12 Days China Highlights with Majestic Yangtze Cruise Tour for Seniors
Are you working on your bucket list, since after retirement you have both time and a budget? Make sure you don’t miss China. Thinking about China usually conjures up the long history and splendid culture. But there’s more to see and explore for senior travelers. Take this classic itinerary to take in the world-class attractions in Beijing, Xian and Shanghai, and cruise the majestic Yangtze River aboard luxury ship to enjoy breathtaking views.
We ensure you a once-in-a-lifetime vacation to experience China in a most comfortable way.
CCT Advantages:
- 1. Experience rich culture in three of China’s key cities, Beijing Xian and Shanghai;
- 2. Learn about China’s fascinating history, from the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Terracotta Warriors to the Bund;
- 3. Sail on a three-night Yangtze River cruise, soaking up the spectacular scenery of mountains and rivers, and practicing Tai Chi onboard;
- 4. Step back in time to the Old Beijing to see ancient streets, dwellings and handicrafts on a relaxing hutong rickshaw ride;
- 5. Visit local markets, families and park to experience Chines senior life;
- 6. Our hotel and restaurant selections ensure you can sleep well and taste delicious Chinese cuisine.
12 Days Beijing Xian Yangtze River Cruise and Shanghai Tour for Seniors
Day 1, Arrive Beijing
Meals: No Meals
Welcome to China! Meet your private guide and driver for a transfer from airport to your hotel. Your vehicle is in a good condition, spacious and comfortable. Your guide will then assist you in hotel check-in procedures and anything else you may need help. After a long air journey, relax and get over the jet lag.
Recommended hotels:
- Beijing luxury hotels: Four Seasons, Peninsula, Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, Regent Beijing or similar
- Beijing boutique hotels: Double Happiness Beijing Courtyard Hotel or similar
Day 2, Beijing: Forbidden City, Summer Palace
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, navigate to the heart of Beijing, where the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square are located. Walk on the Tiananmen Square to look up Tiananmen Rostrum, fluttering Chinese national flags and other historical sites surrounding.
Enter Forbidden City. The previous imperial palace has become an amazing museum of ancient Chinese culture and art. Have an in-depth visit of Forbidden City to admire the traditional Chinese wooden architectures, see many awe-inspiring treasures and learn history.
In the afternoon, take a dragon boat to cruise China’s royal garden – the Summer Palace. It is a fabulous combination of Chinese imperial architecture and classical garden. Enjoying the mountainous beauty, elegant gardens and river cruise, you will experience part of a Chinese emperor’s life.
Watch a performance of Peking Opera or Shaolin Kung Fu with VIP seat (optional).
Day 3, Beijing: the Great Wall, Hutong Rickshaw Tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
The iconic landmark of China, the Great Wall is a big draw for all people. For senior travelers, we’ll arrange you the round way cableway on Mutianyu Great Wall. You may or may not walk for a while to take in the magnificent views – the walls stretch on the mountaintops as far as your eyes can reach. Learn from your expert guide the historical facts of the Great Wall.
Then peep your legs loose on a rickshaw, a public vehicle widely used in Beijing in the early 19th Century, and go through the historical hutong alleys, where the old Beijing, with many disappearing scenes, can still be found. There’re chances that you may have a chat with the senior people living in hutong.
Follow the traditional dinning etiquette to enjoy a Beijing Roasted Duck dinner (optional).
Day 4, Temple of Heaven, Beijing to Xian
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
A gift to your health, take a private Tai Chi boxing lesson right in front of Temple of Heaven. And see the locals, mostly the elderly, enjoying their morning hours in a healthy, active way by dancing and practicing Kung Fu. Temple of heaven itself is a truly outstanding architecture and was a sacred place for ancient Chinese monarchs to worship heaven.
If you’re traveling in Beijing at a weekend, don’t miss visiting Panjiayuan Market. Here see antique lovers looking for the old stuffs, valuable or sophisticated counterfeiting, from the local craftsman and vendors.
Board a high speed train from Beijing to Xian, one of China’s premier historic capitals, with many ancient sites.
Recommended hotels:
- Xian luxury hotels: Wyndham Grand Xian South, Gran Meliá Xian, Sofitel Legend Peoples Grand Hotel or similar
- Xian boutique hotels: Grand Mercure Xi'an on Renmin Square or similar
Day 5, Xian: Museum of Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Begin your full day Xian tour with a trip to the archaeological site of the enormous Terracotta Army. The vividly carved warriors, officers, horses, chariots and weapons were the funerary objects of Emperor Qinshihuang and supposed to protect him after he died. Get to know Chinese manual skill of terracotta 2000 years ago.
Then take a stroll on bustling Muslim Street, a renowned food center in Xian introducing perfectly the local cuisine that blends Muslim flavor. Come to the Great Mosque of Xian in Huajue Alley, a grand Islamic mosque blending traditional Chinese architectural art yet strictly in accordance with the Islamic layout system.
Tonight, be amused by Tang Dynasty music and dance, while at the same time gracefully feasting on various flavors of dumplings at a banquet (optional).
Day 6, Silk Road History, Xian to Chongqing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, view Xian’s urban landscape, dotted with old structures such as Bell and Drum Towers, on the majestic Ancient City Wall. There’s no other place like Xian that retains its history on every modern aspect.
Soak up Silk Road history and culture at the site of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This masterpiece of Buddhist architecture was constructed in 652 to keep the Buddhist classics that were brought back by the legendary Monk Xuanzang from ancient Indian. It witnessed the prosperity of Silk Road and the introduction of Buddhism to China.
Fly from Xian to Chongqing, a city famous for hot pot and fabulous night views, and where your Yangtze cruise starts. Transfer to the port to board your ship.
Day 7, Yangtze Cruise – Shibaozhai Pagoda
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
If you prefer, live like an energetic Chinese senior – practicing Tai Chi moves in the breeze in the early morning, and bask in the first soft sunlight. Join a local-expert-led shore excursion to Shibaozhai Pagoda standing majestically on the bank of Yangtze. One of the few all-wood architectures of ancient China, the pagoda is hailed as an amazingly strange building in the world.
At tonight’s welcome party, meet the captain and crew. Enjoy the delicious dinner and a choreographed performance.
Day 8, Yangtze Cruise – Goddess Stream
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
As the ship sails, you’ve come to the most scenic place of the Yangtze. Keep practicing Tai Chi on board and feel at ease with comfortable environment. Enjoy the beautiful Three Gorge sceneries all along. The ship gradually sails through Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge, and you can see high mountains and steep precipices along the banks. Then get out of your ship and take a small boat to float through pristine Shennv Stream (Goddess Stream).
Attend the Captain’s Farewell Party.
Day 9, Three Gorge Dam, Yichang to Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, check out, and disembark in Yichang this morning. You will be driven to the site of Three Gorge Dam, along with all the other passengers. The dam is a multipurpose hydraulic project, the biggest and most efficiency of its kind in the world, and creating a spectacular scene on the Yangtze River.
Before flying to Shanghai, have a visit of Sanyou Cave, a famous cultural site in Yichang, with ancient pavilions and military fort. Many ancient literati came here successively and left hundreds of cliff inscriptions and poems.
Recommended hotels:
- Shanghai luxury hotels: Peace Hotel, Les Suites Orient Bund, Peninsula or similar
- Shanghai boutique hotels: Hotel Indigo on the Bund, The Yangtze Boutique or similar
Day 10, Shanghai: the Bund, Yu Garden
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today, discover both Shanghai’s charming traditional culture and modern spectacles. Visit Fuxing Park, with a garden that mixes classical French style. Local people, especially the elderly, like to do the morning exercise to keep fit in the park.
Continue to explore Shanghai, touring Yu Garden, a traditional Chinese garden in Shanghai city center with outstanding design and refined layout. Then walk the zigzagging bridge of Town God Temple Area and come to Shanghai’s most famous food streets. Steam bun, traditional cakes, noodles… are to make your mouth watering.
Later ascend the observation deck of Shanghai World Financial Center, one of the tallest buildings in Lujiazui, to view the rising skyscrapers. Then ramble on the Bund along Huangpu River. There are over 50 colonial buildings of different classical Western architectural styles, making the Bund a historical landmark in Shanghai.
Day 11, Tongli Water Town by Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today, transfer from Shanghai to Tongli to soak up the picturesque views of thousand year-old ancient town, canals, Ming & Qing dwellings, gardens, wetlands… Experience a peaceful, slow-paced life as the locals do in Tongli and ride a boat to cruise the lakes and bridges. Walk leisurely on the Ming Qing Street lined with traditional snack and specialty shops and visit UNESCO-listed Tuisi Garden.
Tonight, enjoy VIP seating watching the performance of Shanghai acrobatics (optional).
Day 12, Depart Shanghai
Meals: Breakfast
Pick up, and transfer from hotel to airport. Your guide will assist you to go through the check-in procedures and walk you to the security Checkpoint. Board your flight back home. China Culture Tour service ends.
