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Day 1 Arrive Beijing

Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to the Hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure.

Choice of Hotels in Beijing
Category A Property: Qianmen Hotel
Category B Property: Capital Hotel
Category C Property: The Regent Hotel Beijing

Day 2 Beijing (B/L)
After breakfast, enjoy a full day guided tour of Beijing including Tian An Men Square, the largest public plaza in the world where Mao Tse Tung first raised the flag of the People’s Republic.

After a stroll in the historic Tiananmen Square, we access to the Forbidden City via the Gate of Heavenly Peace. The Imperial Palace, lying inside the Forbidden City and surrounded by a high wall and broad moat, is probably China’s greatest surviving historical site. Dating from the 15th century, the Palace was home to a total of 24 emperors and, today, its fabulous halls, palaces and gardens house a huge collection of priceless relics from various dynasties.

Day 3 Beijing (B/L/D)
Travel into the mountains outside Beijing to visit the Great Wall of China.

It’s a thrill to walk along the Great Wall of China – a formidable construction that winds its way over hills for more than 2,000 miles. We’ll visit the Mutianyu which is one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall with much fewer crowds of visitors. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs and remains the original charm of the Wall.

The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs and remains the original charm of the Wall.

Lunch at a Restaurant at the foot of the Great Wall.

Return to Beijing and visit the resplendent Summer Palace, a former retreat for the royalty.
Tonight, enjoy a welcome Peking Duck Dinner.

Day 4 Beijing – A Bejinger’s day (B/L)
Beijing’s parklands gather crowds of old and young in the morning playing Taiji, Qigong, even ballroom dancing or disco as the vigorous daily exercise. Early morning at the Temple of Heaven, you join or watch the locals out doing Tai Chi, Qigong, fan dance or disco as morning exercise. After visiting the majestic Temple of Heaven used by the Emperor as a place to mediate affairs between God and man, we take you to have a private cooking class. We will show you around a local market to buy some ingredients and seasoning to experience vivid life atmosphere of Beijing, and then, teach you cooking daily Chinese food and taste your own dishes.
In the afternoon, explore by rickshaw one of Beijing’s vanishing hutongs, be afforded a rare insight into the everyday life of Beijingers. And then a short ride on Beijing’s subway brings you to the Olympic Park to see and picture the Bird Nest and Water Cube.

Day 5 Beijing – Xian (B/D)
This morning, travel by highspeed train to the ancient Capital – Xi’an. The journey covers 1216 km in about just 4.5 hours, crossing Hebei, Henan, and Shaanxi provinces from Northern and Central China Plain to the valley of Yellow River.

On arrival, transfer to your hotel.

We then visit the Shannxi Provincial Museum, one of the finest comprehensive history museums in Asia. The museum charts the remarkable history of the region, one of the great cradles of early Chinese civilization. The tradition of Silk Road trade and cultural exchange is one of the featured themes of the collection.

Tonight, enjoy foodie tour of Xian and explore the Muslim quarter and its night markets.
Sample the local specialty, rou jia mo, succulent grilled bread stuffed with minced pork, and sip a refreshing rice wine before wandering past the Drum Tower to Muslim Street. With the colorful signs and enticing aromas of street food stalls and sip a bottle of sweet plum juice as you watch food being prepared and candies being made. At a Muslim restaurant to pleasure your palate with guantang baozi, steamed buns bursting with a flavorful gravy. Savor the flavor of succulent barbecue at another street stall and wash it down with a palate cleansing drink of Bingfeng, similar to orange soda. Devour shredded pancaked and sesame fillets at another esteemed eatery and conclude your tour with a delectable persimmon pancake.

Choice of Hotels in Xian
Category A Property: Jianguo Hotel
Category B Property: Days Hotel & Suites Xinxing
Category C Property: Westin Hotel Xi’an

Day 6 Xian (B/L/D)
Xi’an was the ancient capital of China and the seats for the glorious Qin, Han and Tang Dynasties. Our highlight today is to view the life-sized Terracotta Warriors that have been standing on guard for the first Emperor of China for over 2000 years.

Today, we will visit the astounding excavation of Terracotta Army and Horses of the Qin dynasty. The dig lies 46 kilometers to the east of the city of Xian and is now made easily accessible by a new highway. The drive will give you the chance to view the fertile loess fields of Shaanxi; an ever-replenished supply of soil which has been the foundation of civilization.

We will visit three distinct digging “pits ”; the Bronze Chariot Museum; and the theater in the round, which shows a short film on the history of the First Emperor of the Qin dynasty and the construction of his mausoleum.

Chinese lunch at local restaurant including the Noodle-making demonstration.

This afternoon, the focus turns to Xian’s Silk Road heritage with a special visit to the Museum of Ox and Porcelain, which is one of the best private museums here in China. You will visit the Curator’s Room with a white-glove handling of his private collections, followed by a visit toof the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, originally built as a Buddhist retreat in the 7th century.

Tonight you will enjoy a Dumpling Dinner with Tang Dynasty Show.

Day 7 Xian – Chongqing (B/L)
This morning, we climb up the City Wall, if time permits, a bicycle ride on top of the wall can be arranged.
After a local lunch, transfer to the airport in the afternoon for your flight to Chongqing and enroute, we stop at the Han Yangling museum for a visit. Upon arrival, enjoy a dinner at the revolving restaurant with an awesome view of this mountain city, then we take you to the pier and on board your Yangtze River Cruise. M/V President 8 (Fri), M/V President 7 (Wed)

Day 8 Yangtze River Cruise (B/L/D)
The mighty Yangtze River, with its twists, turns and incredible vistas after the end of each gorge, the amphitheatre-like views of the villages along the riverbanks convey the harmony of nature and beauty. The three gorges: Qutangxia, Wuxia and Xilingxia are all breathtakingly beautiful. This morning, you will have a Safety Orientation & River Briefing. Meet ship managers and masseuse. Learn China geography & river lore. After lunch, disembark at Fengdu, with over 700 temples constructed on Mingshan Hill, many containing statues of ghosts and devils. It is easy to see how the city acquired the name “Ghost City”.

Day 9 Yangtze River Cruise (B/L/D)
Begin the passage with Qutang Gorge, shortest & most dramatic of the three. Pass poetic Wu Gorge before anchoring for a shore excursion. This breathtaking excursion takes you by small ferry down the beautiful Shennong Stream – attractive with its clear water, wild exotic flowers and rare grasses. Visit the ruins of the ancient road and the suspended coffins hanging from both sides of the cliffs. After “Little Gorges” trip on “pea-pod” boats, return to ship and sail into the Western Xiling Gorge.

Day 10 Yichang – Shanghai (B/L)
This morning, we sail the Eastern Xiling and exit the gorges at Yichang City, where we will view the grandeur of the Three Gorges and survey the Gezhou Dam in Yichang, the largest public works project in China since the Great Wall. Disembark around noon time and be transferred to the airport for the flight to Shanghai and on arrival, we check in at the Hotel of your choice.

Choice of Hotels in Shanghai
Category A Property: Lee Garden Hotel
Category B Property: Sunrise On the Bund
Category C Property: Ritz-Carlton Portman

Day 11 Shanghai (B/D)

Today’s sightseeing tour showcases Shanghai’s highlights. Morning visit the Yuyuan Garden and the old town area where you will have lunch on your own. Walk on the promenade of Shanghai’s famous waterfront – Bund.

In the afternoon, visit Shanghai’s world-renown museum which houses the finest collection of Chinese art including calligraphy, scroll paintings, bronzes and ceramics.

Dinner at local restaurant followed by Acrobatic Show

Day 12 Shanghai – Suzhou – Shanghai (B/L)
A full day excursion by high-speed train (2nd class soft seat) to Suzhou, the important trading town ever since the first days of the Grand Canal. See the town’s spectacular classical gardens maintained by Chinese nobility for centuries. Visiting Garden of Master Net (Wangshi Garden), then proceed to Suzhou No. 1 Silk Spinning Factory; a silk-reeling mill to see how silk is processed and spun, learn why China has, for generations, been world famous for its fine exotic silk.

Enjoy an unforgettable cruise on the Grand Canal of China, the longest and largest man-made waterway in the world.

Take a walk in the old town before returning to Shanghai by high-speed train.

Day 13 Shanghai – Guilin (B/L)
Fly to Guilin and visit the Reed Flute Caves, Elephant Trunk Hill and Fubo Hill where you can one has a bird’s-eye view of the Li River.

Choice of Hotels in Guilin
Category A Property: Park Hotel
Category B Property: Bravo Hotel 5* Building
Category C Property: Shangri-La Guilin

Day 14 Guilin/Li River/Yangshuo (B/L)
Guilin and Yangshou are definitely the places that can always spark your creativity of art. A boat trip down the Li River through China’s most famous landscape. The tall pointed hills and rice paddies, familiar from innumerable Chinese paintings. Lunch onboard and after disembarkation in Yangshuo, check-in at the Green Lotus Yangshuo for 2 nights.

Spent the time on your own to explore the famous West Street, which is near your hotel and browsing Yangshuo’s antiques and crafts stalls and shops.
Choice of Hotels in Yangshuo
Category A Property: New Century Hotel
Category B Property: Green Lotus
Category C Property: Moondance Boutique Resort

Day 15 Yangshuo (B/L)
A morning biking tour with your English speaking guide is the best way to enjoy the beauty of Yangshuo – misty mountains, green rice fields occasionally with water buffalos, fishermen on their narrow boats far out into the water.

You then take a bamboo raft gliding down the Li River, just to enjoy your raft-master, gorgeous scenery, still water and absolute tranquility. Tonight, enjoy a spectacle show – the Impressions Liu Sanjie with six hundred performers on the river, viewed from an outdoor amphitheater.

Day 16 Yangshuo – Longsheng (B/L/D)
This morning travel overland to Longsheng which will take roughly about 3 hours. Visit Dazhai Village to see the terraced rice fields and experience the Yao people customs. Dazhai Village is at the foot of the mountain with the timber homes of the Yao people perched on the side of the hill. The Jinkeng Rice Terraces are stacked on top of each other up the steep mountain. Walk along paths in the village and see the daily life of Yao people. The balance of the day is free at leisure.

Choice of Hotels in Longsheng
Category A Property: Ping An Hotel
Category B Property: Ping An Hotel (Grand Building)
Category C Property: Li An Lodge

Day 17 Longsheng – Guilin – Hong Kong (B)
Embark on a morning hiking to the Ping An Village where the Zhuang and Yao ethnic tribes have inhabited for hundreds of years. Overlook the terraced rice fields in the Dragon’s Backbone Mountain, and visit the Red Yao minority’s village. You will have a chance to chat with locals to get an idea in health care, education is in place in the community and how they make a living in the environment, also learning about and understand how ‘modern life’ in particular the tourism has impacted on their families and communities.Transfer to Guilin airport in time for the flight to Hong Kong and on arrival, transfer to hotel.

Choice of Hotels in Hong Kong
Category A Property: Kimberly Hotel
Category B Property: Royal Pacific Hotel
Category C Property: Marco Polo Hong Kong

Day 18 Hong Kong (B)
Today’s half day coach tour of Hong Kong, includes visits to Victoria Peak for breathtaking views of the city, the fishing village of Aberdeen, and the Stanley Market

Day 19 Hong Kong (B)
Full day is at leisure to pursue own interest. Or take an optional excursion to Macao, just less than one hour by high-speed boat or to Lantau Islands to see the Giant Buddha.

Day 20 Hong Kong (B)
Check out today and pre-arranged time, you will be transferred to the Hong Kong Airport for your onward flight.

SEASONALITIES
Low Season : Jun – Aug
Shoulder Season : Apr, Nov
High Season : May, Sep – Oct

YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE ONLY AVAILABLE BETWEEN LATE MARCH AND NOVEMBER.

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