daizi - China tour Summer '09 中国暑假旅游09年

I travel to China with 15 or so students every three or four years. Each time I map out a different tour. This coming summer I would like to try a coastal tour. These trips always involve slower modes of transportation (train, bus, boat, bicycle, foot) with an emphasis on visiting at least a few places off the beaten track and intermingling with the locals. This last bit might be a bit difficult given the path of this itinerary. I welcome comments, warnings, and suggestions on destinations, sites, hotels, etc. from the many inveterate China travelers here on CPod.

Cheers. Randall

So far, this is what I have worked out (with the help of my long-time Chinese tour insider): 

Day 01   Beijing 北京

• Arrive late in the afternoon
  
• No hotel yet (looking for something near intersection of Wangfujing-Chang’an streets)
  
• Dinner in a dumpling restaurant

Day 02  Beijing 北京

• Tian'An Men Square
  
• Forbidden City
  
• Temple of Heaven
  
• Summer Palace
  
• Peking Opera show at Lao She Tea House

Day 03  Beijing 北京-长城

• Simatai and  Jinshanling section of the Great Wall, with some hiking and hawker dodging
  
• Peking Duck Dinner at Qianmen Quanjude Duck Restaurant
  

Day 04  Beijing 北京/ Qingdao 青岛 (overnight train to Qingdao)

• Morning tour of Hutong, with bicycle rental
  
• Local kindergarden visit
  
• Tour the 2008 Beijing Olympics venues (including Water Cube and Bird Nest)
  
• Walk around the famous Silk Alley Market
  
• Qingdao by overnight train

Day 05 Qingdao 青岛

• Stay at the Equatorial Hotel Qingdao in Old Town
  
• Afternoon walking tour

Day 06  QIngdao 青岛/ Tai’an 泰安

• Bus to Tai’an
  
• Stay at International Hotel Tia'An near the Dai Temple for 2 nights
  
• Afternoon walking tour of town & temples

Day 07  Tai’an 泰安 / Mount Tai 泰山 / Tai’an 泰安

• Full-day tour at Mount Tai, with hiking (or, if you’re too lazy, cable car ride)
  
• Return to Tai’an for dinner
  

Day 08  Tai’an 泰安/ Qufu 曲阜

• After breakfast, depart Tai’an for Qufu
  
• Tour in Qufu including Confucious Temple / family residences and etc.
  
• Stay at Queli Hotel  

Day 09  Qufu 曲阜/ Zhujiayu 朱家峪 / Jinan 济南/ Shanghai 上海(overnight train to Shanghai)

• Bus to Jinan
  
• On the way, stop by in Zhujianyu village. Walking tour of village and lunch. Then proceed to Jinan by coach
  
• Depart Jinan for Shanghai by overnight train 
  

Day 10    Shanghai 上海

• Stay at  Boadway Mansions Hotel Shanghai for 2 nights
  
• Visit the Bund and East Nanjing Road / Xin Tian Di area. 
  

Day 11 Shanghai 上海

• Old Town
  
• Yu Garden
  
• The Shanghai Museum
  
• Wander the French Concession. 
  
• Acrobatic show in evening

Day 12 Shanghai 上海 / Moganshan 莫干山

• Depart Shanghai by bus to Moganshan in Zhejiang Province
  
• Stay at Jianquan Shanzhuang for 1 night
  
• Afternoon hiking 
  

Day 13 Moganshan 莫干山 / Hangzhou 杭州

• Depart Moganshan for Hangzhou by bus
  
• Stay at Sunny Hotel Hangzhou
  
• Afternoon tour on West Lake
  

Day 14 Hangzhou 杭州/ Shenzhen 深圳 (overnight train to Shenzhen)

• Morning at leisure. 
  
• Depart Hangzhou for Shenzhen by overnight train
  

Day 15 Shenzhen 深圳/ Hong Kong 香港 (Tsim Sha Tsui 尖沙嘴)  

• Shenzhen to Hong Kong by bus
  
• Stay at the YMCA Salisbury House
  
• Night tram to Victoria Peak

Day 16 Hong Kong 香港/ USA 美国

• Free day at leisure. 
  
• Depart HKG for USA by air