Sparkling China Trip Itinerary in Detail

April 12 – 20, 2014

If you have many international travelling plans, you may add China to that list, if you have not, please consider China. It is really a wonderful place worthy of your exploring and finding out more exciting things.  When you get to China, you will find out the Chinese people are very hospitable to us, even China is a so-called socialism country (they are actually running as capitalism in the market economy).  Just like a local police chief, who went to China with me in 2008, commented, “Chinese people are very hospitable to us than I can ever imagine, quit opposite from the idea of them being our projected enemies”. Moreover, you are going to visit so many beautiful places, to enjoy the delicious genuine Chinese cuisines, and to see the World treasure animal – – – Panda! Do not forget, during the whole trip, there is a China-born American professional accompany with you guiding you and helping you.

 

April 12, Saturday                                     Newark

Clothing: Casual and comfortable.  Jeans, sneakers, loose clothing, comfortable shoes, and caps.

We are going to meet at Newark Airport by 7:00 AM. After we gathered everyone, we are going to the International Travel Check-In by 7:30 AM and check-in at the United Airlines Area for Flight UA 86 leaving at 10:25 AM.

Keep the luggage claim tickets all the time until you get the luggage and leave Shanghai Airport.

We must stay together as we move from one gate to the other.

The flight will last thirteen hours and half. Be sure to keep hydrated!

(Travelers: Check your next person each time you get on an airplane or a coach during the whole trip.)

We are going to arrive in Shanghai at 1:20 PM.  (This is equal to 1:20 AM, Eastern Daylight Saving time.) To avoid jetlag, do not go to sleep after deplaning until regular bedtime (Beijing time).

On the plane to Shanghai, each passenger must make declarations for customs.  The declaration requires you to write your passport number. None of us will have any gifts or purchases to bring into the country worth over $200.  Put the right portion of the form for the Chinese customs in your pocket and save the left portion of the form for the retuning to the customs when we leave China.

Upon arrival, we will proceed to customs and stand in line until our passports are stamped.  We will then proceed to the baggage area.  Do not let anyone help you or hold things for you.  It will be crowded, so all the group members must stay together and watch your next person all the time. Some adults should secure luggage carts while the luggage committee begins watching for our luggage to come out on the revolving belts.

 

April 13 Sunday    (Dinner)                        Shanghai

Once we all have our luggage, we will proceed to the exit gate. Our guide and driver will meet us right outside the baggage claim area. The driver will lead us to the coach.  We will then depart for our Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Puxi (four stars), and arrive there approximately at 4:00 PM.

Check-in at all hotels requires submission of our passports for processing.  We will collect the passports on the coach before arrival at the hotel.  Everyone will remain in the lobby until check-in is complete and your passports are returned to you.  You will get your room keys when your passport is returned.

Exchange money at the front desk or designated area.  Have crisp $100 bills to exchange if you plan to purchase anything during your trip.

Remember to keep receipts of all purchases as they could be needed by customs on the day of departure.

We should congregate in the lobby at 5:50 PM and the coach will leave for the local restaurant at 6:00 PM.

We will return to the hotel around 8:15 PM.

 

April 14 Monday    (Breakfast Lunch Dinner)   Shanghai

Clothing: Casual and comfortable. Jeans, sneakers, loose clothing, comfortable shoes, and caps.

American and Chinese breakfast buffet is served at the second floor in the hotel where you will find Chinese and regular American breakfast with coffee, milk, and juices, milk and juices.

Congregate in the lobby at 8:20 AM and the coach will leave at 8:30 AM for the Bund.

The bund is the bank of Huangpu River where you can see old and new Shanghai at each of the sides. The architecture of buildings lined by the waterfront district includes Romanesque, Gothic, Beaux-Arts, etc.

We will be arriving at the Bund around 10:00 a.m., and spend around one hour there. It will be hot and crowded, so all the group members must stay together. If any traveler is away from the main delegation, you must return the starting place before 11:15 AM.

We will visit the Silk Museum around 11:30 AM.

We will have a lunch in a local restaurant around 1:00 PM, where we will taste the famous Shanghai cuisine — Shanghai Xiao Long Bao (Little Cage Steamed bun) with the liquid filing in the dumpling. Be careful about the hot liquid inside.

In the afternoon, we are going to visit and explore the Shanghai Museum.

We are going to have a dinner at a local restaurant.

After dinner, we will return to hotel around 6:30 PM.

Place luggage outside door by 11:00 PM, so that the bell service will bring them downstairs for you. After I double check in the morning, the travel agency will transport them to the airport for/with us.

It is imperative that we all pack LIGHT, as there are weight limits on Chinese airlines.  Any passenger holding an adult or child fare ticket is entitled to the free baggage allowance of 20kgs (44 lbs) for economy class. (If your luggage exceeds the weight limit, you will have to pay the fees yourself.)

April 15 Tuesday   (Breakfast Lunch Dinner)                               Shanghai/Chengdu

Clothing:  Casual and comfortable. Jeans, sneakers, loose clothing, comfortable shoes, and caps.

American and Chinese breakfast buffet is served at the second floor in the hotel where you will find Chinese and regular American breakfast with coffee, milk, and juices.

Congregate in the lobby at 7:25 AM and the coach will take us to catch the morning flight to Chengdu.

No customs will be necessary at any of the Chinese airports until we leave Shanghai for home.

Upon arrival, we are going to meet the local guide and the driver.

We are going to a local restaurant for lunch around noon.

In the afternoon, we are going to tour Dufu’s Thatched Cottage and Wuhou Shrine.

Du Fu’s Thatched Cottage is an idyllic 24-acre park and museum in honor of the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu at the western outskirts of Chengdu.

Wuhou Shrine (Memorial Temple of Marquis Wu) is dedicated to Zhuge Liang, the Martial Marquis of Shu in the Three Kingdoms Period, who was the personification of noble character and intelligence.

We are going to have dinner in a local restaurant.

After dinner, we will check in to Tianfu Sunshine Hotel (4 star) around 7:30 PM.

Check-in at all hotels requires submission of our passports for processing.  We will collect the passports on the coach before arrival at the hotel.  Everyone will remain in the lobby until check-in is complete and your passports are returned to you.  You will get your room keys when your passport is returned.

Place luggage outside door by 11:00 PM, so that the bell service will bring them downstairs for you. After I double check in the morning, the travel agency will transport them to the airport for/with us.

April 16 Wednesday (Breakfast Lunch Dinner)                Chengdu

Clothing:  Casual and comfortable.  Jeans, sneakers, loose clothing, comfortable shoes, and caps.

American and Chinese breakfast buffet is served at the second floor in the hotel where you will find Chinese and regular American breakfast with coffee, milk, and juices.

Congregate in the lobby at 8:20 AM and the coach will leave at 8:30 AM for our tour to the Panda Breeding and Research Base.

We are going to have a lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we are going to visit the Sanxingdui Han Dynasty Tomb, and and Kuanzhai Xiangzi old street.

We were going to a local restaurant after the sightseeing.

After dinner, we will go back to Tianfu Sunshine Hotel (4 star) around 7:30 PM.

 

April 17 Thursday (Breakfast Lunch Dinner)                   Chengdu/Hangzhou

Clothing:  Casual and comfortable. Jeans, sneakers, loose clothing, comfortable shoes, and caps.

American and Chinese breakfast buffet is served at the second floor in the hotel where you will find Chinese and regular American breakfast with coffee, milk, and juices.

Congregate in the lobby at 8:25 AM and the coach will transfer us to the airport for the morning flight to Hangzhou.

We will go together to get our boarding passes, check in our luggage, and proceed to our gate.  Keep the luggage claim tickets all the time until you get the luggage and leave Hangzhou Airport.

Upon arrival, we are going to meet the local guide and the driver.

There is a famous Chinese saying, “Hangzhou on earth is like a paradise in the heaven”.

We are going to visit the Grand Canal Museum and the bridge over the beginning portion of the Grand Canal in the afternoon.

The Grand Canal, also known as the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal is the longest canal or artificial river in the world.

At 3:30 PM, we are going to arrive at the West Lake. We will make a walking tour and take a short cruise.

It is a famous fresh water lake located in the historic area of Hangzhou. There are numerous temples, pagodas, gardens, and artificial islands within the lake.

The dinner will be served in a local restaurant at 5:30 PM.

We will transfer to the Ramada Plaza Hotel (located on the side of the West Lake, 4 stars) around 7:00 PM.

Check-in at the hotel requires submission of our passports for processing.  We will collect the passports on the coach before arrival at the hotel.  Everyone will remain in the lobby until check-in is complete and your passports are returned to you.  You will get your room keys when your passport is returned.

 

April 18 Friday (Breakfast Lunch Dinner)                         Hangzhou

Clothing:  Casual and comfortable.  Jeans, sneakers, loose clothing, comfortable shoes, and caps.

American and Chinese breakfast buffet is served at the second floor in the hotel where you will find Chinese and regular American breakfast with coffee, milk, and juices.

Congregate in the lobby at 8:25 AM and the coach will leave at 8:30 AM for the tour of a local Tea Farm, where you will have zero distance with the tea farmers and tasted the best Chinese green tea — Long Jing.

We are going to have lunch in a local restaurant around 12:00 PM.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Six Harmony Pagoda with our local guide and driver.

The Six Harmonies Pagoda was built during the Southern Song Dynasty (420-589) to calm the tidal waters of the Qiantang River, and as a navigational aid.  The name ‘Liuhe’ comes from the six Buddhist ordinances. It is a thirteen-story structure, octagonal in shape and 196 feet in height.

The dinner will be served in a local restaurant.

We are going to return to the hotel around 6:30 PM.

Place luggage outside door by 11:00 PM.

 

April 19 Saturday (Breakfast Lunch Dinner)                     Hangzhou to Shanghai

Clothing:  Casual and comfortable.  Jeans, sneakers, loose clothing, comfortable shoes, and caps.

American and Chinese breakfast buffet is served at the second floor in the hotel where you will find Chinese and regular American breakfast with coffee, milk, and juices.

Congregate in the lobby at 7:25 AM and the coach will leave at 7:30 AM for the early morning flight to Shanghai.

We will go together to get our boarding passes, check in our luggage, and proceed to our gate.  (If your luggage exceeds the weight limit, you will have to pay the fees yourself.)  Keep the luggage claim tickets all the time until you get the luggage and leave Shanghai Airport.

Upon arrival, we are going to make a tour of China Pavilion of Expo 2010 (excluding entrance for special exhibitions at the time) and Xintiandi Area.

In the afternoon, we are going to Yu Garden, a well-preserved private home with manmade mountain and serene ponds between houses, which was built around 1559 and 1577. Then we had a one-hour personal shopping around the Cheng Huang Miao area from 5:05 to 6:05 PM.

We will have dinner at a local restaurant at 6:10 PM and stayed overnight at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Puxi (four stars).

Check-in at the hotel requires submission of our passports for processing.  We will collect the passports on the coach before arrival at the hotel.  Everyone will remain in the lobby until check-in is complete and your passports are returned to you.  You will get your room keys when your passport is returned.

April 20 Sunday       (Breakfast)                              Shanghai/Newark    

Place luggage outside door by 7:00 AM.

Clothing:  Casual and comfortable.  Jeans, sneakers, loose clothing, comfortable shoes, and caps.

American and Chinese breakfast buffet is served at the first floor in the hotel where you will find Chinese and regular American breakfast with coffee, milk, and juices.  We have no arranged lunch today, so eat heartily.

Congregate in the lobby at 10:55 AM and the coach will leave at 11:00 AM to Shanghai Airport to catch the afternoon flight to Newark.

Wow! What a wonderful trip to China!

We will go together to get our boarding passes, check in our luggage, and proceed to our gate.  (If your luggage exceeds the weight limit, you will have to pay the fees yourself.)  

After arriving at Shanghai Airport, we will proceed to check in, go through the customs from our United Airlines gate for Flight UA 87 leaving at 4:20 PM.

We are going to arrive at Newark Airport around 6:45 PM.

We must stay together as we move from one gate to the other.

Upon arrival, we will proceed to customs and stand in line until our passports are stamped.  We will then proceed to the baggage area.  Do not let anyone help you or hold things for you.  It will be crowded, so all the group members must stay together. Some adults should secure luggage carts while the luggage committee begins watching for our luggage to come out on the revolving belts.

After we make sure everyone is together and our luggage are all collected, we will move out together to exit of the airport.

Home, sweet home!

Please note:

  1. As for the time, the above is the rough time frame of tours, but the exact time will depend on actual traffic situations.
  2. The above flights are based on this year’s information, and the flight schedule for next April will only be available in mid-January 2014, so the flights are subject to changes.

The trip cost is USD 3250.00 per person based on twin sharing of hotel room (two people in one room). The single supplement is USD3558 per person (one person in a room).

INCLUSIONS:

–          Hotel accommodation with daily American Breakfast Buffet as listed above

–          Economy class air on United Airlines, Beijing/Xi’an and Xi’an/Hangzhou, with airport tax and fuel surcharge.

–          Sightseeing as listed above with private coach/driver/English-speaking local guide.

–          6 lunches and 7 dinners as listed above at local Chinese restaurants.

–          One drink each person each lunch/dinner, with two bottled water in the middle to share.

–          Regular tipping for guides, drivers and porter/ luggage

EXCLUSIONS:

–          Any meal not indicated. Participants are encouraged to bring $100.00 for this purpose.

–          Personal consumptions and extra gratuities to driver/guide/porters for excellent service.

–          Transportation to and back from Newark Airport Elizabeth, NJ.

–          Chinese visa application fee $180.00 (You prepare your own passport up to $225.00).  However, I will go to New York to get the visa to China for you.

–          The quote does not include any personal insurance (either medical or travel insurance, including luggage damage), the reason is that the insurance industry in China is not mature enough to be on the same standard as in the US, and they have many restrictions. In many cases, we cannot get money from insurance companies, besides, it is much more expensive to buy than in the US and the item covered is very limited. Therefore, we always suggest our clients to buy insurance in the US. The airfare of the China domestic flights does not include any insurance, either. There are some insurance companies sell accident insurance at airport, the cost is around 20 RMB per person. The insurance is around 400,000.00 RMB. I guess it is best to buy in the US, as the covered amount is low.
There is no accident insurance included with both United Airlines and Chinese airlines’ tickets. If you need to purchase travel insurance you can go to united.com click on products and services and you will see an offer from Access America. This is a separate company from United Airlines that has insurance available to purchase for your trip.

Cancellation Policy:
If you cancel the trip before January 10, 2014 or before your airplane ticket is issued, whichever comes earlier, you will be refunded $2,900.00 if you pay in full.

If you cancel the trip before March 12, 2013, and you pay in full, you will be refunded $2,900.00 including the United Airlines ticket, which you need to call United Airlines to change to a future travel date with $250.00 per person service fee plus additional charges may apply. Changes to the current United Airlines itinerary must be made before the date of departure; otherwise, the remaining ticket will have NO VALUE.

If you cancel on or after March 12, 2013, and you pay in full, you can only cancel the trip to rearrange your United Airlines ticket (which you need to call United Airlines to change to a future travel date with $250.00 per person service fee plus additional charges may apply. Changes to the current United Airlines itinerary must be made before the date of departure; otherwise, the remaining ticket will have NO VALUE), and there will be no other money refunded to you.

If you pay in full and want to buy the insurance to get the refund of $2,700.00 including the United Airlines ticket, (which you need to call United Airlines to change to a future travel date with $250.00 per person service fee plus additional charges may apply. Changes to the current United Airlines itinerary must be made before the date of departure; otherwise, the remaining ticket will have NO VALUE), you can cancel the trip at the last minute; the fee is $477 for a single supplement. The fee is also $477 for a twin sharing with the written promise from your roommate that he/she will pay $308 to update to a single supplement. Alternatively, you can pay $785 to buy the insurance for a twin sharing. Nevertheless, the insurance money $477 and $785 will not be returned if you end up going on the trip as you planned. You must buy the insurance before March 12, 2013 to be effective. 

You will pay $29.00 for any returned check.

 

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