AACI KOSHER CHINA BEIJING, XIAN & SHANGHAI Oct 27-Nov 07, 2014

AACI KOSHER CHINA
BEIJING, XIAN & SHANGHAI
Oct 27-Nov 07, 2014
This itinerary includes the country’s two major cities of Beijing and Shanghai and a detour to
Xian to see the Terracotta Warriors. In Beijing, try to absorb the enormity of Tiananmen Square,
the largest in the world, before exploring the Forbidden City on foot. Ride a rickshaw through
the neighborhood maze of old Hutongs, watch a Golden Mask Performance and visit the
fabulous pearl market. Climb the Great Wall of China and see the Olympic sites. Fly to Xian
where ancient history comes alive with its army of warriors, often regarded as the greatest
archaeological discovery of our time. We then fly on to Shanghai where there’s time to discover
the old town, stroll along the grand colonial waterfront promenade, the Bund, the Jewish
Quarter, get lost among Chinese art and antiquities in the Shanghai Museum and see a vibrant
acrobatic performance.
Day 1 Oct 27: Monday Depart for Beijing – we leave Israel on our EL AL evening flight to Beijing
at 21:40.
Day 2: Oct 28 Tuesday Arrival in Beijing at 13:25. Meet our local guide at the airport and embark
on a scenic tour of Beijing. Then take an exciting tour of Beijing’s Hutongs (old neighborhoods)
with a private and exciting Rickshaw ride. Get familiar with the local atmosphere and rest up
before our welcome dinner. Evening: Introduction to China. Dinner at Chabad House.
Day 3: Oct 29 Wednesday - Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by deluxe coach to the Great Wall
initially built in 221 BC by the first emperor of China as a defense against nomadic tribes and has
been renowned as one of the 7 wonders of the world. It extends over 10000 kilometers in the
northern part of China from the eastern Pacific Ocean to the western Gobi Desert. Visit the Jade
Friendship Store while enjoying the magnificent work done by elite Chinese jade experts on the
spot. Later in the day, visit the Ming Tombs and learn about Chinese Feng Shui as mostly
reflected by the layout of the Ming Dynasty Tombs. Return to the city for our Chinese Banquet
dinner at the Chabad House. This evening enjoy the daring Kong Fu Show.
Day 4: Oct 30 Thursday- Breakfast in the hotel. Visit the largest city square in the worldTiananmen Square, which can hold as many as 3 million people. We proceed through the
Tiananmen Rostrum to the imperial enclosure - the famed Forbidden City, also named the Palace
Museum, the largest of its kind in the world. It houses more than 9999 rooms. Five of the rooms
had successively 24 emperors living inside them from 1420 until 1911 both the Ming and Qing
Dynasties. Climb up the Scenery Hill and have a bird’s eye view of the modern Beijing City as
well as the glistening Forbidden City spread out in front of you. Drive to the Olympic Site for a
breathtaking view of Bird Nest Stadium and the inspiring Water Cubic Stadium from outside.
Dinner at the Chabad House followed by the amazing Golden Mask performance.
Day 5: Oct 31 Friday - Breakfast in the hotel. Morning tour to the Temple of Heaven and
traditional Chinese Park, the Temple is the sacred praying site for Chinese emperors (1420-1911)
to pray for a good harvest. Then experience in the park the lives of the everyday Chines citizens
through dance and culture. Explore the Pearl Market and learn to how to find the best quality
pearls and various pearl products which has been part of the Chinese culture. Visit the Tibetan
style Lamasery housing the world largest single white sandal tree Buddhist carving. Stop for
traditional Chinese foot massage and lecture on Chinese medicine and treatment. Hotel rest
before Shabbat with the Beijing Jewish Community at Chabad. Evening: Shabbat with Chabad of
Beijing.
Day 6: Nov 01 Saturday – Breakfast at the hotel. Shabbat Services, followed by Kiddush and
lunch at the Chabad House. After lunch we will take an optional walking tour of the unique
Flower Market featuring beautiful Asian plants and flowers. Walk back to hotel for Shabbat rest.
Mincha followed by Seudah Shlishit and Maariv.
Evening: visit to the exotic Food Market.
Day 7: Nov 02 Sunday –Breakfast box on our early morning flight to Xian. Stop at a Ming
Furniture Centre. Representing the zenith of Chinese furniture, Ming furniture is treasured for
its precious wood, comfortable design, simple decoration and superb craftsmanship. For lunch
we will have an authentic Buddhist vegetarian luncheon. In the afternoon we will visit Muslim
Street and museum which is a fantastic place to wander around. All shops and restaurants in the
street are operated by Muslims. The stalls line the narrow alleys selling almost everything. If you
are good at bargaining, you can get some amazing buys. Dinner will be in the hotel with a
beautiful kosher fish dinner. After dinner we will attend our evening show the Tang Dynasty
Costume Show.
Day 8: Nov 03 Monday - Breakfast in the hotel. Excursion to the world famous Terra Cotta
Warrior Museum, including special visit to panorama movie, Pit1, Pit2, Pit3 and the Bronze
Chariot. The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations
of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor
Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum. Given time, we will take a glimpse of the warrior duplication site
where molds are created to show how to make it the original way. En Route back to the city,
stop at the local cave dwelling village, a primitive way of living in harsh dry lands. Early
afternoon flight to Shanghai. Dinner at Kosher restaurant in Shanghai. Night cruise in the
harbour over the neon lit Huangpu River, with a spectacular view of the Shanghai skyline.
Day 9: Nov 04 Tuesday - Breakfast in the hotel. Morning tour to Jewish Shanghai: the former
home of Shanghai's Jewish community, the Hongkou Ghetto and nearby, the former OhelMoishe Synagogue. See the Memorial to Stateless Refugees within the ghetto and visit Ohel
Rachel Synagogue, also built by the Sassoon family. Drive through the French Concession, where
many of Shanghai's fine Jewish estates were once located. Within the French Concession, visit
the Arts and Crafts Institute, a historic home and former estate of one of Shanghai's officials.
See some of the local crafts designed and created here. Then visit the Sir Elie Kadoorie Mansion
(the Marble Mansion), today a Children's Palace, to watch gifted children dance, sing, and play
traditional Chinese instruments. Return to your hotel. Dinner at the Chabad restaurant
Shanghai. Evening: the most spectacular Acrobatic Show.
Day 10: Nov 05 Wednesday - Breakfast in the hotel. Our guide will meet us this morning for a 1
1/2 hours' drive to the ancient water town – Zhouzhuang which is known as the Venice of China.
Famed as China's No.1 water town, Zhouzhuang reveals its beauty with various Ming and Qing
Dynasty residences and dozens of classic bridges while the two most famous residences are
Shen House and Zhang House. A cruise along the canal will give you a view of a unique waterside
lifestyle. Return to Shanghai in late afternoon. Dinner at the Chabad restaurant Shanghai. This
evening enjoy free shopping time on Nanjing Road.
Day 11: Nov 06Thursday- Breakfast in the hotel. Tour of Shanghai Museum: As well-known as
the Museum of Ancient Chinese Art, the Shanghai Museum was established in 1952 and
relocated twice before finding a permanent home at its present location, south of the centrally
located People's Plaza, in 1996. More than 120,000 precious and rare works of art in 21
categories make the Shanghai Museum the most remarkable cultural institution in the city.
Stroll around the People's Square outside the museum overlooking the stylistic buildings
including the City Hall, the City Planning Museum and the Shanghai Opera House. Visit an
Embroidery Gallery at the city center given time. Afternoon departure from Shanghai at 16:20
on Dragon Air to Hong Kong arriving at 19:05 and connect with EL AL at 20:55 back to Israel
arriving at 03:15am.
Price: AACI members $3893 per person in a double
Non- AACI members $3968 per person in a double
Single supplement $540
Price Includes:
 Flights on EL AL from Israel and Dragon Air from Shanghai to Hong Kong
 2 domestic flights Beijing/Xian-Xian/Shanghai
 9 night’s good 4 star hotel accommodation- as mentioned or similar
 Beijing (5 nights)
Metro Park Lido
 Xian (1 nights)
Titan Times Hotel
 Shanghai (3 nights)
Salvo Hotel
 Kosher Meals: daily breakfasts in hotels + 7 lunch boxes. Dinners in Beijing and Shanghai
at kosher resturants. Freshly prepared vegetarian / fish dinner at hotel in Xian + authentic
Buddhist Vegetarian lunch and specially prepared Chinese banquet dinner
 Transportation in air conditioned coach as per itinerary
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Local guides for the excursions and visits as per program including entrance fees
Israeli English speaking tour leader
Porterage at hotels and all tips
4 varied evening Chinese shows
River cruise in Shanghai
AACI staff escort
Not included:
 Chinese Visa
 Any items of a personal nature
 Any other items not mentioned in included
 Travel/Medical insurance
Prices are subject to change due to fuel or tax increases. The itinerary may vary.
Payment:
Deposit of $400 per person at time of reservation.
Final payment due by September 10, 2014
Cancellation:
Cancellation from time of registration until September 10, 2014: $250 per person
Cancellation between September 11-October 01, 2014: 50% of total package
Cancellation from October 02 to day of departure: 100%
For reservations and information please call Ophir Tours
Livia Berman 09-777-7100 or email livia@ophirtours.co.il