Best of China & Yangtze Cruise

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Detailed Itinerary

Please note that the touring sequence may be modified based on the schedules of intra-China flights and other factors beyond our control. Your kind understanding and cooperation is highly appreciated during such situations.

Day 1: Depart USA

• Depart the USA on your flight bound for Shanghai via Beijing

Day 2: Shanghai

3 nights Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden or similar.

• Arrive in Shanghai, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel

Day 3: Shanghai

Breakfast & lunch.

• Morning city tour of Shanghai including Oriental Pearl TV Tower
• See the Shanghai Museum of ancient Chinese art
• After some time for silk shopping, visit the Bund & Xintiandi area
• Enjoy an exciting acrobatic show

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast depart on a full day tour including lunch to some of Shanghai's most fascinating places. Start at the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Later visit the Shanghai Museum of ancient Chinese art, which possesses a collection of 120,000 precious works. Its rich and high-quality collection of ancient Chinese bronze, ceramics, painting and calligraphy is known throughout the world.

After some time for silk shopping, visit the Bund, also called Zhongshan Road, a famous waterfront that has been regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years. You'll also visit the Xintiandi area, famous for its pedestrian shopping streets and trendy restaurants.

Tonight, enjoy an exciting acrobatic show.

Day 4: Shanghai

Breakfast.

• Full day at leisure in Shanghai, or optional excursion to Suzhou

Optional Excursion: Full day Suzhou tour with lunch, $95 (purchased locally). Travel by motor coach to Suzhou, China's well-known "city of gardens". On this full day excursion including lunch, you will visit the Master of Nets Garden, explore a local market, take a ride by rickshaw for a tour of water town, visit a silk factory and embark on a boat ride through Suzhou's lovely canals. Return by motor coach to Shanghai later this evening.

Day 5: Shanghai & Yichang

4 nights Victoria Anna cruise ship. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Visit the Yu Garden and Zhongshan Park
• Afternoon flight to Yichang
• Enjoy an included buffet dinner
• Board your deluxe Yangtze River cruise ship

Full Day Itinerary: This morning, visit the Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden with over 30 pavilions linked by a maze of corridors and bridges over ponds located in the center of the Old Town. See Zhongshan Park, named in honor of Dr Sun Yat-sen. The picturesque and peaceful public park is a relaxing retreat for many residents of Shanghai. It is the perfect place to see people practicing tai chi and the visit is a great opportunity to interact with the locals.

After lunch, transfer to the airport for a short flight to Yichang. Upon arrival, transfer to the city and enjoy an international buffet dinner at a local hotel. Afterwards, board your cruise ship, the Victoria Anna, the Yangtze's largest deluxe river cruiser. Settle into your executive-level superior cabin with outside balcony and enjoy the upgraded executive-level services and amenities that are included.

Day 6: The Three Gorges Dam & Xiling Gorge

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• See the impressive Three Gorges Dam at Sandouping
• Sail through ship locks and the Xiling Gorge

Full Day Itinerary: Before setting sail for the Xiling Gorge, the first of the three famous gorges you'll visit during your cruise, you first have an opportunity to learn about the huge dam project built on the Yangtze River. The Three Gorges Dam at Sandouping is one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken by mankind, and has been a dream for generations. The Chinese Government finally gave its approval to launch the project in 1992, some seventy years after Sun Yat-sen first proposed the idea, and was completed in 2006, and became fully operational in 2011. The dam produces electricity, increases the river's shipping capacity, and reduces the potential for floods downstream by providing flood storage space. Currently the dam has generated enough electricity to cover more than one third of its cost. Return to your river cruiser and begin your sail through ship locks and the Xiling Gorge, longest and historically the most turbulent of the Yangtze gorges. Before the passage was made safe in the 1950s, the whole surface of the water was a swirling mass of whirlpools sucking the froth they created into their centers.' Xiling comprises seven small gorges and two of the fiercest rapids in the stretch of the Yangtze between Chongqing and Yichang.

Day 7: Daning River "Small Gorges," Wu Gorge & Qutang Gorge

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Take an excursion to through the Daning River Small Gorges
• Sail to Wu Gorge, the most beautiful section of the Yangtze
• Continue to Qutang Gorge and the Kui Gate

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, take an excursion to through the Daning River Small Gorges, which are narrower than the Three Gorges, but very impressive.

Depending on weather conditions, Shennon Stream may be substituted. With crystal clear water, this tributary of the Yangtze River flows swiftly from north to south through deep gorges. A sampan tour takes you on an exciting, high speed adventure along this newly opened unspoiled river.

Return to your river cruiser and continue sailing to Wu Gorge, the most beautiful section of the Yangtze River, flanked by high peaks that are often capped by fog or clouds. The steep slopes of the gorge are green with trees and bushes but navigators from times past knew that the lovely scenery hid dangers, including whirlpools, quicksand and rapidly varying currents. Continue sailing to Qutang Gorge, known for its sheer and spectacular precipices and uniquely beautiful natural formations from every direction. Two mountains, the Red Passage Mountain to the north and the White Salt Mountain to the south, form the Kui Gate, a giant passage through which the tumultuous Yangtze bursts in an exciting rush of rolling and roaring water.

Day 8: Shibaozhai

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Visit Shibaozhai, a 9-story pagoda; or explore the ghost city of Fengdu

Full Day Itinerary: Today you'll visit Shibaozhai, with its impressive 9-story wooden pagoda, appropriately named "The Pearl of the Yangtze." Shibaozhai is a steep rocky hill which resembles a colossal jade seal on the horizon. Legends attribute the creation of the hill to goddess Nuwo and her efforts to redecorate the sky. The temple at the top of the hill was built during the reign of the Emperor Qianlong and no nails were used during its construction. The red pagoda with a yellow entrance gate decorated with lions and dragons, hugs one side of the rock. As the base of the pagoda would have been beneath the water level of Three Gorges Dam, significant efforts were made to protect the area from rising water and preserve the historic site.

Depending on weather conditions, Fengdu may be substituted: Fengdu, known as a "ghost city," is popular today among tourists who come to visit the temples and shrines dedicated to the gods of the underworld. Known for its statues of ghosts and devils on Mingshan Hill, Fengdu was first described as a "City of Ghosts" in two ancient, classic Chinese works: "Monkey King" and "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio." In keeping with the town's theme, landmarks bear thematic names such as "Last Glance at Home Tower," "Nothing-to-be-Done Bridge," and "Ghost Torturing Pass."

Day 9: Chongqing & Guilin

2 nights Lijiang Waterfall Hotel, Guilin. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Disembark your cruise ship at Chongqing this morning
• Transfer to the airport for your flight to Guilin
• Visit the Reed Flute Cave

Full Day Itinerary: You arrive at Chongqing this morning, disembark the cruise ship and board your touring coach. Transfer to your flight to Guilin. Next, you will see Reed Flute Cave, the name inspired by the verdant reeds growing outside which are used to make flutes. The cave itself contains spectacular and dramatic stalactites, stone pillars and rock formations illuminated for additional drama by colored lighting. Afterwards, check into your hotel for dinner & overnight.

Day 10: Guilin

Breakfast & lunch.

• Enjoy lunch aboard a Li River cruise
• Visit the lovely town of Yangshuo, a great place for souvenir shopping
• Return to Guilin for overnight

Full Day Itinerary: Set alongside the Li River, Guilin boasts dramatic limestone mountains and formations that have caused many Chinese to call its landscapes the "finest under heaven." Take a cruise on the Li River and enjoy lunch on board the boat.

You will also visit the lovely town of Yangshuo, perhaps strolling or shopping for souvenirs along Xian Qian Street, where pedestrians have the right of way and cars are prohibited.

Day 11: Guilin & Xi'an

2 nights Sofitel Xi'an on Renmin Square. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Morning flight to Xi'an
• After lunch, visit the city wall gate and explore the city's fortifications
• Learn about Chinese culture during a lecture at the Tang Dynasty Art Museum
• Try your hand at Chinese calligraphy
• Enjoy a Tang Dynasty dinner show

Full Day Itinerary: This morning, transfer to the airport for the flight to Xi'an. After lunch, visit the city wall gate of Xi'an. Explore these massive fortifications, which represent some of the oldest and best preserved city walls in all of China. Next, participate in a special lecture on Chinese arts and culture at the Tang Dynasty Art Museum. An expert will introduce you to the art of calligraphy and painting and demonstrate how to write Chinese characters on special rice paper. Each participant will practice the Chinese calligraphy with a brush and paper, and take home their artwork as a special souvenir.

This evening, join your fellow travelers at a Tang Dynasty dinner show.

Day 12: Xi'an

Breakfast & lunch.

• Visit the famous Terra Cotta Army archeological site
• Enjoy a demonstration of Chinese ceramics and furniture
• See the Small Wild Goose Pagoda

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, board your touring coach and drive to the site of the famous Terra Cotta Army, among the most important archeological discoveries of modern times. Except for its old City Wall, some 8 mi/12 km around, Xi'an looks like any other large industrial city. However, it holds an important archeological treasure: the Qin Army Vault Museum, home to an army of 2,200-year-old terra-cotta soldiers unearthed 25 miles east of town. More than 8,000 life-size ceramic soldiers, chariots and horses have been uncovered—only a fraction of the total buried there to protect the tomb of the first Qin emperor. Each soldier is based on an actual person of the time, and all segments of Chinese society are represented.

After a delicious dumpling lunch, visit some of Xi'an's other important sites including the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. En route, there will be a demonstration of Chinese ceramics and ancient furniture as well as time to shop.

Day 13: Xi'an & Beijing

3 nights Regent Beijing. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Discover the resting place of Emperor Liu Qi at Han Dynasty Yang Tomb
• Fly from Xi'an to Beijing
• Afternoon tour of Beijing's Hutongs and a Mongolian style hotpot lunch
• Join your fellow travelers for Peking Duck and Kung Fu show

Full Day Itinerary: This morning, tour of the Han Dynasty Yang Tomb, the final resting place of Emperor Liu Qi and his empress.

Then transfer to the airport to fly from Xi'an to Beijing, China's historic and cultural capital. Upon arrival, explore the narrow streets and alleyways of one of Beijing's Hutong neighborhoods on a rickshaw ride. Next, enjoy a special Mongolian style hotpot lunch at a local restaurant. The hotpot tradition was adopted into the local cuisine during the Mongolian conquest in the 13th century and represents a significant cultural appropriation. The guide will dine with the group and explain the elements of this unique meal. Afterwards, continue to your hotel for check-in.

Later tonight, enjoy Beijing's most famous (and delicious) culinary treat—Peking Duck. Then join your fellow travelers for the Legend of Kung Fu show, a special Shaolin Kung Fu stage performance that blends music, martial arts, and a moving story.

Day 14: Beijing

Breakfast & lunch.

• Special Tai Chi lesson at the Temple of Heaven
• Marvel at the ancient wooden structures in the Forbidden City
• Participate in a group photo at Tiananmen Square
• Lunch at a local restaurant
• Balance of the day at leisure

Full Day Itinerary: Begin your touring day with a visit of the Temple of Heaven, a World Heritage Site. In ancient China, the Emperor of China was regarded as the "Son of Heaven," who administered earthly matters on behalf of, and representing, heavenly authority. To be seen to be showing respect to the source of his authority, in the form of sacrifices to heaven, was extremely important. The temple was built for these ceremonies, and each winter solstice the Emperor and all his retinue would move through the city to encamp within the complex, wearing special robes and abstaining from eating meat while personally praying to Heaven for good harvests. The symbolic layout and design of the Temple of Heaven had a profound influence on architecture and planning in the Far East over many centuries. Next, enjoy a special lecture, class, and demonstration of Chinese shadow-boxing in the park by a professional, English-speaking, licensed tai chi master.

On to the Forbidden City, located at the exact center of the ancient city of Beijing, where it served as the imperial palace during the mid-Ming and Qing Dynasties. Known as the Palace Museum today, its extensive grounds cover 720,000 square meters, 800 buildings and more than 8,000 rooms. The Forbidden City is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world and was declared a World Heritage site in 1987.

Continue to Tiananmen Square for a complimentary group photo. The square was originally built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty. At 440,000 square meters, Tiananmen Square is the largest open square in the world. It was here that the People's Republic of China was proclaimed by Mao Zedong on October 1, 1949.

After lunch at a nearby local restaurant, return to your hotel for the balance of the afternoon at leisure.

Day 15: Great Wall of China & Ming Tombs

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Stop at a jade factory for a demonstration and shopping
• Explore the Great Wall of China
• See the Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs
• Enjoy a sumptuous farewell dinner

Full Day Itinerary: Depart after breakfast on a full day included excursion to the Great Wall of China. En route, enjoy a visit to a jade factory with a special presentation and time for shopping.

The Great Wall follows a ridge of barren hills and stretches at least 13,000 miles. Construction of the wall, which spanned more than two thousand years, began between the 7th and 6th century B.C. and continued through the Ming Dynasty. The wall was originally built of stone, wood, grass and earth, but during the Ming Dynasty, bricks were produced in kilns set up along the wall. The bricks were carried by men, donkeys, mules, and even goats, which had bricks tied to their heads before being driven up a mountain. Enjoy an opportunity to mount the ramparts of this ancient wonder.

Conclude your visit at the Sacred Way, an ancient road linking the Ming Tombs, the burial site of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty. A massive stone archway, built in 1540 at the southern end of the Sacred Way, is decorated with designs of clouds, waves and divine animals. Tonight you are our guests for a sumptuous farewell dinner.

Day 16: Depart Beijing/Arrive USA

Breakfast.

• Transfer to the airport for your return flight
• Arrive in the USA later today

Hong Kong Optional Extension

Prepare to be dazzled by a breathtaking symphony of lights in cosmopolitan Hong Kong. City-lovers worldwide rank Hong Kong among their must-see destinations, and for good reason. A former British colony perched on the edge of mainland China, Hong Kong is a fascinating city of contrasts—a place where East meets West; where the modern blends with the traditional; where shiny skyscrapers stand next to narrow alleys crammed with traditional vendors' stalls; where new technology flourishes alongside ancient Chinese customs. With its glorious harbor, excellent shopping, renowned restaurants, and some of the best nighttime skylines in the world, Hong Kong has it all.

Day 16: Beijing & Hong Kong

3 nights The Mira Hotel, Hong Kong. Breakfast.

• Fly from Beijing to Hong Kong

Full Day Itinerary: Transfer to the airport your flight to cosmopolitan Hong Kong. You'll be escorted to your luxurious hotel located in the bustling heart of Kowloon, near the scenic harbor and the "Golden Mile," Hong Kong's famous shopping district.

Day 17: Hong Kong

Breakfast.

• Morning tour of Hong Kong Island with peak tram ride
• Afternoon at leisure for independent sightseeing

Full Day Itinerary: Your morning tour of Hong Kong Island features a ride to the top of Victoria Peak for a magnificent city and harbor view. Descend and continue to Repulse Bay and Aberdeen fishing village, a community of some 600 colorful floating homes. Conclude your tour with some time for shopping. The afternoon is yours at leisure for independent sightseeing in the city.

Tonight, we recommend an optional dinner cruise (purchased locally) aboard the Hong Kong Bauhinia, where you'll enjoy a fabulous buffet dinner, live music, and stunning nighttime views of the glistening harbor.

Day 18: Hong Kong

Breakfast.

• Full day at leisure, or optional excursion to the former Portuguese colony of Macau

Full Day Itinerary: Enjoy a full day at leisure to take in the sights and sounds of Hong Kong on your own or shop to your heart's content.

Or, take advantage of a unique optional excursion to the former Portuguese colony of Macau, situated on a corner of the Pearl River Delta. Although it was officially returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1999, Macau maintains a distinctly Mediterranean flavor. You'll see in the European-style architecture, pastel-colored buildings, open air plazas, and abundance of Portuguese wine.

Day 19: Depart Hong Kong/Arrive USA

Breakfast.

• Transfer to the airport for your return flight via Beijing
• Arrive in the USA later today

Tibet Optional Extension

After your tour in China, why not take advantage of a unique opportunity to visit mysterious and exotic Tibet, located at the very rooftop of the world. For centuries, Tibet was an almost mythical land hidden behind the Himalayas, closed to outsiders and visited by only the hardiest explorers. Today, travelers can easily reach Lhasa, Tibet's capital and gateway to Tibet and experience a culture far different from our own. Here you will find kind, friendly, welcoming people, breathtaking vistas and deeply spiritual ritual that is completely interwoven with the fabric of everyday life. It's an experience not to be missed.

The Tibet Extension requires a minimum of 6 passengers in order to operate at published prices. The high altitudes reached on this trip (Tibet is about 12,000 feet above sea level) and the amount of walking involved, often on uneven terrain, requires that you be in good physical condition to fully enjoy the trip. We strongly suggest that you consult a physician regarding any concerns prior to making a reservation.

Day 16: Beijing & Lhasa

3 nights Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Fly from Beijing to Lhasa, Tibet
• Balance of the day is at leisure
• Enjoy a welcome dinner this evening

Full Day Itinerary: Transfer to the airport to board your flight to Lhasa, capital of Tibet. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure to acclimatize yourself to the extreme altitude of Lhasa. Join your group members for a welcome dinner this evening.

Day 17: Lhasa

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Explore Potala Palace, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama
• Visit the Mentsekhang, the largest traditional hospital in Tibet
• Stop at a Tibetan Nun Monastery
• Visit a Tibetan carpet factory

Full Day Itinerary: This morning, after a good night's rest, begin your exploration of Lhasa at the Potala Palace, winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century and probably the most revered and best known building in the land. Built at an altitude of more than 11,000 ft on the side of Marpo Ri, the Red Mountain in the center of Lhasa Valley, Potala Palace has vast, inward-sloping walls broken only in the upper parts by straight rows of many windows and flat roofs at various levels giving it a fortress-like appearance.

The palace complex, which includes the White Palace which was built for secular use and contains the living quarters of the Dalai Lama, offices, the seminary and the printing house. A central, yellow-painted courtyard known as a Deyangshar separates the living quarters of the Lama and his monks with the Red Palace, the other side of the sacred Potala, which is completely devoted to religious study and prayer. The Red Palace consists of a complicated layout of many different halls, chapels and libraries on many different levels with a complex array of smaller galleries and winding passages and other buildings, is built on Red Mountain in the center of Lhasa Valley, at an altitude of over 11,000 feet.

Later, visit the Mentsekhang, the largest traditional hospital in Tibet and a major center of research, treatment, training and production of Tibetan medicine. You'll also visit a Tibetan Nun Monastery. Complete your touring with a visit to a carpet factory, where you can see how the magnificent and colorful Tibetan carpets are created (and where you can purchase and arrange shipping if you wish).

Day 18: Lhasa

Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• Visit the Jokhang Temple Monastery
• Explore the Norbulingka Palace gardens
• Continue to Bakhor Street, the oldest street in Lhasa
• Enjoy a dinner of mixed Tibetan and Chinese dishes

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast, visit the Jokhang Temple Monastery, founded in the 7th century. This exceptional Buddhist religious complex is the most celebrated temple in Tibet, attracting adherents of all the Buddhist sects as well as followers of Bon-Po, Tibet's indigenous religion. Proceed to the Norbulingka, the largest and grandest garden of the Tibet Plateau and the Dalai Lama's former summer palace. Constructed in the 18th century, is a masterpiece of Tibetan art and its magnificent gardens are today a park open for the public to visit and enjoy.

Continue to Bakhor Street, the oldest street in Lhasa and a wonderful, colorful shopping area whose narrow streets are lined with shops, kiosks and vendor's Thangkas, prayer wheels, butter lamps, prayer flags, Tibetan joss sticks and other typical Tibetan goods. This is the best place to sharpen your bargaining skills, and even without the benefit of knowing the language, your pocket calculator is all the equipment you'll need to buy souvenirs at bargain prices. This evening, join your fellow travelers for dinner of mixed Tibetan and Chinese dishes.

Day 19: Lhasa & Tsedang

1 night Tsedang Hotel. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

• See Tibet's very first monastery, Samye
• Continue to Tsedang

Full Day Itinerary: This morning you'll depart Lhasa by touring coach. As you drive through open farmland, you'll arrive at Tibet's very first monastery, Samye, which is over 1,200 years old. The monastery combines the styles of China, Tibet and India, and the layout was designed to represent the ideal universe described in Buddhist scriptures. Samye Monastery contains within and upon its walls many historic, religious, architectural and artistic examples from every period of Tibetan history. Its frescoes are well-known in the world for their wide variety of subjects, rich content and exquisite artistic detail.

Continue to Tsedang, Tibet's third largest city, and check into your hotel.

Day 20: Tsedang & Beijing

1 night Regent Beijing. Breakfast & lunch.

• Moring visits to Yumbu Lhakang Palace and Traduk Monastery
• After lunch, transfer to the airport for your flight to Beijing
• Upon arrival in Beijing, transfer to your hotel
• Evening at leisure

Full Day Itinerary: This morning, visit Yumbu Lhakang, the first palace and one of the earliest building projects in all of Tibet. Towering above the summit of Mt. Tashitseri on the east bank of Yarlung River, legend has it that Yumbu Lhakang was established during the 2nd century B.C. by members of Tibet's earliest religious sect, Bon, for the first Tibetan King, Nyetri Tsampo.

Our next stop is Traduk Monastery, another of the earliest Buddhist temples in Tibetan history. Built in 641 A.D., it is said that King Songtsan Gampo established the temple so that his kingdom might prosper. Later, Traduk Monastery became a royal winter palace filled with ancient relics and treasures.

After lunch, drive to Lhasa Airport to board your flight to Beijing. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Tonight dinner is on your own at one of Beijing's many wonderful restaurants.

Day 21: Depart Beijing/Arrive USA

Breakfast.

• Transfer to the airport for your return flight via Beijing
• Arrive in the USA later today

Reviews & Photos

Trip Details

• What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
• Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Travel visas are required for this package. Please review the visa & entry requirements.
• Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
• Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
• Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
• What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
• What should I know about China? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about Hong Kong? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.