See the many faces of China with a 16 day tour of the country. See the thriving cities of Shanghai and Beijing and the interior former capital of Xian. Relax on a 5-night cruise on the Yangtze River. Take a ride through an ancient portion of Beijing via rickshaw and walk a stretch of the Great Wall. Enjoy all this and more on a Chinese vacation tailor made for your enjoyment!
Air 1: Overnight Flight
Start your vacation out with an overnight flight* to Shanghai.
Day 2: Shanghai, China - Tour Begins
Welcome to China! Your tour begins in Shanghai, one of the world’s largest cities, with a metro area boasting of 20 million people! Prepare for an amazing vacation in China as you settle in for your first night of lodging.
Day 3: Shanghai
Today you will discover Shanghai during a sightseeing tour of the city. Visit the Bund waterfront area, the Yuyuan Gardens, and the Old Town section. You may find the Children’s Palace, a European-style fortress where children play after school, especially interesting. In the evening you will be entertained by performing acrobats.
Day 4: Shanghai - Yichang - Board Cruise
Visit the Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai’s most significant Buddhist temple. A flight to Yichang for dinner will precede climbing aboard your cruise boat for a four-night trip on the Yangtze River.
Day 5: Three Gorges Dam - Xiling Gorge
Travel to the future site of the Three Gorges Dam, which when completed will be far and away the largest hydroelectric project on the planet. Then sail through Xiling Gorge, the largest gorge in the Three Gorge system.
Day 6: Cruising - Daning River - Wu Gorge
Travel through Wuxia and Qutang Gorges, both surrounded by breathtaking views of the mountain peaks that tower above them.
Day 7: Cruising - Shibaozhai
View the legendary 12-story Shibaozhai Temple, built in the 18th century. Learn the local lore that surrounds this landmark as it peers down upon the Yangtze River.
Day 8: Chongqing - Disembark Ship – Guilin
Disembark from the cruise ship upon arrival in the beautiful mountain community of Chongqing. You may have time to see local attractions like Eling Park and the Stilwell Museum. The day concludes with a short flight* to the city of Guilin.
Day 9: Guilin
Enjoy a day of leisure in Guilin. Travel to the local market, take an optional cruise on the Li River, or just relax in your hotel room and enjoy your free time.
Day 10: Guilin - Xian
Begin the morning with a calming Tai Chi lesson. Later, visit the unique underground world of the Reed Flute Caves before enjoying lunch at Elephant Trunk Hill. Following lunch, you will depart on a flight to Xian.
Day 11: Xian
Today’s tour takes you to the excavation site of the Terra-Cotta Warriors, a clay army of men created as protectors for a Chinese emperor in his afterlife. Each soldier is uniquely sculptured with a different face.
Day 12: Xian
Visit the famous Wild Goose Pagoda in the morning. Then step into the courtyards of Xian’s Islamic Mosque. Your lunch today will feature 20 courses of dumplings! You will also have an opportunity to climb to the top of the ancient city wall for an incredible view of the city.
Day 13: Xian - Beijing
A morning flight* takes you to the Chinese capital, Beijing. Here, a sightseeing tour will take you to the Forbidden City and the expansive Tiananmen Square. In addition, you will be able to travel to the Temple of Heaven, a magnificent shrine where Chinese emperors went to worship their deities.
Day 14: The Great Wall
Pay a visit to the incredible Great Wall of China and walk a small stretch along this 3700-mile architectural masterpiece. Next, visit the Valley of the Ming Tombs, where over a dozen Ming Dynasty emperors are buried. In the evening, a Peking Opera show will entertain you and your dinner will feature a local specialty – Peking duck.
Day 15: Beijing
Enjoy the rich and diverse culture of Beijing today. Visit the Summer Palace before taking a rickshaw tour through the narrow alleyways of the oldest portion of Beijing. Have lunch in a local home and learn the art of dumpling making. See a local kite maker and learn about the popular Chinese past time of kite flying. Conclude the day with a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers.
Day 16: Beijing - Tour Ends
The tour concludes but fond memories of China will stay with you.
Cruise through the Three Gorges region of China and past the site of the world’s largest hydroelectric project. View the Shibaozhai Temple, the Jade Buddha Temple and the Wild Goose Pagoda. Travel across many regions of China and enjoy traditional dumplings, Peking duck and other local delicacies. Make your plans to visit China and book your reservations today!
*Airfare not included in total price
