Tour AC12 - On the Shores of the Yellow River

Day 1: Canada - Beijing
We start our journey to the Middle Kingdom with a transpacific flight to Beijing.

Day 2: Beijing We arrive in Beijing, the political and cultural capital of China. We are greeted at the airport by our local tour guide and make our way to the hotel. We get a good night’s sleep and prepare for our first day of touring in this land of wonder and mystery.

Day 3: Beijing - Yantai
Today, we fly to Yantai in the morning. While here, we visit the Zhangyu Wine Museum and Yuhuangding Park.

Day 4: Yantai - Qingdao
This morning, we drive to Qingdao. The city lies between mountains and the sea, a well chosen coastal port with clear deep waters and a comfortable climate. The historical culture, religious variety, civil traditions, village customs, and holiday celebrations come together to shape Qingdao's rich culture. We pay a visit to the Zhanqiao Pier, the symbol of the city. The pier looks down on the old German Concession area, complete with its church peaks and parks, and with its red clay tiles carefully interrupted by dark green pines. Our tour pays a visit to Badaguan, literally the Eight Passes. This site features Russian, English, French, German, and Danish constructions which are now mostly large scale guesthouses or sanitariums. We also visit the Qingdao Brewery Factory, the oldest beer factory in China.

Day 5: Qingdao
On this day, we tour the Taiqing Palace, the largest, oldest, and most impressive of the Taoist palaces in Laoshan. While in Laoshan, we stop by the Wusi square, a major meeting place for local people to celebrate holidays and do morning exercises.

Day 6: Qingdao - Weifang - Jinan
This morning we take our coach to Weifang and Jinan. Jinan is commonly known as "city of springs" for its profusion of natural springs. While sightseeing the beautiful Daming Lake, we see that the water here neither rises substantially during rainy days, nor dries in drought. We also get to see the famous Baotu Spring, also known as the "Number 1 Spring on the Earth."

Day 7: Jinan - Mount Tai
Today, we travel by coach to Mount Tai, one of the "Five Sacred Mountains of Taoism." Strongly associated with sunrise, birth, and renewal, the mountain is full of historical, religious, and cultural significance. The numerous temples on the slopes of Mount Tai have been important pilgrimage sites for over 3,000 years. We take a cable car to the summit of Jade Emperor Peak. Towering 5,000 feet above sea level, this breathtaking vantage point gives us some unforgettable views of the mountain.

Day 8: Mount Tai - Qufu
Today, we make our way to Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius and the “Sacred City of the East.” We spend today learning about the life of Confucius by visiting the Residence of Confucius, the Confucian Temple, and the Confucian Stele Forest.

Day 9: Qufu - Kaifeng - Zhengzhou
Today we go to the wonderful city of Kaifeng. We take a stroll along the Song Imperial Street, which was built in 1988 in an attempt by the authorities to restore the glorious past of Kaifeng. We visit the Temple of Baozheng, an ancestral hall built in remembrance of a highly respected official from the Song Dynasty. Home to the oldest extant Jewish community in China, Kaifeng offers a wide range of food specialties such as steamed pies and dumplings. In the evening Kaifeng's streets turn into restaurants while hundreds open their stands and begin selling their food in the famous night market. After taking in the rich culture of Kaifeng, we head to Zhengzhou by coach in the late afternoon.

Day 10: Zhengzhou - Shaolin Monastery - Luoyang
Today you will coach to Mount Song, one of the "Five Sacred Mountains of Taoism." Here we visit the famous Shaolin Monastery. The Shaolin Monastery is to Chinese martial arts what St. Andrews is to golf. We continue our tour to Luoyang, the city that served as a capital of nine different dynasties. Upon arrival, we visit the White Horse Temple, the first Buddhist temple constructed on Chinese soil.

Day 11: Luoyang - Zhengzhou
The highlight of Luoyang is our visit to the Longmen Caves. The natural site boasts 1,352 caves, more than 100,000 statues, 40 pagodas, and 3,600 Buddhist steles. This is an exceptional treasury and gallery of Chinese Buddhist art. The large collection of Buddhist grottoes are testament to the importance that Buddhism once held in Chinese history. The Fengxian cave on the southern reach has the biggest Buddha Statue in the whole collection.

Day 12: Zhengzhou - Shanghai
As a definite highlight of our tour, we visit Shanghai, the undisputed commercial and financial heart of the country. Originally a sleepy fishing town, Shanghai became China's most important city by the twentieth century and is now a centre of popular culture, intellectual discourse, and political intrigue. While here, we visit the Bund and its architecture reminiscent of early twentieth century Europe, the skyscraper-lined banks of the Huangpu River, the shopping heaven that is Nanjing Road, and the refreshing oasis in the heart of the city - the Yuyuan Gardens.

Day 13: Shanghai - Canada
Today, our local tour guide sees us off at the airport, and we fly home to Canada. Have a wonderful trip!