Day 1:  International flight from U. S. to Beijing.

Day 2:  Arrive in Beijing. Check-in at hotel, Welcome Banquet (Beijing Duck Dinner) hosted by CACBC China Office, Cultural Exchange Bureau and the China Travel Service.

 Day 3:  A full-day excursion: Explore  the Great Wall of China, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.  The only man-made object that can be seen from the moon. In the evening, attend an exciting Chinese Acrobatic show.

Day 4:  A city tour of Beijing to the center of the city -Tianan Men Square, the largest open plaza in the world that accommodates half a million people at one time.  In the afternoon explore the Forbidden City (Palace Museum), the formal Imperial Palace for the 24 Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. 

Day 5: Morning visit to the magnificent Temple of Heaven, the largest temple and altar complex in China, where the Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasty  worshipped Heaven and prayed for good harvests.  Afternoon visit to the Olympic Village. (ex: Birds nest, Night Sleeper Train to Zhengzhou.   

Day 6:   Zhengzhou

Zhengzhou, the capital of the Henan Province, is a prime example of the changing face of China. Here you will see modern buildings and shopping malls contrasted against a background of ancient civilization.

The Henan National Museum, whose modern architecture  resembles a Mayan Pyramid, is the repository for 160,000 historic and prehistoric national treasures, including the world's earliest musical instrument, an 8,000 year old, perfectly tuned bone flute. Wander through the fascinating exhibits and then relax and listen to a musical performance on ancient Chinese instruments dating back over a 1,000 years. 

Day 7:   Today you will  enjoy an excursion to Kaifeng, the ancient capital of seven dynasties. During the Song Dynasty 1,000 years ago, Kaifeng was the richest and most culturally diverse city in the world. The famous Dragon Pavilion was built on the ruins of the Song Palace. It is also called the small forbidden city. You?ll visit the thirteen story high Iron Pagoda, made entirely of wood with a brick exterior.  It is called ?iron? because this pagoda has miraculously survived many earthquakes and floods for almost one thousand years.

At noon, you can enjoy the traditional dishes of the Baozi Banquet.  This banquet features many different flavors of the local cuisine.

Kaifeng has a wealth of historical sites.  Visit the 1000 years old Xiang guo Monsstery, see the  Buddha of A Thousand Hands and A Thousand Eyes stands for  1,000 year.  Travel back to Zhengzhou.   

Day 8: Today,  you travel to the 1,500 year-old Shaolin monastery, the birthplace of Kung Fu, the original form of all martial arts.  This temple is situated at the western edge of the Songshan Mountains.  In the Thousand Buddhas Hall, you can still see the footprints of the monks stamped into the floor, a reminder of the intensity of their practice.  Here, you will be amazed by a live Kung Fu demonstration performed by the Grandmasters and monks. Back to Luoyang.

Day 9 :Travel to historic Luoyang, the capital of thirteen dynasties. This city is home to the first Buddhist temple in China, the 900 year-old White Horse Temple.

The most spectacular site in Luoyang is the Longmen Grotto.  Carved from a solid rock mountain over 1,500 years ago, this site has over 2,345 caves and more than 100,000 statues of Buddha.  Chinese noblemen sponsored the creation of most of these statues, ranging in height from miniature (1 inch high) to giant-size (57 feet)

.At night, relax and enjoy the delicious delicacies of the Water Feast, a banquet handed down by the Tang Dynasty empress.  Be delighted by the sights and sounds of ancient Chinese instruments, played for you as you end your feast. Night train to Beijing.

Day 10:  Visit the 800-year-old Summer Palace with the largest garden in China. Here the royal family of the Qing dynasty came to spend relaxing summers and handle government affairs. In the afternoon, visit Wangfu Jing street, the  busiest downtown  street in Beijing, free shopping and  relaxing.

Day 11:  Say good-bye to new friends in China. International Flight back to Sweet home.