Kosher China Tour - Shai Bar Ilan

English-Speaking Kosher Tours to China

Shai Bar Ilan Geographical Tours has two amazing kosher tours scheduled for English Speakers (in addition to their wide selection of tours for Hebrew speakers)

This is an extraordinary excursion to a captivating culture. Big bustling cities with breathtaking scenery; tasty exotic teas and fertile rice paddies; soft silk and exquisitely pleasing pearls; and the marvels of Chinese medicine - see them all up close and personal as the greatest transformation of the modern age takes place before our very eyes. Our tour includes Yunan Province - the Stone Forest in Kunming and fascinating Lijiang; charming Suzhou, the enchanting vistas of Guilin; the cities of Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, and quaint countryside villages. An exciting exploration of both ancient and modern Chinese culture.

CLASSICAL CHINA

Itinerary

Day 1, Monday Tel Aviv – Beijing - Shanghai

Fly from Ben Gurion Airport via an intermediate stop to China.

Day 2, Tuesday Shanghai - Suzhou

This afternoon we land in Shanghai and depart immediately for the city of Suzhou. In the evening we'll be delighted to invite you to a show of Chinese culture which takes place in a most beautiful garden.

Day 3, Wednesday Suzhou, city of silk, gardens and canals

Today we'll visit Suzhou – the "Venice" of China. We'll be amazed by the canals as we make our way to a silk factory, where we'll view the silk production process: from the silkworm to a fashion show.
The hour's drive from Suzhou to Shanghai is a journey from an ancient culture to "Future Shock:" soaring skyscrapers, elevated highways, bridges and a level of sophistication seen in very few countries.
After arrival and dinner, we'll stroll along the Bund, Shanghai's world famous riverside promenade. We recommend a cruise on the river from where the beauty of Shanghai by night can be experienced from an entirely different and amazing vantage point.

Day 4, Thursday Shanghai

Throughout today's tour of Shanghai we'll acquaint ourselves with its varying characteristics. We'll tour the Jewish Quarter – a fascinating and unique story in itself. From there we'll continue to the Yu-Yuan neighborhood, Shanghai's "Chinatown" with its bustling shopping center and beautiful gardens. We'll ascend to the top of one of the skyscrapers for a bird's-eye view of the city. After that we'll make our way to the Shanghai City Planning Museum, where we'll see how this amazing ultramodern city will look in the year 2020.

Day 5-6, Friday & Shabbat Shanghai – Lijiang

Early this morning we'll fly almost all the way across China to Lijiang, a city in Yunan province, which lies at the foot of the high Tibetan plains, and which was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
In the afternoon we'll prepare for Shabbat. Shabbat services and dinner follow.
After Shabbat services and lunch we'll take an enjoyable stroll through the city's cobbled streets, see how the river runs through the city's neighborhoods, and take in a dance show by a local Naxi minority troupe.

Day 7, Sunday Tiger Leaping Gorge

Today we'll tour the Tiger Leaping Gorge. This is the deepest canyon in the world ever cut by a river. The canyon runs about 16 kilometers, stretching between two mountainside villages. We'll take an easy hike to the gorge. Here we'll view the glorious first bend of the Yangtze River, the fourth longest river in the world, which runs from high in the Himalayan Mountains along a 6,000 kilometer route through central China.
In the evening we recommend a colorful local tribal show.

Day 8, Monday A Forest of Stones – a unique wonder of the world

Today will be dedicated to one of the most captivating natural phenomena in the world. We'll tour a forest of rocks and lakes, incomparable scenery and charming local minority peoples. The Large Stone Forest, in which rocks grow from the water, is surrounded by exquisite gardens and service by colorful-clothed people. Afterwards, we'll also visit some breathtaking Karst caves in the area, and then head for Kunming.

Day 9-10, Tuesday-Wednesday Guilin

We'll fly over mountainous Karst scenery that for generations has served to inspire artists, writers and poets. We'll be amazed by the fascinating rice paddies of the countryside, and we'll sail down the Li River through the mountains, and view the villagers in their natural habitat - a world that is slowly disappearing - and then complete some shopping in the picturesque village of Yang Shuo.
In the evening we recommend both a Reflexology Massage as well as a spectacular show with hundreds of actors – one of the largest and most fantastic in the world.

Day 11, Thursday Xian - The Emperor's "Army" for eternal life

This morning we'll take an early flight to Xian, where we'll visit one of the wonders of the world: the immense Terra Cotta Army that the great Emperor Qin Xi Huan Di prepared for himself for his "eternal life." We'll view the mountains at the foot of which lie the Huah Qin springs, which became famous as the place where Chiang Kai-shek was captured and from where he escaped.
We'll also visit one of the city's picturesque quarters where to see a building that bears striking resemblance to the ancient synagogue of Kaifeng, China.
In the evening we recommend the colorful Tang Dynasty show.

Day 12, Friday The Summer Palace and the Marble Ship

A morning flight will bring us to Beijing, capital of China. Immediately after arrival, we'll head out to visit the Summer Palace. We'll view the palaces, gardens and lake where the emperors of China would relax and retreat. In the afternoon we'll return to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Shabbat services and Shabbat dinner.

Day 13, Shabbat Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

After morning prayers and breakfast, we'll depart for a walking tour of central Beijing. We'll stroll through Tiananmen Square and see the Mausoleum where Chairman Mao is buried, the Chinese parliament, and one of the old Hutong neighborhoods, of which very few remain in Beijing (on condition that it has not been "erased" before we arrive). We'll return to the hotel for lunch and Shabbat afternoon rest. In the evening we'll tour Beijing by Night.

Day 14, Sunday The Great Wall, the Way of the Spirits, and the Ming Tombs

We'll make an early departure for the greatest wall in the world. The Great Wall of China is the largest construction project ever undertaken by man – measuring over 7,000 kilometers. Large sections of the wall were built between the 7th and 4th centuries BCE, over 2500 years ago. For hundreds of years, according to security needs arising from political conflicts in different ages, some sections of the Great Wall of China were added and strengthened while other sections were neglected.
The Great Wall is made up of three primary components: passes, signal- and watch towers, and defensive walls. Walking along the Great Wall will enable us to sense the historical dimension of the visit.
Later on, we'll visit a Chinese health center and enjoy an invigorating reflexology treatment. Afterwards we'll return to Beijing.

Day 15, Monday Tai Chi in the Park and the Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is the largest spiritual Taoist building in all of China. Here the emperors would communicate with Heaven, pleading for beneficence from the gods, successful crops, forgiveness for the people, and mainly to ensconce the mandate given to the by the gods. Design of the temple is based upon Feng Shui.
In the morning we'll join some of the city's elders as they do their Tai Chi in the park. We'll watch (and join with) people who walk on pebbles, ballroom dancers, fan and sword exercises and card players. We might even join a Chinese choir! The park was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. It's the most impressive place in all of Beijing.
We'll then continue to tour some of Beijing's older Hutong neighborhoods. From the top of Coal Hill we'll be able to see the Forbidden City, where we walked only two days ago, and then visit a Pearl factory.
In the evening we strongly recommend the Kung Fu show, dedicated to this fascinating, spiritual Chinese martial art.

Day 16, Tuesday Beijing – Tel Aviv

We'll complete our tour of Beijing, leaving time for some shopping. China has become an attractive and interesting world leader in this field as well. After completing our shopping, in the evening we'll make our way to Beijing International Airport for our flight, via an intermediate stop, back home to Israel.

Day 17, Friday Tel Aviv

This morning we land at Ben Gurion Airport. Home sweet home and Shabbat shalom. We've had an unforgettable experience, seen a beautiful and fascinating part of the world, and developed an appetite for more.

Date and Prices

Tour code	Start date	End date	Days	Price	Single supplement
ECHC0311	03/11/2008	19/11/2008	16 days	$ 3810	$ 730

Price Includes

Return International Flights (via an intermediate stop in Europe or the Far East)
Internal flights as per the itinerary
First class hotels
Airport and security taxes
Comfortable touring coach for traveling
Breakfast + Dinner + supplies for making sandwiches for lunch
Professional; experienced Israeli guide
Local Guide as required
Entrance to all sites mentioned in the tour plan

Price excludes

Travel and baggage Insurance
Shows that are not included in the tour plan; approximately $25 per show including transportation
Chinese Visa: $50
Tips for local service providers: $120
Changes in air fares due to increases in fuel; airport tax and security tax surcharges
Tip for Israeli guide (Recommended: $3 per person per day)
Shows/Services for payment in the China tours:
1. Shanghai - River Cruise - Acrobatic Show
2. Lijiang - Exhilarating Tribal Show
3. Kunming -Impressions (the price of this show is higher than other shows)
4. Guilin -Reflexology; Nighttime Water Show (the price of this show is higher than other shows)
5. Xian - Tang Dynasty Show
6. Beijing - Kung Fu Show - Acrobatic Show.

Important to know

There may be changes to the schedule and hotel reservations dependent upon internal flights. We will make every effort to visit every location mentioned
Day of departure and arrival are included in the total days of the tour. Insurance is required for the full 17 days.

Insurance
We urge all passengers to purchase travel and cancellation insurance immediately upon registration for the tour. This ensures a refund of expenses in case of cancellation due to medical emergency, illness or bereavement.

Terms

More than 45 working days prior to departure: $47 per passenger registration fee only
14-45 working days prior to departure: $500 + $47 per passenger
7-13 working days prior to departure: $1,000 + $47 per passenger
Less than 6 working days prior to departure: Passenger will be liable for full payment of all expenses connected to the tour (including visas, etc.)
Fridays, Shabbat and Holidays (including Chol Hamoed in Israel), and Sundays and Public Holidays abroad are not considered working days. If flight tickets have already been issued and/or any other services have already been purchased (visas, etc.) their costs will be added to the cancellation penalties mentioned above.

For more info, please email me at drsavta@gmail.com or fill in the form below. I will get back to you as quickly as possible.