11 Days / 10 Nights
Day 1- Arrive Korea
Arrive in Seoul this evening. Upon arrival you are met and transferred to the IP BOUTIQUE HOTEL. Founded as the capital of the Chosun Dynasty, Seoul is Korea’s commercial, financial, and political hub.
Day 2- Seoul Sightseeing
Enjoy a morning city tour passing by Deopsugung Palace, Namdaemun and Seoul Station. Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Folklore Museum with its insights into traditional Korean life. Drive by main gate of the Blue House and the Cheonggye Stream. The afternoon is at leisure. (B)
Day 3- Seoul / Gyeongju
Early morning transfer to the train station to board your express train to Gyeongju, the spiritual and cultural capital of Korea. Gyeongju served as the capital of the Shilla Kingdom, which united the peninsula in 676 AD. Designated by UNESCO as one of the world’s ten most historic sites, it is known as the “Museum Without Walls.” You are met and transferred to KOLON HOTEL. Your afternoon tour of Gyeongju includes the Bulgulsa Temple with its lovely pagodas and bridges, Seogguram Grotto (one of Asia’s most magnificent Buddhist shrines) and the National Museum. (B)
Day 4- Gyeongju / Busan
In the morning, travel by express bus to Busan (1hr 30 mins), Korea’s main port and second largest city. Upon arrival, check into COMODORE HOTEL. Your afternoon tour includes Taejongdae Park with its vast rock outcrops and sweeping sea vistas and the UN cemetery, Jagalchi fish market, the International market and Yongdusan Park. (B)
Day 5- Busan / Beijing
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Beijing the capital of the People’s Republic of China, which is over 3,000 years old. You are welcomed at the airport and escorted to the NOVOTEL XINQIAO HOTEL. Afternoon is at leisure. (B)
Day 6 - Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Summer Palace
Start your tour this morning with visit to the Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world and the Forbidden City, the 250-acre palace containing more than 9,000 rooms. Closed to the common people for centuries, it was only opened to the public in 1949. Later, explore the Summer Palace, the retreat of China’s royal families for over 2,000 years and enjoy your cruise on the shimmering waters of Kunming Lake. Finally visit the Beijing Zoo and the Giant Panda House. Tonight , enjoy a Chinese Cultural Show. (BLD)
Day 7 - Great Wall Excursion
Embark on your day excursion to the Great wall, stopping enroute at the iconic Beijing 2008 Olympic Center, the Bird’s Nest & Water Cube for photography opportunity. The highlight of your stay in this ancient capital is a visit to the Great Wall. It is easy to see why the Great Wall, built 2,300 years ago and extending 3,750 miles, can be seen by astronauts from space! You will also visit the Ming Tombs, including a nice walk on the Sacred Way, which was regarded as the formal entrance to the Tombs. Also visit the Tomb of Emperor Zhudi, founder of the Forbidden City. (BL)
Day 8 -Temple of Heaven & Hutong Tour
Morning visit the Temple of Heaven, possibly the country’s most popular symbol. It was believed to be the closest place to heaven and was where the emperors would communicate with the gods. Later visit the Beijing City Planning Museum. You will tour some of Beijing’s thousands of hutongs, or ancient city alleys. The hutongs were built as part of a city building plan that followed the etiquette systems of the Zhou dynasty, which had specific protocols regarding how residential areas should be set up. Enjoy a Peking Duck dinner tonight. (BLD)
Day 9 – Beijing / Shanghai
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai, “the Paris of the East”—China’s most westernized and largest city. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to SHANGHAI HOTEL. Afternoon drive along the famous Bund, the wide, tree-lined avenue along the Huangpo River and the former “Wall Street” of foreign powers. Later visit Xintiandi, famous shopping, eating and entertainment district of Shanghai. (BL)
Day 9 - Shanghai Sightseeing
Your morning tour of Shanghai includes a visit to Old downtown with its many narrow zigzag lanes, small squares and pavilions. Visit the Yu garden a UNESCO heritage site planned and built over 400 years agio
during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Afternoon visit Shanghai Museum, one of best museum’s in the world with a huge collection of finest cultural relics. You will get an opportunity to see stone sculptures and carving, bronze-ware, porcelain, calligraphic works & Chinese paintings and ancient furniture. After the Museum we stroll out the North Gate to the People Square, the surroundings are the best collection of modern architecture. Later, enjoy a performance by the famous Chinese acrobats. (BLD)
Day 10 - Zhujiajiao Watertown & Jade Buddha Temple
Enjoy your morning visit to Zhujiajiao, a water village on the outskirts of Shanghai, which was formed about 1,700 years ago. Archaeological findings dating back 5,000 years have also been found. 36 stone bridges and numerous rivers line Zhujiajiao, and thousands of ancient buildings still line the riverbanks today. Many centuries-old stone buildings are home to residents today, as they were for many dynasties in the past. This afternoon visit the Jade Buddha Temple. Founded in 1882 with two Jade Buddha statues imported from Myanmar by sea. These were a sitting Buddhaand a smaller reclining Buddha representing Buddha's death. The temple now also contains a much larger reclining Buddha made of marble, donated from Singapore. (BL)
Day 11 - Shanghai / Home
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight for back home. (B)
