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ITINERARY |
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Day 1 West Coast - Beijing
Aboard your transpacific flight to Beijing.
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 Day 2 Beijing
Upon arrival in Beijing, China's capital, you will be greeted and escorted to The Regent Beijing (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 the Kunming Lake (weather permitting). Toast your arrival with a glass of wine and enjoy a fabulous welcome banquet featuring the famous Beijing Duck in the evening.
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Day 4 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 cloisonn factory on the way to lunch. After lunch, visit the Ming Tombs starting with a stroll along the Sacred Way guarded by the stone statues; then onto the Chang Ling Exhibition Museum. After dinner at hotel, enjoy a mystical and amazing show, "Legend of Kung Fu".
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Day 5 Beijing - Xi'an (AB,L,WD)
This morning, enjoy a pedicab tour of the Hutongs, the "Old City" neighborhood of narrow lanes and courtyard houses hidden behind Beijing's modern facade. Get acquainted with the local residents on a family visit; watching little children play in their classes and climbing the Drum Tower for a city view from atop. Fly to Xi'an and check in to the Shangri-La Golden Flower (or similar). |
 Day 6 Xi'an (AB,L,SD)
Today's highlight is a visit to the Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum, home to more than 6,000 life-size army 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 dance of that era.
Day 7 Xi'an - Chongqing (AB,L,WD)
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. Check in to the JW Marriott Hotel Chongqing. |
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Day 8 Chongqing - Dazu - Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise (AB,L,D)
After breakfast, travel by motorcoach to Dazu, famous for its sacred Buddhist rock carving. There are over 10,000 religious sculptures in the area of Baoding Shan and Bei Shan. Return to Chongqing for dinner before boarding the 5-star Victoria Anna and begin your memorable journey on the Yangtze River.
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 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, 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 up the Danning River to view the sceneries of the Small Gorges. If weather permits, a sampan ride will take you into the tranquil tributary. Subject to river condition, alternate excursion to Shennong Stream may occur, also with its spectacular views of the Small Gorges. Your cruise continues and passes through the last and longest gorge, Xiling Gorge. Then sail through the double-lane five stages of the Three Gorges ship locks.
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Day 11 Yangtze River Cruise: Three Gorges Dam - Yichang - Shanghai (AB,L,D)
This morning, your cruise arrives 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 - "Paris of the Orient". Afternoon sightseeing features the bustling shopping street Nanjing Road, and The Bund, famous promenade along the Huangpu River. Check in to The Regent Shanghai (or similar).
**If direct flight is not available, transfer by motorcoach to Wuhan for flight to Shanghai.
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 Day 12 Shanghai (AB,L,D)
This morning, you will 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. |
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Day 13 Shanghai - Suzhou - Shanghai (AB, L, WD)
After breakfast, a scenic ride to Suzhou, a charming city of canals filled with gardens from Ming and Qing dynasty which some of them have been designated UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. 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 14 Shanghai - Hangzhou (AB,L,D)
This morning, travel to scenic Hangzhou by motorcoach. Lunch upon arrival, then start exploring this charming 2,000-year-old city with a boat ride on scenic West Lake. Long famous for its beauty, there is a Chinese saying "In heaven there is paradise and on earth there are Hangzhou and Suzhou". Overnight at Shangri-La Hotel Hangzhou (or similar). |
 Day 15 Hangzhou (AB,L, SD)
Today you will visit Ling Yin Temple (Temple of Soul's Retreat) and Feilai Peak (the Peak that Flew Here). Continue to the 1,000-year-old Six Harmonies Pagoda, and enjoy a tea ceremony sipping Dragonwell green tea at the Long Jing Tea Plantation. This evening, enjoy a special Hangzhou cuisine banquet.
Day 16 Hangzhou - Guilin (AB,L,WD)
This morning is free at leisure. Then transfer to the airport and board your flight to tranquil Guilin. Upon arrival, check in to the Sheraton Guilin Hotel (or similar). |
Day 17 Guilin - Yangshuo (AB,L,D)
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. After dinner, enjoy a grand musical show, "Impression Liu Sanjie" set on the world's largest natural theater, featuring a cast of 600 and a stage set on 12 peaks and the Li River (weather permitting). Overnight at the Yangshuo Paradise Resort (or similar). |
Day 18 Yangshuo - Guilin - Hong Kong (AB,L)
Transfer back to Guilin and spend your day with a city tour which includes the Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill and the Fubo Hill's dramatic rock formation. Then transfer to the airport for your evening flight to Hong Kong. Check in to your deluxe harbor view room at the Harbour Plaza Hong Kong (or similar).
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 Day 19 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 up to Victoria Peak to take in the breathtaking panoramic views of the city. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 20 Hong Kong (AB)
You have the whole day at leisure to interpret the meaning of Hong Kong being "The Shopping Capital of Asia". You may also consider taking one of the optional tours.
Day 21 Hong Kong - West Coast (AB)
Farewell to Hong Kong. Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the USA. |
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