China by Train and Yangtze Riverboat

After arrival at the airport, pass through quarantine inspection and immigration, then go to the International Baggage Claim Hall. Collect luggage and proceed to the International Arrivals Hall where a Road Scholar representative will be waiting and will accompany the group for transfer to the hotel. Hotel check in from 2:00 p.m. After getting your room assignment, take some time to freshen up and relax. We will then gather in a designated space for our welcome meeting and Orientation. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to applicable requirements and guidelines throughout the program. Group Leaders for the Road Scholar program are qualified national guides who are staff members of the Chinese American Educational Exchange (CAEE). All are university graduates, fluent in English, well-educated in safety and protocol, and supported by offices nationwide. For each train journey, we will have hand-outs with custom maps and descriptions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

6:30-9:30 a.m. at the hotel.

Rise early and join the group for a pre-breakfast tai ji class led by your Group Leader. You need no prior experience for this relaxing and invigorating way to start the day. After breakfast, we coach to an old neighborhood of traditional 'hutongs' -- an area of small residential alleys with traditional courtyard homes which are rapidly disappearing due to urban development. We will walk about this district which includes many historic residences including the former home of Song Qing Ling. Song (her surname) was an influential revolutionary figure in the development of modern China and was the wife of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, revered as the first president of the Republic of China. The residence, in which Song lived from 1963 until her death in 1981, is now a museum which preserves her living quarters, her office, and the surrounding peaceful gardens which were once part of a prince’s estate. A separate Hall includes exhibits highlighting Song’s work and life.

In an “Old Beijing” hutong, we’ll have a family-hosted meal including jaozi (Chinese style dumplings).

Next, we will take a short motorcoach ride to the Forbidden City: the 250-acre former imperial compound. It was called the Forbidden City because it was “forbidden” to enter without the Emperor’s permission. The world’s largest palace complex, it is surrounded by a moat 170 feet wide, a wall more than 32 feet high, and contains 8,700 rooms! Construction began in 1407, and, thanks to the labor of a million workers including 100,000 artisans, it was completed in 1420. The Forbidden City was not only the personal residence of emperors and their royal families, but China’s political center for more than five centuries.

At a local restaurant, we will enjoy a Beijing specialty: a Peking Duck dinner. Peking Duck was first created in Beijing for Ming Dynasty emperors six hundred years ago. Thinly sliced, with crisp skin, the duck is wrapped in light pancakes with julienned cucumbers and a variety of sauces.

Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening will be at leisure.

At the hotel.

Elective taiji before breakfast. We will gather for a presentation by a local expert who will introduce China’s lands and peoples.

At a local restaurant.

We will board the motorcoach for a field trip to explore and enjoy the beauty of the Qing Emperors’ Summer Palace. Lily ponds and arched bridges border its serene lake and painted pavilions depict stories that reflect the rich history of Chinese life and art. Returning to the city, we will stop at “the heart of Beijing” — Tian’anmen Square. Meaning “Gate of Heavenly Peace,” Tian’anmen serves as the location for formal celebrations and ceremonies. More commonly, this huge piazza is where families come to stroll and chat and where kites and balloons abound. In it are located the Chairman Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, the China National Museum, Great Hall of the People, Monument to the People’s Heroes, and the Tiananmen Tower. Our Group Leader will provide expert commentary as we explore. We will ride back to the hotel after our field trips.

At a local restaurant.

We will gather with our Group Leader to learn some useful Chinese phrases.

At the hotel.

We will board a motorcoach and ride outside Beijing to a green mountain range where we will explore the exceptional and unique Great Wall of China. We will experience spectacular views as it winds up and down the distant mountains. There are numerous sections of wall that were constructed over a period of 2,000 years, stretching from northern China to Mongolia. Our Group Leader will provide expert commentary as we go.

At the Great Wall, we will have box lunches.

Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the afternoon will be free.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and bullet train transfer tomorrow.

Early at the hotel.

We will set out early and ride to the 15th century architectural masterpiece, the Temple of Heaven, which symbolizes the relationship between heaven and earth. With our Group Leader, we walk the park-like grounds where local people gather every day to practice their calligraphy and tai ji, play musical instruments, learn various dance forms or simply fly fanciful kites.It is a pleasant place to meet local people in an informal and beautiful setting. We’ll then ride to Beijing West Station and board a bullet train to the small city of Luoyang.

On the train, we’ll have box lunches.

Our train travel to Luoyang takes us into Henan Province, located about 500 miles southwest of Beijing. The four-hour high-speed train travels through two provinces in north China (Hebei and Henan) and crosses the Yellow River. Luoyang was one of the four great ancient capitals of China and is home to the extraordinary Longmen Buddhist cliff carvings which we will visit. Check into the hotel late afternoon.

At the hotel or restaurant.

The rest of the evening is at your leisure.

6:00-10:00 a.m. at the hotel.

Elective taiji before breakfast. After breakfast, we will board a motorcoach for a field trip to the 1,500 year old Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. We will learn about these stone carvings that overlook the Yi River and which celebrate the introduction of Buddhism into China. From the UNESCO inscription: “The grottoes and niches of Longmen contain the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907). These works, entirely devoted to the Buddhist religion, represent the high point of Chinese stone carving.” Those who prefer not to climb the steps to get a closer look at the carvings may remain at the bottom and walk along a flat, paved path.

We take a short ride to the Hua Yuan Cun agricultural village. There, we will divide into smaller groups and visit local families for a chance to observe life in the countryside and enjoy a home-cooked meal (accompanied by local English speakers).

We coach back to our hotel. After a short rest, we will gather at the hotel for an introduction to traditional Chinese musical instruments and a short performance/demonstration.

At a local restaurant.

at leisure

At the hotel.

Elective taiji before breakfast. After breakfast, we will ride to the high speed train station and take a train to the city of Xi’an. Xi’an is one of China’s oldest cities and was the capital during the golden age of the Tang Dynasty (618-906 CE). Look for scenes of rural life as we ascend China’s Yellow Soil Plateau. The land is covered with a thick layer of wind-blown loess soil that masks the original landforms. Deeply eroded, the landscape has steep ravines and almost vertical cliff faces pocked with holes and caves known as “yaodong” that are used for dwelling and resting. The train will arrive at Xi’an Station at approximately Noon.

At a Muslim restaurant in Xi’an.

We set out on a walking field trip to explore Xi’an’s Hui Muslim quarter. Among the highlights are its beautiful Great Mosque, one of China’s best preserved. Xi’an was a hub of the Silk Road in ancient times. Merchants, traders, and students from Islamic lands were drawn there and settled down. Over generations, they became known as the Hui people, officially recognized as one of China’s ethnic minorities. There were thousands of mosques in China at one time, but most are now gone We will check in to our hotel in the late afternoon.

At a local restaurant.

We will gather with our Group Leader to practice some Chinese conversation.

At the hotel.

Elective taiji before breakfast. We take a motorcoach to Xi’an International Studies University, one of China’s key institutions of higher learning, and meet with a faculty expert who will teach us about Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism as a way of understanding Chinese character and customs.

In the university dining room.

We walk around the campus and speak with university students to learn about China’s new generation. Next, we take a short ride to the state-of-the-art Shaanxi History Museum, where we will gain an understanding of China’s dynastic history as well as its rich and enduring culture. The museum was built in the 1990s in the architectural style of the Tang Dynasty and named after Shaanxi Province, of which Xi’an is the capital city. Returning to the hotel, we will have some time to freshen up and relax before walking to a nearby restaurant.

At a local restaurant.

Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening will be at leisure.

At the hotel.

Elective taiji before breakfast. We will board a motorcoach for a field trip to the huge tomb site of the Qin Emperor with its army of life-size terra cotta figures, one of the most astounding archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. With our Group Leader and experienced local staff — all Xi’an college graduates who have much experience with the terra cotta warriors site — we will explore sections of this vast site where three huge pits are filled with the terra-cotta soldiers, cavalry, archers, and their weapons and horses. It has been estimated that there are as many as 8,000 individual figures, but the total number is still unknown. Traces of paint suggest they were once brilliantly colored. Experimental digs in nearby areas have revealed other kinds of figures such as acrobats, dancers, and musicians, but further excavations are “on hold” due to the complex conditions at the site.

At a nearby restaurant.

Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the afternoon will be free.

On your own to enjoy what you like.

We will gather with our Group Leader to practice some Chinese conversation. Prepare for check-out and our flight transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

Elective taiji before breakfast. We will gather for a discussion of Chinese calligraphy and introduction to this ancient, elegant art form and try our hands at producing Chinese characters.

En route to the airport.

We will take a flight to Chongqing, an independent municipality inside Szechuan Province and at the head of the navigable Yangtze River. We then set out via motorcoach on a field trip to explore the Chongqing Zoological Garden which covers more than 100 acres. In addition to the other endangered species it protects, the zoo is dedicated to preserving the survival of native giant and lesser pandas and their offspring. This has been the home of one of the few successful panda breeding programs. We will have an opportunity to observe these pandas that are indigenous primarily to Szechuan Province.

At a local restaurant.

We ride to the Yangtze docks where we board our Yangtze vessel which will also include non-Road Scholar passengers. After completing boarding procedures and getting our cabins, the cruise director will arrange a briefing time for all passengers that will include a safety drill. In the evening, we will be able to view the hill city of Chongqing as our ship begins its journey. Each day we will be notified of times for shore visits, cultural programs, and talks. When possible, our national guide will also continue instruction in taiji and Chinese conversation.

Aboard ship.

We will gather for a presentation on traditional Chinese medicine and to consider the Yangtze’s influence on China.

Aboard ship.

We take a motorcoach for a field trip to a new village for relocated families. The Yangtze River Three Gorges Dam project required the displacement and relocation of over a million people. Many were re-housed in newly created villages at higher and safer locations. We will visit a family in one of those villages where we will have an opportunity to ask some questions (translated by our Group Leader) and to explore their local agricultural market. Returning to the ship, passengers will join the captain for a welcome reception before dinner.

Aboard ship.

We will gather for entertainment including performances of Chinese music and dance.

Aboard ship.

The ship will pass through the renowned Yangtze Gorges: the Qutang, the Wu, and the Xiling. Later, we will disembark at the Wushan Danning River dock, walk to a ferry boat, and board for a field trip to the Three Little Gorges, a quiet tributary of the Yangtze. We will sail upstream beneath an extraordinary natural backdrop. As we go, look up into the cliffs for “hanging coffins” suspended thousands of years ago by the Ba people. Further down the cliffs, watch for golden-haired monkeys and goats. We will return to our ship’s dock by the same ferry.

Aboard ship.

As we sail along the Yangtze, we will attend one of the ship’s presentations or enjoy an opportunity to continue learning conversational Chinese with our Group Leader.

Aboard ship, featuring the Captain’s farewell dinner.

For our last evening aboard ship, we will attend a performance of Chinese music and dance. Prepare for disembarkation and transfer to Wuhan tomorrow.

Ship's buffet.

We will step off the ship, board a motorcoach, and ride to the Three Gorges Dam site. From an observation deck, we will have a bird’s-eye view of the dam, the five-step ship lock, diversion canal, and power station. A nearby exhibition will display a dam model, and during a briefing we will learn about this, the largest water conservation project in world history.

Aboard ship.

Upon our ship’s arrival at Yichang, we will disembark, take a motorcoach to the Yichang train station, and board our train to Wuhan. This city of 11 million, situated on the Yangtze River in central China, is the capital of Hubei Province. Its location has made it a center of commerce and shipping. We will then check in to our hotel.

At the hotel.

We will gather with our Group Leader and practice some Chinese phrases.

6:30-8:00 a.m. at the hotel.

Elective taiji before breakfast. Later, we board a motorcoach to ride to Jianghan Senior University where we will meet with Chinese seniors enjoying the continuing education offered them after retirement. The university director will give us an introduction followed by visits to various departments. We will also have an opportunity to join in some of the activities such as dancing, singing, playing musical instruments, as well as Ping Pong and croquet.

At a local restaurant.

We ride to the renowned Hubei Provincial Museum to enjoy its beautiful collection of lacquer ware and other treasures, including a large set of musical bells discovered in a tomb dating from 500 BCE.

At a local restaurant.

We will gather with our Group Leader to practice some useful Chinese phrases. Prepare for check-out and high-speed train transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

Elective early morning taiji. We will check out of the hotel, ride to Wuhan Railway Station, and board the high-speed train to Kaili (approximately 4.5 hours). Our ride will take us through Hunan Province to the Province of Guizhou, one of China’s most beautiful and sparsely populated regions.

Aboard the train.

Crossing the border to Guizhou Province, we will begin to notice differences in architecture, especially the elegant wooden, balconied houses of Miao families. The Miao are one of China’s officially recognized ethnic groups. We are scheduled to arrive in Kaili in the afternoon and ride to our hotel for check-in with some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

At a local restaurant.

Get together with our Group Leader for Chinese conversation practice.

At the hotel.

Elective early morning taiji. After breakfast, we will board a motorcoach for a field trip in town to Kaili’s Ethnic Minorities Museum which highlights the architecture, customs, and costumes of Miao and Dong peoples of southeastern Guizhou Province. Then, we ride to a small mountain village where, for centuries, households have made fine calligraphy paper from the bark of the mulberry tree. We will learn about the process of making paper from tree bark and then have an opportunity to explore the village and visit homes where we will learn about daily life with our Group Leader translating.

At a local restaurant.

This afternoon we ride to beautiful Jidao Miao Village where villagers will greet us with a traditional welcome ceremony. After an outdoor performance of music and dance in the village square, a local resident will escort us for a walk around the village to appreciate Miao people’s unique wooden architecture and to visit with some families. Our Group Leader will translate for us. We will return to the hotel with some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

At a local restaurant.

We will gather with our Group Leader for Chinese conversation practice. Prepare for check-out and transfer tomorrow.

At the hotel.

Elective early morning taiji. We will check out of the hotel after breakfast, board a motorcoach, and ride to a local traditional Chinese medicine clinic to learn about traditional treatments. A department director will give us a presentation introducing the clinic and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). We will visit their TCM pharmacy and learn about traditional treatments such as cupping, acupuncture, moxibustion, and scraping. Next, we coach to the nearby Kaili Sunday Market where Miao people come to exchange, sell, and buy goods from baskets and cookware to necklaces and hand embroidery. As we walk, we pass by smiths, itinerant dentists, and barbers plying their skills.

At a local restaurant.

We will reboard the motorcoach and ride to Guiyang, the provincial capital, and check in to our hotel.

At the hotel.

Get together with our Group Leader for Chinese conversation practice.

At the hotel.

We will board a motorcoach for a field trip to Ji Chang village whose residents are descendants of Han military units sent to Guizhou in the 15th century. Among the customs they brought with them is “dixi” (“earth opera”), a folk form that dates from the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE) and which is still performed in “old Han” locales. We will be privileged to see a performance that features a sampling of dixi using traditional hand-made wooden masks.

At a nearby restaurant.

We will take a field trip to a batik exhibition hall and workshop to learn about this centuries old wax and dye technique. We’ll also have an opportunity to try our hands at batik. Returning to the hotel, we will have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

On your own to enjoy the local fare of your choice. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and flight transfer in the morning.

Early at the hotel.

This morning we check out of the hotel, ride to the airport, and board our early morning flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, we ride to the Xin Tian Di district, a pedestrian-only locale and modern restoration project. The district was formerly an old residential neighborhood composed mainly of “shikumen” housing, a combination of 19th century Western and Chinese architecture. Some shikumen have been restored and converted to high end shops, cafés, bars, and restaurants. One has been preserved as a small museum where we will glimpse life in this district at the turn of the 20th century; rooms have audio in English. We will have approximately 2 hours (including lunch time) to explore this new and fashionable area.

In the Xin Tian Di district, choose from one of the many local cafés or international cuisine restaurants. The Group Leader will offer suggestions.

We will rendezvous at a designated time and place and ride to our hotel for check-in. The remainder of the afternoon will be free to enjoy as you like. You might like to take a walk, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, or just relax.

Walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

We’ll walk to the Shanghai Acrobatics Theater to attend an evening of amazing skill and prowess in a performance by the world-famous Shanghai Acrobatics Troupe. Acrobatics has been an important component of Chinese performing arts for more than 2,000 years. Many of the feats performed originated with skills perfected by artisans and craftspeople. Acrobatics also figures in other performance genres such as Chinese opera.

At the hotel.

We will ride to the active and lively Longhua Si, Shanghai’s largest Buddhist temple. Longhua is popular with locals who come to pray and worship. A much earlier temple was destroyed and then rebuilt in the 10th century CE, though much of what we see today came later. The Group Leader will give us a brief background on the Temple and introduce some of the buildings and Buddhist sculptures.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Next, we will ride to the Bund, Shanghai’s iconic waterfront characterized by Art Deco and Neoclassical architecture dating from the time of foreign concessions. We’ll view the busy river activity and the maze of glittering skyscrapers newly built across the river on what was, until recently, undeveloped farmland. The motorcoach will return to the hotel after our field trip.

On your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Those who wish to dine out in the Bund area and enjoy the night lights are welcome to do so.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We coach to the magnificent state-of-the-art Shanghai Museum that is home to China’s finest collection of paintings, ceramics, bronzes, and sculptures — an impressive testimony to China’s long and rich culture. Individual audio guides will be provided so that we can explore according to our own interests.

The museum has a small café. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions for restaurants nearby.

This afternoon we take the motorcoach for a field trip to explore Shanghai’s historic old section and the nearby Yu Garden whose classical pavilions, fountains, and arching bridges exemplify traditional Chinese garden landscaping. Returning to the hotel, we will have some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

We ride to a nearby restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure tomorrow.

At the hotel depending on departure times.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!