Homeland Heritage Tours

Related Information

On behalf of my husband Ray, myself and my daughter Sarah Tao, I would like to send Louie at Lotus Travel our sincere thanks for arranging our orphanage visit at Changde Social Welfare Institute (SWI) in China's Hunan Province. We thoroughly appreciate your help in organizing this very special part of our trip to China. We felt that visiting Sarah's orphanage has enabled us to come 'full circle' in her life.

-Barbara Lewis from Canada

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Culture Camp

One of the most educational and enriching experiences await your child through our newly established culture camp. With competitive pricing in comparison to other educational camps, this exciting adventure will allow your child to meet life-long friends while they explore their home country's ancient history. We have selected entertaining activities that will inspire the young travelers while they practice martial arts, visit local families, learn Chinese arts and crafts, and experience the rich history at popular tourist destinations. In the two-week program, your child will venture through seven different cities discovering The Forbidden City, The Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, and Eastern China cities. This memorable journey is one that your child will cherish forever.

Itinerary

Day 1: US/Beijing

accommodations: n/a

meals: n/a

Begin your tour to China's most popular historical sites and cities today when you depart from the US gateway city for Beijing.

Day 2: Beijing

accommodations: Four-Star Hotel

meals: D

Arrive at the Beijing International Airport. Your private English-speaking guide and driver will take you to your hotel. Welcome dinner in the evening.

Day 3:Beijing

accommodations: Four-Star Hotel

meals: B/L/D

Begin your day with a tour at the Forbidden City. Listed as a world heritage site in 1987, the Forbidden City contains the largest group of intact palace structures in the world. The palace is 720,000 square meters in size and contains 9,999 rooms, numerous pavilions, gardens and courtyards. This afternoon, you will learn how to make your own kites under professional instructions, and then fly your handmade kites with others at the Temple of Heaven, which is often regarded as the most recognizable symbol of China.

Day 4: Beijing

accommodations: Four-Star Hotel

meals: B/L/D

Visit two UNESCO world heritage sites today. Begin your day with a tour at the Great Wall. Constructed more than 2,000 years ago by China's first emperor, the ancient wall is the world's longest man-made structure at approximately 4,000 miles in length. After your Great Wall experience, stop at Dingling, which is the tomb of the 13th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Tonight enjoy a delicious roasted Peking Duck dinner.

Day 5: Beijing/Xian

accommodations: Four-Star Hotel

meals: B/L/D

In the morning, explore the fascinating Hutong neighborhoods. Beijing's oldest Hutongs were constructed during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Your tour will take you through some of the best-preserved Hutong neighborhoods, which represent the history, culture and lifestyle of old Beijing. After the included Chinese lunch you will be transferred to the Beijing International Airport for your flight to Xian. Known as ChangAn in ancient times, Xian was the capital city of China for 1,062 years (through 13 dynasties and 73 different emperors). In the afternoon, ride a bike on top of the 950-year-old city wall and; enjoy the panoramic view. Built during the early Ming Dynasty with a core of mud and covered by three layers of bricks, Xian's city wall is the only city wall that remains intact in China today.

Day 6: Xian/NanJing

accommodations: Overnight Express Train

meals: B/L/D

Embark on an amazing historical and cultural adventure today, beginning with an exploration at the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum, where you will find lifelike terracotta soldiers, horses, chariots and weapons created more than 2,000 years ago to guard the first emperor's tomb. Their vibrant painted details have worn away and revealed their original earthy color. Early this evening, get onboard a luxury express train with dinner box for your overnight journey to Nanjing.

Day 7: NanJing

accommodations: Four-Star Hotel

meals: B/L/D

Arrive in Nanjing at 8:00AM, transfer to the hotel and have breakfast in the hotel. Visit the Office of the President and the magnificent Sun Yat Sen Mausoleum with its remarkable stairway. After lunch, have a discussion with students about the history of the ancient capital city, Nanjing. After dinner take a stroll of a Qing Dynasty style Bazaar surrounding a Confucian Temple.

Day 8: NanJing/WuXi

accommodations: Four-Star Hotel

meals: B/L/D

Drive to Wuxi (2 hours' drive). Visit the Yuantouzhu at Taihu Lake, which is one of China's five largest fresh water lakes. Next head for the Three Kingdoms Palace, one of the largest film studios in China. After lunch, take a visit to the Chinese students' families separately, try to learn how to make Dumplings or Wonton, and sample the local food at the homes of Chinese families.

Day 9: WuXi/Suzhou

accommodations: Four-Star Hotel

meals: B/L/D

Head for Suzhou by bus (1 hour's drive). Suzhou is known as the "Venice of the East". Visit the Lingering Garden and the ancient city gate at Panmen and Silk Spinning Factory. After lunch go to the school to learn the Traditional Chinese Medicine culture. During the dinner, enjoy the local Suzhou singing feast.

Day 10: Suzhou/Hangzhou

accommodations: Four-Star Hotel

meals: B/L/D

Heading for Hangzhou by bus ( 2 hours' drive). On the way, visit the 1,200-year-old canal town of Wuzhen. Recently opened to visitors, the town retains charm and grace reminiscent of a traditional Chinese painting: quaint buildings, traditional arched bridges and willow- lined canals. Local actors regularly perform Shaoxing, Peking and Flower Drum Operas for free at the town square adjacent to the Xiuzhen Temple. After lunch, take a stroll along the West Lake, which is the most attractive scene on the city. Visit the Zhejiang Provincial Museum, Xiling Seal-engravers' society and Solitary Island Garden, which is the only natural island in West Lake.

Day 11: Hangzhou

accommodations: Four-Star Hotel

meals: B/L/D

Get onboard a gorgeous scenic cruise on the West Lake (Xihu)., surrounded by idyllic gardens; take a stroll in the Viewing Fish at Flower Pond. Later visit the Tea plantation village to sample the National Tea. After lunch, visit a local school to learn the Chinese Handicrafts (Chinese Knots) and Martial Arts-Taichi.

Day 12: Hangzhou/Shanghai

accommodations: Four Star Hotel

meals: B/L/D

Drive to Shanghai (2 hours' drive). You will be shown around the "Paris of the East"-Shanghai upon your arrival. Your first stop will be the Bund, located near the Huang Pu River. Then visit the Yu Yuan Garden nearby, where you can view intricately designed gardens, pavilions, koi-stocked pools and courtyards. In the afternoon, visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower (2nd floor), which is the highest tower in Asia.

Day 13: Shanghai

accommodations: Four-Star Hotel

meals: B/L/D

Morning visit to Children's palace and school to learn Chinese calligraphy and traditional Chinese Painting. After lunch, free time all afternoon to pack your luggage or do some last shopping in Shanghai.

Day 14: Shanghai/US

accommodations: n/a

meals: B

Please meet your private English-speaking tour guide and driver at the hotel lobby and travel to the Shanghai Pudong International Airport for your international flight back to the United States. Cross the International Dateline and arrive home on the same day.

Lotus Travel Terms and Conditions

Inclusions:

Beijing/Xian airfare
Xian/Nanjing soft sleeper train ticket
Nanjing/Wuxi/Suzhou/Hangzhou/Shanghai private bus
Airport/hotel/airport (or train station) transfer as listed in itinerary
All listed sightseeing and tour programs with private English-speaking tour guide and private van or bus with driver
Hotels and meals as stipulated in itinerary
National English-speaking tour guide