Compare China Sampler by Alexander+Roberts vs China – Panda Conservation Adventure by Discover Corps
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
|
5 | Excellent
|
| Duration | 10 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 3,299 | $ 2,995 |
| Price Per Day | $ 330 | $ 499 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Luxury | Standard |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
|
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
|
|
| Flights & Transport | Internal airfare and ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
|
|
| Meals Included |
9 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches and 5 Dinners |
5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches and 5 Dinners |
| Description |
Intimate exploration of the highlights and authentic encounters with her traditional ways reveal more of China’s “True Spirit.” |
China’s 1.3 billion people have witnessed an extraordinary change of pace as the face of their country has seen rapid economic expansion. However, the pull of tradition remains strong. We’ll bring you together with residents of the bustling capital city of Beijing and go beyond the city boundaries to share a homemade meal with a welcoming local family. You'll also see China from two completely different points of view - the bustling metropolis of Chengdu and the conservation hub of Dujiangyan. |
Day 1 – Welcome to Beijing
Check in to your city central accommodations at the 5-star Fairmont Beijing where a luxury room awaits.
Day 2 – In and around Beijing with your Trip Leader
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Start your day with the Sofitel’s Bistro Buffet breakfast, featuring a tempting selection of Asian and Western cuisine, and then tour Tiananmen Square and the magnificent Forbidden City. Explore by rickshaw through the narrow lanes of a hutong and sit down to lunch with a local family in their home here in this traditional city neighborhood. This congenial encounter promises genuine insight into the challenges and rewards of balancing ancient traditions with modern city life. This evening, savor a bountiful Peking Duck banquet.
Day 3 – Great Wall & Summer Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Journey into the mountains north of the capital and ascend by cable car to walk with your guide atop the Great Wall - an unforgettable experience! Then tour the lovely Summer Palace, erstwhile seasonal retreat of China’s mighty emperors.
Day 4 – Fly to Xian, ancient capital of thirteen dynasties
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Hilton
Fly to Xian where you’ll be met and escorted to the Hilton Hotel, perfectly situated within the ancient walls of the city. Join an in-the-know city resident to explore a colorful local market, popularly known as the Muslim market. He’ll be at your side guiding your discovery as you peruse the wide variety of products and sample exotic fare from the many vendors. Tonight’s dinner features savory dumplings.
Day 5 – The Terra Cotta Warriors
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tour the excavation site of the Terra Cotta Army, China’s greatest archaeological discovery, and visit the ancient defensive walls of the city.
Day 6 – Above there is Heaven. Below there is Hangzhou
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: JW Marriot
Fly to Hangzhou and transfer to the stylish JW Marriott. Cruise on beautiful West Lake and then spend time with tea farmers in their fields outside of the city. From preparing the soil to picking the tea leaves, this hands-on experience is a fun way to learn about the generations-old techniques that ensure the esteemed quality of the region’s fine teas.
Day 7 – On to Wuzhen and the Garden City of Suzhou
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Renaissance
It’s off the beaten path but this morning’s visit to Wuzhen, a 2,000-year-old town, reveals some of China’s most finely preserved Ming Dynasty homes. Continue on to Suzhou and check in to the first class Renaissance Hotel.
Day 8 – Discover Suzhou
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Fairmont Peace
Tour the exquisite Garden of the Master of the Nets c and stroll with your guide along historic Pingjiang Road, graced with splendidly-preserved Song Dynasty architecture. Learn about traditional Chinese pastimes as you browse the exotic Bird & Flower Market and join city residents to fly your own kite at the historic Panmen City Gate. Learn how silk is made at a local factory before continue on to cosmopolitan Shanghai where you check in to the city central Fairmont Peace Hotel.
Day 9 – Out and about in Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tour the vast collection of the Shanghai Museum and enjoy a guided stroll along the historic waterfront Bund. Marvel at the iconic 21st-century skyscrapers of the dynamic Pudong district and explore the ancient lanes of Tianzifang, now home to some of the city’s most popular boutiques and studios. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner of fine regional cuisine.
Day 10 – Depart Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast
Your program with us finishes after breakfast.
Day 1: Arrive and Enjoy a Sichuan Hotpot
Meals: Dinner
A warm welcome awaits at Chengdu International Airport where we’ll introduce you to your Discover Corps group. We’ll then whisk you away to your four-star hotel in Dujiangyan for a traditional welcome dinner. Enjoy a free evening to recharge before the morning's activities.
Day 2: Visit the Dujiangyan Panda Breeding Research Center to Begin Volunteering
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Your hands-on experience with the pandas begins today! We’ll introduce you to the conservationists at the Dujiangyan Panda Research Center who will introduce you to the pandas before your work begins. Your first task will be to help feed the pandas their bamboo breakfasts – an incredible way to start the day. After your own lunch, you will clean the fencing of the pandas gardens, clean their enclosures, break bamboo shoots for the pandas, and more to help the center. After volunteering, walk around the neighborhood before a local meal for dinner.
Day 3: Continue Lending a Hand at the Dujiangyan Panda Research Center
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
On your second day of volunteering, you’ll have the choice to help clean the enclosures before experiencing the magic of hand-feeding the pandas for a second time. These friendly animals will be familiar faces by now as you learn how to make special cakes for them and continue to provide the special care they need. Today, you’ll receive a certificate of recognition of your efforts.
In the late afternoon, head to the bustling city of Chengdu and enjoy dinner before a free night to explore the lively atmosphere of the city or relax in your hotel.
Day 4: Experience a Cooking Class with a Local Family
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Spend today joining a local family in the nearby markets gathering ingredients before a cooking class in their home. Learn how to make a number of Sichuan favorites before enjoying your lunch together. In the evening, watch a performance of a traditional Sichuan act of face changing, as well as other local performances.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Visit the Unforgettable Terracotta Warriors
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Hit the road this morning for the 1.5 hour drive to the Terracotta Warriors. Marvel at the over 6,000 warrior sculptures, each with a different face, and learn more about their importance in teaching us about ancient China. For lunch, sample the unique flavores of Hui Muslim food before a bike ride around the top of Xi'an's ancient city walls.
Day 6: Depart from Xi'an or Continue on to The Great Wall of China Optional Extension
Meals: Breakfast
It's time for those on the six-day trip to say their goodbyes before being transfered to the airport for their flight home. If you're staying with us for The Great Wall of China extension, you'll hop on a flight to Beijing for your first adventure.
