14 Days Shanghai Yangtze River Cruise Xian and Beijing Tour

Welcome to China! Arrive Shanghai at any time, and your private guide will meet you outside the customs of airport. Transfer to your luxurious hotel with a private vehicle. Spend the rest of the day to acclimate the new surroundings. Alternatively, explore this international metropolis at your own pace.

• Hotels: Four Seasons Hotel Pudong Shanghai, Grand Hyatt Shanghai, Grand Central Hotel Shanghai

Shanghai Xintiandi

Travel with peace of mind in Jade Buddha Temple, a shrine for locals. It is so named because of a valuable seated jade Buddha statue kept inside it.

Witness the superb artificial landscape of Yu Garden, the best-preserved classical garden in Shanghai. Later see elegant traditional Chinese-style architecture in Yuyuan Market – also known as Shanghai’s food paradise.

Then your guide will lead you to the Bund alongside Huangpu River, an iconic symbol of Shanghai, lined with dozens of striking colonial buildings. Later ascend Shanghai Tower, here from Shanghai city’s highest observation deck to savor stunning high-altitude views.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Shanghai Tower

Travel out of busting Shanghai to ancient Nanxun Town, with a history of over 750 years. One of best water towns in East China, Nanxun is perfectly-retained, relatively less-visited and offers a rare chance of relaxation. Enjoy a short boat cruise floating on the calm river and see the riverside residential houses, corridors and stone arch bridges throwing their shadows in the water.

Don’t miss Shanghai’s most eye-popping acrobatics show in the evening (optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Nanxun Water Town

Fly to Yichang in the early morning. Pick up and have a brief sightseeing trip of Yichang.

Visiting Sanyou Cave Cliff will allow you to appreciate ancient Chinese poetry and inscription art inside natural caves. Visit other historical sites in the scenic area before being transferred to Yichang Maoping Wharf, where you will go on aboard your Yangtze cruise ship.

Set out for a memorable voyage.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Yangtze Cruise

After a sound sleep, get refreshed with a morning Taiji lesson on the deck, with cool breeze, fresh air and sunlight. Go ashore to visit Three Gorge Dam, so far the biggest and most cost-effective water conservancy in the world and creating a striking vista.

Be present at the captain’s welcome party.

Optional shore excursion:
Longjinxi Scenic Area – an idyllic place with pristine fishing village and primitive Three Gorge scenery
Quyuan’s Hometown – where you can see many cultural sites and know about Quyuan - Chinese Dragon Boat Festival has been celebrated to memorize Quyuan

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,

Yangtze River Cruise

Keep practicing Taiji to balance to your body and soul. After the ship sail through Wu gorge, take a small boat to penetrate into the long and narrow Shennv Stream (Goddess Stream). Get an up- close view of the massive mountain peaks and cliff-side hanging coffins. Back to the ship and sail through Qutang Gorge.

Enjoy the fabulous onboard performances and activities.

Optional shore excursion:
White Emperor City - a famous cultural site with Ming and Qing temples and architectures, and lots of poetry inscriptions dating to Sui and Tang Dynasty

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,

Yangtze River Cruise

Taiji lesson taught by a master is still on. Alternatively, enjoy the early bird coffee or tea. After having your buffet breakfast, go ashore to visit Shibaozhai Pagoda – US Discovery Channel classified it as one of the Seven Wonders of China and one of the eight bizarre buildings in the world.

Relax on board and attend captain’s farewell party.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,

Shibaozhai Pagoda

Disembark in Chongqing, a vibrant mountain city and a capital of fine dining. Explore riverside Ciqikou Ancient Town, Chongqing’s ancient harbor dating to over 1000 years ago. Walk the flagstone alleyways to discover a dizzying array of traditional street foods, vintage tea houses, traditional Bayu (Chongqing) dwellings and interesting street performances.

Fly to Xian, an enticing city enveloped in history and culture.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
• Hotels: Sofitel Legend Peoples Grand Hotel Xian, Wyndham Grand Xian South

Ciqikou Ancient Town

Visit the three excavation pits of Emperor Qinshihuang’s accompanied tomb, and face to face with thousands of Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, who are outfitted with armors, weapons and chariot.

Get in China’s best-preserved ancient city wall – the Xian Old City Wall. 14km long and 12m high, the wall encloses the ancient imperial city (Xian used to be the Chinese capital for more than a thousand years).

Enjoy the fabulous dance of Tang Dynasty with classical music after having delicious dumplings (optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Terracotta Warriors Museum

Today, visit a Buddhist temple and a mosque.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda is also known as the Da Cien Temple Pagoda, built in 652 to hold Tibetan classics brought back from ancient India. A 64.5-m-tall brick pagoda, it is a masterpiece of Buddhist architecture of Tang dynasty.

The Great Mosque of Xian, situated in Huajue Lane, is an ancient Chinese architecture complex consisting classical Chinese architectural style and Islamic architectural style. It is a finest example of Ming and Qing religious structures.

Delight in the leisure ambience of Muslim Quarter before heading to Beijing on a high speed train ride.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
• Hotels: Beijing Fairmont Hotel, Beijing Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel, Beijing Aman Summer Palace

Big Goose Pagoda

In Beijing, you’ve come to the heart of China and go deeper by crossing Tiananmen Square, world’s largest city square, to mysterious Forbidden City.

Exploring Forbidden City, or known as the Palace Museum, you will witness the grandness and unique beauty of ancient Chinese imperial palace, see many valuable cultural relics, and learn from your knowledgeable guide about China’s turbulent history.

For in the know people, hutong tour on rickshaw is one of the top things to do in Beijing, as you will not only see traditional hutong dwellings, but also you can glimpse local people’s life and discover old Chinese handicrafts still inherited by local artists.

Enjoy a night show of Shaolin Kungfu or Peking Opera (optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Tian'anmen Square

One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Wall of China was mainly built between the 3rd Century BC and the 17th Century for over 2000 years. Today you’ll reach Mutianyu Great Wall on the mountain top by cable car, and overlook the mountain view of Beijing’s outskirts.

When driving back to downtown Beijing, stop by 2008 Beijing Olympic Park, and see its modern, unique designed venues, such as Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube.

Feast on Beijing Roast Duck at dinner time (optional).

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Great Wall

The UNESCO-protected Temple of Heaven is the most important imperial religious site in ancient China, where the emperors worshiped heaven and earth. Furthermore, it is a piece of Chinese architecture art works dating to the 15th Century.

If it happens to be the weekend, your guide will lead you to Panjiayuan Market, full of antiques and a nice place to appreciate traditional Chinese art.

Have an in-depth visit of Summer Palace - the best traditional garden in China, incorporating Wanshou Hill and Kunming Lake. Enjoy a short boat cruise on the lake for relaxation and appreciate its beautiful architectures: a dozen ancient bridges, hillside towers, riverside pavilions…

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,

Temple of Heaven

Enjoy a private transfer from hotel to airport. Your guide will assist you in check-in procedures and walk you to the security pass. China Culture Tour service ends.

• Meals: Breakfast,

Great Wall