Christmas in China

Leave your home city for Beijing today

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.

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. 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.

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.

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). Travel on top of the 950-year-old city wall on 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. After Chinese hot pot lunch, enjoy the traditional puppet show in the GaoJia Courtyard in afternoon. Your children can practice puppeteering after the show. Visit the Tangbo Art Museum in afternoon.

Embark on an amazing historical and cultural adventure today beginning with the exploration of the Terracotta Warriors & Horses Museum, a UNESCO world heritage site since 1987. Created 2,000 years ago to guard the tomb of China's first emperor QinShiHuang, time and the elements have gradually worn away the vibrant painted details from the soldiers and horses to reveal their original earthy terracotta color. Learn making terracotta warriors in one local craft factory. Continue your trip to Hu County famous for its peasant farmer artists who create vibrantly colored peasant paintings and intricate paper cutouts. Tonight you will have the rare opportunity to stay at a typical farmer's home to learn to make JiaoZi (traditional Chinese dumplings) and enjoy a home-made JiaoZi dinner there. After dinner, tonight you will have a dancing party with local farmers at the village grain-sunning ground.

Enjoy a rare glimpse into China's countryside living through a visit to the workshops and galleries where you can learn about the artist's special techniques, purchase artwork or paper cutouts and even try your hand at creating your own magnificent work of art. Visit the farmer's old village and you will be surprised by the huge difference between the old village and new village where you are staying. Visit the local elementary school and have a 45-minutes class with the local children (You may enjoy bringing some small gifts to the children for the school visit).After your included Chinese lunch, return to the Xian Airport for your flight to Chengdu. Xian/Chengdu HU7855 (2:15P/3:35P) (Your local guide has tickets) Please meet your local guide and driver at the Chengdu airport exit for transfer to the hotel. As an optional evening entertainment, tonight you will get to enjoy a traditional show at a tea house – it is a favorite one of adults and kids alike and is often a highlight of the trip to China! Get your camera ready and see if you can figure out the art of the local custom of "face changing". It's a fascinating local artistic work.

Go 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 Chengdu old town – JingLi Street, which combines the culture of the Three Kingdoms Period with the folk customs of Sichuan.  The tea-houses, stores and hotels are modeled on the architectural style of a traditional old town in western Sichuan Province from the Qing (1644-1911) Dynasty. As you stroll down the narrow streets, you will find local artisan Shu Embroidery, lacquer products, calligraphy work and other local handicrafts. Visiting stores on this street, one feels like you have catapulted back in time and you will appreciate the relaxing and local unique flavor of this ancient street.  

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 entry fee which is USD208.00/per person for holding a baby panda. Although the Pandas are cute and adorable, they may inflict accidental injuries in their playful nature.

You will be transferred to the Chengdu Airport for your trip to Guilin at late afternoon.
Chengdu/Guilin                  CA4323 (7:30P/9:05P) (Your tour guide has tickets)
Meet your tour guide at the Guilin Airport exit for transfer to the Guilin Ming Garden Apartment Suite.

Tonight you will stay at the Ming Garden Apartment Suites, which is located within the local Chinese residents’ apartment complexes.  Each unit is decorated in the Ming Dynasty Style with traditional Ming furniture, an air-conditioning/heating unit, a private western-style bath, a kitchen equipped with microwave, refrigerator and cooking utensils; free internet access, television and telephone. You can also enjoy free late checkouts until 6:00 p.m. (all hotels request checkouts before 12:00 noon).  All guests will have the rare chance to live among local residents within the same apartment complex. We can even arrange an assistant to make traditional Chinese meals for your family.

Visit the tea farm this morning. You will have Guilin Rice noodle for your lunch in one of the local famous rice noodle restaurant. More than 700 years ago, the Italian traveler, Marco Polo, introduced spaghetti to Italy, then to all western countries. After your Guilin Rice noodle lunch, you won't be surprised why local people can have noodles every day, every meal. Explore the Reed Flute Caves in afternoon. Enjoy the gorgeous views of beautiful backdrops created by the cool atmosphere and colorful lighting displays inside the caves as you pass by many fanciful shapes (don't forget to look for the Monkey King). Visit the Fubo Hill in afternoon.

Depart Guilin 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.

Your orphanage visitation typically includes a lunch meeting with the orphanage director and staff. If your family wishes to be 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. Record the day's events in your journal or just relax with your family this evening.

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.

Tour around Shamian Island, stop at the medical clinic where adoption medical exams are conducted and visit the photo shop where your child's visa photo was taken. In the afternoon, spend some time strolling around the YueXiu Park to relax as you recall your family adoption trip. Have a leisurely lunch while you reminisce at key sports in the area. This evening, capture a few last glimpses around Guangzhou and spend some time writing in your journal.

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