12 Days Beijing Xian Yangtze and Shanghai Tour

Welcome to China! Meet your private guide and driver at the Beijing Capital International Airport. Transfer to your luxurious hotel for relaxation. The rest of the day is for you to adapt to the new environment.

• Hotels: Four Seasons Hotel Beijing, Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel, Beijing Fairmont Hotel

Private Tai Chi lesson

Start Beijing city tour with a visit to Temple of Heaven, the shrine for ancient emperors to offered sacrifice to Heaven, thus its architectures are magnificent. Here you can witness the local people to do various kinds of morning exercise in a lively ambience.

Later come to Tiananmen Square at the heart of Beijing connecting some of China’s significant monuments and structures, as well as Forbidden City. Used to be the royal palace, Forbidden City is a distinguished symbol of ancient China. Marvel at world’s largest and best-preserved ancient wooden architecture cluster and the relics at Treasure House. Go across the avenue and ascend Jingshan Hill to overlook Forbidden City.

Enjoy Beijing Roast Duck for dinner(optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Temple of Heaven

Experience the authentic local way of living by riding a rickshaw winding through the Old Beijing hutongs. Also learn from your local guide about the legendary stories and traditional folklores. Proceed to the Mutianyu Great Wall constructed on the mountain summit (round way cable car included), very well preserved and with few tourist crowds. Walk around to admire the splendor of the Great Wall, embraced by lush vegetation.

A Kung Fu Show or a Peking Opera show is recommended for you to enjoy the night activities in Beijing (optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Great Wall

Transfer to visit Summer Palace, known as the museum of royal garden in China, and designed and built by using the art techniques of Suzhou classical garden. Enjoy a short, relaxed boat trip on Kunming Lake in Summer Palace.

Transfer to the railway station and move to Xian with a high speed train journey. The former capital of ancient China for 13 Dynasties and a famous city on Silk Road, Xian has been steeped in history.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Wyndham Grand Xian South

Kung Fu show

Visit the Museum of the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, actually a huge tomb of Qin Dynasty First Emperor’s terracotta “armada” to protect him afterlife. They are soldiers and military officers, wearing different kinds of armors and holding various weapons.

Explore the bustling Muslim Quarter packed with diverse food stalls and restaurants. And walk to the Great Mosque of Xian at Huaxue Alley, dating to around 1000 years ago. Its beautiful architecture blends both Arabic style and ancient Chinese style.

Enjoy an authentic dumping dinner with a night show of Tang Dynasty Dance (optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Terracotta Warriors Museum

During your last day in Xian, visit the perfectly preserved Ming Dynasty City Wall, the iconic structure of Xian and embracing the city with great historic atmosphere. Enjoy a bike ride on the Walls (optional). Thereafter, admire Big Wild Goose Pagoda inside Ci'en Temple - used to be the most famous and grandest temple in ancient Xian and built to keep the Buddhist classics brought back from India by Xuanzang.

Fly to Chongqing, pick up from airport and transfer to the port to embark on Yangtze cruise ship and set sail. If you love spicy food, don’t miss Chongqing hot pot for dinner (optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Xi'an Ancient City Wall

Enjoy a refreshing morning with tea or coffee, and clean air. Participate in the onboard leisure or cultural activities, such as Tai Chi practice (with the guidance of master) and attending the lecture of Yangtze River history. In the afternoon go ashore to visit Shibaozhai Pagoda, a spectacular wooden architecture wonder beside Yangtze River, with a history of about 400 years.

Enjoy the Captain’s Welcome Party with great foods and drinks, and entertaining performances.

Optional shore excursion today: Fengdu Ghost City, the “home of the dead” for over 2000 years.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,

Shibaozhai Pagoda

Relax at the spacious sun deck and take in the beautiful “Three Gorge” landscape when sailing through Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge. And take small boats to slide into Shennv Stream (Goddess Stream) with primitive and serene natural scenery, and encounter local ethnic minority tribes.

Free at leisure and enjoy a delightful evening with Captain’s Farewell Party.

Optional shore excursion to White Emperor City is recommended to Chinese culture enthusiasts. It is known as a city of poem and boasts a wealth of Ming and Qing dynasties architectures.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,

Yangtze River Cruise

After breakfast on board, check out and disembark. Before your Yangtze cruise finally ends, transfer to Three Gorge Dam, a highlight of the cruise voyage, to wonder at the largest hydropower project in the world. Afterwards, your Yichang local guide will pick you up and enjoy a leisure time at Yichang Riverside Park – and take another look at the Yangtze.

Then you will be escorted to the airport and fly to Shanghai. Arrive in Shanghai and melt into its enticing night view.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai at Tomorrow Square, Grand Hyatt Shanghai, Four Seasons Hotel Pudong Shanghai

Three Gorges Dam

The most bustling metropolis in China, Shanghai has traditions dating back hundreds of years ago. The city highlights tour allows you to experience the history, culture and art of Shanghai.

Visit Shanghai Museum, with a fabulous collection of ancient Chinese culture and art treasures. Then appreciate the superb ancient Chinese horticulture at Yu Garden. Right next to Yu Garden is the Town God Temple. The once shrine of Shanghai is a now a food center and connects with many quaint old streets.

Walk all the way to the Bund, where the historic colonial buildings make a significant contrast against the skyline on the other shore of Huangpu River. Ascend the observatory of Shanghai World Financial Center for a thrill.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Shanghai Pudong area

Drive out of the bustling Shanghai and enjoy peaceful hours in Tongli Ancient Town built in Song Dynasty. The 15 streams divide Tongli into seven islands, while 49 ancient arch bridges link the islands together. A boat trip will take you to sail through the bridges and discover the beautiful gardens, temples, former residences of celebrities in history.

Enjoy a wonderful acrobatic show in the evening (optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Tongli Water Town by Boat

Here comes the end of your China vacation. Bid a farewell to this magic country and thelovely people. A departure transfer to the airport has been arranged for you. Fly home safely and soundly.

• Meals: Breakfast,

The Bund, Shanghai