14 Days | Choose your dates (Available April
Transcription
14 Days | Choose your dates (Available April
Yu Garden by Jakub Halun CHINA CUSTOMIZE AM THIS PROGR INTERNATIONAL GARDEN SERIES 14 Days | Choose your dates (Available April - November) China is home to the world’s oldest continuous civilizations, vast numbers of indigenous flora and fauna, and some of the most remarkable architecture in the world. Chinese gardens are unique, and this tour explores many of the best on offer. Discover China’s rich history while visiting temples, museums, and landmarks including the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. Uncover the natural wonders at the Wild Elephant Sanchahe Nature Reserve and along the Mekong River. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS • Visit to the Beijing Botanical Gardens and the WoFoSi Sleeping Buddha Temple. • Cruise on Kunming Lake and stroll through the royal gardens at Qing Dynasty Summer Palace. • Enjoy a guided tour of the Daguanyuan Gardens. • Explore the famous Great Wall of China. • See Olympic Park, the Birds Nest Stadium, and the Water Cube. • Watch a short selection of Peking Opera at the Peking Opera Museum. • Stroll through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. • Discover the Horticultural Expo Garden in Kunming. • Learn about native life in local villages while cruising down the Mekong River. • Observe elephants playing from your treehouse room at Wild Elephant Sanchahe Nature Reserve. • Tour the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the Lion Grove Garden, and the I.M. Pei designed Suzhou Museum. holbrooktravel.com | 800-451-7111 ITINERARY BLD = BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER DAY 1 - DEPARTURE Depart from your home city and cross the international dateline to Beijing. DAY 2 - BEIJING Upon arrival in Beijing transfer to the Bamboo Garden Hotel. The remainder of the late afternoon is at leisure to rest from your long flight. Overnight at Bamboo Garden Hotel. DAY 3 - BEIJING This morning visit the Fragrant Hills, location of the Beijing Botanical Gardens. Tour the gardens in the morning including the exhibition greenhouses and WoFoSi Sleeping Buddha Temple. Lunch at the I.M. Pei designed Fragrant Hills Hotel. After lunch visit the Qing Dynasty Summer Palace. Cruise on Kunming Lake and stroll through the royal gardens. Return to the hotel and go out for dinner at a special Peking Duck restaurant. Overnight at Bamboo Garden Hotel. (BLD) DAY 4 - BEIJING This morning visit Daguanyuan Gardens, which were completed in 1988 as a film set to replicate a renown Qing Dynasty Imperial Garden for a television series based on the classic Chinese novel, “A Dream of Red Mansions”. In the afternoon, go outside the city to visit the Great Wall of China, the largest defensive structure ever built. Focus on Mutianyu, a rugged, somewhat less visited section of the Wall with cable car availability and striking panoramic views. On return to the city, stop at the Olympic Park to see the Birds Nest Stadium and the Water Cube. Dinner at the restaurant attached to the Peking Opera Museum. See a short selection of Peking Opera highlights in a traditional North China teahouse setting after dinner. Overnight at Bamboo Garden Hotel. (BLD) DAY 5 - KUNMING Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, the abiding symbol of dynastic China. Originally built in 1406, the Imperial Palace Museum now houses a collection of antiquities and art from China’s last dynasty. After lunch fly to Kunming, known as China’s “Spring City” for its year-round moderate weather. Upon arrival, transfer to the Grand Park Hotel. Remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure. Overnight at Grand Park Hotel. (BLD) DAY 6 - JINGHONG Set off to see The Stone Forest, 90 km from Kunming. It is a natural formation of Karst rock formations and is the home of the Sani, one of Yunnan Province’s ethnic minorities. After lunch return to Kunming and visit the Horticultural Expo Garden. This evening fly to Jinghong, set along the Lancang (Mekong) River. Jinghong is the capital of the Xishuangbanna Prefecture, comprised of subtropical lowland bordering Laos and Burma. Upon arrival transfer to the Tai Garden Hotel. Overnight at Tai Garden Hotel. (BL) DAY 7 - SANCHAHE NATURE RESERVE Visit the Wild Elephant Sanchahe Nature Reserve. Accommodations are basic but novel tree houses. Evening and dawn are the best times to see wild elephants roaming the area. A night watchman is posted to wake the group if elephants are sighted. Overnight at Sanchache Nature Reserve. (BLD) DAY 8 - JINGHONG Return to Jinghong and the Tai Garden Hotel. Visit the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden and the Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden. Time at leisure to visit the minority nationality market areas should you wish. Overnight at Tai Garden Hotel. (BLD) DAY 9 - KUNMING Enjoy a boat ride on the Lancang (Mekong) River, visiting villages along the way. Following your boat ride, transfer to the airport for a flight back to Kunming. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight at Grand Park Hotel. (BLD) DAY 10 - SHANGHAI Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, visit the Yu Garden (Yu Yuan) and the Old Town area including the Temple of the City God. After lunch, spend the afternoon at the Shanghai Botanical Garden (Zhiwuyuan). Overnight at Ruijin Guesthouse. (BL) DAY 11 - SUZHOU This morning visit the Urban Planning Exhibition and Shanghai Museum, a world-class museum with a collection of bronze, jade, pottery, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, old coins, and furniture. Lunch in the Xintiandi area before transfer to Suzhou. Overnight at Nanlin Hotel. (BLD) DAY 12 - SUZHOU Tour the Lingering Garden (Liuyuan) and Tiger Hill Pagoda (Huqiu Shan) including the Bonsai (Panji) Nursery on the grounds of Wanjing Villa. After lunch visit the Master of the Nets Garden (Wangshi Yuan) and Blue Wave Pavilion (Canlang Ting). Overnight at Nalin Hotel. (BLD) DAY 13 - SHANGHAI This morning visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhouzheng Yuan) and the Lion Grove Garden (Shizilin). After lunch, tour the I.M. Pei designed Suzhou Museum.Transfer back to Shanghai and return to the Ruijin Guesthouse. A farewell dinner is followed by a cruise on the Huangpu River. Overnight at Ruijin Guesthouse. (BLD) DAY 14 - FAREWELL! Check out of the hotel and take the “people mover” through the Sea Tunnel to Pudong and go to the observation deck of the Pearl TV Tower and history diorama exhibit at the base of the tower. Continue to the terminus of the Mag-Lev Train while the luggage goes to the airport. For the transfer, take the magnetic levitation high speed train at speeds up to 260 mph, floating to the airport in about 7 minutes. Non-stop flight back to the United States. (B) PROGRAM PRICING $4,748 (20 participants + 2 leaders) Single supplement available for $988. THE FINE PRINT Rates are based on double occupancy for participants. Holiday surcharges may apply. Program may incur unforeseen fuel surcharges. A $200 per person deposit and enrollment form is due upon booking and no later than four months prior to departure. This deposit is refundable until 95 days prior to departure excluding a $100 cancellation fee. Final payments are due no later than 95 days prior to departure. Cancellations received less than 95 days prior to departure are not refundable. Travel/trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended. For more information call Travel Insured at 800-243-3174 or visit www.travelinsured.com. Holbrook Travel’s agency number is 15849. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit holbrooktravel.com, call 800-451-7111 or email [email protected] This program includes optional carbon offsetting with ClimateSafe. Learn more at holbrooktravel.com/climatesafe