Special Volunteer Panda Tour
Nearly as good as the Lavish China Tour and half the price

May 25- June 9, 2009

We are inviting you to join this very special Panda Tour including Beijing, Chengde, Xian, Chengdu, the Panda Research Center in Wolong and Shanghai.  Deluxe accommodations, special dinner, special sightseeing and light volunteer work at the Giant Panda Research Center with emphasis on feeding the pandas, playing with them in the panda kindergarten and taking pictures. Furthermore you will be a VIP visitor in Xian where you will be allowed to walk among the terra cotta soldiers in the restoration pit, something that is normally only available to prominent visitors.  You will sail the 2000-year old Grand Canal aboard a luxuray yacht and visit one of its romantic gardens in the evening when the regular tourist have left. 

The Itinerary is:

May 25 - Depart USA for your flight to Beijing.

May 26  - After arrival in Beijing you will be met by a private guide and transferred to the 5-star Presidential Palace Hotel where you will be checked into your deluxe room.

May 27 - After a leisurely breakfast visit the sights of Beijing, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City which after recent restoration work is once more as splendid as it was during the time when it was the Imperial Residence, as well as the new Olympic venues. In the evening enjoy a special dinner in a romantic pavilion on Quionghua Island in Beihai Lake which adjoins the Forbidden City. B L D

May 28 - This morning embark on an overnight excursion to the city Chengde, the Mountain Retreat of the Quing Emperors located in the mountains east of Beijing. And since no trip to China is complete without a visit to the Great Wall we will stop en route visit the Great Wall at Shinshaling one of the more remote location where the Wall can be visited. Consequently this section sees few visitors. Later on continue to Chengde, a scant hours drive away. After arrival in Chengde check into the hotel after which you are free until a dinner of specialties for which the region is noted. Afterwards you may want to have an optional traditional massage, either a body massage or a foot massage. B L D

May 29 - This morning visit the Summer Mountain Retreat, also known as the Imperial Gardens which were first built in 1703, covering an area of about six square miles. Graceful palaces built in the style of the lower Yangtze are spread among pine forests and lakes. Together with 8 temples surrounding the Imperial Gardens, the area was dedicated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994. Afterwards visit the intriguing Putuo Temple, a smaller replica of the Portola Palace in Tibet. The temple is a fascinating sight with its massive red and white walls rising from the top of a hill. Inside is a splendid courtyard where an elaborately painted pagoda is circled by six stories balconied walkways. At noon relax over lunch in a local restaurant before driving back to Beijing on a newly completed express way. After returning to Beijing there is time for a rest before dinner in the city's oldest and most famous Peking Duck Restaurant. 

May 30 - This morning we leave Beijing to fly to Xian. After arrival at noon enjoy a Xian Hot Pot lunch, a delicious local specialty. Afterwards check into your deluxe room at the luxurious Xian Sofitel where the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. In the evening step back in time for a walk along Xian's immense town wall at sunset.  Afterwards enjoy  Xian's spectacular Tang Dynasty Dinner Show. B L D

May 31 - Today you will visit the Terra Cotta Warriors. On your visit you will be given VIP privileges which are not available to ordinary tourists.  After returning to Xian enjoy a typical Xian Dumpling dinner with a hands-on demonstration in which you can learn how to prepare this delicious regional specialty. B L D

June 1 - This morning you leave Xian to fly to Chengdu. En route to the airport visit the "Tiny Terra Cottas", an excavation site of small, two foot tall terra cotta figures and animals which were discovered a few years ago at the tomb of another emperor. They figures are exquisite and beautiful, and the underground excavation display which you will view from a glass walkway is an extraordinary experience. Afterwards continue to the airport for the flight to Chengdu from where you will drive directly to Wolong. B D

June 2 -  After breakfast  you will attend a lecture with one of the directors of the center and receive your keepers uniform, your passport to go in and out of the research facility as many times as you please. You will be assigned a "Master" one of the keepers of the center who will assist you and show you what needs to be done. The facility is open to tourists almost all who are Chinese from neighboring provinces, but who are restricted to certain path that lead along the Panda enclosures. However, you will be one of the staff and you are allowed into all restricted areas, getting in close contact with the bears. The remainder of the day is spend with volunteer work and feeding the pandas. They are gentle creatures and will take a slice of apple from you without ever touching your hand. After a job well done, there is time to take pictures and enjoy watching the pandas.  B L D

June 3 - After breakfast the morning is spend with volunteer work and feeding the pandas. At noon pause for lunch before we take the afternoon enjoying the pandas and play with the little ones in the panda kindergarten. In the Evening enjoy a dinner in the company of your masters at the Panda Inn where you will receive your certificate of having been a volunteer. B L D

June 4 - This morning we make a stop at the Research Center so that you can bid your panda goodbye before returning to Chengdu. En route visit the intriguing 2000-year old Dujiang Dam where we will take a walk down a mountainside among romantic Ming Dynasty fairytale palaces and temples. Below you walk across a 2000-year old suspension bridge across the Minh River, but beware, the walk is a wobbly one. Afterwards enjoy lunch in a nearby resort hotel before returning to Chengdu where you have time to relax or take a walk through the colorful neighborhood around the hotel. In the evening enjoy dinner in the hotel. B L D

June 5 - Transfer to the airport after breakfast to fly to the town of Wuxi on the Grand Canal. After arrival pause a light lunch before visiting a silk factory in Wuxi. Unlike Suzhou this factory is not tourist oriented, but you will be able to observe the process of making silk from spinning the cocoons to the finished product. Wuxi long history was always connected to the trade of silk. Afterwards check into the hotel before meeting for dinner. B L D

June 6 - After breakfast we embark on a lake cruise on Lake Tai one of Chinas five largest lakes which set in the hills outside the city. After the cruise pause for lunch before boarding a luxury yacht to cruise the 2000 year old Grand Canal to Suzhou. The Grand Canal was build in ancient times to connect Beijing with the south. To this day it is a busy and important waterway and a cruise along the canal is a very interesting experience. After arrival in Suzhou check into the quaint and luxurious Garden Hotel build around a Chinese courtyard. In the evening a wonderful western buffet dinner is on the itinerarary. Afterwards visit one of Suzhou's famous and romantic gardens. B L D

June 7 - This morning board a train to travel to Shanghai. After arrival in Shanghai check into your luxurious downtown hotel which is but a few steps from the pedestrian mall with many shops and restaurants. Take a stroll along the Bund in the afternoon and visit the very interesting Shanghai Museum. In the evening visit Shanghai's old town to have Shanghai Dim Sum  in a traditional tea house. B L D

June 8 -  This day is free to go shopping and pursue your own interests. B

June 9 - Private Airport Transfers.

TOUR COST: $5335 per person based on double occupancy
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:  $1699

INCLUDED: 14 nights deluxe hotel accommodations, breakfast, lunch and dinner except were noted in the itinerary, all transportation in deluxe air conditioned buses, all sightseeing as stated in the itinerary, volunteering and playing with the pandas, domestic airline tickets including all taxes and airport charges, tips to guides and drivers, private airport transfers, and the services of our Chinese host and the services of Posh Journeys.

NOT INCLUDED: International air fare. Additional food and drink, alcoholic drinks with meals and any item not mentioned in this itinerary.