OCDF Panda Hugs Tour

Tour Route: Beijing-Xian-Chengdu-Beijing
emily with panda

Our popular 11-day program focuses on kid-friendly sights, excellent hotels, special meals included plus some "meals on your own" for family time, optional evening entertainment. We have departures throughout the year to fit your family's schedule.

Update: Due to the Sichuan Earthquake of 2008, we expect that 2009 tours will visit the Chengdu Panda Research Center instead of going to the Wolong Nature Reserve as listed. If the roads are rebuilt in time for your tour program and the region is safe to travel to, we will include the Wolong Nature Reserve.

Panda Hugs Itinerary

Day 1

Depart USA from your choice of locations.

Day 2

Arrive in Beijing. Met and transfer to your 4-star hotel. Dinner and Orientation Meeting with OCDF staff.

Day 3

Western buffet breakfast at the hotel 
Panjiayuan Market and Temple of Heaven 

Lunch: On your own near the hotel 
Free Time from noon until 2:30 pm for lunch and relaxation, or even a quick swim for the kids! 

Forbidden City
Dinner: Peking Duck Dinner (informal)

Day 4

Western buffet breakfast at the hotel
Olympic Venues en route to the Summer Palace
Lunch on your own nearby the Summer Palace
Travel to Great Wall at Badaling & Climb the Great Wall
Dinner: Chinese Restaurant
Evening: Peking Acrobats

Day 5

Western buffet breakfast at the hotel
Fly kites in Tiananmen Square
Visit Huiling for Crafts with their residents
Lunch included at Chinese Restaurant
Hutong Tour and Elementary School Visit
Silk Carpet Factory for Weaving Demonstration
Dinner: on your own
Evening: Overnight Train to Xian (an excellent soft sleeper express train)

Day 6

Arrive Xian and transfer to the 4-star hotel for Western buffet breakfast at the hotel
Morning visit to the Muslim Mosque and Market
Lunch included - Xian Jiaozi dumplings
Pagoda and Tang Dynasty Museum with Art Institute's hands-on lessons
Dinner on your own and evening free time

Day 7

Western buffet breakfast at the hotel
Jade Carving Demonstration
Qin Emperor's Terra Cotta Warriors
Noodle lunch included at Terra Cotta Army
Free time to explore Xian
Dinner: Tang Dynasty Dinner Show

Day 8

Western buffet breakfast at the hotel
Fly from Xian to Chengdu and transfer to the 4-star hotel
Lunch included at a local restaurant
Visit Silk Embroidery Institute and Museum
People's Park with Tea House and Garden
Dinner included at a traditional Chinese medicine restaurant
Evening: Optional Foot Massage (approx. $10.00 per person)
Evening: Optional Sichuan Opera (approx. $15.00 per person)

Day 9

Western buffet breakfast at the hotel
Visit to the Chengdu Giant Panda Research Center (once Wolong Nature Reserve is moved and running again, we will visit the Nature Reserve. Due to the earthquake of 2008, they expect 1.5 years before the new center will welcome visitors).
Touch or hug a real panda today!!
Lunch included at local restaurant
Options: Free afternoon or visit to the Sanxingdui Bronze Museum (items unearthed from 4000-7000 years ago! (no additional cost)
Dinner on your own

Day 10

Western buffet breakfast at the hotel
Fly from Chengdu to Beijing (Optional: to your adoption city - we will give you an add-on price quotation separately.)
Arrive in Beijing and transfer to the 4-star hotel with lunch on your own.
Afternoon free time for shopping at Hong Qiao Market
Dinner at the Dai Minority Restaurant

Day 11

Western buffet breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to airport for flight to USA.

Panda Hugs Tours Include: A welcome at the airport and escort to hotel, hotel accommodations, Western buffet breakfast daily, meals as per itinerary, sightseeing and entrance fees, bilingual local guides and escorts, domestic transportation (plane, train, bus), domestic airport tax, domestic travel insurance, children's workbook keyed to itinerary, crafts, child's fee to hold/touch a toddler panda, luggage tags, name tags, and t-shirts.

Tour Features:

Tour costs: please download the 2009 tour pricing schedule (Word).
Tour dates:March, April, May, October, November in 2009 & 2010

RT Airfare from US to China with TravNET: Check with TravNET for current prices by calling 1-800-359- 6388, or email marta.lacour@travnet.net

Chinese Visa Processing Service: www.mychinadocs.com

Questions? Please visit our OCDF China Tours FAQ page, and be sure to download all the information from our Essential Information for OCDF Travelers section (top right-hand side of every Tour page). Many of your answers can be found in those documents. Please feel free to contact the OCDF staff with any questions. We're happy to help!

Brief Background on OCDF China Tours

To asssure you a quality tour program, OCDF directs all tour programs and selects all staff that work with our groups, expatriate and Chinese staff as well as national and local tour guides. OCDF China Tours is the only travel service provider in China with 100% of staff certified in First Aid/CPR. Dr. Jane Liedtke, CEO and Founder of Our Chinese Daughters Foundation lives and works in China. She has organized and led tour groups to China for adoptive families, educators and professional groups with experience in China since 1987. OCDF began Chinese Culture Camps for adoptive families in 1996 and extended them to China in 1998. OCDF was the first organization to offer Chinese Culture programs to adoptive families via tour programs to China. We work extensively with adoptive families and orphanages throughout China to insure your family has the best experience possible upon your return to your adopted child’s birthcountry.

 Our Chinese Daughters Foundation is a non-profit organization in support of adoptive families. In addition to tours, OCDF offers many other services including China for Children Magazine, Orphan Support Projects, Summer Camps, and more!