Grand China and Yangtze River Experience
Destination: China
Activity: Cultural Tours, Specialty Cruises
Duration: 14 days
How Tough? Easy
When? March-December
For Kids? Children Are Welcome
This 15-day adventure combines China’s five greatest cities with a four-night cruise on one of the world’s greatest rivers — the Yangtze.
The adventure begins in the capital city of Beijing, travels to historic Xi’an and continues to Chongqing, where you board the M.V. Splendid China cruise ship for a spectacular experience on the “Long River,” gliding past friendly riverside villages and through the scenic Three Gorges.
Your cruise ends in Wuhan, where you board a flight to cosmopolitan Shanghai, known in colonial days as the “Paris of the East.”
You can also take the optional extension to scenic Guilin, immortalized in countless Chinese landscape paintings, and the “Pearl of the Orient” — Hong Kong.
Day 1: Relax on your transpacific flight to Beijing.
Day 2: Welcome to Beijing, capital of the People’s Republic of China. Upon arrival, you are met by your guide and transferred to the deluxe Great Wall Sheraton Hotel for four nights stay.
Day 3: Today we have a full day excursion to the magnificent Great Wall, the only man-made object visible from the moon by the naked eye. After a very traditional northern Chinese style lunch served at a local restaurant, we return to the city via the valley of Ming Tombs. This evening, you are invited to a Peking duck banquet.
Day 4: After breakfast, you are off to see the sights, including the vast Tiananmen Square, and the Ming treasures adorning the imperial palace in the once Forbidden City. In the afternoon, more Ming extravagances are evident as you tour the exquisite architecture and vivid embellishment of the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. We end the day with the pleasure of an evening cultural performance of Beijing Opera.
Day 5: In the morning, we take rickshaws for a fascinating tour of Beijing’s Hutongs — old narrow lanes lined with ancient courtyard houses, giving us a glimpse into the daily life of Beijing residents. En route, we climb to the top of Drum Tower, used to report time in Ancient China, for a panoramic view of old Beijing. After lunch at the imperial Fangshan Restaurant inside the Beihai Park, you are free to explore the city this afternoon.
Day 6: We fly to Xian, a former grand capital of 11 Chinese dynasties, renowned for its wealth of antiquities. A city tour takes us to the 700-year-old City Walls and the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, one of the best history museums in the nation. We stay at Shangri-la Golden Flower Hotel for two nights.
Day 7: We have an excursion to the world renowned Terracotta Warriors, guarding the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty for over 2000 years. We also visit the Huaqin Hot Springs and Banpo Neolithic Museum. Back in the city, we visit the Grand Mosque and its nearby Muslim living quarters. In the evening, we enjoy a fabulous Tang Dynasty Dance and Music performance.
Day 8: Fly to Chongqing, a mountainous city at the conjunction of Yangtze and Jialing rivers. A short city tour is arranged before we settle in our outside cabin with private balcony on the deluxe M/V President cruise ship, for a memorable voyage down the mighty Yangtze River.
Day 9: Sail from Chongqing early morning. Time to explore the ship’s amenities, including the restaurant where appetizing meals are served, before afternoon arrival at Ghost City of Fengdu. Go ashore to view Mingshan Hill’s temples, filled with statues of ghosts and devils. Sail from Fengdu this evening for Wanxian.
Day 10: Unforgettable experiences today begin as you cruise through the first of the fabled Three Gorges — Qutang. Its towering rock formations have names, which reflect their bizarre shapes such as Hanging Monk Rock or Rhinoceros Looking at Moon. The ship continue its sailing toward the second gorge — Wu Gorge, celebrated for its lofty Twelve Peaks, which almost blot out the sky. Later today, we will be drifting along Shennong Stream where we are poled by local boatmen.
Day 11: Early this morning, our ship will pass through the massive Gezhouba Dam Ship Lock. After lunch on bard, we will go ashore to visit ancient Jinzhou. Browse Jinzhou Museum’s relics, highlighted by a well-preserved 2000-year-old mummy.
Day 12: Disembark the ship in Wuhan this morning. A guided tour takes you to the excellent Provincial Museum, which boasts the finest collection of bronzes and musical instruments excavated from a tomb dating back to the Period of the Warring States. Fly to Shanghai in the afternoon. Arrival transfer to the deluxe JC Mandarin Hotel located in the heart of the city.
Day 13: Shanghai is China’s most populous city with 12 million inhabitants, and it is the nation’s industrial center and a busy port. There is the chance to stroll on the Bund overlooking the Huangpu River with its backdrop of early 20th century buildings, to visit the former concession areas and narrow streets of the Old Town. Also of interest are the Jade Buddha Temple, Yu Garden and Shanghai Museum of Arts.
Shanghai style dim-sum lunch will be served in the elegant Lubolang Restaurant. In the evening, enjoy the performance of the city’s famous Acrobatics Show.
Day 14: A short enjoyable train ride takes us to Suzhou, which the Chinese describe as “a paradise on earth”. Take a scenic riverside walk from Surging Water Pavilion to the Garden of Master of the Nets and enjoy the scenery of traditional houses and small bridges often compared to the canal landscape of Venice.
On our way, see Twin Pagodas and Winding Garden for an example of the typical study-style architecture of the late Qing dynasty gardens. Before catching our train back to Shanghai, we also visit the delightful Lingering Garden and the Silk Research Institute.
Day 15: Transfer to airport for your homeward flight. Arrive home the same day
Optional Extension to Guilin and Hong Kong Itinerary
Day 15: The flight takes us from the East China Plain to Guilin, one of China’s most beautiful cities. It brings to life the classical scenery celebrated in Chinese paintings. Transfer to the Royal Garden Hotel by the Li River for one night. In the afternoon, we visit the underground cavern of Reed Flute Cave and the Fubo Hills.
Day 16: In the morning, we take a leisurely cruise along the Li River, which winds its way through the pointed, craggy hills, rice paddies, limestone rock formations and be charmed by the romantic effects of mist and cloud. After lunch on boat, we disembark the boat at the small town of Yangshuo.
We spend some time browsing Yangshuo’s antique and craft stalls before driving back to Guilin. After a dinner, we board our evening flight to Hong Kong, where we are transferred to New World Renaissance Hotel for two nights stay.
Day 17: We spend today enjoying this vibrant city’s many sights and experiences. A half-day guided orientation tour will take us atop Victoria Peak for a 360-degree view of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the surrounding harbors and outer islands. Then a scenic drive takes us past Repulse Bay to the colorful floating community of Aberdeen, and vibrant Stanley Market, a favorite bargain shopping area. You are free to explore the other aspects of the city for the remainder of the day.
Day 18: Transfer to airport for your homeward flight. Arrive home the same day.
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