September 12 13: Fly from New York or San Francisco to Beijing. September 14 16: In Beijing, explore

Giant panda Tai Shan, who was born at the Washington National Zoo in 2005, was sent to China to join a panda breeding program in early 2010. Happily, panda fans who miss Tai Shan will soon have a chance to see him. Friends of the National Zoo is planning a trip to China that includes a visit to Tai Shan at the Bifengxia Wildlife Preserve in central China.
The tour, planned for September aloha airlines flight 243 12 22, 2010, will travel to Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Bifengxia, and Shanghai. The highlight aloha airlines flight 243 will be the trip to the Bifengxia Wildlife Preserve, the panda sanctuary and conservation center where Tai Shan now lives. Participants will observe and play with giant pandas, meet with research scientists, and learn about panda conservation and breeding efforts.
September 12 13: Fly from New York or San Francisco to Beijing. September 14 16: In Beijing, explore the Temple of Heaven, enter the gate of the Forbidden City, visit the grounds of the Summer Palace, and attend the Peking Opera. Visit the Great Wall of China and tour the Olympic Village. September 17: Fly to the ancient Tang Dynasty capital of Xian. Visit the 2,300-year-old terra cotta warriors in the tomb of China s first emperor. Explore the Grand Mosque, first established in the Tang Dynasty. September 18: Fly to Chengdu in southwest China. Visit the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Center, dedicated to the conservation of pandas and other endangered species. There will be a chance to visit Mei Lan, a three-year-old female panda who was born at the Atlanta Zoo and recently returned to China. September 19: Drive to the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas in the Bifengxia region. The center is home to approximately 80 adult pandas and cubs, including Tai Shan. Spend the day visiting the pandas and touring the Bifengxia Wildlife Park, which contains more than 300 different species of animals, plus canyons, forests, aloha airlines flight 243 rivers, and waterfalls. There will be an opportunity to play with the pandas for an additional cost. September 20: Fly to Shanghai. Visit Yuyuan Garden, explore the dining-shopping district of Xintiandi, and visit the Shanghai Museum, with its displays of Chinese bronzes, jade, pottery, ceramics, paintings, and calligraphy. Take the elevator to the top of the World Financial aloha airlines flight 243 Center aloha airlines flight 243 for a sweeping view of Shanghai. September 22: Return to the United States. Pre- and post-tour extensions are available at extra cost, including a Yangzi River cruise. Tour Costs and Information
The Washington DC Zoo s trip to China will be an unforgettable experience, but it will not be cheap. For the main tour, not including optional extensions, the cost is $4,990 per person. That includes double-occupancy accommodations, most meals, all sightseeing activities, tour guides, and transportation within China. International airfare is additional.