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.

Day 03 (Sun) BEIJING (AB, L, SD)
Today you will tour the delicately crafted Temple of Heaven, where the emperors used to pray for good harvest. After lunch, you will tour the Hutong (Chinese alleyways) by riding aboard a 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. Attend a welcome Peking Duck Dinner Party in the evening.

Day 04 (Mon) BEIJING (AB, L, D)
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 visit one of the Ming Tombs, burial sites for 13 of the Ming emperors, and the Sacred Way lined with stone statutes of different kinds of animals such as lions, elephants, camels and etc.

Day 05 (Tues) BEIJING (AB, L, D)
The excursion today includes a visit to 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. Lunch is followed by 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 the zoo in Beijing. In the evening you will attend an acrobatic show.

Day 06 (Wed) BEIJING/SHANGHAI (AB, L, D)
This morning you will take a flight to Shanghai, China’s largest city (home to 16 million people), which 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 your arrival in 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.

Day 07 (Thurs) SHANGHAI (AB, L, SD)
Today’s excursion takes you to Yu Garden, the Bund, the bustling Nanjing Road, and the well-known Shanghai Museum of Art and History, which ranks among the great museums of the world. Attend a dinner of Shanghai cuisine in the evening, followed by a cruise on Huangpu River to enjoy a fascinating night view of Shanghai.

Day 08(Fri) SHANGHAI/SUZHOU (AB, L, D)
This morning you will visit the Children’s Palace and take a tour of the Oriental Pearl Tower to have a bird’s- eye view of Shanghai before taking your bus ride to Suzhou, often referred to as the “Venice of the East”. Enjoy the rest of the day for leisure in Suzhou.

Day 09(Sat) SUZHOU (AB, L, D)
This morning 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 10(Sun) SUZHOU/WUHAN (AB, L, D)
Enjoy your free morning for leisure before taking a transfer to the airport in Shanghai for your flight to Wuhan. Upon arrival in Wuhan, you will be met at the airport and transferred to the pier to embark on the China Regal Cruise. Spend the night on the cruise.

Day 11(Mon) YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE (AB, L, D)
Sail all day. Enjoy fine dining, a river briefing, and cultural programs on board.

Day 12(Tues) YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE:
GEZHOU DAM/XILING GORGE/MAOPING (AB, L, D)
Pass through the Gezhou Dam Ship Lock and enter Xiling Gorge. Around noon time, 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. After lunch, you will visit the Three Gorges Dam Project Site. Continue sailing in the afternoon through the Xiling Gorge.

Day 13(Wed) YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE: (AB, L, D)
WU GORGE/WUSHAN/BADONG/QUTANG GORGE
Pass through the Wu Gorge early in the morning and sail to Wushan. Upon arrival in Badong, you will be transferred to a small pea-boat for Shennong Stream Drifting to experience the breathtaking scenery. Continue sailing and pass through the Qutang Gorge in the late afternoon.
Day 14(Thurs) YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE: WANXIAN (AB, L, D)
Sail to Wanxian and go ashore to visit the Three Gorges Museum, attend the acrobatic show , and sightsee other points of interest. Continue sailing for Chongqing.

Day 15(Fri) CHONGQING/XIAN (AB, L, SD)
Arrive in Chongqing in the morning. Take a city tour of Chongqing and visit the Stilwell Museum. Take an afternoon 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 16(Sat) 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. You will also take a tour of the well preserved city wall.

Day 17(Sun) XIAN/GUILIN (AB, L, D)
This morning you will visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum of History before taking a flight to Guilin, famous for its picturesque limestone peaks and rivers.

Day 18(Mon) GUILIN (AB, L, D)
Today you will take a relaxing cruise on the Li River to Yangshuo. Enjoy the haunting beauty of the mist-wrapped monolithic peaks along the riverbanks en route. Take a walking tour of Yangshuo. Enjoy a grand performance of folklore dance accompanied with a backdrop of limestone peaks and rivers accompanied by light and sound on Li River in the evening before returning to Guilin by bus.

Day 19(Tues) GUILIN/HONG KONG (AB, L)
After breakfast, you will take a tour of the Elephant Trunk Hill, and the Reed Flute Cave, a fairy land of limestone known as the “art gallery of nature”. Take a flight to the airport for your flight to Hong Kong, the “Pearl of the Orient”. You will be met and transferred to your hotel upon arrival in Hong Kong.

Day 20(Wed) HONG KONG (AB)
Today’s half-day seat-in-coach tour of Hong Kong Island takes you to the Aberdeen Fishing Village, Repulse Bay and Victoria Peak for a breathtaking view of the city and its harbor. The rest of the day will be free for you to experience the vibrancy and vitality of urban Hong Kong on your own.

Day 21(Thurs) HONG KONG/US (AB)
After breakfast, you will take a departure transfer for your flight back home.

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

Not Included: air taxes, fuel and air surcharges for some departures, airport construction fees in china & visa fee's. 
China Visa & Instructions

Because of limited space on this tour, please reserve early!

copyright (Pilgrim Tours) 2001