Day 1:
Arrive in Shanghai. Welcome to Shanghai, China’s most populous city and center of trade and industry. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.

Day 2:
Shanghai. Full day of sightseeing. Stroll along the Bund, the city’s riverfront boulevard lined with historic buildings housing banks and trade houses. You’ll visit the SHANGHAI MUSEUM and experience the YU YUAN GARDENS. This evening, meet your traveling companions for a welcome dinner. Afterward, consider joining an optional tour to see a spectacular acrobatic show. (B,L,D)

Day 3:
Shanghai–Guilin. After a morning at leisure, transfer to the airport for your flight to Guilin, one of China’s most beautiful areas. (B)

Day 4:
Guilin. Limestone mountains, their needle peaks hidden in mist, rise from the green plain surrounding Guilin. The scene conveys a sense of mystery that artists have tried to capture for centuries. Savor unique vistas during a leisurely CRUISE on the Li River, where you’ll enjoy a light lunch. Tonight, consider joining our optional trip to see trained cormorants dive for fish, the traditional Lijiang fishing method. (B,L,D)

Day 5:
Guilin–Xi’an. A short flight brings you to the city of Xi’an in central China for an overnight stay. This evening, enjoy the “Tang Dynasty” DINNER SHOW, featuring a colorful assemblage of classical performances. (B,D)

Day 6:
Xi’an–Beijing. One of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world when China dominated the silk trade, Xi’an today is an archaeological treasure trove. In 1974, the enormous tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, was discovered by local farmers. Marvel at the legion of TERRACOTTA WARRIORS that has been guarding the burial site for 2,000 years. During lunch, enjoy a NOODLE-MAKING DEMONSTRATION by a master chef and learn how Chinese noodles are made by hand. Later, fly to Beijing. (B,L)

Day 7:
Beijing. Your full-day sightseeing includes a visit to the Forbidden City’s IMPERIAL PALACE, once the sacred home of China’s great emperors. Nearby is TIAN’ANMEN SQUARE, the largest public square in the world, where the People’s Republic of China was proclaimed in 1949. You’ll visit the BEIJING ZOO to see pandas, and will also discover the former Imperial SUMMER PALACE, a complex of pavilions, temples, and galleries situated around Kunming Lake. Tonight you may decide on the optional tour of the Peking Opera with its various forms of drama and music tracing back to the 13th century. (B,L)

Day 8:
Beijing. Great Wall Excursion. The GREAT WALL OF CHINA once stretched 4,000 miles across China’s barren northern terrain from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. Head north to a village where the Great Wall is well preserved and walk along the wall to enjoy sweeping vistas of this mammoth fortress. Then, visit a CLOISONNÉ WORKSHOP and see local artisans use the techniques of this ancient art form to turn pieces of copper into colorful decorative items. After lunch at a local restaurant, take a leisurely walk down the SACRED WAY of the Ming Tombs and marvel at the impressive hand-carved stone statues. This evening you’re hosted to a special PEKING DUCK DINNER. (B,L,D)

Day 9:
Beijing–Tokyo, Japan. Today, fly to Tokyo, Japan’s capital city. (B)

Day 10:
Tokyo. Today’s sightseeing tour takes you to the MEIJI SHRINE, a magnificent 20th-century Shinto monument set in a man-made forest, followed by a drive to see the Imperial Palace Plaza. Next, visit an ARTIST’S STUDIO and enjoy demonstrations by a master calligrapher before trying it yourself. You’ll also have an opportunity to try on a traditional KIMONO and enjoy a TEA CEREMONY. Last stop is the ASAKUSA KANNON TEMPLE and the NAKAMISE SHOPPING ARCADE, where you can sample local delicacies. The balance of the day is at leisure. Perhaps stroll through the famous Ginza area. Dinner tonight is in a local restaurant opposite your hotel. As you take in the great city views from the 51st floor you will enjoy a sampling of local specialties, including yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), spring rolls, Japanese-style salad, and rice balls. After dinner, join your Tour Director for a WALKING TOUR among the dazzling neon lights of Tokyo. (B,D)

Day 11:
Tokyo–Hakone–Odawara. This morning, head south for Hakone via Kamakura to see the Great Buddha. Enjoy a CRUISE on Lake Ashi followed by a CABLE-CAR RIDE for panoramic views of spectacular Mount Fuji (weather permitting). Continue on to Odawara. (B,D)

Day 12:
Odawara–Kyoto. Today, enjoy a thrilling ride on a BULLET TRAIN to Kyoto. Established in 1964, Japan’s Shinkansen (bullet trains) were the world’s first high-speed trains and now travel at speeds in excess of 185 miles per hour. Upon arrival in Kyoto, visit YUZEN HANDMADE CORNER to learn about the Yuzen dyeing technique used to decorate kimonos by painting dye directly on cloth. You will be invited to participate in making your own souvenir using this traditional technique. Next, visit Kinkakuji, the TEMPLE OF THE GOLD PAVILION, and the HEIAN SHRINE & GARDEN. (B,L)

Traditional Ryokan Stay - $439 per person
Immerse yourself in the Japanese culture and hospitality in a ryokan (Japanese inn) on Day 12 in Kyoto. Your ryokan features traditional touches—tatami mat floors, a thin sleeping mattress on the floor, and the chance to experience a Japanese-style bath—as well as the modern convenience of a private bathroom.
Includes: Transfers to/from ryokan from/to hotel in Kyoto; traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast.
Space is limited and should be requested at the time of booking.

Day 13:
Kyoto. This morning’s city tour features the extraordinary NIJO CASTLE, built in 1603 as the official residence of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. For lunch, participate in a special JAPANESE COOKING CLASS. Under the instruction of a local chef you will learn how to make miso soup, teriyaki chicken, and makizushi, more commonly known as a sushi roll. Perhaps join the afternoon optional excursion to Nara, the oldest capital of Japan, where you will visit Todaiji Temple with its Great Buddha; Kasuga Shrine, famous for stone and bronze lanterns; and Nara Park. (B,L)

Day 14:
Kyoto. A full day at leisure to enjoy this historically rich city at your own pace. You may want to consider a full-day tour to Hiroshima and Miyajima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Or, for an authentic taste of Japan, visit a sake brewery for a tasting and to learn about the brewing tradition that has been passed down through the generations. This evening, join your traveling companions for a farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day 15:
Kyoto. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Homebound flights
from Kansai International Airport in Osaka should not be booked prior to 3 pm. (B)