Friends of Northwest Indiana Presents...MAGICAL CHINA & THE YANGTZE RIVER  ~  JULY 9 - 20, 2014

11 DAYS ~ Beijing, Xi'an, Chongqing, Yangtze River Cruise (Shibaozhai,Three Gorges Dam, Yichang), Shanghai 

MEALS: Breakfasts : American breakfast daily, Lunches : 8 lunchesDinners : 8 dinners including a Peking Duck welcome dinner in Beijing anda farewell dinner in Shanghai  SHIP: Century Paragon (built in 2013) - 301 sq ft deluxe stateroom withtwo lower beds, private facilities, floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass door leadingto private balcony.  HOTELS: BEIJING: Fairmont Beijing, XI'AN: Hilton Xi’an, SHANGHAI:Fairmont Peace Hotel. All deluxe 4 and 5 star full service properties. PRICE: $2,799 per person, double occupancy. Includes all land and cruisecost. Air fares are not included. Intra-vacation air travel between cities is$571 per person and includes airfare, taxes and transfers between airportsand hotels. International air from United States to China is sold separately.Travel insurance is available for purchase and is highly recommended. Non-refundable deposit of $250 per person is due at time of booking. 

YOUR EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY BEGINS...Day 1 ~ Depart USA Day 2 ~ Arrive in Beijing, ChinaWelcome to China’s capital city. Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in. Day 3 ~ BeijingYour full-day sightseeing starts with a visit to the FORBIDDEN CITY and its IMPERIAL PALACE, once the home of China’sgreat emperors. Nearby is 100-acre TIAN’ANMEN SQUARE, the largest public square in the world. Enjoy lunch in a localrestaurant and continue to the former SUMMER PALACE, a complex of pavilions, temples, and galleries situated onKunming Lake. This evening, enjoy a special PEKING DUCK WELCOME DINNER in a local restaurant. (B,L,D) Day 4 ~ BeijingThe GREAT WALL OF CHINA once stretched 4,000 miles across China’s Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. Head north to avillage 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. After lunch in alocal restaurant, take a leisurely walk down the SACRED WAY of the Ming Tombs. Tonight, experience local culture at thePEKING OPERA, including a 'behind the scenes' look at the colorful makeup being applied to the performers. (B,L,D) Day 5 ~ Beijing–Xi’anThis morning, enjoy a rickshaw ride through one of Beijing’s HUTONGS, the city’s ancient alleys. Experience life in thishistoric neighborhood as you are invited into the courtyard of a family’s home for tea. Later, fly to Xi’an. This evening, enjoythe “Tang Dynasty” DINNER SHOW featuring a colorful assemblage of classical performances. (B,D)

YOUR EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY CONTINUES...

Day 6 ~ Xi’anOne of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world when China dominated the silk trade, Xi’an today is an archaeologicaltreasure trove. Sightseeing begins with the enormous tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, accidentallydiscovered by local farmers in 1974. Marvel at the legion of TERRACOTTA WARRIORS that has been guarding the burial sitefor 2,000 years. During lunch, enjoy a NOODLE-MAKING DEMONSTRATION by a master chef and learn how Chinesenoodles are made by hand. Next, visit a LACQUER WORKSHOP followed by DAYAN PAGODA, built in 652 AD. (B,L,D) Day 7 ~ Xi’an–Chongqing (Embarkation)–Yangtze River CruiseThis morning, visit the Xi’an City Wall South Gate and learn to write like a local during a traditional Chinese CALLIGRAPHYCLASS. Next, fly to Chongqing, China’s capital during World War II. Visit a local ZOO to see pandas before boarding yourriver cruise vessel for a 3-night cruise through the breathtaking Three Gorges of the Yangtze. (B,L,D) Day 8 ~ Cruising: ShibaozhaiThe morning is at your leisure to enjoy a variety of onboard activities. You may choose to start your day with a Tai Chisession on the Sun Deck, take a swim in the pool, or simply relax and enjoy the scenery. After lunch, take a WALKING TOURof Shibaozhai with its 400-year-old, 12-story red wooden pagoda perched high on a cliff side. This evening, the Captainhosts a welcome party followed by dinner and a special performance by the ship’s crew. (B,L,D)

Day 9 ~ Cruising: Qutang Gorge–Wu Gorge–Shennong StreamAgain, enjoy the morning at your leisure on the ship. Later in the morning, sail downstream through the first and second ofthe three gorges—Qutang Gorge, the shortest but most dramatic gorge, and Wu, known for its quiet beauty andforest-covered mountains. After lunch, disembark for a BOAT EXCURSION down the Shennong Stream. Along the way, seefour natural gorges and the mysterious hanging wooden coffins. Before returning to your ship you will also take a SAMPANRIDE on a smaller section of the stream, where the sampan crew will sing songs as you glide across the emerald-greenwaters. This evening, join the Captain for a special Chinese-style farewell banquet. (B,L,D)

Day 10 ~ Cruising: Three Gorges Dam Site–Xiling Gorge–Yichang (Disembarkation)–ShanghaiThis morning, visit the THREE GORGES DAM SITE, the largest dam of its kind in the world. Afterward, sail through XilingGorge, the last of the three gorges, before bidding farewell to your ship’s crew in Yichang. After lunch in Yichang, transfer tothe airport for your flight to Shanghai, China’s most populous city and center of trade and industry. (B,L) Day 11 ~ ShanghaiYour sightseeing starts at the YU YUAN GARDENS, dating back to the Ming Dynasty. Then, stroll along the Bund, the city’sriverfront boulevard lined with historic buildings, housing, banks, and trade houses. Visit a SILK FACTORY to learn about thesilk-making process. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit the SHANGHAI MUSEUM. This evening, your Tour Director hostsa special farewell dinner followed by a spectacular ACROBATIC SHOW. (B,L,D) Day 12 ~ ShanghaiYour vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)  ~  (Optional 3 nights Hong Kong tour starts with your flight toHong Kong today) 

Enez Powell, Professional Travel ConsultantTravel By Powell  ~  Tel: (561) 498-8199

Email: enez@travelbypowell.comWebsite: www.travelbypowell.com

 Brenda Carson, Travel Escort

Tel: (219) 616-3475  ~  email: brendacarson@aol.com