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var kungfutour='<table width="60%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="center"><tr><td width="100" align="center"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="beijingkungfutour()" onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);"><img src="image-files/beijing-link.jpg" width="90" height="90" border="0" alt="Beijing" align="center"><br>Beijing</a></td><td width="10">&rarr;</td><td width="100" align="center"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="xiankungfutour()" onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);"><img src="image-files/xian-link.jpg" width="90" height="90" border="0" alt="Xian" align="center"><br>Xian</a></td><td width="10" valign="middle" align="center">&rarr;</td><td width="100" align="center"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="luoyangkungfutour()" onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);"><img src="image-files/luoyang-link.jpg" width="90" height="90" border="0" alt="Luoyang, China" align="center"><br>Luoyang</a></td><td width="10" valign="middle" align="center">&rarr;</td></tr><tr><td colspan="6" style="line-height:10px;">&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td width="100" align="center"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="yangshuokungfutour()" onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);"><img src="image-files/yangshuo-link.jpg" width="90" height="90" border="0" alt="Yangshuo, China" align="center"><br>Yangshuo</a></td><td width="10" valign="middle" align="center">&rarr;</td><td width="100" align="center"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="shanghaikungfutour()" onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);"><img src="image-files/shanghai-link.jpg" width="90" height="90" border="0" alt="Shanghai" align="center"><br>Shanghai</a></td></tr>';

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function introkungfutour()	{
overlib(menu+'<h2>The Echo Kung Fu Tour</h2><br><h3>Mystery, Discipline, Art in Motion...<span style=color:black;> And Much More!</span></h3>Chinese Kung Fu is a priceless treasure that belongs not only to China but to the world.&nbsp; You visit the cradle of Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu - the Shaolin Temple to explore the evolution of Shoalin Kung Fu and the great impact it has had on people\'s lives in ancient times and today.<br><Br>See power and grace combined in a demonstration of the art of Shaolin Kung Fu by a Shaolin Master.&nbsp; Be transported to the mysterious world of this ancient art to experience for yourself what has inspired the great action heroes of today\'s movies.<br><br>Destinations on the Kung Fu Tour include:<br><br>'+kungfutour+'<tr><td colspan="9" style="font-size:8pt;text-align:center;padding-top:12px;padding-bottom:12px;">Click a Kung Fu Tour Destination to View Details</td></tr></table><hr>'+packagetourinquiry+'<hr>'+viewanothertour+'<hr>'+citiestour+'<hr>'+buildcustomtour+'<hr>'+footer, STICKY, RIGHT, RELX, 12, FIXY, 32, WIDTH, 225, CELLPAD, 0, BORDER, 0, FOLLOWMOUSE, FGCOLOR, '#710A0B');
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function beijingkungfutour()	{
overlib(menu+'<h2><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="introbuddhatour()"  onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);">The Echo Kung Fu Tour</a> - Destination 1</h2><br><h3>Beijing...<span style=color:black;> Tradition, Beauty, Promise</span></h3>China\'s capital city eagerly awaits your visit!&nbsp; Locations below are available in our different package tours but can also be included in a custom upon request.<hR><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Heaven target=_blank><b>Day 1 am:&nbsp; Temple of Heaven</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right><img src=image-files/temple-of-heaven-beijing-china.jpg width=200 height=193 border=0 alt=Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China></td></tr></table>The Temple of Heaven, at three times the area of the Forbidden City, is China\'s largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings.&nbsp; It was built in 1420 for emperors to worship Heaven.&nbsp; The principle buildings include the Altar of Prayer for Good Harvests, Imperial Vault of Heaven and Circular Mound Altar.<br><br>The Altar of Prayer for Good Harvest stands on a round foundation built with three levels of marble stones.&nbsp; This towering triple-eave hall is under a three-story, cone-shaped glaze-tile roof in blue color crowned with a gilded knob.&nbsp; A circular wall of polished bricks known as the Echo Wall encloses the Imperial Vault of Heaven.<br><Br><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yonghe_Temple target=_blank><b>Day 1 pm:&nbsp; Yonghegong Lama Temple</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right><img src=image-files/yonghegong-lama-temple-beijing-china.jpg width=200 height=150 border=0 alt=Yonghegong Lama Temple, Beijing, China></td></tr></table>Historically, the Yonghegong Lama Temple was a residence for Emperors Yongzheng and Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty.&nbsp; It was built in the 33rd year of Kangxi\'s reign (1694) and was changed into a Emperor\'s palace in the 3rd year of Yongzheng\'s reign (1725). In the 9th year of Qianlong\'s reign (1744), it became a temple of the Lama Buddhist sect.<br><Br>The Yonghegong Lama Temple was made up of three exquisite arches, the Yonghe Door, the Yonghegong Hall, Yongyou Hall, Falun Hall, Wanfu Hall, and the Neicheng Hall. It also has the East and West side halls, the \'Four Halls of Scholarship\' (Medicine Hall, Mathematics Hall, Mizong Buddhist Sect Hall, and Scripture Recital Hall) as well as two display rooms for relics.<br><Br><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_Ancient_Observatory target=_blank><b>Day 1 pm:&nbsp; Ancient Observatory</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right><img src=image-files/ancient-observatory-beijing-china.jpg width=200 height=102 border=0 alt=Ancient Observatory Beijing, China></td></tr></table>A passer-by strolling east of Tiananmen Square in the middle of Beijing will be surprised to see an ancient observatory high up on the top of a fort-like building at Jianguo Gate.<br><bR>On entering the unassuming entrance of the observatory compound (built in 1422), one can see various sea-faring instruments at the courtyard.&nbsp; One then enters a two story museum which is a collection of pictures, write-ups and busts to show the ancient Chinese scientists and their various astronomical achievements.&nbsp; An impressive replica of a Ming Dynasty gold foil map of the constellations can be seen in the museum.<hr><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingshan target=_blank><b>Day 2 am:&nbsp; Jingshan Park</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right><img src=image-files/jingshan-park-beijing-china.jpg width=200 height=102 border=0 alt=Jingshan Park, Beijing, China></td></tr></table>There\'s no better place for a clear aerial view of the Forbidden City than from Jingshan Park.&nbsp; The park\'s central hill was created using earth left over from the digging of the imperial moat and was the highest point in the city during the Ming dynasty.<br><bR>It was designed to enhance the fengshui of the Forbidden City, by blocking the harsh northern wind and by burying a Mongol Yuan dynasty pavilion, the Yanchun Ge.&nbsp; A tree on the east side of the hill marks the spot where the last Ming emperor, Chongzhen, supposedly hanged himself in 1644, just before Manchu and rebel armies overran the city.<br><Br><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City target=_blank><b>Day 2 pm:&nbsp; Forbidden City</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right><img src=image-files/forbidden-city-beijing-china.jpg width=200 height=139 border=0 alt=Forbidden City, Beijing, China></td></tr></table>Lying at the center of Beijing, the Forbidden City (Gu Gong in Mandarin Chinese) was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties.&nbsp;  Now known as the Palace Museum, it is to the north of Tiananmen Square.<br><br>Rectangular in shape, it is the world\'s largest palace complex.&nbsp; Surrounded by a seven foot deep moat and a 12 foot high wall are 9,999 buildings.&nbsp; The wall has a gate on each side.&nbsp; Opposite the Tiananmen Gate and to the north is the Gate of Devine Might (Shenwumen), which faces Jingshan Park.&nbsp; There are unique and delicately structured towers on each of the four corners of the curtain wall that afford breathtaking views over both the palace and the city outside.<Br><br><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_variety_art target=_blank><b>Day 2 eve:&nbsp; Acrobats Show</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right><img src=image-files/acrobats-beijing-china.jpg width=200 height=211 border=0 alt=Acrobats Show, Beijing, China></td></tr></table>Acrobatics is an interactive art form.&nbsp; Admirers from all walks of life can immediately appreciate and be dazzled by acrobats as it is a specialty  no language barrier or cultural border.<br><br>The history of acrobatics in China can be traced back to Neolithic times.&nbsp; It is believed that acrobatics grew out of the labor and self-defense skills that the people practiced and demonstrated during their leisure time.<Br><Br>A professional acrobatic program requires significant preparation time before it is ready to be performed in public.&nbsp; Acrobatic art has its own genre.&nbsp; The performance itself is very depictive and requires very specific lighting and musical accompaniment.<br><br>You will find the acrobats show an excellent way to finish off your second day in Beijing.<hr><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloisonne target=_blank><b>Day 3 am:&nbsp; Cloisonné Factory</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right><img src=image-files/cloisonne-factory-beijing-china.jpg width=200 height=166 border=0 alt=Cloisonné Factory, Beijing, China></td></tr></table>Cloisonné is a unique combination of copper and porcelain working skills, traditional painting, sculpting, and etching skills.&nbsp; Originating in Beijing during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), cloisonné is an intricate process requiring many years of training for an artisan to master.<br><br>Over the centuries, a great variety of beautiful and creative cloisonne have been created.&nbsp; They are brilliant in color and splendid in design. Cloisonne is one of the defining arts and crafts of Beijing. <Br><Br>See for yourself the ancient art of cloisonne at one of the original creation sites.<br><Br><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Wall_of_China target=_blank><b>Day 3 pm:&nbsp; The Great Wall</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right><img src=image-files/great-wall-beijing-china.jpg width=200 height=132 border=0 alt=Great Wall, Beijing, China></td></tr></table>The Great Wall of China is acknowledged as one of the greatest wonders of the world.&nbsp; Like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, stretching approximately 6,700 kilometers (4,163 miles) from east to west of China.<br><br>With a history of more than 2000 years, some of the sections of the great wall are now in ruins or even entirely disappeared. However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance.<Br><br><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_martial_arts target=_blank><b>Day 3 eve:&nbsp; Kung Fu Show</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right><img src=image-files/kungfu-beijing-china.jpg width=200 height=209 border=0 alt=Kung Fu Show, Beijing, China></td></tr></table>Kung Fu is one of the most well known features of traditional Chinese culture.&nbsp; Kung Fu has been developed for self-protection and survival.&nbsp; Over its long history, it has become a unique combination of exercise, practical self-defense, self-discipline and art.&nbsp; The form was popularized in the West by the Chinese Kung Fu actors Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.<br><br>The skills of Chinese Kung Fu consist of various forms of fighting: fist fights (e.g. long fist, southern fist), weapon fights (e.g. lance, staff, rapier, the rope dart), and other fighting routines (including kicking, hitting, throwing, holding, chopping and thrusting) and unarmed combat.&nbsp; Chinese Kung Fu contains many different styles including the well-known Shaolin Temple System.<br><br>Our Kung Fu show will amaze you with feats physical and mental prowess.&nbsp; This is a performance you will remember for years to come.<hr><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutong target=_blank><b>Day 4 am:&nbsp; Hutong Tour via Riskshaw</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right><img src=image-files/hutong.jpg width=200 height=134 border=0 alt=Hutong, Beijing, China></td></tr></table>People say the real culture of Beijing lies in the Hutong or, culture of the courtyard.<br><Br>How true that is, for it is from within the Hutongs that every day Chinese culture originates.&nbsp; A Hutong is a typical lane or small street in Beijing dating back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).&nbsp; In many cases, Hutongs were formed when people left a passageway between two courtyards to make entering them more convenient.<br><Br>Hutong is a Mongolian word that means water \'well\'.&nbsp; Historically, towns and cities grew around the area where water wells were dug, making the wells the center of the community.&nbsp; There are literally tens of thousands of hutongs throughout Beijing, especially around The Forbidden City. <bR><br>Hutongs and similar courtyards reflect the ritualistic and traditional ideas of China, and contain rich cultural connotations. They are the archetypes of the royal architecture.<hr>'+packagetourinquiry+'<hr><ul><li><b style="color:#660505;">View Another <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="introkungfutour()" onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);">Echo Kung Fu Tour</a> Destination:</b></ul>'+kungfutour+'</table><hr>'+viewanothertour+'<hr>'+citiestour+'<hr>'+buildcustomtour+'<hr>'+footer, STICKY, RIGHT, RELX, 12, FIXY, 32, WIDTH, 220, CELLPAD, 0, BORDER, 0, FOLLOWMOUSE, FGCOLOR, '#710A0B');
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function xiankungfutour()	{
overlib(menu+'<h2><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="introkungfutour()"  onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);">The Echo Kung Fu Tour</a> - Destination 2</h2><br><h3>Xian...<span style=color:black;> The Eternal City</span></h3>Xian stands as a living history book of the great changes of the Chinese nation.&nbsp; Called Chang\'an in ancient times, Xian is one of the birthplaces of the ancient civilization in the Yellow River Basin area of the country.&nbsp; During Xian\'s 3,100 year development, 13 dynasties such as Western Zhou (11th century BC - 771 BC), Qin (221 BC - 206 BC), Western Han (206 BC - 24 AD) and Tang (618 - 907) placed their capitals here.<hR><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terracotta_Army target=_blank><b>Day 5 pm:&nbsp; Terra Cotta Warrior Site</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/terracotta-warrior-xian-china.jpg width=200 height=160 border=0 alt=Terra Cotta Warriors, Xian, China></td></tr></table>The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century.&nbsp; It is a sight not to be missed by any visitor to China.<br><br>Life size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations are the star features at the museum.&nbsp; They are replicas of what the imperial guards looked like back in the days of pomp and vigor.<br><Br>Altogether over 7,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots, and even weapons have been unearthed from these pits.&nbsp; Most of them have been restored to their former grandeur.<hr><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_wall_of_Xi\'an target=_blank><b>Day 6 am:&nbsp; Ancient City Wall</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/ancient-city-wall-xian-china.jpg width=200 height=158 border=0 alt=Ancient City Wall, Xian, China></td></tr></table>The Xian City Wall is not only the most completely well preserved example of ancient Chinese architecture but also the largest and most integral ancient military fort in the world.<br><br>The wall was constructed in the early Ming Dynasty on the basis of the Imperial City of Chang An (Everlasting Peace) of the Tang Dynasty.&nbsp; It is also a symbol of great significance of the famous historic cultural city of Xian.<br><br>As old as it is, the Xian Wall has been preserved intact.&nbsp; The construction of the Xian City was formally started in the seventh year of Emperor Hongwu\'s reign (1374) and completed in the eleventh year of Hongwu\'s reign (1378).<br><Br><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui target=_blank><b>Day 6 am:&nbsp; Feng Shui Symposium</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/fengshui-xian-china.jpg width=200 height=166 border=0 alt=Feng Shuiu, Xian, China></td></tr></table>Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement that creates harmony and prosperity in our lives.&nbsp; If you have walked into a home or a place of business and instantly felt at ease, chances are you have experienced good Feng Shui.&nbsp; If you couldn\'t get out of a store or office fast enough, you may have been in an establishment that didn\'t have good Feng Shui.<br><br>For over four thousand years, Feng Shui practitioners have balanced the relationship between the natural world and our dwelling spaces.&nbsp; While it began as a method for choosing auspicious land for optimum survival, Feng Shui is recognized today as an effective method for helping us function in our complex, modern societies.<br><br>The Chinese Feng Shui character literally means \'wind and water\'. This represents a natural balance of opposite forces such as the familiar yin yang.<br><Br><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huashan target=_blank><b>Day 6 pm:&nbsp; Mt. Huashan</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/mt-huashan-xian-china.jpg width=200 height=150 border=0 alt=Mt. Huashan, Near Xian, China></td></tr></table>Situated roughly 75 miles east of Xian, Mt. Huashan is known as \'The Number One Precipitous Mountain Under Heaven\'.&nbsp; It is one of the five sacred mountains in China which include Mt. Taishan in Shandong, Mt. Hengshan in Hunan, Mt. Hengshan in Shanxi, and Mt. Songshan in Henan.<Br><br>In ancient times, Mt. Huashan was called Mt. Taihuashan.&nbsp; From a distance the five peaks seem to form the shape of a \'flower\' (hua in Chinese), hence the name \'Huashan\'.&nbsp; It is famous for its natural vistas of steep and narrow paths, precipitous crags, and a high mountain range.&nbsp; It is home to several influential Taoist temples where emperors of past dynasties made pilgrimages, making Mt. Huashan the holy land of Taoism.<hr>'+packagetourinquiry+'<hr><ul><li><b style="color:#660505;">View Another <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="introkungfutour()" onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);">Echo Kung Fu Tour</a> Destination:</b></ul>'+kungfutour+'</table><hr>'+viewanothertour+'<hr>'+citiestour+'<hr>'+buildcustomtour+'<hr>'+footer, STICKY, RIGHT, RELX, 12, FIXY, 32, WIDTH, 220, CELLPAD, 0, BORDER, 0, FOLLOWMOUSE, FGCOLOR, '#710A0B');
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function luoyangkungfutour()	{
overlib(menu+'<h2><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="introkungfutour()"  onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);">The Echo Kung Fu Tour</a> - Destination 3</h2><br><h3>Luoyang...<span style=color:black;> Cradle of Chinese Civilization</span></h3>The city of Luoyang enjoys a pre-eminent reputation as a cradle of Chinese civilization.&nbsp; For over 4,000 years, it served as the capital city of thirteen different Chinese kingdoms including the first, the Xia Dynasty (21st-16th century B.C.).&nbsp; Luoyang is endowed with countless historical sites and cultural treasures.<br><br>Shaolin Temple, on the slopes of Mt. Songshan between Luoyang and Zhengzhou, is renowned for its Shaolin martial arts that are so popular in China and the rest of the world. Built in the year 495, the temple preserves its original palaces, mural paintings and stone inscriptions.<hr><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaolin_Monastery target=_blank><b>Day 7 am/pm:&nbsp; Shaolin Temple & Kung Fu Show</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/shaolin-temple-luoyang-china.jpg width=200 height=168 border=0 alt=Shaolin Temple, Luoyang, China></td></tr></table>The Shaolin temple has many legends and mysteries surrounding it.&nbsp; The origin of martial arts, the origin of Kung Fu surround the vague mysteries of the Shaolin Temple and the shaolin monks.<br><br>Shaolin Temple is probably the most famous temple in China, not only because of its long history and its role in Chinese Buddhism, Shaolin Temple Pagoda but also because of its martial arts.<br><br>Shaolin Temple is situated in the beautiful Songshan Mountains, which is only eight miles of Dengfeng and about 50 miles southwest of Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province.<br><br>There are many noted relics at Shaolin.&nbsp; There are over 300 ancient stone inscriptions, some of them by famous calligraphers.&nbsp; The large mural of 500 arhats in the Qianfo Hall was from the Ming Dynasty.&nbsp; There are 232 pagodas from different dynasties, known as the forest of pagodas. The oldest one was from the Tang Dynasty.&nbsp; The pagodas are the tombs of the celebrated Shaolin monks.&nbsp; The Shaolin martial arts are an important part of the relics.<hr>'+packagetourinquiry+'<hr><ul><li><b style="color:#660505;">View Another <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="introkungfutour()" onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);">Echo Kung Fu Tour</a> Destination:</b></ul>'+kungfutour+'</table><hr>'+viewanothertour+'<hr>'+citiestour+'<hr>'+buildcustomtour+'<hr>'+footer, STICKY, RIGHT, RELX, 12, FIXY, 32, WIDTH, 220, CELLPAD, 0, BORDER, 0, FOLLOWMOUSE, FGCOLOR, '#710A0B');
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function yangshuokungfutour()	{
overlib(menu+'<h2><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="introkungfutour()"  onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);">The Echo Kung Fu Tour</a> - Destination 4</h2><br><h3>Yangshuo...<span style=color:black;> Land of Peaks and Rivers</span></h3>Yangshuo lies in the northeast of Guangxi Province and to the southeast of Guilin City.&nbsp; The special geography gives it breath-taking beauty while over 1,400 years of history bless it with a deep traditional culture.&nbsp; The diverse ethnic minority groups including Hui, Zhuang, Yao and others, enrich it with special folk cultures represented by their various festivals while many foreign residents add exotic flavors to its fascination.<br><Br>Streets in Yangshuo are well kept in the original style, presenting the simple and primitive atmosphere of the ancient town.&nbsp; West Street is the most exciting one that locals call the \'Global Village\'.&nbsp; There are quite a number of foreign residents managing cafés and restaurants.&nbsp; The exotic flavor, combined with the traditional culture, make the West Street world famous.<hr><b>Day 8 pm:&nbsp; Bike Along the Yulong River</b><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/yulong-river-yangshuo-china.gif width=200 height=137 border=0 alt=Yulong River, Yangshuo, China></td></tr></table>A major tributary of the Li River, the Yulong River flows through some of the most beautiful Karst (limestone) scenery near Yangshuo.&nbsp; Local people use rafts as daily transportation up and down the river between houses, markets, and rice paddies.&nbsp; Some villagers made bigger rafts and started to woo travelers and soon it became a highlight of the tour around Yangshuo.<br><br>Several bike rides and hikes also follow the Yulong river taking in local villages and rice paddies.&nbsp; These can be some of the most memorable days on your China experience.<br><br><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yangshuo" target="_blank"><b>Day 8 pm:&nbsp; Explore the Yangshuo Countryside</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/yangshuo-china.jpg width=200 height=150 border=0 alt=Yangshuo, China></td></tr></table>Crisscrossed with rivers and streams, the Yangshuo area is embraced by the Li and Yulong Rivers on the outskirts while the city is within the arms of the Dragon-head Hill, Duli and other peaks and hills.&nbsp; Yangshou is famous for its many mountains that are an intergral part of the cityscape.&nbsp; They form designs that have been inspirations of writers and artists for centuries.&nbsp; Xu Xiake, a famous traveler of the Ming Dynasty praised Yangshuo as \'A world of green lotuses and jade bamboo-shoots\'.<br><Br>The town\'s well-preserved dwellings, winding cobblestone alleys and narrow streams have made her a Mecca for backpackers in China.&nbsp; Indeed, Yangshuo has a vibe that makes you want to sip tea by a small stream and soak in the sun as you ponder the patina of a stately weathered old house, and catch a fleeting insight into what life must have been like generations ago.<hr><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijiang_River" target="_blank"><b>Day 9 am:&nbsp; Li River Cruise</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/li-river-yangshuo-china.jpg width=200 height=150 border=0 alt=Li River, Yangshuo, China></td></tr></table>The famous Li (also called Lijiang) River traverses the landscape surrounding Yangshuo and brings it the most beautiful scenery.&nbsp; Along the extremely pure river, thousands of hills stand in different poses and with different expressions, such as Moon Hill, Mural Hill and Schoolboy Hill which is the natural stage of the world famous opera \'Impression on Sanjie Liu\'.<Br><br>The Li is cosidered one of Earth\'s most stunningly beautiful journeys.&nbsp; The river has very smooth water which mirrors and creates a fairytale landscape of mountain and hill peaks reaching for the sky.<br><br>The Li River cruise is the centerpiece of any trip to northeastern Guangxi Province.&nbsp; Gorgeous Karst peaks give you surprises at each bend of the limpid river under the blue sky.&nbsp; You will also see water buffalo patrol the fields, peasants reap rice paddies, school kids and fisherman float by on bamboo rafts.<br><br><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_fu" target="_blank"><b>Day 9 pm & Day 10:&nbsp; Visit a Kung Fu School & Learn Tai Chi</b></a><br><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/kungfu-yangshuo-china.jpg width=200 height=185 border=0 alt=Kung Fu and Tai Chi School, Yangshuo, China></td></tr></table>Why just watch when you can learn from the masters?<br><br>Located within easy walking distance of lively Yangshuo, the Yangshao Tai Chi and Kung Fu School is situated in the picturesque tiny and peaceful village of Shi Ban Qiao, one of the many farming villages that surround Yangshuo, a small town by the Li River.<Br><Br>The school welcomes all levels of student, from beginners who would like to experience authentic Tai Chi Chuan, to advanced and professional practitioners.&nbsp; Many students have won national and international competitions in Tai Chi Chuan and Push Hands.&nbsp; These classes combine high standards and discipline with a friendly and supportive atmosphere, making sure all students receive individual attention.&nbsp; Instruction is given in both Chinese and English.<hr>'+packagetourinquiry+'<hr><ul><li><b style="color:#660505;">View Another <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="introkungfutour()" onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);">Echo Kung Fu Tour</a> Destination:</b></ul>'+kungfutour+'</table><hr>'+viewanothertour+'<hr>'+citiestour+'<hr>'+buildcustomtour+'<hr>'+footer, STICKY, RIGHT, RELX, 12, FIXY, 32, WIDTH, 220, CELLPAD, 0, BORDER, 0, FOLLOWMOUSE, FGCOLOR, '#710A0B');
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function suzhoukungfutour()	{
overlib(menu+'<h2><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="introkungfutour()"  onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);">The Echo Kung Fu Tour</a> - Destination 5</h2><br><h3>Suzhou...<span style=color:black;> Land of Beautiful Gardens</span></h3>As the saying goes - \'Gardens to the south of Yangtze River are the best in the world, and Suzhou gardens are the best among them\'.<br><br>These gardens attain their grand reputation not only for their vast numbers, but also for their charming natural beauty and harmonious construction.&nbsp;At present more than 60 gardens are kept intact in Suzhou, and a series of them have been listed in the World Heritage List, including the Humble Administrator\'s Garden, the Lingering Garden, the Garden of Master of Nets and the Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty.<hr><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humble_Administrator\'s_Garden target=_blank><b>Day 12 am:&nbsp; Humble Administrator\'s Garden</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/humble-administrators-garden-suzhou-china.jpg width=200 height=171 border=0 alt=Humble Administrator\'s Garden, Suzhou, China></td></tr></table>The beautiful waterside City of Suzhou in South China is most famous for its elegant classical gardens.&nbsp; Among these, the Humble Administrator\'s Garden, covering almost 13 acres, is the largest and most renowned.&nbsp; Due to its unique designs and ethereal beauty, the garden has garnered many special honors.&nbsp; Along with the Summer Palace in Beijing, the Mountain Resort of Chengde in Hebei Province and the Lingering Garden in Suzhou, it is considered as one of China\'s four most famous gardens.&nbsp; No other classic garden in the country has been honored more than this one.<br><br>The Humble Administrator\'s Garden was originally built in 1509 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).&nbsp; It was initially a private garden of a former government servant named Wang Xianchen.&nbsp; It was said he intended to build a garden after retired and just do some gardening work like planting trees and vegetables there, which was said to be the life of a humble man by him, hence is the name of the garden.&nbsp; The garden was created upon the old relics of a resident and a temple.&nbsp; Water is the main background and its natural landscape includes small forests, hills and rock formations.<br><bR><b>Day 12 pm:&nbsp; Tao Hua Wu Wood Cutting Society</b><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/tao-hua-wu-wood-cutting-suzhou-china.jpg width=200 height=138 border=0 alt=Tao Hua Wu Wood Cutting Society, Suzhou, China></td></tr></table>Since the end of the Ming dynasty and into the Qing dynasty, Suzhou Tao-hua-wu wood-cutting has been recoqnized as one of China\'s finest styles of art.&nbsp; It later had such a great influence upon Japanese engravings that it was named \'the Suzhou Engraving\' by Japanese engraving historians and won international recognition.<br><Br>After the Cultural Revolution in China, Suzhou engraving maintained the excellent work of traditional woodblock prints and introduced contemporary styles depicting the landscapes of the South Yangtze River to the world.&nbsp; This style of print has gained recognition both at home and abroad and has been exhibited extensively in England, Canada, Japan, U.S. and other countries.<hr><b>Day 13 am:&nbsp; Choyers Silk Factory</b><br><br><br><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzhou_embroidery target=_blank><b>Day 13 pm:&nbsp; Embroidery Factory</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/embroidery-suzhou-china.jpg width=200 height=155 border=0 alt=Embroidery, Suzhou, China></td></tr></table>Suzhou embroidery is one of the oldest embroidery techniques in the world, with origins stretching back more than 2,000 years.&nbsp; Suzhou embroidery was one of the first embroidery styles to be developed in China, but its detailed needlework and intricate images are still produced today.&nbsp; It is a style characterized by brightly colored silk embroidered with well-proportioned and uncluttered representations of almost any pastoral scene, person, animal, or object.<br><br>  Examples of Suzhou embroidery were so detailed and intricate that many people used the pieces as artwork, and some of the oldest pieces still in existence date back hundreds of years.<br><Br>Suzhou embroidery as a technique has continued to grow and develop.&nbsp; In the years since its first appearance, many crafting schools have taught the technique, and an entire industry has developed to produce Suzhou embroidery pieces for sale both in China and on world markets.&nbsp; However, Suzhou embroidery is not just a commercial enterprise; master Suzhou embroiderers have practiced their craft for hundreds of years, creating some of the most detailed and beautiful pieces.<hr>'+packagetourinquiry+'<hr><ul><li><b style="color:#660505;">View Another <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="introkungfutour()" onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);">Echo Kung Fu Tour</a> Destination:</b></ul>'+kungfutour+'</table><hr>'+viewanothertour+'<hr>'+citiestour+'<hr>'+buildcustomtour+'<hr>'+footer, STICKY, RIGHT, RELX, 12, FIXY, 32, WIDTH, 220, CELLPAD, 0, BORDER, 0, FOLLOWMOUSE, FGCOLOR, '#710A0B');
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function shanghaikungfutour()	{
overlib(menu+'<h2><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="introkungfutour()"  onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);">The Echo Kung Fu Tour</a> - Destination 5</h2><br><h3>Shanghai...<span style=color:black;> Where Old World Meets New</span></h3>Today\'s Shanghai is a multi-cultural metropolis with both modern and traditional Chinese features.&nbsp; Bubbling Shanghai shows off every aspect of her unique glamour.<br><br>Shanghai is a scintillating city swirling with rapid cultural change.&nbsp; Since market restrictions were lifted, it has embraced the forces of business and design and rewritten its rule book shaping a fresh, new city that is sophisticated, innovative and living a life it has never lived before.<br><br>A wide variety of cuisines can be found in the city and today Shanghai offers a plethora of culinary delights focusing on the traditions of Beijing, Yangzhou, Sichuan, Guangzhou as well as its own local dishes.&nbsp; Shanghai\'s restaurants are among the finest to be found in China and they welcome diners from anywhere at any time.<hr><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuyuan_Garden target=_blank><b>Day 11 am:&nbsp; Visit Yuyuan Garden</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/yuyuan-garden-shanghai-china.jpg width=200 height=150 border=0 alt=Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai, China></td></tr></table>Yuyuan Garden is a famous classical garden located in Anren Jie, Shanghai.&nbsp; The garden was finished in 1577 by a government officer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) named Pan Yunduan.&nbsp; Yu in Chinese means pleasing and satisfying, and this garden was specially built for Pan\'s parents as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age.<br><br>In the 400 years of its existence, Yuyuan Garden has undergone many changes.&nbsp; During the late Ming Dynasty, it became very dilapidated with the decline of Pan\'s family.&nbsp; In 1760, some rich merchants bought Yuyuan Garden and spent more than 20 years reconstructing the buildings.&nbsp; The Yuyuan Garden you see today is the result of a five year restoration project which began in 1956.&nbsp; The garden was open to the public in September, 1961.<br><br><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai target=_blank><b>Day 11 am:&nbsp; Old Shanghai Neighborhood</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/old-shanghai-china.jpg width=200 height=145 border=0 alt=Old Shanghai, China></td></tr></table>To the casual eye, Shanghai is a city obsessed modernity, from the stark space of People\'s Square to Huaihai Lu, where all the old buildings have been razed to make way for department stores or covered in green glass and converted into boutiques.&nbsp; The sense of timeless and tranquility that can be found in China\'s older and more \'Chinese\' cities seems to be lacking in the midst of Shanghai\'s fast-paced bustle.&nbsp; That is, unless you know where to look.<br><br>Beyond the tourist theme parks of Yuyuan and the \'Shanghai Old Street\' lies a little known treasure trove of living history.&nbsp; In Old Shanghai, as foreign ways and architecture dominated the rest of the city, its \'Chinatown\' was a crowded place of winding streets, vibrant markets, entrenched customs and a lifestyle that remained relatively unaltered despite the rapid pace of change around it.&nbsp; That description still holds true today, and the little back lanes of the Old City remain an intriguing anachronism of the way life was lived a century ago.<br><br><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bund target=_blank><b>Day 11 pm:&nbsp; The Bund</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/bund-shanghai-china.jpg width=200 height=126 border=0 alt=The Bund, Shanghai, China></td></tr></table>The Bund, also called the Zhongshan Road, is a famous waterfront and regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years.&nbsp; It starts from the Baidu Bridge, which is at the connecting point of the Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek, to the East Jinling Road and winds less than one mile in length.&nbsp; Walking along the Bund, which is at the west shore of the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower can be seen on the opposite side and also the Jin Mao Tower.&nbsp; Being one of the Top Ten Shanghai attractions, the Bund is a really beautiful and special place which is worth visiting.<br><br>The most famous and attractive sites are the 52 various buildings of different architectural styles including Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Classicism and the Renaissance.&nbsp; The Bund was the centre of Shanghai\'s politics, economy and culture hundreds of years ago, consulates of most countries and many banks, businesses and newspaper offices were settled there.<hr><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jin_Mao_Building target=_blank><b>Day 12:&nbsp; Jin Mao Tower</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/jin-mao-tower-shanghai-china.jpg width=200 height=271 border=0 alt=Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai, China></td></tr></table>Being the third tallest building of the world and the tallest building in China, Jin Mao Tower is located in the center of Lujiazui Finance and Trade Districts in Pudong.<br><br>The 88-stories Jin Mao Tower was completed in 1999.&nbsp; It is almost 1,380 feet tall and covers an area of almost 6 acres.<br><br>Jin Mao includes modern offices, a deluxe 5-star hotel, exhibition halls, banquet halls, an observation deck, and entertainment facilities.<br><br>The tower has the best elevators available.&nbsp; Two direct elevators operate at the speed of nearly 30 feet per second that can send visitors from the ground floor to the 88th floor for only 45 seconds.&nbsp; There are also five to six elevators every 10 floors, which reduce waiting-time to 35 seconds even during busy times.<br><br><a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concessions_in_China target=_blank><b>Day 12:&nbsp; French Concession</b></a><br><table width=210 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0 align=right><tr><td align=right style=padding-bottom:8px;><img src=image-files/french-concession-shanghai-china.jpg width=200 height=159 border=0 alt=French Concession, Shanghai, China></td></tr></table>The French Concession was founded in 1862 in southwest Shanghai as a result of the Treaty of Nanking.&nbsp; The concession is a pleasant mix of wide tree lined streets and interesting European style architecture.<br><br>The foreign diplomatic quarter, top hotels, great shopping and international restaurants and bars are all found in this area\'s art deco buildings.&nbsp; In the 20s and 30s, the French Concession was famous for its lawlessness and decadence.&nbsp; This spirit of anarchy also attracted political activists and a house in the concession is the Site of the 1st National Congress of the Communist Party.<br><br>Huaihai Road, once known as Avenue Joffre, is one of Shanghai\'s favorite shopping roads.&nbsp; Chic shops housed in French style buildings sell Shanghai\'s finest goods, designer clothes and much more.<hr>'+packagetourinquiry+'<hr><ul><li><b style="color:#660505;">View Another <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="introkungfutour()" onmouseover="javascript:void(0);" onmouseout="javascript:void(0);">Echo Kung Fu Tour</a> Destination:</b></ul>'+kungfutour+'</table><hr>'+viewanothertour+'<hr>'+citiestour+'<hr>'+buildcustomtour+'<hr>'+footer, STICKY, RIGHT, RELX, 12, FIXY, 32, WIDTH, 220, CELLPAD, 0, BORDER, 0, FOLLOWMOUSE, FGCOLOR, '#710A0B');
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