Day 1-- fri oct 1	USA to Beijing, China.
Day 2-- sat oct 2	Arrive Beijing.
Day 3-- sun oct 3	Beijing for Forbidden City, Summer Palace.
Day 4-- mon oct 4	Beijing for Great Wall & Lama Temple.
Day 5-- tue oct 5	Beijing for Temple of Heaven & Hutong. Fly to Taiyuan.
Day 6 - wed oct 6	Drive to Pingyao. Chang Famly Mansion & Twin Forest Temple.
Day 7-- thu oct 7	Tour Pingyao. Drive to Taiyuan & fly to Xian.
Day 8-- fri oct 8	Xian for the Terra Cotta Warriors & Willd Goose Pagoda.
Day 9-- sat oct 9	Xian for City Walls & Great Mosque. Fly to Shanghai.
Day 10-- sun oct 10	Shanghai sightseeing.
Day 11-- mon oct 11	Shanghai sightseeing.
Day 12-- tue oct 12	Fly Shanghai to USA

China, perhaps more than any other country in the world, is a perfect testament to the rapidly changing world we live in. In only a few decades, China has modernized in a way unprecedented in world history. For the world traveler this is both a good step and a disappointing one. It means that much of the character of the country we hold in our mind's eye is no longer visible as we travel around. Our tour strives to bring the old-world charm to you while still reaping the benefits of modernization. We will visit all the world class sites but also will take you to Pingyao, a small town stuck in the old world. Once a booming banking center in the Ming Dynasty, Pingyao now is a living museum of historic buildings. You might also like to visit the World's Fair in Shanghai at the end of our tour. We can extend you trip so you can you take advantage of this opportunity. Join us for China: Then and Now.

Day 1 - fri, oct 1 - Depart the USA
Depart USA on any regularly scheduled flight to Beijing, China.

Day 2 - sat, oct 2 - Beijing, china
CHINA NOW - Arrive in Beijing. After clearing customs, please proceed to the luggage area to claim your checked baggage. You will be greeted by Coda’s representatives at Beijing International airport and transfer-red to the Regent Hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. For those interested, we will make an outing to Beijing's gay bars this evening for an introduction to China's gay scene.
5* Regent Hotel
Standard Room
Meals: None

Day 3 - sun, oct 3 - beijing for the forbidden city, summer palace
Breakfast in the hotel.  Visit Tiananmen Square, built in 165 A.D., as the largest public square in the world. A local gathering place, it is remembered, most notably, for the Tiananmen Square Student Protests of 1989. On the north side is Tiananmen Gate (the Rostrum), where, from the balcony, Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. The Forbidden City (Imperial Palace) lies directly behind the Rostrum. Home to 24 emperors, their families and courts for over 500 years, it has 8,706 rooms in which 8,000 to 10,000 people lived and worked.  After viewing the palace, lunch will be served at a popular Taipei restaurant.  The Summer Palace is one of the finest landmarks in Beijing – a majestic landscape of gardens, palaces and temples. View the harmonious ensemble of natural and man-made beauty.  Return to the hotel. Dinner is at a trendy restaurant.
5* Regent Hotel
Standard Room
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 - mon, oct 4 -- beijing for the great wall & lama temple
Breakfast in the hotel. “Wan Li Chang Cheng”, or the Great Wall, was begun in sections as early as the fifth century B.C., to defend China from northern enemies, and was ultimately united in 221 B.C. Its construction lasted ten years, needing more than 30,000 men to complete the project. Ride the cable car to its summit with an optional toboggan ride back down. Wonderful views of the wall can be seen from the terrace of “The Schoolhouse” restaurant, where lunch will be served. Upon return to Beijing, our tour continues to Lama Temple, the most handsome and impressive Buddhist temple in the city, showcasing a 23-meter-tall Maitreya Buddah, carved from the trunk of a white sandalwood tree. Dinner is on your own this evening. Beijing is full of exciting restaurants and our staff will be make recommendations for dining venues.
5* Regent Hotel
Standard Room
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 - tue, oct 5 --   Beijing for Temple of Heaven & Hutong. Fly to Taiyuan.
Breakfast in the hotel. Begin with a visit to the ornate and spectacular Temple of Heaven, an excellent example of Chinese architecture, built in the same period as the Forbidden City (1406 -1420A.D.) Lunch is at a famous restaurant constructed entirely of wood in the traditional Hutong style. Visit the Hutong area – a narrow network of lanes and closely built homes – by pedicab. Hidden homes and courtyards lie behind gates carved with good luck characters – stop and visit with a family and learn about Hutong lifestyle. Attend a traditional tea ceremony in the unique Bell Tower, built in 1772 A.D., with a stunning view of central Beijing. Arrive at airport for a flight to Taiyuan. Upon arrival in Taiyuan transfer to the World Trade Hotel. A buffet dinner is planned at the hotel.
5* World Trade Hotel
Standard Room
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner

Day 6 - wed, oct 6 -- Drive to Pingyao. Chang Famly Mansion & Twin Forest Temple.
Breakfast in the hotel. Drive to Pingyao, en route visit Jinci, an ancient ancestral Buddhist temple (circa 5th Century), nestled amongst gardens and other exquisite examples of Chinese architecture. Along The Silk Road, many vast fortunes were made, best exemplified by the next stop at the Chang Family Museum, a family mansion furbished with excellent artwork and artifacts. In the Qiaotou Village, visit the Shaunglin Temple (Twin Forest Temple) that houses more than 2,000 painted sculptures, dating from the 12th – 19th centuries. Lunch will be in a local restaurant. Continue by road to Pingyao, and check into Pingyao Yunjincheng Hotel. Enjoy dinner in the hotel.
4* Pingyao Yunjincheng Hotel
Standard Room
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 - thu, oct 7 -- Tour Pingyao. Drive to Taiyuan & fly to Xian.
CHINA THEN - Pingyao is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Han Chinese city, founded in the 14th century. Its urban fabric shows the evolution of architectural styles and town planning in Imperial China over five centuries. Of special interest are the imposing buildings associated with banking, for which Pingyao was the major centre for the whole of China in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Tour the exquisitely preserved buildings from the Qing Dynasty and learn how Pngyao played a monumental role in Chinese history.
Return toTaiyuan and dine at a local restaurant. Board an evening flight to Xian. Upon arrival transfer to Sofitel on Renmin Square for check in.
5* Sofitel Xian on Renmim Square
Standard Room
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 - Fri, Oct 8 -- Xian for the Terra Cotta Warriors & Willd Goose Pagoda.
Breakfast in the hotel. Today begins at the Xian City Wall - constructed in 1370 A.D.. It is an aesthetic and architectural achievement with many ramparts, towers and richly adorned city gates. From here, travel to the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum. Uncovered in 1974 by peasants digging a well, the terra cotta soldiers are Xian’a most important and awe inspiring attraction. Commissioned by the emperor Qin Shi Huangdi in 246 B.C. as a testament to his power and meglomania, each of the individually-crafted, 8,000 figures, was created to guard the emperor in his afterlife. Lunch at a local restaurant. Learn the nuances – brush and pen strokes, presentation and style - of classical Chinese calligraphy and painting at the next stop on the tour – a truly artistic experience. For more artwork, visit the Saanxi History Museum, exhibiting gold and silver objects, armour, ceramics and many more pieces covering centuries of Chinese history. Nearby is the Wild Goose Pagoda, erected in 652 B.C., a shrine to the Buddhist religion and philosophy and housing Indian sutras which were translated into Chinese, totalling 1,335 volumes. Return to the hotel, with buffet dinner in the evening.
5* Sofitel Xian on Renmim Square
Standard Room
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 - sat, oct 9 -- Xian for City Walls & Great Mosque. Fly to shanghai.
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart this morning for a visit to the Old City Wall and Great Mosque. The City Wall…. It's the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. Continue to The Great Mosque, built in 742 A.D., an exquisite blending of traditional architectural styles from Islam and Han. Enjoy a dim sum lunch at De Fa Chang, a well-known dumpling restaurant in Xian. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for the flight to Shangahi. Upon arrival at Shanghai Airport, transfer to Le Meridien Hotel. Dinner is on your own.
5* Le Meridien Hotel Shanghai
Standard Room
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10 - Sun, oct 10 -- Shanghai
CHINA NOW - Breakfast at the hotel. Originally, Shanghai was a seaside fishing village and in time its gradual development led to it being granted County status on August 19th, 1291 during the YuanDynasty (1271-1368). Hence this day became the anniversary of the founding of Shanghai. Today's Shanghai is a multi-cultural metropolis with both modern and traditional Chinese features. Bubbling Shanghai shows off every aspect of her unique glamour.
Begin exploring Shanghai with visits to the Yu Yuan Gardens & Old Town Bazaar, dating from the Ming Dynasty. A spectacular dumpling lunch is served in the heart of this district. Continue to the renovated Xintiandi District, where restored embassy homes are now trendy boutiques and fashionable restaurants.Dinner this evening is in the hip area.
5* Le Meridien Hotel Shanghai
Standard Room
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 - mon, oct 11 -- Shanghai
CHINA NOW - Breakfast at the hotel. Begin at the stunning ShanghaI Museum, which contains one of the world's best collections of Chinese art, all housed in a state of the art setting. Continue to Shanghai City Planning Centre, housed in a striking modern five-story building made of microlite glass, this is one of the world's largest showcases of urban development and is much more interesting than its dry name suggests. The highlight is on the third floor: an awesome vast scale model of urban Shanghai as it will look in 2020, a master plan full of endless skyscrapers punctuated occasionally by patches of green. The clear plastic models indicate structures yet to be built, and there are many of them. Lunch at a local restaurant and then our tour passes the boulevards of the former French Concession and Nanjing Road (Shanghai main shopping street) before ending at the hotel.
Tonight we visit the Bund before dining at one of the most fashionable restaurants in Shanghai.
5* Le Meridien Hotel Shanghai
Standard Room
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 - tue, oct 12 -- Shanghaito USA
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA.
Meals: Breakfast

	Regent Hotel, Beijing is Located in the historical center of China’s capital. The 500 luxuriously appointed guest rooms are minutes from the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Wangfujing shopping, the Oriental Plaza and picturesque hutongs. With five restaurants and lounges, a full service spa, fitness center, indoor pool and renowned service, the Regent is the perfect hotel in Beijing, China for pampered luxury.
	World Trade Hotel taiyuan is housed in a striking Landmark Building with 398 Rooms in the capital city of Shanxi Province. It is the only 5 star hotel in the city.
	pingyao Yunjincheng hotelis located in the famous Ming and Qing streets in Pingyao. The hotel combines eighteen elegant and unique courtyards with over 80 decorated luxurious suites and standard rooms. The former Yunjincheng was housed in the Rishengda Money Exchange Shop, Yuantaichang Cloth Shop and Yunjincheng noshery. These luxurious and elegant courtyards have exquisite windows, are skillfuly painted and are furnished with splendid classic furniture.
	sofitel on renmin squarehas 414 luxurious rooms and suites with elegant furniture and chic decor. Unique rain forest shower, Sofitel MyBed and broadband WiFi Internet and 3G tech, bring you the top hotel brand - "French art de vivre" of Sofitel.
	le royal meridien shanghai Rising 66 stories majestically above Shanghai’s central business district, Le Royal Meridien Shanghai is one of the city’s most impressive contemporary landmarks. Featuring a striking modern design with panoramic views, the hotel is conveniently located at the heart of Shanghai along the famous Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, adjacent to the People’s Square Metro interchange and just 10 minutes walk from the Bund.

Rates

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
A visa is required for entry into China for American and Canadian passport holders. For current costs and to download forms, we recommend using Zierer Visa Service. To Speak directly to ZVS Customer Service, call 866-788-1100 (toll-free in the U.S.). Please note that visas cannot be processed more than 90 days prior to departure and processing may take several weeks to complete. You may also apply directly with an Chinese Consulate in your area. For information, google the Chinese Consulate nearest you (e.g. Chinese Consulate New York). You must have a valid passport that remains valid six months past your return to the U.S. You should also have a minimum of two empty passport pages.

SHOTS
None required or recommended. It is recommended you have your regular vaccinations up-to-date before traveling. For further information, visit the Center For Disease Control website.

INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE
United Airlines, Korean Airlines, Japan Airlines, China Airlines are among airlines that can be used for this trip. We recommend booking at least 7 months in advance if you want to try to use Frequent Flyer Miles for free tickets or upgrades or the American Express Platinum card 2-4-1 program.

MINIMUMS
All departures are guaranteed on a minimum of 10 participants. A small group charge will be assessed for fewer than 10 travelers. This tour can be operated as a Private Tour, can be customized and repriced based on final itinerary.

INCLUSIONS

• 10 nights accommodations with breakfast as listed in the Full Itinerary..
• Economy class air Beijing/Taiyuan/Xian/Shanghai with airport tax and fuel surcharge.
  
• Arrival and departure transfers are included for those who purchase international air through Coda International Tours. Separate transfer costs will be charged to those who are not ticketed by Coda International Tours. Participants are required to provide Coda Tours with complete international flight details at least 2 weeks prior to the schedule tour departure date.
• All sightseeing as described in the Full Itinerary with private coach/driver and English Speaking Guides.
• Services of a National Chinese guide.
• Coda tour manager of minimum participation.
• Meals as listed in the Full Itinerary, food only. Beverages are separate.
• Entrance fees as required.

EXCLUSIONS

• International airfare into Beijing and out of Shanghai
• Beverages with meals
• Tips to guides & drivers (recommendations will be provided)
• Passport and visa expenses. Please check our Travel Documents requirements for this trip. Always double check that your passport will remain valid for at least 6 months past your return to the U.S. and that you have sufficient empty pages in your passport to accommodate visa and entry/exit stamps. Always carry a copy of your passport packed separately from your travel documents and leave a copy with someone at home.
  
• Overweight baggage charges for domestic flights within China (if applicable.)
• Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance which is highly recommended to protect your travel investment in the unlikelihood you would need to cancel or return home early. We recommend Travel Insured International and will send you an application form with confirmation of your trip. You may check the rates for insurance on their website at www.travelinsured.com. We also recommend insuring any expense for airline tickets issued prior to the determination if a tour is guaranteed to operate. We cannot assume responsibility for losses incurred due to the cancellation of a tour.
• Personal Expenses such as phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees (if applicable) and other optional incidental extras are not included and may be significant.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES / AVERAGE RAINFALL
The best time to visit China is generally either spring (March to May) or autumn (September to early November). Winters in China’s north and northeast fall between November/December and March/April, and are very cold. Summer is hot and dry, and falls roughly between May and August. In the southern part of China (around the Yangtze River and below), heavy rains and floods are common in June and July.

Extend your trip with a visit to EXPO 2010 Shanghai

The 2010 World's Fair will be in Shanghai from May 1-October 31. We will be happy to assist with hotel reservations and information for visiting the Fair following our China: Then & Now tour. You can see details of Expo 2010 on their website at EXPO 2010.

Extend your trip in Hong kong

HONG KONG
Fly from Shanghai to Hong Kong for a 3 night stay.
Please request details.