SUNDAY, DAY 1 - EN ROUTE
Depart on the airline of your choice to China.

MONDAY, DAY 2 – BEIJING
Arrival in Beijing, China’s political, cultural and communications capital. Meeting and transfer to your hotel. Welcome Dinner at the hotel.     D

TUESDAY, DAY 3 – BEIJING
Full day of sightseeing in Beijing. Wander about the immense plaza that is Tiananmen Square, capable of holding more than one million people. Enter the Forbidden City, the 9,000 room home to Ming and Qing emperors, with its priceless historical treasures. After lunch, visit the Temple of Heaven, a masterpiece of 15th century architecture. Tonight, Dinner at China’s first and only Kosher Restaurant, Dini’s.     BLD

WEDNESDAY, DAY 4 – BEIJING
Today’s journey takes us outside the city to the Great Wall of China – one of the only man-made structures visible from outer space! For 5,000 kilometers, it snakes up and down rugged mountains like a huge imperial dragon. You’ll have an opportunity to ascend (and descend) by cable car this ancient wonder. After lunch, drive to the fabled Summer Palace, one of China’s most enchanting garden complexes. Tonight, a special feast- Peking Duck dinner.BLD

THURSDAY, DAY 5 – BEIJING-XIAN
This morning, travel by old-fashioned rickshaw through the narrow streets of a Hutong Village, one of a number of self-contained communities within the city, providing a revealing glimpse into the daily life of ordinary Beijing residents. Fill your senses with the sights and sounds of this exotic metropolis – the street vendors, crowds, bicycles and colorful banners. Shop in Silk Market, after lunch, fly westward to X’ian, ancient capital of eleven dynasties. Dinner and performance at the Tang Dynasty Theater.      BLD

FRIDAY DAY 6 – XIAN
The day begins with a visit to one of the country’s most prized treasures – 6,000 life-sized terra-cotta warriors and horses that guard the tombs of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, as they have done faithfully for 2,200 years. After lunch, see well preserved artifacts at the Provincial Museum and stop at the Wild Goose Pagoda. Shabbat Dinner.at hotel.    BLD

SATURDAY, DAY 7 – XIAN
Shabbat at leisure to spend as you would at home.     B

SUNDAY, DAY 8 – XIAN-KAIFENG
Transfer to the rail station for the First Class Express train to Zhengzhou. (#G2008 at 2:50pm arriving 4:48pm.) Meet your local guide and transfer to Kaifeng, where traces of an active Jewish community remains. Check into your hotel. Tonight, after dinner explore Kaifeng’s famed Night Market.     BD

MONDAY, DAY 9 – KAIFENG
Today’s full day in Kaifeng, in the middle part of the Henan Provence includes a visit to the Qingming Park exhibit of the city’s Jewish history, donated by the Sino-Judaic Institute. Walk along South Teaching Sculpture lane where the ancient synagogues of the Chinese Jews was first built in 1163. Visit the home of a Jewish descendant and see the Great East Mosque, whose blue roof tiles once belonged to the last remaining synagogue in Kaifeng in the 19th century. Before ending the day, visit the privately owned Shi Lei Museum, developed by one of the Jewish descendents. Dinner tonight with some of the Jewish descendants.     BLD

TUESDAY, DAY 10 – KAIFENG-SHANGHAI
Morning visit to the Kaifeng Museum, which houses documents of the ancient history of Kaifeng Jewry. The most significant artifact is a 15th century etched tone with inscriptions describing Kaifeng’s Jewish history and customs “from time of Abraham”. Transfer back to Zhengzhou for a midday flight to exciting Shanghai, China’s most cosmopolitan city, setting the pace for business, commerce, fashion, politics and culture. During World War II, Shanghai was the world’s only place that allowed Jews without visa, guarantee nor documents as refugees. From 1937-39, about 30,000 European Jews settled here. Evening at leisure.     B

WEDNESDAY, DAY 11 – SHANGHAI
Visit the lovely Yu Yuan Gardens (Garden of Peace and Comfort) and its maze of ponds and pavilions, elaborate rookeries and bridges making it the city’s most complete classic garden in the midst of bustling Shanghai. See the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Hall, the World War II Ghetto and the Ohel Moshe Synagogue, with its museum depicting past Jewish life in the ghetto. Built by Russian Jews fleeing Russia and Eastern Europe’s pogroms, it later served as a refuge for European Jews escaping Nazi oppression. See the Peace Hotel, built in 1930 by Victor Sassoon, a 4th generation descendant of a wealthy Jewish-Iraqi family. Kosher lunch in the Jewish Community Center, followed by a stroll along the scenic and bustling waterside Bund. Tonight, dinner followed by a performance by the Shanghai Acrobats.     BLD

THURSDAY, DAY 12 – SHANGHAI-SUZHOU
Full day excursion to Suzhou with its classical gardens and winding canals, including a cruise on the Grand Canal. Lunch, then a visit to the famed Administrator’s Garden and the Fish-Net Gardens before returning to Shanghai. Evening at leisure.     BL

FRIDAY, DAY 13 – SHANGHAI
Morning visit to the Shanghai Museum with its wealth of treasures. Balance of the afternoon at leisure to browse the city at your own pace. Tonight, Shabbat Dinner together.     BD

SATURDAY, DAY 14 – SHANGHAI
Full day at leisure in this vibrant city to stroll the Bund, the city’s elegant waterfront boulevard, and browse the pretty shops and boutiques. Tonight’s Farewell Dinner caps an enchanting journey.     BD

SUNDAY, DAY 15 – EN ROUTE
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the U.S.     BLD

This is a sample itinerary. Distribution of sites & leisure time is subject to change.
Meal Conditions: Buffet breakfast daily,1 lunches & 4 dinners. (Welcome, Shabbat & Farewell dinners with wine).