Reservations

Scrapbooking, Sightseeing & Shopping

Septemeber 20 - 29, 2008

Package Includes

First-class hotel accommodations at the Regent Hotel, 20 meals (including a special Peking Duck dinner), National Chinese guide escorting our group the entire time, an “optional” tour to Xian to see the famous Terra Cotta soldiers, sightseeing at a Silk Spinning Mill to see how silk fabric is made, a visit to a Children’s Elementary School, a foot massage for our entire group, a visit to the Beijing Zoo to see the giant Pandas, sightseeing at the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, premiere VIP seating at a Chinese Acrobatic Show, a visit to a Cloisonné Factory, a jade carving factory, and a rickshaw ride in the old part of Beijing, special lunch in the home of a local resident, fantastic shopping in great markets, and personally escorted by Scrapbooking celebrity Heidi Swapp and ScrapMap founder, Jim West!

Trip Itinerary

Saturday, September 20th
For those of you who have booked your airfare with us, we begin our China Scrapbooking Adventure with an overnight flight from San Francisco to BEIJING, CHINA. During our flight, dinner will be served on-board the plane. D

Sunday, September 21st
On our flight this morning, a breakfast snack will be served on-board the plane. This afternoon, we arrive at the BEIJING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. Once we pass through customs, present our Chinese Visas, and collect our luggage, we will be met by our local guide who will escort us to our private motor coach. We will travel a short distance to our DELUXE hotel located in the heart of the city. The five-star REGENT HOTEL will be our home for the next eight nights. How great, we only have to unpack once the entire time! We will check into our beautifully appointed rooms and settled-in. There will be a short briefing with our guide and you will be introduced to Heidi Swapp and Jim West. We will all enjoy our first Chinese meal at a local restaurant. B, D

Monday, September 22nd
This morning following a delicious buffet breakfast, we will visit the famous TIANANMEN SQUARE and the FORBIDDEN CITY. In the afternoon we will introduce you to the world famous SILK MARKET. At the Silk Market, which is over five stories high, with hundreds of shopping stalls, you will have an opportunity to purchase all kinds of designer items-cashmere sweaters for $20.00, high-end watches with real imitation leather bands for $15.00, and designer handbags for only $20.00. Your shopping fantasies come true as you go from floor to floor perusing all the items for sale. Remember, most of what you see and buy is not the authentic thing, so buyers purchase with caution, but have fun while you negotiate the rock bottom price. We will meet for dinner in the early part of the evening. B, D

Tuesday, September 23rd
Today, following breakfast, Heidi will provide a short lecture on photography and how to capture your tour through the eyes of a scrapbooker. This afternoon, is free at your leisure. You may opt to take advantage of the hotel’s spa facility, and get a massage, facial or swim in the pool, or shop in one of the nearby boutique shops. Tonight, an authentic Peking Duck dinner, sponsored by ScrapMap will be provided. B, D

Wednesday, September 24th
This morning we will have an early breakfast and then depart for the BEIJING ZOO to see the giant pandas. This is followed by a visit to a Silk Spinning Mill, where we will see how silk fabrics are made. We’ll see the silk cocoons and learn more about how silk fabric is made. You’ll have a great opportunity to purchase some uniquely designed silk items in their beautiful showroom. Later this morning, we will visit a Chinese Cloisonné Factory, and see how this ancient art is created from start to finish. This afternoon we will drive to the Summer Palace for a leisurely walk through the gardens near the lake. We will return back to our hotel later in the day. Dinner will be on your own tonight. B, L

Thursday, September 25th
This morning, we are offering a very special “optional” tour to the city of XIAN. If you join us, we will leave our hotel and drive to the airport for a very early flight. We will be met by a local guide in Xian and board our private motor-coach for a sightseeing tour of the famous Terra Cotta Warriors, one of man-made wonders of the world. Included in this package is a delicious lunch at the museum before flying back to Beijing in the late afternoon and transferring to our hotel. If you do not participate on this tour, your day will be at your leisure. Tonight, dinner is on your own. Optional tour cost is $598.00 per person and must be confirmed with final payment. B

Friday, September 26th
This morning, following breakfast, Heidi will provide an exciting scrapbooking class for everyone. The kits are compliments of Heidi. Later in the morning, a local artist will provide an interesting class on Chinese painting, which we will be able to use in our scrapbooking. This afternoon is free for you to enjoy at your leisure. Tonight we will enjoy special VIP seating at the world famous CHINESE ACROBATIC SHOW. Dinner will follow the show B, D

Saturday, September 27th
This morning, following breakfast, we will journey to the incredible GREAT WALL OF CHINA. There is no question this will be one of the highlights of our tour. You are not going to believe how spectacular it really is until you have a chance to walk on it yourself. We will stop for lunch at a Friendship store, where we will again have an opportunity to shop in a government-owned store. Later in the day we will visit a CHILDREN’S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL and see first-hand these beautiful children developing their learning abilities. Don’t forget your cameras! Dinner will be at a nearby restaurant, and then we’ll all participate in a group FOOT MASSAGE. This experience is relaxing, great fun and a nice opportunity to be pampered. B, L, D

Sunday, September 28th
Today we participate in the ancient Hutong tour, where we will be peddled around the old section of Beijing in a rickshaw! Midway through the tour, we will stop and have lunch in the home of a local resident. Bring your cameras again, because this will certainly be a special highlight of the trip. Following lunch, the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. Later in the day, before dinner, Heidi will meet with the group to recap our trip and finalize her project. Tonight, we will all enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. B, L, D

Monday, September 29th
This morning, following breakfast, we will pack our luggage as we prepare for our journey back to North America. For those of you who have booked their airfare with us, we will transfer to the Beijing airport for our non-stop flight back to San Francisco.