Tentative itinerary for sightseeing portion of our trip

Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Beijing in a.m., meet the local guide and transfer to Novotel Peace Hotel, relax in hotel, the rest of time free to adjust the jetlag, lunch and dinner tba Day 2: Breakfast at the hotel Shopping, Hongqiao Market, silk market Beijing rickshaw tour Lunch in a Sichuan Food restaurant Dinner tba Day 3: Breakfast at the hotel Visit Tiananmen Square — fly kites if weather permits Lunch at local restaurant near Tiananmen Square Relax at hotel Visit Forbidden City Dinner eat Ethnic Uighur food Day 4: Breakfast at the hotel drive to Great Wall (Mutianyu section) Lunch at local restaurant near Great Wall Relax at hotel Peking duck dinner at fancy restaurant (possibly Qianmen Quanjude Restaurant) Martial arts show Day 5: Shopping in modern district of city, Wangfujing Walking Street Lunch at the local restaurant Afternoon free Dinner tba Day 6 Breakfast at the hotel Free day Lunch and dinner tba Day 7Breakfast at the hotel, Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Guilin, upon arrival, meet the local guide and transfer to the Bravo Hotel, lunch and dinner tba Day 8: Breakfast at the hotel, Embark on Li River cruise to Yangshuo Lunch on board cruise Check in the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat Relax at hotel Dinner at local restaurant Day 9: Breakfast at hotel Day trip to local villages Lunch in village Return to hotel Shopping and dinner local restaurant in Yangshuo West Street Night fishing with local cormorant fisherman if possible Day 10: Breakfast at hotel Nature walk to explore, hike, bike, river raft if water level allows, etc Lunch and dinner tba Day 11: Breakfast at the hotel Free time Lunch and dinner tba Afternoon drive back to Guilin and stay in the Bravo Hotel Day 12: Breakfast at hotel Fly from Guilin to the Nanchang (to get Xiu Dan!)

Beautiful Red

This blog will chronicle the McCollum family's journey to bring home Xiu Dan ("Beautiful Red" in Chinese). We'll have pictures and stories and maybe even movies.