Date

Ancient Medicine Itinerary

16 day tour

Oct 07

Depart DCA for China

For those traveling with the group, we will meet at the airport to fly to Beijing together.  

*Flight to be determined if there is sufficient interest. Estimated ticket cost between $1100-$1400.
 

Oct 08

Beijing

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of China!

For those arriving on the group flight, we will be met at the airport for a group transfer to the hotel.

Free evening.

Oct 09

Beijing

Tiananmen Square

The square, located in the heart of modern Beijing, is reputed to be the largest square in the world, The founding ceremony of the People’s Republic of China was held here on October 1, 1949, where the late Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed the birth of New China.

Mao Mausoleum

Chairman Mao is the founder of the People's Republic of China and one of the essential characters in Chinese modern history.

Forbidden City

The Forbidden City, also known as The Imperial Palace, is a maze of palaces built between 1417 and 1420 as the residence of the emperor. It is the largest palace in the world and one of China’s cultural legacies.

Tuina Massage

We will have a tuina or Chinese Therapeutic Massage to help us acclimate to the 12-hour time difference. Tuina is an important component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Oct 10

Beijing

Great Wall of China

The great wall is the only man-made object visible from the moon. Construction of the Great Wall began in the seventh century BC and was extended in the following dynasties.

Ming Tombs

These 13 imperial tombs dating back to the Ming Dynasty are scattered over an area not far from Beijing. We will visit one of the tombs of the 13th Ming Emperor, Zhu Yijun, and his two empresses - the only one that has been excavated so far.

Foot Massage

This is a real treat after a long day of sightseeing!. Chinese foot massage has been practiced for over 5,000 years. Chinese Foot Massage is so popular that Chinese businessmen are starting to replace their traditional meetings with gatherings at the local foot massage parlor.

Oct 11

Beijing

Guanganmen hospital

We will visit one of the official TCM hospitals of the Olympics. We will tour the hospital and pharmacy and watch doctors treating patients with acupuncture, cupping, tuina and herbs.

Summer Palace

This is one of the most beautiful parks in Beijing. The Summer Palace is the epitome of a Chinese royal garden, and is ranked amongst the most noted classical parks in the world. In 1998, UNESCO listed it as one of the World Heritage Sites.

Donghuamen Night Market:

This night market has to be seen to be believed! Eager crowds jostle alongside red and white stalls, responding to the calls of vendors or the sight of something delicious or extraordinary to behold. Food comes on skewers, in soup bowls, wrapped in tortillas, or even in half a pineapple, and includes familiar fried and roasted meat, fish, seafood, vegetables and fruit, alongside hearts, brains, stomach and other innards. Try baby sparrows, scorpions, crickets and silkworm grubs.

Oct 12

Beijing/Xian

Temple of Heaven

This is a cluster of Taoist buildings where the Ming and Qing emperors went to worship Heaven and pray for better Harvest. In the early morning the temple grounds are filled with people practicing a Taiji, singing Chinese opera, or dancing to disco music. It is one of the best places in Beijing to observe ordinary Chinese at play.

Lama Temple

The Lama Temple is home to the Yellow Sect of Buddhism, which is the same sect as the Dalai Lama. It is an active lamasery, and monks of the sect live and work in the temple. The temple is also home to the largest Buddha statue carved from a single tree.

In the evening, we will take an overnight train from Beijing to Xian.

Oct 13

Xian

Terra Cotta Soldiers

This is the reason most visitors come to Xian, and it does not disappoint. Amazingly, the warriors are just one piece of the Yellow Emperor Qin Shi Huang Di’s attempt to preserve his empire for the afterlife.

Shaanxi Provincial History Museum

Shaanxi Province is the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilization. Xian City was the capital city for thirteen dynasties, which in total lasted for over 1100 years.

Stone Stele Museum

Once the site of the Temple of Confucius during the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), the Forest of Stone Steles Museum is situated near the south gate of Xian City Wall. It was initially established in AD 1087 when some precious stone steles were moved here for safe keeping, including the 'Classic on Filial Piety' written by Emperor Xuanzong in AD 745 and 'the Kaicheng Stone Steles' carved in AD 837.

Tang Dynasty Dinner Show

This show has its roots in folk dances performed as part of rituals of prayer for a good harvest or a better life. Over thousands of years, the dances developed from a few simple postures or gestures to become delicate and artistic, reaching a peak during the Tang Dynasty.

Oct 14

Xian

Xian Herbal Market

This herbal market features remedies that have kept Chinese healthy for centuries.

Wild Goose Pagoda

Legend has it that the pagoda was built by Emperor Tang Gaozong to honor his mother, Empress Wende. The Temple is also said to have been built to house and protect Buddhist scriptures collected in India by the Chinese monk, Xuan Zang. There are fantastic views from the top of the pagoda of the grid-like streets below and it seems hard to believe today that the area around here was once countryside and fields! It is tradition to throw coins from the windows of the pagoda in the hope that this will bring good luck.

Muslim Quarter and Great Mosque

The Muslim Quarter has its origins in the year 742 when developed due to the Silk Road trade that would bring merchants from Persia, Afghanistan, and many other Middle Eastern kingdoms to China. The Great Mosque in Xian is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosques in China.

Oct 15

Xian/Hangzhou

In the morning, we will fly to Hangzhou.

Lingyin Temple

Lingyin Temple is one of the best-known Buddhist monasteries in China, built in 326 AD.

Fei Lai Park

This park features limestone formations said to look like animals such as a flying dragon, a running elephant, a crouching tiger, and a fleeing monkey.

Longjing Tea Plantation & Museum

Hidden away in the southwest corner of the city are the Longjing or “Dragon Well” tea fields. Tea terraces rise up on either side of the village and it's an interesting area to walk around, watch the locals at work and sample freshly picked tea.

West Lake boat cruise

An old Chinese saying declares, "There is heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below." Centuries later, Marco Polo called Hangzhou the most enchanting city in the entire world. This is most evident in the West Lake area--the effective, if not geographic, center of Hangzhou. Hills embrace the lake on three sides; the city proper lies to the east. Ancient Chinese people praised the West Lake area as a land of intoxicating beauty. Su Shi, a poet from the Song Dynasty, likened the lake to Xizi, a Chinese Cleopatra, for its allure.

Oct 16

Hangzhou

Tong Qing Yu Tang TCM Museum and pharmacy tour

The Tong Qing Yu Tang Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine was founded in 1864. It was a famous state pharmacy and workshop devoted to the production of traditional medicine. There are doctors on hand to diagnose and prescribe herbal medicines for any ailments you might have.

Medicinal meal

We will have a medicinal meal at the clinic

Night Market

The Hangzhou night market is the perfect place for picking up curios, supposed antiques, paintings, bookends, name chops etc.

Oct 17

Hangzhou/Huangshan

After breakfast, we will have a private coach to the Yellow Mountain.

Huangshan

The Yellow Mountain (Huangshan) is in southern Anhui Province. The area is very famous for its scenic beauty, which lies in the peculiar shapes of the granite peaks, in the weather-shaped pine trees trees, and in views of the clouds from above. The area also has hot springs and natural pools.  Huangshan is a frequent subject of traditional Chinese paintings, poetry and literature. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China's most popular tourist destinations.

Oct 18

Huangshan

Huangshan

We will wake early to watch the Sea of Clouds become awash with color, then continue touring the mountain, including a visit to the hot springs

Oct 19

Huangshan/Hongcun/Shanghai

We will descend mountain via cable car and visit Hongcun village en route to Shanghai.

Hongcun

Hongcun village was built about 800 years ago in the shape of a buffalo and is said to have good Feng Shui. This is where the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was filmed.

Oct 20

Shanghai

Shanghai University of TCM Medical Museum

This museum is dedicated to the history of Chinese Medicine. It plays a leading role among the national colleges and universities of Chinese medicine.

Acrobat Show

The Shanghai Acrobatic Theater is a famous large-scale circus and acrobatic company.

Oct 21

Shanghai

The Bund

The Bund is the most famous sightseeing spot in Shanghai. The imposing array of tall buildings form an enduring symbol of the East.

Yuyuan Gardens

Yu Garden, a classical garden in downtown Shanghai, boasts a history of over 400 years. Each pavilion, hall, stone and stream in the garden expresses influence of the Ming and Qing Dynasty. It’s a great place to shop for souvenirs.

Shanghai Museum

Shanghai Museum is situated at the southern side of the People's Square. The design of the museum, a square foundation supporting a circular roof, incorporates the ancient Chinese philosophy that the sky is round and the earth is square. The museum has 10 showrooms featuring bronze wares, ceramics, ancient Chinese paintings, calligraphy works, sculptures, seals, coins, jade wares, furniture and handicrafts of Chinese minorities.

Oct 22

Shanghai/Hefei

Group A: Free day in Shanghai prior to flight back to the U.S

Ride the first commercial magnetic levitation train to the airport. The train reaches a maximum speed of 268 miles per hour and takes 7 minutes and 20 seconds to complete the journey to the airport.

For those departing with the group will leave in the early evening of the 22^nd, arriving the same day in Washington DC.

October 22    
*Flights to be determined

Group B: Depart for Hefei for clinic portion of trip