As you can see by the photos above, we have fond memories of China. We have taken many groups there in the 90's and we're excited to return in 2027 to many of our favorite places as well as a couple of new sites we are really looking forward to exploring with you. -- Mark & Liz Stoddard
This tour is likely to sell out quickly, so if you want be included, you can register now with $500 deposit per person. Or call Liz at 801.669.1777 for details Full tour, internal flights, luxury Yangtze River 4 day 3 Gorges Cruise, Li River and Shanghai cruises, scheduled meals and tips: $6,990 pp do.
(Free-day choices and international airfare not included.) Call Elizabeth at 801-669-1777 with questions. 
|
Welcome to China with LDS Bucket List Tours! Itinerary for China tour & cruises: 1. Our hotels are all 4-5 Star Chinese hotels. 2. Our Yangtze luxury cruises is aboard a Victoria Cruise line 5 star river cruiser. You also enjoy cruises on the li river and in Shanghai -- exceptional experiences. 3. All state tours and meals are included. The breakfasts are western style buffets plus an optional buffet with very Chinese selections. lunch and dinner are also included with lazy-Susan buffet-style. 4. We cover luggage handline, tipping, internal flights, trains and our luxury coach with guide. 5. We limit our group size to 34 guests. Most tours sell out quickly. For more details, call Liz at 801-669-1777. She is very happy to answer any questions and, when you're ready to book, she will send you the registration link. March 16 to April 6, 2017 March 16 We depart the USA and fly across the International Date Line. The flight over usually means we arrive in Beijing in the late afternoon so a good night’s sleep can soon begin. Our hotels are all top-class Chinese hotels – 4 or 5-star ratings. March 17 & 18 We start in Beijing because it is so iconic and located in the east. Traffic when we first went to Beijing was thick because so many new freeways were being built and construction was everywhere. Now, traffic is thick because in the last 20 years, wealth has spread to more of the populace. But we spend today in the heart of China: Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. The square is enormous and opposite the Forbidden City. After taking pictures, we walk into the Forbidden City. It is massive and very worthwhile to explore. Our bus picks us up on the opposite side and takes us a short distance to an adjoining city that not many get to see – the Hutong. Originally it was the small town reserved for the servants and others administering to the Imperial Dynasties headquartered in the city. Today, anyone can live there, and many prefer being close to downtown and put up with the very small quarters – your living room is probably the size of 3 houses there. The walkways and areas are clean and well taken care of, and they don’t mind us wandering through. You get a real peak at real China. Tonight, we’re treated to a great Chinese Acrobatics show. March 19 An amazing drive to the Great Wall of China at the Badaling section. Terrific to walk up and along the Great Wall with plenty of background on the building and use when the Mongols and others attacked. Then over a short distance to tour the Imperial Summer Palace and lake. March 20 Time to slow down and see many things ONLY YOU will want on a FREE DAY in Beijing. We’ll give you lost of CHOICES. We recommend the Temple of Heaven, Underground City, Lama Temple, and Art 798 Zone. Or walk around all of the shopping plazas. March 21 We transfer to the airport to fly west to Xi’an in north west China. We start with a city tour to Muslim Str. And the City Wall. March 22 We get to see the huge football stadium size underground tomb of the emperor who had hundreds of Terracotta Warriors buried all around him to protect him in the afterlife. Two farmers were digging well when the bottom fell out. They discovered this massive display. It’s unforgettable. We also visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda where we learn about this remote area of China. March 23 Fly to Chongqing, where Rene Chenault formed the Flying Tigers during WW 2 to help the Chinese fight off the Japanese in the south west. Our city tour includes Old Town with Jiefangbei walking street, Hongyadong structure. Board Victoria 5-star luxury cruise ship with your own cabin, similar to the quality of Viking River Cruises in Europe. Private cabins, entertainment, and beautiful scenery as we cruise the Yangtze River. Victoria Cruise Lines is great for seeing the 3 Gorges, hanging coffins, ghost city and other wonders. March 24 Cruise with the current through China's interior on the Yangtze River. Shore excursions in Fengdu & Shuang Gui Mountain. Relax and enjoy the scenic cruise. March 25 We enter the 3 Gorges canyons. Also see the Goddess Stream hanging coffins. March 26 Shore excursion at the Three Gorges Dam Site before we disembark Yichang and go to Zhangjiajie, the TREE MOUNTAINS featured in AVATAR. March 27 You’ll be in awe on the Bailong elevator to visit Yuanjiajie, a natural platform facing giant rocks and valleys surrounded by higher mountains. See Tianzi Mountain's peak forest, cloud sea, and sunrise. Vistas of bizarre rock formations, precipitous cliffs, misty clouds. March 28 After breakfast, discover the natural wonders of Baofeng Lake surrounded by pristine natural scenery of high mountains, pure runoff from peaks. Lush green trees and shrub-clad stone peaks of various shapes. Fairy tale-like atmosphere. After lunch, we visit Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. The canyon is ideal for hiking, boating, "strop sliding" etc. March 29 Today, we visit Tiananmen Mountain. This mountain is regarded as the symbol and soul of this area before we fly to Shanghai in the evening. March 30 & 31 Shanghai full day tour includes The Bund (main street in the former German canton), Jade Buddha Temple, Yu Garden, Old Town, ancient Museum. Time permitting, we go to Zhujiajiao water town with free time to explore the rest of Shanghai. April 1 We take an early flight to the south and middle area of Guilin. First, we visit the Teacher's College of Guilin, who has a special treat for our guests. April 2 We board small ships to cruise the magnificent Li River with the classic sugar loaf mountains and mists in the background made famous by so many Chinese paintings. Disembark in Yangshuo. Overnight in Yangshuo. April 3 Full day in Yangshuo to include: Ruyi Peak cable car. Everyone is welcome to enjoy an authentic Chinese cooking class. Art lessons in Chinese art and calligraphy are also available. April 4 Transfer to train station to take express train to Shenzhen, the city we saw grow before our eyes on tours we took in the 1990s. In 1995, the streets were mostly dirt. Then the Chinese government designated Shenzhen a free enterprise zone like Hong Kong. The next year the streets were paved and skyscrapers emerging. We soon arrive into Hong Kong. April 5 Free day in Hong Kong-- Kowloon, Victoria Peak, Stanley Market, Fishing Village Sampan Ride, LDS Temple, etc. April 6 FLY TO USA What follows is the Brief Itinerary with dates for the first tour which has very limited availability. It's best to book the March 16 departure date. 
|
