WONDERS OF CHINA: Dates:
Saturday, October 3 - Monday, October 12, 2009

Saturday, April 17 - Monday, April 26, 2010Price:
$2,695 per person, double occupancy, land only.

*Book 5 months in advance and save $100 Single Supplement:
$750 USD, Not Required. Hermes Tours can match you with another traveler should you wish at no cost.Optional extension to Hong Kong:
Monday, October 12 - Thursday, October 15, 2009

Monday, April 26 - Thursday, April 29, 2010

Price: $799 USD (flight not included)
Single Supplement: $300 USD Deposit due at time of registration: $500 USD per person.

WONDERS OF CHINA IN STYLE
China took center stage during the Summer 2008 Olympics. And now it’s time for its encore, starring you and your Hermes small group. What’s on the playbill? How about an ancient wall 4,000 miles long … a city once forbidden to visitors … 8,000 stone warriors watching over an emperor … serene gardens that seek nothing less than metaphysical perfection. And along the way, we’ll learn about the lives of local gay and lesbians.
View Photos from our Last Tour! VIEW THE FULL ITINERARY DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE ITINERARY
HIGHLIGHTS:
Beijing, including the Great Wall of China, Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square,  and Forbidden City Xian, including the Terra Cotta Soldiers Hangzhou, including West Lake and a tea plantation Suzhou, including the Master of Nets Garden and a silk factory Shanghai, including the Old Town, Jade Buddha Temple, Huangpu River cruise, the Bund, and Jinmao Tower All guiding and entrance fees included Accommodations for 9 nights in 5-star hotels Services of a Hermes Tours escort Services of an expert, local guide in all cities $100 per person savings if you reserve 5 months before departure!
ITINERARY
Date Itinerary Meals Day 1 - Saturday Arrive in Beijing, Welcome dinner D Day 2 - Sunday Great Wall, Ming Tombs and Summer Palace B, L, D Day 3 - Monday Beijing Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City B, L Day 4 - Tuesday Beijing to Xian B, L, D Day 5 - Wednesday Xian, Terra Cotta Warriors B, L, D Day 6 - Thursday Xian to Hangzhou B, L, D Day 7 - Friday Hangzhou to Suzhou B, L, D Day 8 - Saturday Suzhou to Shanghai B, L, D Day 9 - Sunday Shanghai B, L, D Day 10 - Monday Depart for Home or Extend to Hong Kong B   EXTENSION   Day 10 - Monday Fly to Hong Kong, Gay Night Tour B Day 11 - Tuesday Hong Kong City Tour B Day 12 - Wednesday Free Day Hong Kong B Day 13 - Thursday End of Hong Kong Extension - Return Home B
HOTELS:
Beijing: Jade Palace Hotel - 5 stars The Jade Palace Hotel is a luxurious hotel, which opened its doors to guests in 1998. The Jade Palace Hotel provides its guests with comprehensive Internet services, connecting guests with the information highway. Exclusive ends with Internet access are laid in all the offices, guestrooms, the business center and other areas for guest use. Xian: Xi’an Sofitel on Remin Square - 5 stars The majestic Sofitel Xian On Renmin Square is located in Renmin Square and complies with Chinese 5-star platinum standards, making it the most luxurious hotel in the region. The hotel houses several heritage buildings of historic importance and features 432 rooms, 4 restaurants and 2 bars. The hotel is ideally situated close to many of the city's historical sites including the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Great Mosque, Shaanxi History Museum & the Forest of Steles stone library. The airport & Terracotta Museum are both 45 minutes by car. Suzhou: Suzhou Nanlin Hotel - 5* Suzhou Nanlin Hotel occupies an area of 35,000 square meters, with easy access and quiet surroundings. The hotel combines modernized service facilities and Suzhou's traditional garden architecture into a pleasing whole, adding radiance and beauty to its nearby famous gardens. Hangzhou: Hangzhou Grand Metropark Hotel - 5* Grand Metropark Hotel Hangzhou boasts 380 guest rooms of all types. Decorated according to 5-star hotel standard. Each room is most tastefully and comfortably appointed.and offers free internet service to all housed guest. Shanghai: Shanghai Broadway Mansions Hotel - 5 stars The hotel is a 26 stories building with 338 sets of room. The European-style rooms bring you the passion and romance, where the Japanese-style rooms remind you the tranquility found in nature. The completed business facilities, which include the business center, multi-function conference, ticket center and broad-band internet, make people feel relaxed and become more informative.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Included: Please note that the above cost includes all accommodation in 5 star, gay friendly hotels, with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips and service charges. All activities as outlined in the itinerary; all meals as per itinerary; economy class airl tickets between cities, the services of a Hermes Tours Escort throughout the trip; all ground transportation as per itinerary; Entrance fees to all sites on itinerary. Not Included: International airfare to/from China; airport transfers, passport & visa fees if applicable; personal travel and cancellation insurance; meals and activities not specifically included in the itinerary; services of a personal nature like alcohol; soft drinks; bottled water; laundry; telephone calls; faxes as well as customary tips to drivers and guides. Visas: Canadian and American passport holders are required to have visas to enter China for tourism purposes. Shots and Immunizations: There are no shots that are required for travel to China but Hermes Tours does recommend that your tetanus booster be up to date. Currency and Money Issues: It is very easy to withdraw money from ATMs located throughout the country as well as to use your Visa or MasterCard. The American Express card is less widely accepted. Travelers checks are also accepted however can carry a heavy commission fee. We recommend to travelers to bring only a small amount of cash and/or travelers checks and to rather use their ATM and credit cards while traveling.
LIABILITIES / DISCLAIMERS
Making a reservation with a deposit will be considered to be consent to the following conditions: Hermes Tours reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a member of the tour at any time and to make whatever changes become necessary with or without notice. Guaranteed departure with a minimum of 8 participants. Hermes Tours is not responsible for airline cancellation or change penalties incurred by individual tour participants for air tickets purchased prior to notification that the tour is a confirmed departure. Travel cancellation insurance would cover these costs should the tour be cancelled. Hermes Tours does not accept responsibility in whole or in part for any delay, loss, accidents, personal injury, sickness, medical expenses, or property damage occasioned by fault of any person from whatever cause. All participants are required to sign a standard liability form.

Day 1 – Saturday, Arrive in Beijing (D) Plan to arrive at our Beijing hotel by 4:00 today. After you’ve settled in, we’ll show you where gay and lesbian Chinese used to secretly meet during the more hard-lined Communist era. We’re sure to meet some locals active in today’s rights struggle.  This evening join our Hermes welcome banquet, complete with Peking Duck! Day 2 - Sunday, Great Wall and Ming Tomb and Summer palace (B, L, D) A day you won't forget! Your full day tour includes The Great Wall of China, one of the world's architectural marvels. The Great Wall, this imposing ancient Chinese structure stretches over 6000km and is one of the 8 wonders of the world.  We then visit the Ming Tombs, a total of 13 Imperial tombs from the Ming dynasty emperors and see how the ancient emperors used to plan for life after death. This afternoon, enjoy the Summer Palace, a complex of pavilions, temples and galleries situated on an immense man-made lake. Afterwards we head out to experience the current night life of Beijing including visits to local gay clubs Day 3 - Monday –Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, and Temple of Heaven (B, L) We visit Tiananmen Square today. At 100 acres, it is the largest public plaza in the world. We’ll also explore the 15th-century Forbidden City, whose 8,707 rooms and splendid halls are graced with imperial treasures now overseen by the Palace Museum. Later, we’ll admire the beautiful Temple of Heaven, visited by the Ming and Qing emperors to pray for good harvests. Your afternoon is free to explore the city on your own. Day 4 - Tuesday, Beijing to Xian (B, L, D) This morning we fly to Xian, the eastern end of the famed Silk Road.  We’ll traverse its imposing, ancient City Wall dating to the Ming Dynasty, then visit the grand Wild Goose Pagoda. Then we discover the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. The former once rang its bronze-casted bells at sunrise; and the latter beat its drums at sunset. Day 5 - Wednesday, – Xian (B, L, D) Today we marvel at the ancient Terra Cotta Warriors. In 1974, they were stumbled on by farmers digging a well. Today, their legion stands 8,000 strong—alongside 130 chariots and 670 horses—though many of them are still buried. For 2,000 years, they have faithfully stood guard over the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. This afternoon we visit Huaqing Hot Springs at Mt. Li, home to such wonderful diversions as Nine-Dragon Pool and Lotus Flower Pool. This was a preferred escape of the Tang Dynasty. Day 6 - Thursday,  –Xian to Hangzhou (B,L, D) This morning we fly to Hangzhou. En route, we stop at the canal-laced water town of Xitang. Nine rivers converge here, and its endless charms and ancient ambiance played a supporting role to Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible III. The drive will take us about two hours. In Hangzhou, one of China’s most prosperous cities, we’ll cruise the lovely padoga-lined shores of serene West Lake. You’ll see why it’s been regaled by poets and emperors for centuries. We then drive to a tea plantation to enjoy some of the best green tea in China, named Emperor Tea in the Qing dynasty Day 7 - Friday, Hanghzou to Suzhou (B, L, D) Enjoy a full day tour to Suzhou, China’s city of gardens. We visit one of its most famous private gardens “Master of Nets Garden,” a perfect fusion of art, nature, and architecture into what many consider a metaphysical masterpiece. We’ll also get a flavor for Suzhou’s silk industry at a silk factory. Day 8 - Saturday, Suzhou to Shanghai (B, L, D) Transfer to Shanghai today. As we browse the Old Town, you’ll sample ancient Ming and Qing dynasty style houses. But what may impress you most about this modern city is its energy; over 20 million people call metropolitan Shanghai home. Tonight, take it in from the perspective of the Huangpu River on a river cruise. Day 9 – Sunday, –Shanghai (B, L, D) Pay a visit to the Jade Buddha Temple today. Then we explore the world-renown Bund, home to a remarkable mix of historic, colonial-era buildings and grand consulates that symbolize the city’s once and current dramatic financial and political rise. For a quieter slice of life here, you might observe morning tai chi on the promenade. We cross the river to ascend Jin Mao Tower, the tallest building on mainland China. From the 88th floor, we’ll take in spectacular views of the city. This evening, Hermes Tours hosts a farewell banquet. Day 10 – Monday, Depart or extend to Hong Kong (B) Continue your China discoveries on our post-tour extension to Hong Kong. Otherwise, your Hermes tour ends today. EXTENSION Days 11-12 – Tuesday-Wednesday –Hong Kong (Daily B) Hong Kong may have gained its sovereignty from Britain in 1997, but it retains a very Western flair. We’ll spend two nights here, taking in its must-see sights like Victoria Peak and Repulse Bay. We’ll venture out to discover a pulsing gay night life. And you’ll have ample time to explore this glittering metropolis on your own. Hop the Star Ferry or a city tram to expand your reach, or simply walk to your heart’s content among some of the most dizzying skyscrapers in the world. Day 13 – Thursday – Depart for Home (B) Our tour ends today.       .