2012 Cruise Companion and Shore Excursions - Uniworld River ...

Day 1 | Beijing b
Day 3 | Beijing BB, L, D
Arrive in Beijing and be greeted by a Uniworld representative
who will escort you to your hotel.
Featured Excursions: The Great Wall, the Sacred Way, and
Kung Fu show at the Red Theater 8 3 b p
Grand China & the Yangtze
Day 2 | Beijing BB, L, W
Featured Excursions: Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square,
Temple of Heaven, foot massage, and Peking Duck Welcome
Dinner with wine 8 2 b f
Begin your first full day in Beijing with an exciting visit to
Tiananmen Square—the heart of Beijing and the largest
open city square in the world. Tiananmen Square has been
the site of many important events in China’s history. Among
the monuments in this area are Tiananmen Tower, the
Monument to the People’s Heroes, Mao Zedong Memorial
Hall, and the National Museum of China. You’ll pose for a
group souvenir photo of you and your travel companions in
Tiananmen Square. Then, walk through Tiananmen Gate,
which is the “Gate of Heavenly Peace,” the entranceway to
the Forbidden City.
The Forbidden City is a 250-acre (97-hectare) complex of
palaces, pavilions, courtyards, and gardens. It’s the largest
and most complete ancient imperial palace in the world.
Construction of the palace began in 1406, and 24 emperors
have ruled China from within its walls.
You will next make your way to the Temple of Heaven,
constructed between 1406 and 1420 by the Yongle Emperor,
who also constructed the Forbidden City. Designated a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, the temple grounds cover 1.7 sq miles
(2.73 sq km) of parkland and Taoist buildings. The complex
was visited each year by the emperors of the Ming and Qing
dynasties, who held ceremonies to pray for an abundant harvest.
After your tour, relax with a traditional foot massage, and later,
enjoy a succulent Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine,
where you will receive an exquisite piece of Chinese folk art as
a gift. The city’s namesake meal is a truly appropriate way to
cap off your day in Beijing, formerly known as Peking.
You’ll travel outside Beijing for a memorable walk on the
manmade wonder of the ancient world—the Great Wall, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Great Wall is the longest
manmade structure on earth. Original construction began in
the third century BC as a way to keep out warring invaders,
and additional sections extended the wall over the centuries
to its present length of nearly 4,000 miles (6,436 km)—a
distance longer than the United States is wide!
After your walk along this historic and awe-inspiring landmark,
you’ll travel the Sacred Way, home to remnants of the Ming
Tombs. Here, 13 of the Ming Dynasty’s 16 emperors were
laid to rest in lavish burial chambers. Ming monarchs made
an annual pilgrimage to the tombs to honor their departed
ancestors, and the grandeur of the site and its relics convey
the importance of ancestor worship in ancient Chinese culture.
You’ll end your day with an evening at spectacular Kung Fu
show. The best Kung Fu practitioners from all over China
take part in this production. Their average age is just 17! The
costumes, set design and special effects are created by
some of the best stage directors and designers in China.
The performers are not only skilled in Kung Fu martial arts,
but are also trained in theatrical presentation. The dancers
and acrobats add new dimensions to the exploration of
the movements and discipline of Kung Fu. The action is
breathtaking and the drama is poignant.
The show has English supertitles shown above the stage to
keep you informed of the story line. The actors do not speak;
the show is all Kung Fu, dance, and acrobatics. It is the fusion
of modern dance with Chinese traditional arts that makes this
performance unique and spectacular.
Grand China & the Yangtze
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