“Thou shalt not expect to find things as thou hast them at home, for thou hast left thy home to find things different.” This first commandment according to China Spree set the tone for our entire trip.

I boarded Air China flight 986 for Beijing promptly at 3.p.m. and almost immediately realized that things were different. As an experienced flier, I had suffered through the steady deterioration of in-flight service aboard domestic flights for the past two years.

There was a pillow and a blanket on my seat and almost immediately the beverage service asked if I would like water, tea, juice, beer or wine? Beer and wine were not followed by $5.00 please. Head-phones? Free of course. Dinner was a choice of fish or chicken with my beverage of choice. I already liked this difference. It was then that I remembered that I had been told at check-in that I could check two bags for no charge.

Day 1 of my schedule was really starting to feel like part of my vacation. The phrase, “sit back and enjoy your flight” had taken on new meaning. I was flying economy and getting first-class service.

We arrived in Beijing late in the afternoon, right on schedule, and were met by our city guide, Richard. Our luggage, not a single piece was lost, was loaded onto a bus and we were told that it would be delivered to our rooms. Our hotel was new and in the heart of the shopping district. The first night was “at leisure” to either explore the area or adjust to the inevitable jet lag. Richard gave us a bit of orientation and advised us “to sleep like pigs.” I think we all got the idea, and took his advice.

“Rise and Shine” at 7.30 a.m. Breakfast buffet, meet our National guide, Lynn, and be ready for our first adventure by 9.a.m. Everyone seemed to up to the challenge.

Our first stop was Tienanmen Square which is the largest public square in the world and capable of holding a million people. The square is surrounded by an assortment of historical buildings and Communist monuments. We eventually passed through the Gate of Heavenly Peace, under the famous portrait of Chairman Mao, and into the Forbidden City. We managed to explore only a fraction of the 9,999 rooms where the 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties ruled the Middle Kingdom for nearly 500 years. It was a time of opulence, indulgences and excesses where the rulers were absolute and women were possessions.

Leaving the luxury of the Forbidden City, we entered Beijing’s Hutongs, via rickshaw. This maze-like collection of alleyways and neighborhood residences traditionally linked the old city. Even today, although the area is part of the Culture InSites Program, the locals go about their daily lives almost like a large inter-dependent family. We enjoyed lunch with a local family in a typical courtyard style home.

Another early morning and we are off to climb a section of the Great Wall, which is undoubtedly the most renowned monument in China. The original wall was begun in the 5th century and meanders through China’s northern mountain ranges for a distance of 3,500 miles. Until you have tried climbing even to the lowest tower and realize just how difficult it is, can you understand how formidable a barrier it was to foreign invaders. Today, hoards of tourists, foreign and Chinese, test their endurance by climbing from tower to tower. At the bottom, there are thousands waiting to challenge the wall. By the time the farthest tower is a mere speck in the sky, the crowd has dwindled to a trickle.

On our way to the Great Wall, we had stopped to visit the Jade factory and it was late afternoon before we returned to our hotel. A quick shower and change of clothes and we were off to our Beijing Duck dinner. That was a tasty treat cooked to crispy perfection.

The next morning started with a visit to the Zoo to see the giant Pandas. They were lounging around their large enclosure munching on a generous supply of bamboo stalks. I certainly have never seen so many adorable pandas in one place.

Next, was the summer Palace with its sprawling encampment of temples, pavilions and the astonishing marble boat. The boat, of course, did not float, but it is another beautiful and enduring reminder of the extravagance of the early Dynasties. Beijing had been delightful, but now we were off on an afternoon flight to Xian where we were all looking forward to seeing China’s greatest archeological discovery- The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses which silently guarded the tomb of China’s First Emperor for over 2,200 years.

Discovered in 1974 by a farmer digging a well, the extensive excavation has yielded over 6000 life-sized terra cotta warriors. There are many more lying just below the surface, but excavation has been temporarily suspended. The original warriors, when first discovered, contained traces of color which faded rapidly once they were exposed to the air. The Chinese have wisely decided to let the remaining warriors rest in their original graves until technology improves enough to enable them to preserve the color. The entire area was an awesome sight and one we will not soon forget.

The afternoon and evening promised more adventures. We walked through the Muslim area with its 7th century Great Mosque which is the center of activity for the surrounding Muslim area. The bustling bazaar area was a great place to shop and it was with reluctance that most of us left to prepare for our gala evening. We were scheduled to attend a dim sum banquet followed by a fascinating Tang Dynasty stage show. Our seats were front and center and it was truly a memorable extravaganza of color and whirling motion.

The next morning, after a leisurely tour of the Wild Goose Pagoda, we left for Guilin and a memorable cruise on the Li River. Guilin, with its picturesque karst limestone pinnacles and the meandering Li River is a place of incredible natural beauty. An old Chinese saying describes Guilin’s landscapes as “the best scenery under heaven”. Its misty limestone peaks rise as suddenly from the earth as trees in a forest.

Our first adventure in Guilin and probably the highlight of the entire trip was an off-the-beaten-track visit to the Long Sheng Dragon Spine Rice Terraces. This memorable journey is rarely included in the conventional itinerary of most tour companies. Over the centuries, the Yao minority people have sculpted the 2000 feet peaks with rice terraces that are the most astounding in Asia. We climbed slowly and steadily for over an hour through villages where life has remained unchanged for thousands of years. It was not an easy climb, but looking out over the shimmering fields of golden rice in the early fall, was the reward that made the climbing seem almost easy. I was very impressed by one innovation of the local people. At the foot of the mountain, looking up at what was undeniably a rather arduous up-hill trek, were a strong-looking group of locals ready to shoulder ornate sedan chairs and transport those not able to make the journey on their own. For approximately $40, those who were not otherwise able to experience this incredible sojourn, were able to sit back and enjoy the ride. I asked Bob, one of our group, to describe his ascent and he said, "bumpy, fast and not entirely comfortable, but he made it to the top and back down again." On his own, he would not have been able to enjoy this incredible excursion.

The next day was both incredibly beautiful and relaxing. We drove through the lush green fields and rice paddies to a small village where we embarked upon our 52-mile Li River Cruise. The scenery was reminiscent of classical Chinese landscapes- bamboo groves, sleepy villages, fishermen on bamboo rafts, cormorants, water buffalo, soaring karst pinnacles and mist shrouded peaks. It was a day for cameras as we all tried to record the enthrall beauty of the area.

In the late afternoon we descended into the subterranean wonder of the Reed Flute Cave.
The imaginative natural arrangement of stalactites and stalagmites was subtly lit by colored lights, while background music set the mood. This lovely cave could compete with any I have seen throughout the world.

Early in the morning we flew to Shanghai, where we would conclude our trip. But first, we would visit the 2,500-year old water city of Suzhou, which is often referred to as the “Venice of the East. In 1997 Suzhou was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its traditional gardens, ancient canals and silk worm production. Another unique water village, Tongli, was next on our schedule. We took a leisurely ride on a gondola where we viewed the once lavish Ming style homes and storefronts.

While in Suzhou we also visited the Silk Spinning Mill, where we learned the story of silk and saw the beautiful finished products. Marco Polo once reported that so much precious silk was produced in Suzhou that every citizen was clothed in it.

Our first surprise upon reaching Shanghai was the ultra-modern glass skyscraper that was our hotel. We truly felt like royalty. I think we were all a little pleased that we would have a day of leisure in Shanghai so we could enjoy our luxurious palace.

Three more excursions awaited us. A trip to the three story, architecturally inspiring Shanghai Museum which houses 120,000 Chinese relics took up the entire morning. The time allotted for this excursion was still not enough and we were encouraged to return the next day. In the afternoon we enjoyed a stunning view of Shanghai from the 88th floor of the Jinmao Tower, one of the tallest buildings in China. Shanghai is an amazing city that, when viewed from above, appears to be mile after mile of towering buildings. And statistics show that the city is still growing. I found the entire scene to be pretty awesome.

The evening was reserved for an unforgettable performance of the Shanghai Acrobats. Their feats of agility and balance were beyond description.

Our final day in Shanghai allowed us to get a little closer look at this modernistic city. The Oriental Pearl TV Tower is a decorative landmark visible throughout most of the city. Strolling along the Bund, the elegant riverside promenade gave us some idea of the affluence and cosmopolitan air of the city. The Old Shanghai Bazaar, with its maze of stalls offering bargains in local crafts and knock-offs, was filled with Chinese as well as tourists.

China Spree had more than fulfilled its promise to provide us with an introduction to China and its people. We had been plied with an array of the best in traditional Chinese foods-dim sum, dumplings, Crispy Beijing Duck, Mongolian BBQ and home-made noodles.

Our hotels more than met our expectations. The new Beijing Joy City, located in the heart of the shopping district was elegant and convenient. Our final stop in Shanghai, at the,5-star Shanghai Skyway Landis Hotel, was pure luxury.

Tour guides, can make or break a trip, and ours were the best. Lynn, our national guide who stayed with us throughout the trip, was particularly personable and knowledgeable. She made us laugh, she solved our problems and most of all, we came to consider her our friend.

China Spree provided us with an introduction to China and its people. We had sampled the history, met the people and were in general awed by the immensity and beauty of the country. Thank you China Spree.