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Jewish Oriented China “Chai” Tour Plus Yangtze River

18 days: Beijing, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Xi’an, Guilin, Chongqing, Yichang, Yangtze River Cruise (Victoria Cruises: "Donstream" Chongqing to Yichang) and Shanghai.

China Travel Specialists has painstakingly investigated points of Jewish interest and planned a tour to show, to educate and stir the imagination. The China “Chai” Tour is 18 days of visiting and exploring China to follow where the Jews are, were, and may have been. Discover the 5000 year parallel history of the Jews and China, two cultures where varied paths intertwined throughout the centuries.

All comforts and security will be assured by the supervision of a knowledgeable and qualified guide. The same person will accompany the tour and will be joined at each point of interest by a local guide. Vegetarian meals are available.

Tour leader will be a specialist in Chinese Jewish history and culture.

Tour Itinerary:

Day1: Monday FLY New York TO BEIJING

Enjoy your flight to Beijing,  where the 2008 Olympic Games will be held.

 

Day 2: Tuesday BEIJING

Upon arrival Beijing, capital of China, a friendly English speaking guide will meet and transfer you to deluxe Jingguang New World Hotel or similar.

 

Day 3: Wednesday BEIJING         B, L, D

Sightseeing will include Tiananmen Square, the ancient Forbidden City, the Imperial Palace, the beautiful Summer Palace. Then walking tour through the ancient neighborhoods dating from Ming Dynasty, Beijing’s Hutongs.

 

Day 4: Thursday BEIJING         B, L, SD

A tour to the Great Wall of China, a cable car is available to the summit. On return, drive along the famed Sacred Way, and visit the museum of the Ming Tombs. Enjoy a welcoming Peking Duck dinner tonight.

 

Day 5: Friday BEIJING         B, L

Visit to the Temple of Heaven where the Qing emperors worshipped, attend the Friday evening services in Beijing Jewish center.

 

.Day 6: Saturday Beijing to  KAIFENG         B, L, D

Take an morning flight to Zhengzhou. Transfer to Kaifeng, one of China’s seven ancient capitals, where there are remains of know Jewish settlements. Afternoon, meeting and discussion to be held in Kaifeng Jewish Study Association. Lunch with the scholars. Afternoon – visit Jewish History Exhibition in Kaifeng Museum, the families of Jewish descendants and Jin’s family tomb, one of the Jewish families in Kaifeng. And also, visit the 13-story glazed octagonal Iron Pagoda built in 1094 AD; and the Dragon Palace, an imperial palace of the Liang, Jin, Han, Zhou and Song dynasties. Check into Yu Xiang Hotel.

Day 7: Sunday KAIFENG to XI'AN        B, L

Drive to Zhengzhou in the morning and take a pleasant train ride to Xi’an, one of the ancient capital of China. Transfer to Bell Tower Hotel.

 

Day 8: Monday XI’AN             B, L, SD

Sightseeing today takes you to the Excavations of Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses, one of the greatest archaeological finds of the century, Hua Qing Imperial Hot Springs and also visit Banpo Neolithic Village. In the evening, enjoy a dumpling dinner, then attend a Tang Dynasty music show.

 

Day 9: Tuesday XI’AN to GUILIN         B, L

Morning visit Sha’anxi Provincial Museum that boasts one of the richest collections of ancient artifacts in all China. Then Fly to Guilin. Transfer to Waterfall Hotel.

 

Day 10: Wendesday GUILIN         B, L, D

Deluxe Li River Cruise experience the magical beauty of limestone rock formations and farm land commonly seen in Chinese landscape paintings. Disembark at colorful market town of Yangshuo. Return drive to Guilin through picturesque countryside. Enjoy local folk music and dance show in the evening.

 

Day 11: Thursday GUILIN to CHONGQING/Victoria Cruise Ship     B, L, D

Morning excursion to the Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill. Fly to Chongqing, visit Stillwell Museum where you will see the museum's collection of World War II artifacts and attend a lecture on the Flying Tiger, a group of American veteran pilots led by retired Air Corps General Clair L. Chennault. The Flying Tigers volunteered to aid the Chinese in World War II against the Japanese invasion of China, prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. After dinner, board a deluxe Victoria Cruise ship for downstream sailing on the Ground Yangtze River.

 

Day 12: Friday YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE         B, L, D

Arrive at Fengdu, the legendary Ghost Town. You will visit the Mingshan Hill’s temples or Wanxian or Shibaozhai Wooden Tower. Captain’s Cocktail Party in the evening.

 

Day 13: Saturday YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE         B, L, D

The cruise will sail through the most magnificent Qutang Gorge, the first of the Three Gorges. Then you will be transferred to a small sampan for an excursion along the Shengnong Stream to view the Parrot Gorge and Dragon Boat Gorge. Return to the cruise and you will pass the beautiful Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge. Go through the Three Gorges Dam.

Day 14: Sunday YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE         B, L, D

You will be taken on a bus to cross the Three Gorges Bridges to see this controversial project up in the close. The project includes the five-step ship lock, the diversion canal, power station and dam construction. Arrive Yichang at 12 noon. Upon arrival, visit the Chinese Sturgeon Research Institute and the Three Travelers Cave.

 

Day 15: Monday Yichang to Shanghai         B, L,D

Fly to Shanghai in the morning. A friendly guide ill transfer you to Ocean Hotel (located in the former Jewish quarters). Your afternoon will start a lecture and discussion hosted by Jewish History Research Center in Shanghai, then visit the historic locations of Jewish Synagogues, hospitals, schools, clubs of the old Shanghai. Also, visit the former Hongkew Ghetto where a large number of Jewish refugees lived during WWII.

 

Day 16: Tuesday SHANGHAI         B, L

Morning visit to the Old Town, Yuyuan Garden, the Bund (waterfront) and the bustling Nanjing Road. Enjoy the Shanghai Acrobatic Show tonight

 

Day 17: Wednesday SHANGHAI     B

Full day at leisure on your own to shop for souvenirs, gifts, etc.

 

Day 18: Thursday SHANGHAI to New York     B

Return flight to the USA. Arrive home the same day.

 

Tour Cost (Per Person):

2005 Departure Dates & Cost

Departure Date Monday	Return Date Thursday	Land Only Per Person	West Coast Per Person	East Coast Per Person	Single Supplement
2005:  3. 28	4. 14	$2359	$3236	$3386	$850
4. 04	4. 21	$2436	$3336	$3476	$880
5. 09	5. 26	$2536	$3436	$3586	$950
6. 20	7. 07	$2499	$3399	$3599	$880
7. 11	7. 28	$2499	$3399	$3599	$880
8. 15	9. 01	$2499	$3399	$3599	$880
9. 12	9. 29	$2536	$3436	$3599	$950
10. 17	11. 03	$2536	$3436	$3599	$950
10. 31	11. 17	$2459	$3336	$3499	$930

USA Departure Tax: $85

ACCOMMODATIONS

YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE ……Victoria Cruise’s ship

Deluxe & Superior First Class Hotels

BEIJING……………..Jingguang New World Hotel or Chang An Grand Hotel

KAIFENG …………  Yu Xiang Hotel

XI’AN ……………….Bell Tower Hotel

GUILIN ……………..Waterfall Hotel

YICHANG …………..Peach Blossom Hotel

SHANGHAI………….Ocean Hotel

ALL INCLUSIVE FEATURES

. Round trip transpacific air transportation

. All intra-China air/land transportation with airport taxes

. 13 nights in deluxe and superior hotels

. 3 nights aboard Victoria Cruise’s ship

. 16 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 10 dinners including a dumpling dinner in Xi’an, Peking Duck dinner in Beijing

. Round trip transfers between airport/train station to hotel, baggage handling, hotel taxes and service charges

. Sightseeing tours, cultural entertainments, Jewish history lectures, and other performance as specified

NOT INCLUDING:

. International departure tax out of Shanghai

. Chinese visa fee of $80 each

. Tips to tour guides and drivers

. Travel insurance

. Some meals that are not listed in the itinerary

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Please contact us via E-mail: cindy@chinaexplorer.com

China Travel Specialists is a travel agency specialized in making travel arrangement to China. We organize Group tours, Private tours and Special Interest tours to China. We provide all your travel need inside China: professional tour guide service, daily sightseeing arrangement, inside China train and flight booking, hotel reservation.
 

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