own. (B,L) where peasants discovered them in 1974. Enjoy lunch at the museum restaurant May 15 • Beijing with a noodle-making demonstration. This morning, head northeast for Before dinner, explore Xian’s Muslim Quarter. Chinese Muslim heritage traces fascinating Sichuan opera performance, its roots from the once flourishing Silk including mask-changing and fire-spit- Road culture of the Tang dynasty. Dinner ting traditional pieces. (B,D) is on your own. (B,L) • Accommodations at the deluxe Fraser • Accommodations at Grand Melia Xian Suites in the heart of downtown (1 night) (1 night) May 18•Chengdu–Dujiangyan Panda Park May 17 • Xian–Chengdu In the morning, transfer to Chengdu This morning, make a special stop Panda Breeding Center, beautifully at the Han Emperor’s Tomb, Yangling landscaped with lush plants and lakes. Museum, to view the Han archaeological Meet with some 60 pandas and their finds recently unearthed. Although not caregivers. The highlight comes at the on as grand a scale as Qinshihuang, the kindergarten where panda cubs play Han emperor sought the same power with each other, climbing up and down beyond the tomb. trees, rolling and pushing and kicking Take a flight to Chengdu. This is the like Kungfu masters. Also, visit the Small hub of classical Chinese culture with Red Panda Center with 40 small pandas a vision toward the future. People still in residence that roam freely. Lunch at maintain a sense of balance in life with Kuangxi Restaurant nearby. an abundance of teahouses, vibrant Transfer to Dujiangyan Panda Park. markets, idyllic gardens, ancient tem- Operated by Wolong Panda Wildlife ples, and traditional opera. As a center Preserve, the Panda Park has been in of Sichuan’s boom, the city pulses with operation since the big 2008 Wenchuan cutting-edge development and modern Earthquake. Recently opened to the pub- luxury. Above all, Chengdu is known for lic, 50 pandas are living here. Later check its unbelievable Sichuan cuisine and the into the resort. (B,L,D) adorable Giant Pandas. • Accommodations at Howard Johnson Hotel Wander through People’s Park, and Resort (2 nights) where throngs of locals gather to prac- tice Taiji, fly kites, or do synchronized May 19 • Wolong Panda Volunteer Work dancing. View the lovely Bonsai Garden In the morning, drive on the newly in the park with beautiful tropical and paved road to the Wolong Panda Pre- native plants grown for decades in large serve (about 2.5 hours). The Wolong Pan- ceramic pots. da Preserve had 37 pandas in 2017, and Visit Kuanzhaixianzi, a traditional they are expecting more arrivals for 2018 district with restored courtyard hous- and 2019. It is a beautiful facility in the es from the Qing dynasty. Lining the valley, surrounded by green mountains. old alleyway, beautiful teahouses, art As the newest panda center in China, it galleries, bookstores, boutique shops, is the largest of the three facilities, giving and restaurants make this area a popular pandas surroundings more like their destination for locals. natural habitat. Volunteer work offers Dinner at the famous Sichuan hot pot close contact with the pandas. You spend restaurant, Tanyutou. Afterward watch a the morning working side by side with The Yangzi River the pandas and their caretakers, cleaning Take a city tour of Yichang before flying the panda enclosures, preparing panda to Shanghai in the late afternoon. Arrive cakes, and feeding the pandas. You will in Shanghai late this evening and transfer also take a photo with a young panda— to the hotel. (B,L) the ultimate souvenir from China! • Accommodations at the Fairmont Peace **We will provide the health form Hotel on the Bund (2 nights) which requires a simple health exam and doctor’s signature. May 24 • Shanghai Spend the afternoon touring the In the morning, tour the beautiful panda facilities and visit more pandas in People’s Park in the center of downtown. residence. Transfer back to the hotel in Watch the locals doing Taiji and other Dujiangyan in the late afternoon. (B,L) morning exercises. Visit the Shanghai Museum and May 20•Dujiangyan–Chengdu–Chongqing view its wonderful collection of Chinese Morning transfer to Chengdu. Lunch ceramics, paintings, and furniture. at local restaurant. Board the high-speed After lunch, tour the Yuyuan Gar- train to Chongqing (2.5 hours ride). Visit dens, designed in six unique parts, mak- Chongqing Art Institute and Galleries be- ing the garden seem much larger than fore dinner at local restaurant. Afterward it really is. You will find one of the best board Victoria Cruises. (B,L,D) Ming rock gardens here and winding • Accommodations on the Victoria zigzag bridges will take you to the Hux- Cruiseship Jenna (3 nights) ingting Teahouse, where you can have an afternoon cup of tea. Yangzi River Cruise May 21–22 • Cross the Huangpu River and visit Travel downstream through the the Pudong economic district. Ride the spectacular Three Gorges (called Qutang, fastest elevator in the world to the top Wu, and Xiling), enjoying the dramat- of the third tallest building in the world, ic scenery and beautiful vistas as they the new Shanghai Center, for a bird’s-eye appear.