DAY 1, Thursday - Depart the USA
Depart the USA to China. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey |
DAY 2, Friday - Arrive in Beijing
Arrive in Beijing and transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure
Overnight: Beijing |
DAY 3, Saturday - Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven Tour
Enjoy a full-day tour of the Forbidden City and the 15th-century Temple of Heaven. Begin at Tiananmen Square, the largest public plaza in the world. Erected in 1417 at the height of the Ming Dynasty, the square was renovated and renamed two centuries later at the outset of the Great Qing Dynasty. View several impressive monuments outlining the Square's perimeter, including the Great Hall of the People, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and the Square's famed ceremonial gateway. From here, venture north for a visit to the Forbidden City (Imperial Palace), a construction comparable in scope to the Pyramids in Egypt. Known today as the Palace Museum, the entire site is comprised of 800 buildings with more than 9,000 rooms. Enjoy lunch at an authentic Chinese Restaurant close to the Forbidden City before a visit to the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch |
DAY 4, Sunday - Great Wall of China Excursion
Enjoy a full day excursion to the Great Wall of China, the longest man-made structure on Earth, spanning nearly 4,000 miles of China's northern frontier. Walk along the promenades and enjoy the unrivaled scenic views of beautiful mountain passes, plateaus and grasslands from this 7th-century defensive fortification. Afterward, depart for lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. Following lunch, continue for a tour of the Ming Tombs before returning to Beijing. This evening, enjoy a traditional Peking Duck dinner
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
DAY 5, Monday - Yangtze River Cruise
Morning at leisure. This afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Yichang. Upon arrival, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, then transfer to board your ship on the Yangtze River
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner |
DAY 6, Tuesday - Yangtze River Cruise
This morning, visit the Three Gorges Dam near the Sandouping Village. This dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, nearly six times the size of the Hoover Dam. Following your visit, cruise upstream to Xiling Gorge. The longest section of the Three Gorges system, it comprises the rapids of Xietan, Qintan and Kongling, collectively known as the Three Rapids of Xiling
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
DAY 7, Wednesday - Yangtze River Cruise
This morning, enjoy an excursion to the Small Three Gorges along the Daning River. Enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding mountain passes as you sail through the 25-mile long Wuxia (Witches) Gorge, famous for its fabled Twelve Peaks. According to legend, the peaks are believed to be the spirits of 12 fairies, the most famous of them being the Shennu Feng (Goddess) Peak, which is topped by a huge rock resembling a kneeling maiden. Continue through the Qutang Gorge, the smallest of the three Yangtze gorges, and admire its bluffed banks and lush terraced hillsides
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
DAY 8, Thursday - Yangtze River Cruise
Cruise to Fengdu, the "Ghost City," to view the temples at Mingshan Hill. Alternatively, the cruise may visit Wanxian or Shibaozhai depending on local conditions
Overnight: Yangtze River
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
DAY 9, Friday - Flight to Xian
Disembark the cruise in Chongqing and transfer to the airport for your flight to Xian. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure
Overnight: Xian
Meals: Breakfast |
DAY 10, Saturday - Xian Antiquities Tour with Terracotta Army
Today's tour of Xian's antiquities includes the archaeological site at the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (259-210 B.C.), where more than 8,000 finely sculpted, life-size terracotta soldiers and horses were discovered by local farmers in 1974. The archaeological excavation of the three pits where the Terracotta Army was found continues today, more than thirty years since the time of its unearthing. Later, trace the beginnings of Chinese civilization at the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum. Opened to the public in 1991, the museum is in southern Xian, and is home to a wealth of historical artifacts and treasures from the Han and Tang dynasties. This evening, enjoy a dumpling dinner and gala show at the Tang Dynasty Theater
Overnight: Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
DAY 11, Sunday - Xian City Wall, Flight to Guilin, Reed Flute Cave
Today, visit Xian's City Wall, a massive stone wall originally built to protect what was once one of China's four great ancient capitals. With colorful flags decorating the battlements and pagoda-topped wall towers, the structure clearly reflects aesthetic interests in addition to practical defensive considerations. After your tour, transfer to the airport for the flight to Guilin. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. This afternoon, visit the Reed Flute Cave, Guilin's largest and most impressive grotto, offering a world of beautiful stalactite deposits, stone pillars and intriguing rock formations
Overnight: Guilin
Meals: Breakfast |
DAY 12, Monday - Li River Cruise with Pearl Factory Visit
Cruise the crystalline Li River and view the many vertical rock formations, stone pinnacles, bamboo groves and villagers reaping rice along the river banks. The high forested peaks that dominate the banks and terraced hillsides are why the Li River is one of China's top sightseeing destinations, with many of the peaks being associated with legendary stories of mystical spirits and love. Then, visit a pearl factory to see local artisans at work and browse a selection of fine pearl products. Finally, return ashore in the late afternoon. Evening at leisure
Overnight: Guilin
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch |
DAY 13, Tuesday - Flight to Shanghai
Early this morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Shanghai. Transfer to the hotel, and enjoy the balance of the day at leisure
Optional: Acrobatic Show
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast |
DAY 14, Wednesday - Shanghai City Tour
Enjoy a half day tour to the classical Yuyuan Garden and Jade Buddha Temple. Built during the Ming Dynasty by the high-ranking government official, Pan Yunduan. The Gardens' total area occupies approximately five acres, and features pavilions, ponds, rockeries, cloisters, and six scenic zones including the Sansui Hall and Wanhua Chamber. In existence for 400 years, the Gardens were specifically constructed for Pan's aging parents as a sanctuary in which to live-out their lives. Depart the Gardens for a visit to the Jade Buddha Temple. The Temple's name derives from its two white-jade Buddhas, one recumbent on a redwood bed, the other seated on a lotus flower. In 1882, the two Buddha statues were brought to China from Burma. Afterward, transfer to the hotel
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast |
DAY 15, Thursday - Full Day Shanghai
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Shanghai independently
Optional: Full Day Suzhou
Overnight: Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast |
DAY 16, Friday - Depart for the USA
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast |
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