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Day 1 West Coast - Beijing
Board your transpacific flight to Beijing.
Day 2 Beijing
Upon arrival in Beijing, China's capital, you
will be greeted and escorted to the Capital
Hotel (or similar).
Day 3 Beijing (AB,L,SD)
After breakfast, visit Tiananmen Square and
the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City,
home of Chinese emperors for more than
500 years. After lunch, visit the Summer
Palace, taking a leisure stroll while admiring
the thousands of ancient murals along the
Long Corridor and a boat ride on Kunming
Lake (weather permitting). Enjoy a fabulous
welcome banquet featuring the famous
Beijing Duck in the evening.
 Day 4 Beijing (AB,L)
The highlight today is an excursion
to the Great Wall. Enjoy the
dramatic vistas and marvel
at the Wall as it climbs and
descends steep ridges and
narrow valleys. Next, visit a
cloisonné factory on the way
to lunch. After lunch, visit
the Ming Tombs
starting with a
stroll along the Sacred Way, which is guarded
by stone statues. Then tour the Chang Ling
Exhibition Museum.
Day 5 Beijing (AB,L)
Visit the Temple of Heaven in the morning,
where the emperors came to pray for good
harvests and pay their appreciation. Free
at leisure in the afternoon. You may take
an optional Hutong tour, a pedicab ride
through the old-city neighborhoods of
narrow lanes and courtyard gardens hidden
behind Beijing's modern façade. Visit Prince
Gong's Palace, the Drum Tower and old-style
courtyard houses still inhabited by Beijing
residents.
Day 6 Beijing - Xi'an (AB)
This morning, visit Beijing Sport University,
where over 50 graduates have won world
championship titles, and more than 60 have
won Asian championship titles. Visit the
university's museum, Garden of Champions,
indoor training gyms, outdoor sports fields
and courts, etc. En route to the airport, drive
around the intriguing architecture of the
main Olympic venues: the National Stadium,
nicknamed the “Bird's Nest,” because of its
unique design, and the National Aquatics
Center, known as the “Water Cube” (H2O3).
Take an afternoon flight to Xi'an. Upon
arrival, you will start your tour of the ancient
City Wall, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and
the Bell Tower. Overnight at the Grand New
World Hotel (or similar).
Day 7 Xi'an (AB,L,SD)
Today's highlight is a visit to the Terra-Cotta
Warriors and Horses Museum, home to an
army of more than 6,000 life-size statues
excavated from the tomb of the first emperor
of the Qin Dynasty. After lunch, visit the
Shaanxi Provincial Museum, renowned for
its collection of Han- and Tang-dynasty
antiquities. In the evening, enjoy a special
dumpling dinner and cultural show at the
Tang Dynasty Theatre recreating the music,
costumes and dances of that era.
Day 8 Xi'an - Chongqing - Yangtze
River Cruise (AB,L,D)
Transfer to the airport for your flight to
the mountainous city of Chongqing. Upon
arrival, your city tour will include a visit
to the Stilwell Museum where you will see
a collection of World War II memorabilia,
including exhibits on the Flying Tigers. If
time permits, visit the People's Congress
Hall and the art gallery. After dinner, board a
5-star Victoria Cruises' ship and begin your
memorable journey on the Yangtze River.
 Day 9 Yangtze River Cruise:
Shibaozhai (AB,L,D)
Today's shore excursion is to Shibaozhai,
famous for its 12-story wooden pagoda built
against a sheer cliff on the river bank over
some 400 years ago.
**Depending on local river conditions, an
alternate shore excursion to Wanzhou may
occur.
Day 10 Yangtze River Cruise:
Danning River Small Gorges or
Shennong Stream (AB,L,D)
This morning you will cruise through the first two of the famous Three Gorges: Qutang
Gorge, the shortest but the most dramatic
gorge; and Wu Gorge, known for its sheer
cliffs and twelve peaks. Your excursion will
include boarding a smaller vessel to sail up
the Danning River to view the scenery of the
Small Gorges. If weather permits, a sampan
ride will take you into a tranquil tributary.
Subject to river conditions, enjoy an alternate
excursion to Shennong Stream, which also
features spectacular views of the Small
Gorges. Your cruise continues and passes
through the last and longest gorge, Xiling
Gorge. Then sail through the five stages of the
Three Gorges' double-lane ship lock.
Day 11 Yangtze River Cruise: Three
Gorges Dam - Yichang - Shanghai
(AB,L,D)
This morning, your cruise
arrives in Yang Jia Wang
where you will enjoy a
shore excursion at the Three
Gorges Dam site, the largest
hydroelectric project in the
world. Continue onto Yichang
where you disembark.
Transfer to the airport for your
flight to Shanghai, the “Paris
of the Orient.” Afternoon
sightseeing features the
bustling shopping street,
Nanjing Road, and the Bund,
the famous promenade along
the Huangpu River. Check in to the Central
Hotel Shanghai (or similar).
**If a direct flight is not available, transfer by
motor coach to Wuhan for flight to Shanghai.
Day 12 Shanghai (AB,L,D)
After breakfast, pay a visit to the Jade Buddha
Temple, renowned for its huge statue of the
Buddha carved from a single piece of white
jade; and the Yu Garden, famous for its rock
gardens, pavilions, halls and ponds, and Old
Shanghai Bazaar, with shops filled with all
manner of interesting curios.
Day 13 Shanghai (AB)
Spend today at leisure to explore this vibrant
city on your own. Perhaps take an optional
tour to one of the nearby picturesque water
towns, known for their winding canals,
arched-stone bridges and well-preserved
architecture from the Ming and Qing
dynasties.
Day 14 Shanghai - Guilin (AB,L,D)
This morning, you will visit the Shanghai
Museum, China's most up-to-date museum
showcasing the country's ancient glory. Then
transfer to the airport and board your flight to
tranquil Guilin. Upon arrival, check in to the
Lijiang Waterfall Hotel (or similar).
 Day 15 Guilin (AB,L)
Today's excursion is a cruise along the
beautiful Li River. Experience the magical
beauty of limestone rock formations and
farmland commonly seen in Chinese
landscape paintings. Disembark at the
charming village of Yangshuo, which has one
of the best antique and craft markets in China.
Browse at the market, or relax at one of the
local cafes.
Day 16 Guilin -
Hong Kong (AB,L)
This morning, begin
your exploration with
a tour to Reed Flute
Cave, Elephant Trunk
Hill and Fubo Hill's
dramatic rock formation.
Transfer to the airport
for your evening flight
to Hong Kong. You will
be met and transferred
to the Harbour Plaza
Metropolis (or similar).
Day 17 Hong Kong (AB)
Today's half-day sightseeing tour gives an
introduction to Hong Kong Island. Your tour
will take you through Repulse Bay, Stanley
Market and Aberdeen's floating community. Then ascend Victoria Peak to take in the
breathtaking, panoramic views of the city.
The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 18 Hong Kong (AB)
You have the whole day at leisure to discover
why Hong Kong is known as “The Shopping Capital of Asia.” You may also consider
taking one of the optional tours.
Day 19 Hong Kong - West Coast (AB)
Farewell to Hong Kong. Transfer to the
airport for your flight back to the USA. |
