BEIJING–SHANGHAI–CHONGQING-
THE YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE–WUHAN-XIAN
     
15 Days

~ Friday Departures March through November~

Day 01 (Fri) US/BEIJING
Take an international flight from the US to Beijing, China. Meals and snacks will be served on the plane. Movies will also be available during the flight.

Day 02 (Sat) BEIJING
Upon arrival in Beijing, you will be met and transferred to your hotel by our tour guide. The rest of the night will be free for your leisure.

Day 03 (Sun) BEIJING (AB, L, D)
Today you will visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the largest and most intact conglomeration of ancient structures of the imperial palace. This was the palace for 24 Ming and Qing Dynasty emperors who ruled China for over 500 years. You will also tour the delicately crafted Temple of Heaven, where the emperors used to pray for good harvest.

Day 04 (Mon) BEIJING (AB, L, SD)
The highlight today is a trip to the astonishing Great Wall of China at Juyongguan Pass, one of the most remarkable feats of mankind. After lunch, you will stroll along the Sacred Way guarding the Ming Tombs, lined with different statutes of animals such as lions, elephants, camels and etc. Later in the day, you will take a tour of the Olympic Park where you will view the exterior of the Bird Nest-China National Stadium and Water Cube-China National Aquatic Center. Attend a welcome Peking Duck Dinner tonight.

Day 05 (Tue) BEIJING (AB, L, D)
The excursion today includes a visit to the Summer Palace, the famous resort of Empress Dowager Ci Xi. Feast your eyes on the Long Corridor, Longevity Hill, and Kunming Lake. You may also have the opportunity to see pandas at Beijing Zoo located nearby the Summer Palace. This afternoon you will take a tour of Hutong (Chinese alleyways) by riding aboard a rickshaw pedicab through the narrow lanes of the old residential quarters. You will have the opportunity to take a glimpse of the local residents’ daily life. In the evening you will attend an acrobatic show.

Day 06 (Wed) BEIJING/XIAN (AB, L, SD)
After breakfast, you will take a flight to Xian, the ancient capital city for 11 dynasties in Chinese history. Visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda upon arrival in Xian. Enjoy a dumpling dinner banquet, followed by an on-stage show of Tang Dynasty dance and music.  

Day 07 (Thurs) XIAN (AB, L, D)
After breakfast, visit the Tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and see the awesome Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses, widely regarded as the eighth wonder of the world. After lunch, take a tour of the well preserved Ancient City Wall. Enjoy the rest of the day for leisure.

Day 08 (Fri) XIAN/CHONGQING (AB, L, D)
This morning you will visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum of History. After lunch, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Chongqing. Upon arrival in Chongqing, you will take a brief city tour of Chongqing and enjoy the special hot pot food for dinner before being transferred to the pier for embarking on the Yangtze River cruise. Spend the night on the cruise.

Day 09 (Sat) THE YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE: CHONGQING/FENGDU (AB, L, D)
Sail from Chongqing early in the morning and arrive in Fengdu, the legendary home of the King of Hades – often referred to as the “ghost city”– in the early afternoon. Go ashore to view the Mingshan Hill’s temples. Continue sailing in the evening for Badong.

Day 10 (Sun) YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE: BADONG/SAN DOU PING (AB, L, SD)
Up on deck early in the morning for the thrilling experience of sailing through the magnificent Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge before arrival in Badong at noontime. Transfer to a small pea-boat for Shennong Stream Drifting to experience the breathtaking scenery. Resume your sail on the Yangtze River for San Dou Ping. Pass through the last gorge – Xiling Gorge. In late afternoon, the cruise ship will pass through the five level shiplocks of the well-known Three Gorges Dam, which gives you an unique opportunity to experience the grandeur of the world’s biggest dam project . Arrive in San Dou Ping, where the Three Gorges Dam Project Site is located, in the evening.

Day 11 (Mon) THE YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE: SAN DOU PING/SUZHOU (via SHANGAI) (AB, L, D)
This morning you will visit the Three Gorges Dam Project Site. After lunch, you will be transferred to Yichang Airport for flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival in Shanghai, you will be met and transferred to Suzhou, noted for its landscaped gardens.

Day 12 (Tues) SUZHOU (AB, L, D)
Today you will cruise on the world famous ancient Grand Canal of more than 2400 years history to experience the unique cultures and glimpse the daily life of the local residents. You will also visit the silk embroidery factory, the Lingering Garden and the ancient Panmen Gate, the only existing water & land gate. After dinner you will take a night tour of the Master of Fishing Nets Garden, the most elegantly designed garden while enjoy watching the singing and dancing performances in the garden tonight. (A night tour of the Master of Fishing Nets Garden may not be available in the winter season.)

Day 13 (Wed) SUZHOU/SHANGHAI (AB, L, SD)
After breakfast, you will take a bus ride back to Shanghai. On the way to Shanghai, you will take an excursion to Zhujiajiao, a water village near Shanghai with a history of more than 1000 years. You will experience the serene country lifestyle of the local residents, and immerse yourself in the “old world” architecture and the local customs that have been well preserved.
Shanghai, China’s largest city (home to 16 million people), is also China’s principal port on a deep estuary of the Yangtze River. Often regarded as “the Paris of the East,” Shanghai has retained the flavor of its past European influences. Upon arrival in Shanghai, you will visit the Bund and well-known Shanghai Museum of Art and History, which ranks among the great museums of the world. Attend a farewell dinner celebration of Shanghai cuisine in the evening, followed by a cruise on Huangpu River to enjoy a fascinating night view of Shanghai.

Day 14 (Thurs) SHANGHAI (AB, L)
Today’s excursion takes you to Yu Garden and the bustling Nanjing Road. After lunch, enjoy your leisure time to explore Shanghai on your own.

Day 15 (Fri) SHANGHAI/US (AB)
After breakfast you will take a departure transfer to the airport for the flight back home.


AB: American Breakfast – L: Lunch – D: Dinner-SD: Special Dinner
 

For Reservations Call: 800.322.0788
Discount Air Fare Available Nation-wide.

Tour Features: Roundtrip international air transportation, all domestic air and ground transportation, 10 nights hotel accommodations at five-star deluxe hotels, deluxe Five-Star China Regal Cruises or Victoria Cruises on the Yangtze River with shore excursions, escorted tours and sightseeing with admission and English speaking tour guides in each city,  36 meals: 13 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 11 dinners including Peking duck dinner, dumpling dinner banquet in Xian, and Shanghai cuisine farewell dinner party, cultural entertainment: Acrobatic show in Beijing, Tang Dynasty dance and music show with dinner in Xian, shipboard singing and dancing show on the cruise.

copyright (Pilgrim Tours) 2001