Chelsea,
We were in China for 14 days and Japan for 3 (a trip extension). Here's the link to the trip we took which was the Cultural Cities. We later regretted not going on the trip that included the Ygantze (sp?) River.
http://www.gct.com/gcc/general/defau...efrom=&dateto=
I hate to say that I forget which airline we took, but we flew right out of Philadelphia, then to Chicago, then direct to China. Wasn't nearly as bad as I feared. If you look on the GC website, they have a category with each trip that shows you which airlines they use according to your departure airline.
They use good hotels and include several meals. Breakfast is almost always included.
They include many tours and some optionals. It gives you a chance to "catch your breath," if you forgo some of the optional tours. One of the things we really enjoy is trips to people's homes for lunch or dinner. It gives you a chance to see how they live and is usually a great meal.
The beggars around the well-known tourists sights are persistent. When I asked our guide if he could do something about it because my DH was in a wheel chair that day and couldn't get away from them, he said that they don't like to discourage them because at least they're working and trying to make a living. They were always pleasant, if persistent.
It's such a fascinating country. I loved the visits to the schools, too.
Dress on GCT tours is casual. Keeps the packing light.
If you have any specific questions, please ask. If I don't remember, my DH will. Between us, we have a working brain. :-)