Description

Day 01 (Wed) Arrive Beijing

Arrive in Beijing, where you will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel.

The remainder of the day is at leisure to rest or begin exploring the city at your own pace.

Day 02 (Thu) Beijing (B/L)

Begin your day with a visit to the vast Tian’anmen Square, the symbolic heart of modern China, followed by a guided exploration of the magnificent Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Enjoy a Chinese lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit the elegant Summer Palace, renowned for its classical gardens, tranquil Kunming Lake, and the iconic Long Corridor. Dinner is at your own arrangement.

Day 03 (Fri) Beijing (B/L/D)

This morning, travel to the Badaling section of the Great Wall, one of the most well-presed and accessible stretches of this world wonder, offering sweeping mountain views.

Continue with a visit to a traditional Jade Carving Factory to learn about this ancient craft, followed by lunch at the Friendship Restaurant.

In the afternoon, explore the Sacred Way, lined with impressive stone statues, and visit the Changling Tomb, the largest of the Ming Tombs.

In the evening, enjoy a signature Peking Duck dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 04 (Sat) Beijing / Xian (B/L)

Start the day with a visit to the Temple of Heaven, where emperors once performed rituals for good harvests, and the Lama Temple, one of Beijing’s most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries.

Enjoy a traditional Beijing noodle lunch before transferring to the airport for your flight to Xian.

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 05 (Sun) Xian (B/L)

This morning, visit the extraordinary Terra Cotta Warriors Museum, home to thousands of life-sized soldiers guarding Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb.

Continue to the Xian Ceramic and Art Workshop to gain insight into traditional craftsmanship. Lunch is served at a local restaurant and includes a lively noodle-making demonstration.

In the afternoon, visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, an important Buddhist landmark, and walk along the well-preserved ancient City Wall. Dinner is at leisure.

Optional evening program: Tang Dynasty Dinner and cultural show with round-trip transfers.

Day 06 (Mon) Xian / Guilin (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Guilin, famed for its dramatic karst landscapes.

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

In the afternoon, visit the Reed Flute Cave, known for its colorful illuminated stalactites and stalagmites, and Elephant Trunk Hill, the city’s most recognizable natural landmark.

The remainder of the day is free at leisure.

Day 07 (Tue) Guilin / Yangshuo / Guilin (B/L)

Enjoy a scenic Li River Cruise, one of China’s most celebrated journeys, with lunch served on board as you pass through breathtaking limestone peaks and rural landscapes.

Disembark in Yangshuo and take a stroll along the lively West Street. Continue with a visit to nearby villages to experience local rural life and interact with farmers.

In the late afternoon, return to Guilin.

Day 08 (Wed) Guilin / Chongqing (B/D)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Chongqing.

Upon arrival, you will be met and, if time permits, visit the Chongqing Panda Zoo and the Stilwell Museum, offering insights into World War II history.

Enjoy a Sichuan-style dinner at a local restaurant before transferring to the pier to board the 5-star Victoria Anna Cruise ship, where you will stay in a Superior Cabin with private balcony.

Day 09 (Thu) Yangtze River Cruise (B/L/D)

Begin your Yangtze River cruise with a shore excursion to Xiaoguanshan Ancient Folk Culture Park. Depending on river conditions, this excursion may be replaced with a visit to Shibaozhai, a striking wooden pagoda built into a cliff.

Optional excursions (additional cost) include a visit to Fengdu’s “Ghost City” or an evening performance of the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” show.

Day 10 (Fri) Yangtze River Cruise (B/L/D)

Sail through the dramatic Qutang Gorge, the shortest yet most spectacular of the Three Gorges, followed by scenic cruising through the serene Wu Gorge.

Take a smaller boat excursion into the picturesque Goddess Stream (or Shennong Stream, depending on conditions), offering close-up views of the region’s natural beauty.
Optional excursion (additional cost): visit to White Emperor City.

Day 11 (Sat) Yichang / Shanghai (B)

Disembark at Maoping Pier and visit the impressive Three Gorges Dam Site, the world’s largest hydroelectric project.

Optional excursion (additional cost): experience the Three Gorges Dam ship lift.

After sightseeing, transfer to Yichang for your flight to Shanghai.

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure, with meals on your own.

Day 12 (Sun) Shanghai (B/L)

Begin your day with a visit to People’s Park, followed by the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum, offering a fascinating overview of the city’s development.

Continue to the classical Yu Garden, a masterpiece of Ming Dynasty landscaping. After lunch at a local restaurant, explore the historic Bund, lined with colonial-era architecture, and visit the Shanghai Museum, home to an outstanding collection of Chinese art and artifacts.

Dinner is at leisure.

Optional evening: Shanghai Acrobatic Show with round-trip transfers.

Day 13 (Mon)Exit Shanghai (B)

Transfer to the airport for your onward departure, concluding your journey through China.