14 Days | Choose your dates (Available April

Yu Garden by Jakub Halun
CHINA
CUSTOMIZE
AM
THIS PROGR
INTERNATIONAL GARDEN SERIES
14 Days | Choose your dates (Available April - November)
China is home to the world’s
oldest continuous civilizations,
vast numbers of indigenous flora
and fauna, and some of the
most remarkable architecture in
the world. Chinese gardens are
unique, and this tour explores
many of the best on offer.
Discover China’s rich history
while visiting temples, museums,
and landmarks including the
Great Wall, Tiananmen Square,
and the Forbidden City. Uncover
the natural wonders at the Wild
Elephant Sanchahe Nature
Reserve and along the Mekong
River.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• Visit to the Beijing Botanical Gardens and the WoFoSi Sleeping
Buddha Temple.
• Cruise on Kunming Lake and stroll through the royal gardens at Qing
Dynasty Summer Palace.
• Enjoy a guided tour of the Daguanyuan Gardens.
• Explore the famous Great Wall of China.
• See Olympic Park, the Birds Nest Stadium, and the Water Cube.
• Watch a short selection of Peking Opera at the Peking Opera Museum.
• Stroll through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.
• Discover the Horticultural Expo Garden in Kunming.
• Learn about native life in local villages while cruising down the Mekong
River.
• Observe elephants playing from your treehouse room at Wild Elephant
Sanchahe Nature Reserve.
• Tour the Humble Administrator’s Garden, the Lion Grove Garden, and
the I.M. Pei designed Suzhou Museum.
holbrooktravel.com | 800-451-7111
ITINERARY
BLD = BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
DAY 1 - DEPARTURE
Depart from your home city and cross the international dateline to
Beijing.
DAY 2 - BEIJING
Upon arrival in Beijing transfer to the Bamboo Garden Hotel. The
remainder of the late afternoon is at leisure to rest from your long
flight. Overnight at Bamboo Garden Hotel.
DAY 3 - BEIJING
This morning visit the Fragrant Hills, location of the Beijing
Botanical Gardens. Tour the gardens in the morning including
the exhibition greenhouses and WoFoSi Sleeping Buddha Temple.
Lunch at the I.M. Pei designed Fragrant Hills Hotel. After lunch
visit the Qing Dynasty Summer Palace. Cruise on Kunming Lake
and stroll through the royal gardens. Return to the hotel and go
out for dinner at a special Peking Duck restaurant. Overnight at
Bamboo Garden Hotel. (BLD)
DAY 4 - BEIJING
This morning visit Daguanyuan Gardens, which were completed
in 1988 as a film set to replicate a renown Qing Dynasty Imperial
Garden for a television series based on the classic Chinese novel, “A
Dream of Red Mansions”. In the afternoon, go outside the city to
visit the Great Wall of China, the largest defensive structure ever
built. Focus on Mutianyu, a rugged, somewhat less visited section
of the Wall with cable car availability and striking panoramic
views. On return to the city, stop at the Olympic Park to see the
Birds Nest Stadium and the Water Cube. Dinner at the restaurant
attached to the Peking Opera Museum. See a short selection of
Peking Opera highlights in a traditional North China teahouse
setting after dinner. Overnight at Bamboo Garden Hotel. (BLD)
DAY 5 - KUNMING
Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, the abiding
symbol of dynastic China. Originally built in 1406, the Imperial
Palace Museum now houses a collection of antiquities and art from
China’s last dynasty. After lunch fly to Kunming, known as China’s
“Spring City” for its year-round moderate weather. Upon arrival,
transfer to the Grand Park Hotel. Remainder of the afternoon and
evening at leisure. Overnight at Grand Park Hotel. (BLD)
DAY 6 - JINGHONG
Set off to see The Stone Forest, 90 km from Kunming. It is a
natural formation of Karst rock formations and is the home of
the Sani, one of Yunnan Province’s ethnic minorities. After lunch
return to Kunming and visit the Horticultural Expo Garden. This
evening fly to Jinghong, set along the Lancang (Mekong) River.
Jinghong is the capital of the Xishuangbanna Prefecture, comprised
of subtropical lowland bordering Laos and Burma. Upon arrival
transfer to the Tai Garden Hotel. Overnight at Tai Garden Hotel.
(BL)
DAY 7 - SANCHAHE NATURE RESERVE
Visit the Wild Elephant Sanchahe Nature Reserve.
Accommodations are basic but novel tree houses. Evening and
dawn are the best times to see wild elephants roaming the area.
A night watchman is posted to wake the group if elephants are
sighted. Overnight at Sanchache Nature Reserve. (BLD)
DAY 8 - JINGHONG
Return to Jinghong and the Tai Garden Hotel. Visit the
Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden and the Menglun
Tropical Botanical Garden. Time at leisure to visit the minority
nationality market areas should you wish. Overnight at Tai Garden
Hotel. (BLD)
DAY 9 - KUNMING
Enjoy a boat ride on the Lancang (Mekong) River, visiting villages
along the way. Following your boat ride, transfer to the airport
for a flight back to Kunming. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight at Grand Park Hotel.
(BLD)
DAY 10 - SHANGHAI
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai.
Upon arrival, visit the Yu Garden (Yu Yuan) and the Old Town
area including the Temple of the City God. After lunch, spend
the afternoon at the Shanghai Botanical Garden (Zhiwuyuan).
Overnight at Ruijin Guesthouse. (BL)
DAY 11 - SUZHOU
This morning visit the Urban Planning Exhibition and Shanghai
Museum, a world-class museum with a collection of bronze, jade,
pottery, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, old coins, and furniture.
Lunch in the Xintiandi area before transfer to Suzhou. Overnight
at Nanlin Hotel. (BLD)
DAY 12 - SUZHOU
Tour the Lingering Garden (Liuyuan) and Tiger Hill Pagoda
(Huqiu Shan) including the Bonsai (Panji) Nursery on the
grounds of Wanjing Villa. After lunch visit the Master of the Nets
Garden (Wangshi Yuan) and Blue Wave Pavilion (Canlang Ting).
Overnight at Nalin Hotel. (BLD)
DAY 13 - SHANGHAI
This morning visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden
(Zhouzheng Yuan) and the Lion Grove Garden (Shizilin). After
lunch, tour the I.M. Pei designed Suzhou Museum.Transfer back
to Shanghai and return to the Ruijin Guesthouse. A farewell
dinner is followed by a cruise on the Huangpu River. Overnight at
Ruijin Guesthouse. (BLD)
DAY 14 - FAREWELL!
Check out of the hotel and take the “people mover” through the
Sea Tunnel to Pudong and go to the observation deck of the Pearl
TV Tower and history diorama exhibit at the base of the tower.
Continue to the terminus of the Mag-Lev Train while the luggage
goes to the airport. For the transfer, take the magnetic levitation
high speed train at speeds up to 260 mph, floating to the airport
in about 7 minutes. Non-stop flight back to the United States. (B)
PROGRAM PRICING
$4,748 (20 participants + 2 leaders)
Single supplement available for $988.
THE FINE PRINT
Rates are based on double occupancy for participants. Holiday
surcharges may apply. Program may incur unforeseen fuel surcharges. A
$200 per person deposit and enrollment form is due upon booking and
no later than four months prior to departure. This deposit is refundable
until 95 days prior to departure excluding a $100 cancellation fee.
Final payments are due no later than 95 days prior to departure.
Cancellations received less than 95 days prior to departure are not
refundable. Travel/trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
For more information call Travel Insured at 800-243-3174 or visit
www.travelinsured.com. Holbrook Travel’s agency number is 15849.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit holbrooktravel.com, call 800-451-7111 or email travel@holbrooktravel.com
This program includes optional carbon
offsetting with ClimateSafe. Learn more at
holbrooktravel.com/climatesafe