Our five nights at Guilin Ming Garden were great as well! It is certainly our favorite place in China. The apartment is remodeled, extremely clean and has a great view; having internet access is a nice touch and there is plenty of room for our entire family. After a long day of fun, it was relaxing to come home to delicious home cooked meals prepared by our nanny Mrs Huang.She made us feel right at home with her traditional Cantonese home cooked dinners: her normal dinner consist of soup, two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes; very much like the meals our Cantonese parents made for us when we were younger and the meals had brought back fond memories.
-Helen Lee
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Winter Season Heritage Tour

Start from: $1799.00 per adult & $1439.00 per child
Winter Season Heritage Tour

This tour makes the most of East and West traditions by recognizing East and West cultures in one tour. For Christmas dinner, have traditional Sichuan hotpot and enjoy an Eastern tradition. You will visit the key sites of Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Guangzhou, as well as visit your child's hometown area and orphanage. During the orphanage visit, bring your New Year gifts to the children of the orphanage today. It will be quite a surprise for them. Join us on this tour and make the most of the Winter school break! Contact Louie at louie@lotustours.net today for questions and to get started today!

Tour Overview
Tour Code: LY-HA10-1218
Trip Duration: 14 days/13 nights
Tour Price/Accommodations
Beijing,Xian,Chengdu,Guangzhou
Departure Dates: December 18, 2010
Day 1 : Dec-18-10 Saturday U.S./Beijing
meals: N/A
Leave U.S. for Beijing today.
Day 2 : Dec-19-10 Sunday Beijing
meals: N/A
Arrive at the Beijing International Airport. Your private English-speaking guide and driver will take you to your hotel. Soak in your child's birth country while you adjust to your new time zone and surroundings.
Day 3 : Dec-20-10 Monday Beijing
meals: B/L
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. Then visit the Tiananmen Square. Noted as the largest city square in the world, the square was initially designed for political rallies and important gala events. Today the square is flanked by the Forbidden City in the north, the Great Hall of the People in the west, Mao TseTung's Mausoleum in the south and the Museum of Chinese Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History in the east. After a bowl of fresh hot noodles for lunch, you will visit the major 2008 Olympic Venues including the National Stadiums "Bird's Nest" and the National Aquatics Center "Watercube" in the afternoon.
Day 4 : Dec-21-10 Tuesday Beijing
meals: B/L
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 6,350 km or about 4,000 miles in length. As an optional program at night, you can enjoy either a Kungfu or acrobatics show.
Day 5 : Dec-22-10 Wednesday Beijing/Xian
meals: B/L/D
This morning explore the fascinating Hutong neighborhoods. Beijing's oldest Hutongs (alleys) were constructed during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Your tour will take you through some of the best-preserved Hutong neighborhoods that represent the history, culture and lifestyle of old Beijing. After a special homemade lunch at a local family residence in the Hutong Lane area, your family can learn to construct your own kites under professional instruction. In the afternoon, visit China's largest temple and altar-the Temple of Heaven, which is often depicted as the most recognizable symbol of China. Then relax and fly your handmade kites with the others at the Temple of Heaven.
This evening, get onboard an express train for your overnight journey to Xian.
Beijing/Xian Soft Sleeper Train Z19(9:24P/8:25A + 1 day)(Your tour guide has tickets)
Day 6 : Dec-23-10 Thursday Xian
meals: L
Arrive early this morning in China's ancient capital city of Xian. Known as ChangAn in ancient times, Xian was the capital city of China for 1,062 years (13 dynasties and 73 different emperors). Visit the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum for an in-depth look at China's extensive history with more than 2,000 items on exhibit. Enjoy the traditional puppet show in the GaoJia Courtyard. Your children can practice with the puppets after the show.
Day 7 : Dec-24-10 Friday Xian
meals: B/L
Embark on an amazing historical and cultural adventure today, beginning with an exploration at the Terracotta Warriors and HorsesMuseum, where you will find lifelike terracotta soldiers, horses, chariots and weapons created more than 2,000 years ago to guard thefirst emperor's tomb. Their vibrant painted details have worn away and revealed their original earthy color. Learn to make JiaoZi(traditional Chinese dumplings) in a local restaurant and have a JiaoZi lunch there. In afternoon you will get on top the 950-year-old city wall and ride a bike; be sure to 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 8 : Dec-25-10 Saturday Xian/Chengdu
meals: B/L/D
After breakfast, your local guide and driver will transfer you to Xian Airport for trip to Chengdu.
Xian/Chengdu CZ6433(10:45A/11:55A) (Your local guide has tickets)
Please meet your local guide and driver at the Chengdu airport exit for transfer to the hotel. You will visit the People's Park Tea House in the afternoon. Enjoy a traditional Chinese hot pot meal as your Christmas Dinner in Chengdu tonight.
Day 9 : Dec-26-10 Sunday Chengdu
meals: B/L
Embark on an extraordinary journey to the Panda Breeding Research Base this morning. A professional panda caregiver will give a brief insight into panda research findings and everyone will have the rare opportunity to hold and hug a baby panda - something everyone in the family is sure to enjoy. After lunch, visit the JinLi Street that features Western Sichuan province customs. You can find local arts and craft, many traditional Chinese goods, as well as food and delicacies in this rich recreational and cultural locale.
Notes: When you tour the Panda Reserve Center, you will receive an introduction to panda research at the reserve followed by the opportunity to meet and hold a baby panda. Please note that the cost of holding the panda and taking a picture with one is an additional fee to the entrance fee. The costs are USD185.00/per person for holding a baby giant panda, and USD62.00/per person for holding a red panda. Although the pandas are cute and adorable, they may inflict accidental injuries in their playful nature.
Day 10 : Dec-27-10 Monday Chengdu/Province
meals: B
Depart Chengdu and travel to the capital city of the designated province for an orphanage visit. Lotus guides will sensitively and carefully assist your family as you embark on this most meaningful portion of your return trip. On this initial day of the city visit, one can spend time strolling the area and absorbing a sense of the city and locale.
Day 11 : Dec-28-10 Tuesday Province
meals: N/A
Your orphanage visitation typically includes a lunch meeting with the orphanage director and staff. If your family wishes to be in touch with the foster family, Lotus can also arrange a time for you to reunite if contact information is available. After lunch, you may explore your child's finding site. It is recommended to bring your New Year gifts to the children of the orphanage today. It will be quite a surprise for them. Record the day's events in your journal or just relax with your family this evening.
Day 12 : Dec-29-10 Wednesday Province/Guangzhou
meals: N/A
This morning take some final glimpses around your child's province to capture your special memories. After breakfast, depart for Guangzhou. Meet your local English-speaking tour guide and driver at the Guangzhou New BaiYun International Airport for transfer to the hotel.
Day 13 : Dec-30-10 Thursday Guangzhou
meals: B/L
Today you will tour around Shamian Island: stopping at the medical clinic where adoption medical exams are conducted and visiting the photo shop where your child???s visa photo was taken. In the afternoon, take another trip down memory lane when you visit the American Consulate. Your guide will then escort you to a local park where you can linger and relax while enjoying a story-time of traditional Chinese folktales to deepen your understanding of the rich cultural heritage of your child.
Day 14 : Dec-31-10 Friday Guangzhou/U.S.
meals: B
Please meet your private English-speaking tour guide and driver at the hotel lobby and travel to the Guangzhou New Baiyun International Airport for your international flight back to the United States. Cross the International Dateline and arrive home on the same day.


Tour Prices:
Start from: $1799.00 per adult & $1439.00 per child 　 Booking Tour
Accommodations:
City Hotel Deluxe Class Superior Class
Beijing　. Gloria Plaza Hotel N/A N/A
Xian　. Grand New World Hotel Xi'an N/A N/A
Chengdu　. Tianfu Sunshine Hotel N/A N/A
Guangzhou　. White Swan Hotel N/A N/A

Hotel Information:
Hotel Indoor Pool Outdoor Pool Gym Safe Box Refrigerator Hair Dryer Kitchen
Gloria Plaza Hotel   √     √   √   √   √
N/A            
N/A            
Grand New World Hotel Xi'an   √     √   √   √   √
N/A            
N/A            
Tianfu Sunshine Hotel     √   √   √   √   √
N/A            
N/A            
White Swan Hotel     √   √   √   √   √
N/A            
N/A            

Inclusions

  • Beijing/Xian Soft Sleeper train ticket.
  • Xian/Chengdu/Changsha/Guangzhou air tickets.
  • Airport/hotel/airport (or train station) transfer as listed on itinerary.
  • All listed sightseeing and tour programs with private English-speaking tour guide and private van or bus with driver.
  • Accommodations as stipulated on itinerary.

Exclusions

  • US/Beijing, and Guangzhou/US international airfare. Please contact us for discount international airfare starting from your city.
  • Passport and/or China Visa Fees
  • Some meals
  • Tips to guides and drivers
  • Expenses of a personal nature
  • Provincial Civil Affair Bureau orphanage visit filing fee
  • Side trips to the designated provinces on December 27 - 28, and the airfare of Chengdu - Province - Guangzhou which can be arranged with extra cost by us. We have to identify your adopted child's orphanage location with enough information from you. Then we can give you more detail itinerary with extra cost for December 27 - 28.
  • The cost of holding the panda and taking a picture is additional to the entry fee. The costs are USD185.00/per person for holding a baby panda. Although the Pandas are cute and adorable, they may inflict accidental injuries in their playful nature.

Important Remarks

  • Prices are quoted in US Dollars and are subject to change without notice. Please check at time of booking.
  • For different scheduled tour, please contact us for a price quote
  • All prices are quoted per person based on two people sharing a room (double occupancy). Single supplement applies for single travelers.
  • A child has to be 11 years old or under on the last day of the tour to receive a discount.
  • Twin beds in China hotels, about 50 inches wide, are closer in width to the 54" double size beds in the U.S., and much wider than the 39 inches wide twin beds found in U.S. homes.
  • A soft sleeper train compartment is equipped with two bunk beds and sleeps four. If there are less than four people in your party, Lotus Travel highly recommends purchasing the extra seats in the compartment to ensure privacy.
  • If your itinerary states "free time" or "free day", no activities would be planned for you and your English-speaking tour guide and driver would not be present.
  • Lotus Travel highly recommends clients to purchase travel insurance. The Travel Plus Plan offered by the Travelex Insurance Company has excellent travel benefits and children 15 and under are free of charge when traveling with an adult.
  • A Chinese visa issued at the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles is good for 6 months. We recommend applying for travel visas at least two months before your departure. For detailed information, please visit the Web page at http://www.lotustours.net/promo/visas/index.shtml
  • Lotus Travel offers a very affordable cell phone rental package to help you stay in touch with families while in China. Please contact our cell phone rental specialist Theresa for more details.
  • A $500.00 per person non-refundable deposit is due at the time of registration.
  • Balance is due 60 days before departure.

Notes:

  • B = Breakfast L = Chinese Lunch D = Chinese Dinner
  • CA= Air China CZ=China Southern Airline MU=China Eastern Airlines
To review full listing of terms and conditions, refer to: http://www.lotustours.net/info/terms.shtml
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