The Great Wall Overland - Round 2

As some of you may have noticed I posted my Beijing overland tour Dec. 29th and then I pulled the post. The reason was that the tour operator (not the travel agent), after us having provided our credit cards in the normal way with a normal amount of info. requested photocopies of the front and back of the card along with a photocopy of a photo ID. They also wanted us to sign a form that said we would be responsible for any charge backs that the credit card did. So we canceled.

The travel agent Zenobia at www.zenvacations.com handled it beautifully (she sided with us) and within a day we had a new tour company and a new proposal. Here is the new proposal which we paid for via Paypal. It is slightly more expensive but we switched to the Hilton, which has very high Trip Advisor reviews, so that may account for the difference.

For this overland we are very similar to the ship tour. The independent tour also includes the Summer Palace, an acrobatic show, Olympic park visit and Hutong tour. The Princess tour included a visit to the Ming Tombs that the independent did not.

The Best of Beijing
Hotel: Beijing- Double Tree Hilton
Cost per person: $1125 twin share

Arriving in Shanghai on March 11th 2009
March 11th Wed Arrive Shanghai Flight
Transfer from the PORT to the airport for flight to Beijing
Transfer to the hotel
Tiananmen Square
After you check in at your hotel, you will visit Tiananmen Square, look across the vast space to the Great Hall of the People and stand before the massive Tiananmen (Heavenly Peace) Gate bearing a huge portrait of Mao Zedong, who stood here to proclaim the People’s Republic on 1 October 1949.(Dinner + acrobatic show)

March 12th Thu Beijing
Forbidden City/Hutong Tour/the Summer Palace
After breakfast, walk through the gates of the fabled Forbidden City, formerly known as the Imperial Palace, where the magnificent marble courtyards, huge halls, gilded temples and ornate pavilions were frequented by the emperors and their families for over 500 years.
After lunch enjoy a rickshaw tour of Beijing’s old Hutong District, a fascinating maze of narrow alleys, old houses and hidden courtyards.
This will be followed by a visit to the Summer Palace, originally constructed by the emperor Qianlong to celebrate his mother’s 60th birthday in 1751 and later the favourite retreat of the dowager empress Cixi until her death in 1908. Languid willows and painted pavilions surround a scenic lake, across which are enchanting views to the pagoda-capped Jade Spring Hill and the mountains beyond. (Breakfast/ Lunch)

March 13th Fri Beijing
The Great Wall/The Temple of Heaven/Olympic Stadium/Peking Duck Dinner
You will be taken to one of the less crowed areas of China’s famed Great Wall, originally constructed over 2000 years ago to keep invaders from the north at bay.
On the way, you will make a quick visit to the Olympic National Stadium, also known as the Bird Nest.
Returning to the city visit the Temple of Heaven, where the emperors carried out the most important sacrifices and ceremonies of the year. Set in a huge park planted with conifers, the buildings here represent the epitome of Ming architecture.
This evening a traditional Peking Duck dinner completes a very special day. (Breakfast/ Lunch/Dinner)

March 14th Sat Beijing-Hong Kong Flight
Depart Hong Kong
Transfer to the airport for flight to Hong Kong
On arrival you will be transferred to Ocean Terminal for boarding your cruise. (Breakfast)

INCLUSIONS:
FLIGHTS: Internal flights for Shanghai-Beijing-Hong Kong with taxes and surcharges included
ACCOMMODATION: 3 nights accommodation at well appointed hotels with American buffet breakfast daily
TRANSFERS: Transfer Port-airport in Shanghai, airport-Ocean Terminal in Hong Kong
Transfer airport/hotel/airport in Beijing
GUIDE: A private car with an English speaking guide
TOURS: Entrance fees as stated in the itinerary
MEALS: Chinese lunch and dinners as stated in the itinerary
EXCLUSIONS:
• China visa fee
• Gratuities to guide & driver
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses

J Yang Tours
Travel Asia in Comfort & Style
P O Box 4192
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Tel: 480-219-5334
Email: Judy@jyangtours.com
Web: www.jyangtous.com

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Princess Tour:
$1400 per person.
Overland Adventure: Beijing & The Great Wall - Double Accommodations
Fly to Beijing on a four-day, three-night adventure to experience the glories of China. Tour the Forbidden City and visit Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven. Stroll the battlements of the Great Wall and view the tombs of 14 Ming emperors.

DAY ONE - SHANGHAI / BEIJING
Drive to the airport for your flight to Beijing. On arrival, transfer to the to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is yours; a dinner buffet is served at your hotel.

DAY TWO - BEIJING / FORBIDDEN CITY
Set out on a full day of sightseeing after breakfast.

WHAT YOU VISIT
The Forbidden City ? This complex of palaces, pavilions, gardens and ceremonial courtyards was home to the imperial court of 24 Ming and Qing emperors.

Tiananmen Square ? The 17th century Square of Heavenly Peace stands next to the Forbidden City. Designed for massive gatherings, the square accommodates over a million people.

Temple of Heaven ? The circular, three-gabled temple was completed in 1440. Every winter solstice the emperor would visit the temple to pray for a good harvest.

LUNCH
A lunch of Beijing-style dishes is served at the Regal Palace Theatre Restaurant.

PEKING DUCK BANQUET
Visit one of Beijing's leading restaurants for a classic banquet featuring Peking duck. The dish was a favorite dish of the Ming emperors.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Overnight lodging is again at your hotel in Beijing.

DAY THREE ? BEIJING / GREAT WALL
After breakfast, board a motorcoach for the approximately 47-mile drive to the Great Wall.

WHAT YOU VISIT
The Great Wall - Begun in the 3rd century B.C. to protect China's northern border from marauding nomads and ?barbarians', the Wall stretches over 4,473 miles east to west. Today, it remains a poignant reminder of the painstaking endeavours of the workers who struggled to complete it. Please wear comfortable shoes with soft rubber soles, as the walkways' worn stones are frequently slippery.

Ming Tombs - The tombs of 13 Ming emperors are located in a tranquil valley. Each tomb is located at the foot of a hill, and the road called Shen Lu, the ?Sacred Way', links all. This 4.5 miles road, once forbidden to all but the emperor's funeral cortege, leads to Changling, the grand tomb built for Emperor Yongle in 1427.

SHOPPING
Browse for souvenirs and crafts during a shopping stop on your return route to Beijing.

LUNCH
Lunch is served at a restaurant near the Great Wall.

DINNER & ACCOMMODATIONS
The remainder of the day is yours; dinner is on your own. Overnight accommodation is again at your hotel in Beijing.

DAY FOUR ? BEIJING / HONG KONG
After breakfast and checkout, transfer to the airport for your flight to Hong Kong where you rejoin your ship.

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Overall I have been very pleased with our Asia booking experience. Zenobia has been very responsive and a pleasure to deal with. The tour company, J Yang Tours, has provided us with some of the best agendas and done it very quickly.