China Yangtze Explorer A - 16 Days

Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangtze River Cruise & Shanghai

Departure: April - October 2012 (Every Sunday)

Hometown Beijing

Begin your adventure. Depart from your hometown to Beijing. En-route, you will cross the International Dateline.

Arrive Beijing, China's seventh-century-old capital. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel.

After breakfast, visit the Tian'anmen Square, the largest public square in the world. Forbidden City, the largest existing ancient architectural structure in China today. This afternoon, take a Hutong tour with Pedicab ride. Hutongs are a type of narrow streets or alleys, most commonly associated in Beijing. At present, there are about 4,550 hutongs, the broadest over four meters wide and the smallest - the eastern part of Dongfu' an Hutong, a mere 70 cm across - just wide enough for a single person to traverse. Although the city has changed a great deal over the last 500 years, the hutongs remain much the same as during Ming and Qing times.

This morning visit the the Great Wall and a jade factory en-route. Then, visit the Sacred Way, lined on both sides by a succession of statues, pillas, and stelae. The statues along the Sacred Way depict real and mythical animals, as well as civilian and military officials.. Next, visit the 2008 Olympic Games Venues - the Water Cube and Bird's Nest - from outside for photography opportunity.

This morning, visit the Temple of Heaven, a masterpiece of 15th Century architecture. Next, visit the Summer Palace, where presents a breathtaking arrangement of lake, landscape, pagodas and pavilions. Visit the Beijing Zoo, where hoses over 7,000 creatures of 600 different species, including the giant panda, red-crowned crane and Pere David's deer - all unique to China - as well as the African giraffe, rhinoceros, chimpanzee and antelope. Today's tour ends with a visit at a peral factory. Tonight, enjoy a Peking Duck Dinner.

Beijing Xi'an

Today, fly to Xi'an, once the capital of 11 dynasties, and one of the most important archaeological sites in China. Upon arrival in Xi’an, you will visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a brick-tower architecture boasted a five-storey structure about 60 meters high. Next, visit the Provincial History Museum, where collects a total of 113,000 relics unearthe locally, of whcih 3,000 are on display.

A full day excursion takes you to one of the most exciting archaeological finds in recent years – the unearthing of more than 6,000 Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses. These figures guard the tomb of Emperor Qin and are buried in the huge pit covering more than three acres. Next, visit the Ceramics & Pottery Center. This evening, enjoy a special Dumpling Dinner, followed by a delightful Tang Dynasty Show.

Xi'an Guilin

Fly to Guilin. Upon arrival, visit the Reed Flute Cave, a karst cave in the northwest of Guilin. Then visit the Daxu Ancient Town, a time-honored town with well preserved traditional Chinese architectures and the time-worn shiny stone-paved streets.

After breakfast, you will enjoy a cruise on the Li River and are exposed to the beauty and scenery surrounding it. Disembark at Yangshuo and visit an Art Gallery before returning by coach to Guilin.

Guilin Chongqing

This morning, fly to Chongqing, disembarkation point of the Yangtze River Cruise. Upon arrival in Chongqing, visit the Three Groges Museum and City Square. Embark on the mv President Prime, your for the next three nights.

This morning, you can take an optional shore excursion with fees applied to the "ghost city" of Fengdu, explore this fasinating river town, decorated with temples and shrines dedicated to the god of the underworld. After breakfast, visit Shibaozai Pagoda on the cliff which has been regarded as a pearl along the river for people praying for good luck in the ancient. 

After breakfast, you can take an opitonal shore excursion with fees applied to the White Emperor City. Next, you will enter the first gorge - Qutang Gorge, the shortest but by far the most impressive of the three. Then, pass the second gorge - Wu Gorge, known of its odd, misty rock formations and soaring mountain backdrop. This afternoon, you will take a shore excursion to the Shennong Stream; you will be transferred to a pea-boat drifting rapidly on a breathtaking ride. During the journey, you may see the ancient roads, the ancient coffins in the precipice, and even some rare animals such as golden-haired monkeys. Enjoy the wonderful scene of deep and quiet gorges, the magnificent peaks as it they are cut by axes and knives. Return to ship and pass the third gorge - Xiling Gorge, the longest and previously the most hazardous along the magnificent gorge. Arrive Sandouping and pass through the 5-step shiplock.

Arrive Yichang Shanghai

Disembark at Yichang and fly to Shanghai, China’s largest city, major seaport and important commercial centre.

Today, you will visit the Yu Garden and Chenghuangmiao area. Next, visit the Shanghai Museum, which collects 123,000 relics in 21 categories, including bronze ware, pottery ware, calligraphy and paintings followed by a visit of Carpet Factory. Tonight enjoy an Acrobatic Show.

This morning, take a day excursion to Zhujiajiao, a well-preserved ancient town in water country in Shanghai typical of southeast China. During Three Kingdom as appeared as a village. Nowadays old streets and architecture in the style of Ming and Qing periods can be found the local customs characteristic of water country can be observed. Return to Shanghai and visit the Tianzifang Local Artist Area, an arts and crafts enclave that has developed from a renovated residential area in the French Concession area of Shanghai. Today's tour ends with a visit of the Bund, a splendid vantage point to view the colourful traffic on the Huangpu River and Pudong Development Zone.

Shanghai Hometown

Bid farewell to China and depart for your hometown.

• Round trip transpacific economy class airfare
• China domestic airfares
• All transfers
• Hotel accommodation as specified
• 5-star cruiser - mv President Prime
• Sightseeing with English speaking tour guide
• Meals: 3 meals daily and Special Dinner - Peking Duck Dinner & Dumpling Dinner
• Evening entertainment - Tang Dynasty Show & Acrobatic Show

• Airport taxes and fuel surcharges, Valid travel document, China Visa fee, Travel insurance, Tipping and Personal expenses