Final Tour Itinerary

SHARKS U.S.A. 2008 China Trip


TOUR ITINERARY


Day 1 / JUN27:
Depart USA Board Air China nonstop flight to Beijing, leaving JFK at 4:30 pm. En route, cross the International Date Line. (IM)

Day 2 / JUN28: Beijing
Arrive in Beijing at 6:30 pm. Meet your local representative and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy an authentic Cantonese dinner at hotel. Beijing Intercontinental Hotel

Day 3 / JUN29: Beijing
Tour Beijing’s imperial treasures. First, Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world, capable of holding a million people. Stroll across its vast expanse. An assortment of historical buildings, Communist monuments and huge museums, including Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, and the Great Hall of the People – home of the National People’s Congress, flank the Square. Walk through the Gate of Heavenly Peace, under the famed portrait of Chairman Mao, to enter the Forbidden City, a 9,999-room compound, where the 24 emperors of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties ruled the Middle Kingdom for nearly 500 years (1420-1911). Experience the architectural splendor of the palaces, ceremonial courtyards and private quarters. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you are at leisure. Attend a welcome dinner with Yuan Meng Hockey team. (B,L,D)

Day 4 / JUN30: Beijing
After breakfast, depart for Rink. Practice in the morning. Lunch at Lotus Thai Twin Tower. Afternoon rest at hotel. Game with Beijing Tiger Cubs (7-8:30 pm). Tonight, enjoy a local flavor of Beijing Hotpot dinner at the famed Dong Laishen. (B,L,D)

Day 5 / JUL01: Beijing
In the morning visit the Giant Panda at Beijing Zoo. Then you join our Culture InSites™ Program and experience the world of Beijing’s Hutongs, via rickshaw. This network of courtyard homes and narrow lanes traditionally linked the old city. Tour the maze-like alleyways and neighborhood residences. See the locals as they go about their daily activities. Highlights include visits to a local kindergarten, to the 800-year-old Drum Tower and to a traditional courtyard style home. This unique tour concludes with a meal served at the home of a local family. The remainder of day is at leisure.

Game tonight with Little Warriors (7-8:30 pm). In the evening, savor a specially prepared meal of Beijing duck, cooked to crispy perfection. (B,L,SD)


Day 6 / JUL02: Beijing
In the morning visit and tour the idyllic Summer Palace, with its sprawling encampment of temples, pavilions, the marble boat, and the 728-yard Long Corridor. Enjoy a boat ride on Kunming Lake. After lunch at a local restaurant, rest in the afternoon.

Game tonight with Hurricanes (7-8:30 pm). After dinner, enjoy a Beijing noodle soup at Tang Du San Jin. (B,L,D)

Day 7 / JUL03: Beijing
In the morning take a scenic drive through the countryside to reach China’s most renowned monument – the Great Wall. En route, you visit the Bird Nest and Water Cube, the main stadium of 2008 Summer Olympics. The ’original’ wall was begun in the 5th century BC to keep out foreign invaders. Construction continued for centuries, eventually linking up the walls of the former independent kingdoms. The Great Wall meanders through China’s northern mountain ranges from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert – a distance of over 3500 miles! Chairman Mao once said “You haven’t walked on the Wall, you haven’t been a good Chinese”. Today you will have ample time to climb a section of the Great Wall and to get a sense of the enormity of this ancient edifice. Dinner tonight is followed by the Acrobats. (B,L,D)

Day 8 / JUL04: Beijing
Today is a gfree day for you to explore this magnificent city independently. Tonight is a farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day 9 / JUL05: Beijing
You are free in the morning to do some last minute shopping, to pack, or to rest. Then transfer to the airport for your return flight home. Arrive in JFK at 2:30 pm the same day. (B)