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

Day 1 | Beijing b
Arrive at the Beijing Airport and be greeted by a Uniworld
representative who will escort you to the hotel.
Day 2 | Beijing BB, L, W
Featured Excursions: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City,
Summer Palace, and Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine
8 2 b f S
At the end of the day, we invite you to indulge in a succulent
Peking Duck Welcome Dinner with wine—a must for any visitor
to Beijing—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.
Splendors of China & the Grand Yangtze
Old meets new in Beijing as ancient architecture mixes with
modern high rises. The bustling city has been a cornerstone
of Chinese history through the ages. It has been an important
military and trading point since the Qin Dynasty (202 BC)
and the capital of China since the Yuan Dynasty (Kublai
Khan, 1279 AD), and thus it has historical buildings around
just about every corner. Beijing is also a hub of culture, with
its temples, art treasures, and opulent palaces at every turn,
keeping the city thriving and alive.
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 on the palace was begun in 1406, and 24
emperors have ruled China from within its walls.
Continue on to another Beijing gem, the Summer Palace,
which is one of China’s largest and best preserved imperial
gardens. In 1998, UNESCO designated the Summer Palace
a World Heritage Site, noting that it is “an outstanding
expression of the creative art of Chinese landscape garden
design, incorporating the works of humankind and nature in
a harmonious whole.” You’ll take a boat ride on the lovely
Kunming Lake, where you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful
natural elements of the gardens as well as the graceful
designs of the pavilions, halls, palaces, temples, and bridges.
Day 3 | Beijing BB, L, D
Featured Excursions: The Great Wall, the Sacred Way, and
Kung Fu show at the Red Theater 8 3 b p
In the morning, you’ll travel 40 miles (64 km) north of Beijing
for a memorable walk on a wonder of the ancient world—the
Great Wall. 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! It’s truly an awe-inspiring sight, which
you will never forget.
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. Then end your day with an evening at the 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.
Splendors of China & the Grand Yangtze
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