Best of China with Yangtze River Cruise

Arrive at Beijing International Airport, meet your local representative and transfer to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Today’s tour of Beijing starts at Tian’anmen Square, the world’s largest public square.  You will then visit the Forbidden City with its acres of elegant palaces, pavilions, courtyards, and gardens. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon visit the Summer Palace and enjoy a cruise on Kunming Lake (weather permitting between April and October). After the tour, return to your hotel and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

Today’s tour highlight is a visit to the famous Great Wall of China.  Visit Beijing Jade Carving Factory followed by lunch at its Friendship restaurant.  In the afternoon, visit Sacred Way and Ming Tombs to experience the best-preserved Chinese Imperial Tombs with over 500 years history.  Tonight, enjoy a delicious Peking Duck dinner at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, visit the majestic Temple of Heaven where dynastic rulers of the past worshipped the gods and ancestors.  Then visit Lama Temple, a temple and monastery of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.  Afterward, enjoy a traditional Beijing Noodle lunch.  Then transfer to the airport for the flight to Xian.  Upon arrival in Xian, meet and transfer to your hotel and rest of day at leisure.

In the morning you will travel to visit the Terra Cotta Warrior Museum, the site of thousands of life-sized statues.  Then visit the Xian Art and Ceramic Workshop before you enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, where you will also have the opportunity to see a noodle making demonstration.   In the afternoon, visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Ancient City Wall.  Return to the hotel after the tour and enjoy the evening at your leisure.

Morning at leisure.   After check-out from hotel, transfer to airport for flight to Chongqing.  Upon arrival, meet with a tour guide and enjoy a city tour (time permits).  Then enjoy Sichuan flavor dinner before transferring to pier to board your cruise ship to begin your memorable Yangtze River Cruise.

In the morning, enjoy the magnificent scenery while cruising on the Yangtze waters. In the morning you will have the option to take a shore excursion to visit Xiaoguanshan Ancient Folk Culture. Depending on river conditions, an alternate excursion may be substituted to Shibaozhai. Return to your ship and continue your journey in the afternoon.  Overnight on board.

This morning, cruise through the Yangtze’s limestone cliffs that created the famous Three Gorges. See Qutang Gorge, the most spectacular of these three large gorges. Next, enter Wu Gorge with its immortal Twelve Peaks. Your shore excursion Goddess Stream with fast-flowing water and narrow channel, houses Depending on river conditions, an alternate excursion may be substituted to Shennong Stream. Return to your cruise and sail through the scenic Xiling Gorge, the longest and deepest of the three Gorges. Later, pass through Three Gorges Ship Lock.

Disembark from Maoping Pier Shore Excursion-Three Gorge Dam Site, after morning sightseeing, take a shuttle to Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Termina Meet and transfer to Yichang airport for flight to Shanghai.  Arrive at Shanghai, transfer to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Today you will take a full day city tour of Shanghai, where you will discover the city’s past and present.  Visit People’s Park, Shanghai Urban Planning Museum, Yu Garden, enjoy lunch at the local Restaurant. In the afternoon you will visit the Bund and the Shanghai Museum.  Enjoy the evening at your leisure.

After breakfast transfer from your hotel to the airport for your return flight to Canada.

B – Breakfast          L – Lunch          D – Dinner