Itinerary for Trip to China

If you’re wondering what we’re doing in China for three weeks, here’s our itinerary.  China is 14 hours ahead of the Midwest and the dates and times I list are based on local time.  

Day 1 (Wednesday, January 21): Depart Minneapolis-St. Paul to Seattle.  Two-and-a-half-hour layover before boarding a 12-hour flight to Beijing

Day 2: (Thursday, January 22): Arrive in Beijing at 8:00 p.m. 

Day 3: (Friday, January 23): Visit the Great Wall

Day 4: (Saturday, January 24): Sightseeing in Beijing

Day 5 (Sunday, January 25): Morning flight to Hefei, Anhui, the capital of the province Matt is   from.  Meet guide in the afternoon to prepare adoption paperwork

Day 6 (Monday, January 26):  We will finally meet Matt.  

Day 7 (Tuesday, January 27): Finalize Matt’s adoption with the Chinese government

Day 8 (Wednesday, January 28): Apply for Matt’s Chinese passport and sightseeing day

Day 9 (Thursday, January 29): Sightseeing day

Day 10 (Friday, January 30): Pick up Matt’s Chinese passport

Day 11 (Saturday, January 31): Fly with Matt to Guangzhou, Guangdong, the capital of the province Kiera is from.  Guangzhou happens to be the location of the U.S. Consulate where the United States finalizes adoptions from China.

Day 12 (Sunday, February 1): Meet with guide to prepare adoption paperwork

Day 13 (Monday, February 2): We meet Kiera for the first time.

Day 14 (Tuesday, February 3): Finalize Kiera’s adoption with the Chinese government

Day 15 (Wednesday, February 4): Apply for Kiera’s Chinese passport and sightseeing day

Day 16 (Thursday, February 5): Take children’s Visa photos, and do medical examination and TB test.

Day 17 (Friday, February 6): Sightseeing day

Day 18 (Saturday, February 7): Check results of TB test

Day 19 (Sunday, February 8): Sightseeing day

Day 20 (Monday, February 9): Pick up Kiera’s Chinese passport

Day 21 (Tuesday, February 10): Consulate appointment where adoption is finalized with the American government

Day 22 (Wednesday, February 11): Receive childrens’ U.S. visas and board train to Hong Kong

Day 23 (Thursday, February 12): Fly from Hong Kong to Seattle.  The kids automatically become American citizens when we pass through customs in Seattle.  After a four-and-a-half-hour layover, board flight for Minneapolis.  We land at 6:20 p.m.  Home!