Day 1 West Coast - Shanghai
Board your transpacific flight to Shanghai.
Day 2 Shanghai
Upon arrival in Shanghai, the “Paris of the
Orient,” you will be greeted and escorted to
The Regent Shanghai (or similar).
 Day 3 Shanghai (AB,L,D)
Today’s sightseeing features the bustling
shopping street, Nanjing Road, and the
Bund, the famous promenade along the
Huangpu River. Then visit the Shanghai
Museum, China’s most up-to-date museum
showcasing the country’s ancient glory. In
the afternoon, 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 Children’s Palace
where you will enjoy
musical and cultural
performances
by children
attending
classes. After
dinner, you will attend a
spectacular acrobatic show.
Day 4 Shanghai - Suzhou - Shanghai
(AB, L, WD)
After breakfast, take a scenic ride to Suzhou,
a charming city of canals filled with gardens
from the Ming and Qing ynasties–many
of them, UNESCO World Cultural Heritage
sites. Your sightseeing will include the
Garden of the Humble Administrator, the
Silk Embroidery Research Institute, Pan
Men City Gate and the North Temple
Pagoda. Return to Shanghai and enjoy a
glass of wine with your western dinner at
the hotel.
Day 5 Shanghai - Yichang - Yangtze
River Cruise (AB,L,D)
Your morning is free at leisure. Then transfer
to the airport for your flight to Yichang.
Dinner upon arrival, then board a 5-star
Victoria Cruises’ ship and begin your
memorable journey on the Yangtze River.
 Day 6 Yangtze River Cruise: Three
Gorges Dam (AB,L,D)
This morning, your cruise takes you on a
shore excursion at the Three Gorges Dam
site, the largest hydroelectric project in the
world. Then sail through the five stages of
the Three Gorges’ double-lane ship lock.
Your cruise continues and passes through
the first and longest gorge, Xiling Gorge.
Day 7 Yangtze River Cruise: Danning
River Small Gorges or Shennong Stream (AB,L,D)
Today’s 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, an alternate excursion to
Shennong Stream may occur, also with its
spectacular views of the Small Gorges.
Then continue to 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.
Day 8 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 9 Yangtze River - Chongqing -
Xi’an (AB,L,D)
Your cruise arrives in the mountainous city
of Chongqing where you disembark. 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. Then transfer to the airport for your
flight to Xi’an. Upon arrival, check in to the
Hyatt Regency Xi’an (or similar).
Day 10 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
dinner show at the Tang Dynasty Theatre
recreating the music, costumes and dances
of that era.
Day 11 Xi’an - Beijing
(AB,L,D)
Visit the ancient City Wall,
the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
and the Bell Tower before
transferring to the airport for
your flight to Beijing. Upon
arrival, check in to The
Regent Beijing (or similar).
 Day 12 Beijing (AB,L,WD)
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.
A scenic cable car ride enhances your visit
through the steep hills. Continue on to visit
a cloisonné factory on the way to lunch.
After lunch, en route back to city, drive
around the intriguing architecture of the
main 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). Continue toward the 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. Return to your
hotel for a western dinner.
Day 13 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). Bid your
goodbye with a glass
of wine and enjoy
a fabulous farewell
banquet featuring the
famous Beijing Duck
in the evening.
Day 14 Beijing - West Coast (AB)
Farewell to Beijing. Transfer to the airport
for your flight back to the USA |
