Thursday, Oct 25

Depart USA.

Friday, Oct 26, Beijing, Jian Guo Garden Hotel, D.

Arrive in Beijing after crossing international dateline. Transfer to hotel. Dinner included if you arrive in time.

Saturday, Oct 27, Beijing, B/L/D.

Morning visit to Mutianyu Great Wall with cable car ride. Afternoon visit to Hutong, these are the small lanes and narrow alleys with courtyard one story homes in old Beijing. Tour by pedicab and visit to private family home. If you have visited China before, you may wish to shop or tour on your own. Local guides can be arranged at your own expense, you would pay all expenses such as guide fees and tips, taxis, lunch, etc.

Sunday, Oct 28, Beijing, B/L/D.

Morning visit to Dirt Market, (aka Pan Jia Yuan Market), afternoon visit to Forbidden City including jewelry rooms.
http://www.thebeijingguide.com/panjia_market/index.html

Monday, Oct 29, Beijing-Guiyang-Anshun, Grand Waterfall Hotel, B/L/D.

Mid-day flight from Beijing to Guiyang, drive to Anshun

Tuesday, Oct 30, Anshun, B/L/D.

Morning visit to Caiguan Old-Han Chinese village to enjoy their traditional Ground Opera which is several dances performed by the village men with hand carved masks used to tell their history. Han people are the majority ethnic group of China. We will see the men of the village carving the masks. Afternoon visit to Suoga Long Horn Miao village where we will have a ceremonial rice-wine greeting and will see the women wrap their hair around the wooden horns that are worn to support their hair style. The hairstyle is tied into symbolism of the wild pheasant and is related to totem respect. The women will demonstrate wax painting for batik fabric. The village is also home to a Norwegian government sponsored small cultural antiquities collection. Late afternoon return to Anshun.

Wednesday, Oct 31, Anshun-Kaili, Heaven Sent Dragon Hotel, B/L/D.

Morning drive from Anshun to Baiyun district of Guiyang city and visit Zeng Xianyang-Guizhou Museum of Ethnic Culture Museum to learn about Miao and other textiles. After lunch, drive to Kaili, visit to local vendors for modern jackets made with Miao embroideries and batik.

Thursday, Nov 1, Kaili, B/L/D.

Visit Matang Geija village for singing and dancing and batik demonstration. The Geija people are another ethnic minority with their own language and customs. However, the government of China has not yet recognized them as separate from the Miao people. Have lunch in a small restaurant in Chong'an. Afternoon visit to Shiny Cloth Miao in Chong'an region for a small performance of songs and dances, they are called Gulong style Miao. Late afternoon visit Yang Jianhong's new textile museum and workshop. She has a law degree but gave it up to pursue the goal of preserving the culture and needle art of the ethnic minorities of the area. She has an extensive collection of men's and women's costumes and will teach us about the styles of clothing worn by various minority groups.

Friday, Nov 2, Kaili, B/L/D.

Morning visit to local textile market. Then visit Upper Langde village (the home of our local guide Tony Chen) and see performance. Enjoy long table lunch at home of our local guide, Tony, cooked by his Mother and sister-in-law. Afternoon visit to Jidao village for singing and dancing performance and demonstration of spinning and weaving.

Saturday, Nov 3, Kaili, B/L/D.

Visit to Fanpai Miao village, see performance and weaving demonstration. Afternoon to Red Embroidery Miao and enjoy performance.

Sunday, Nov 4, Kaili, B/L/D.

Morning visit to the ethnic group Museum of Southeast Guizhou and Sunday Morning local market. Afternoon visit to Weng Xiang village for performance and embroidery demonstrations.

Monday, Nov 5, Kaili-Zhaoxing, Zhaoxing Hotel, VIP section, B/L/D.

Morning visit to Qingman Village for performance and demonstration of splitting the silk cocoons to produce silk felting which is used in their garments. Have lunch in Danzhai, enjoy the spectacular scenery on new freeway drive to Zhaoxing.

Tuesday, Nov 6, Zhaoxing, B/L/D.

Free time in the morning to explore the local textile shops and five drum towers, wind and rain bridges in the village. Afternoon visit to Tang'an Dong village. If you are in excellent physical condition, you can hike from Tang'an back to Zhaoxing. Tony will lead you on a two and half hour hike back to Zhaoxing, visiting Xiage Dong village along the way. Others can ride the bus back for more exploring of their outdoor market, indigo fabric dyeing along the river, etc. Optional night performance of Dong musicians and dancers.

Wednesday, Nov 7, Zhaoxing-Sanjiang, Sanjiang Hotel, B/L/D.

Morning drive towards Sanjiang, with a stop for lunch at Yangxi. Visit Diping wind and rain bridge en route. Previous groups enjoyed outstanding lunch of at least 10 dishes prepared by one woman with one large wood burning wok in mere minutes, amazing!! We will try to arrange brief visit to tea farm and we will visit one of the four Chenyang Wind and Rain Bridges before arrival in Sanjiang. This hotel is great place for both foot and body massages.

Thursday, Nov 8, Sanjiang-Guilin, Guilin Sheraton Hotel, B/L/D.

Drive to Longsheng and have the opportunity to hike to the top of the Longji terraces or you can ride up in sedan chair at your expense or stay at lower level. Visit to Red Yao Village for hair wrapping performance and learn how they use a back strap loom to make the lovely belts that are available to purchase. Sheraton Hotel is a treat to enjoy western comforts after the remote regions. The Sheraton offers an evening buffet dinner which is not included in cost of tour, or eat at local restaurant, which is included in tour cost.

Friday, Nov 9, Guilin, B/L/D.

Coach to Yangshuo to attend the Cooking School by the Yulong River. You get a chance to visit the vegetable market when everything is fresh in the morning. They will teach five Chinese dishes and then serve them for our lunch. We will eat by the riverside to enjoy the views of the karst peak formations. After lunch coach to dock for private Li River Cruise for two hours. Then coach to Yangshuo with free time to wander around the West Street Market. After dinner, drive back to Guilin. (There is an optional night time musical performance if weather permits).
http://www.yangshuocookingschool.com/

Saturday, Nov 10, Guilin/Shanghai, Pacific Hotel. B/L/D.

Drive to Guilin airport for mid-day flight to Shanghai. Drive by Bund if time allows.

Sunday, Nov 11, Shanghai. B/L/D.

Morning visit to Shanghai Museum. Lunch at Mongolian Barbecue. Visit to Nankeen Indigo Dyeing Museum and shop, the dyeing is paste resist method.

Monday, Nov 12, Shanghai/USA. B.

You will take taxi to airport on your own. This is much less expensive than booking private transfer to airport.