Best of China & Yangtze River Cruise

Overview

Itinerary at a Glance

• 1 Depart USA
• 2 Beijing
• 3 Beijing
• 4 Beijing
• 5 Beijing
• 6 Beijing & Xi'an
• 7 Xi'an
• 8 Xi'an & Hangzhou
• 9 Hangzhou
• 10 Hangzhou & Shanghai
• 11 Shanghai
• 12 Shanghai
• Optional Excursion: Full day Suzhou tour with lunch (purchased locally), $95
• 13 Shanghai & Yichang
• 14 The Three Gorges Dam & Xiling Gorge
• 15 Shennong Stream, Wu Gorge & Qutang Gorge
• 16 Fengdu Relocated Village
• 17 Depart Chongqing/Arrive USA

Hong Kong Optional Extension

• 17 Chongqing & Hong Kong
• 18 Hong Kong
• 19 Hong Kong
• Optional Excursion: Full Day Lantau Tour with Lunch, $110
• 20 Depart Hong Kong/Arrive USA

Videos

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Depart USA

• Depart the USA on your flight bound for Beijing

Day 2 Beijing

• Upon arrival in Beijing, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel

Regent Beijing

Day 3 Beijing

• Visit the Temple of Heaven
• Special tai chi lesson in the park
• Explore the Summer Palace
• Join your fellow travelers for a Peking Duck dinner and Legend of Kung Fu show

Regent Beijing Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, begin your sightseeing of Beijing with a visit to the Temple of Heaven, a World Heritage Site. In ancient China, the Emperor of China was regarded as the "Son of Heaven," who administered earthly matters on behalf of, and representing, heavenly authority. To be seen showing respect to the source of his authority, in the form of sacrifices to heaven, was extremely important. The temple was built for these ceremonies, and each winter solstice the Emperor and all his retinue would move through the city to encamp within the complex, wearing special robes and abstaining from eating meat while personally praying to heaven for good harvests. The symbolic layout and design of the Temple of Heaven had a profound influence on architecture and planning in the Far East over many centuries. Next, enjoy a special lecture, class, and demonstrations of Chinese shadow-boxing in the park by a professional, English-speaking, licensed tai chi master.

After lunch, enjoy some time at the Summer Palace, the quintessential Chinese garden, a UNESCO World Heritage site ranked among the most noted classical gardens of the world.

Later tonight, enjoy Beijing's most famous (and delicious) culinary treat - Peking Duck. Then join your fellow travelers for the Legend of Kung Fu show, a special Shaolin Kung Fu stage performance that blends music, martial arts, and a moving story.

Day 4 Beijing

• Stop at a jade factory for a demonstration and shopping
• Explore the Great Wall of China
• See the Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs

Regent Beijing Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

Depart after breakfast on a full day included excursion to the Great Wall of China. En route, enjoy a visit to a jade factory with a special presentation and time for shopping.

The Great Wall follows a ridge of barren hills and stretches at least 13,000 miles. Construction of the wall, which spanned more than two thousand years, began between the 7th and 6th century B. C. and continued through the Ming Dynasty. The wall was originally built of stone, wood, grass, and earth, but during the Ming Dynasty, bricks were produced in kilns set up along the wall. The bricks were carried by men, donkeys, mules, and even goats, which had bricks tied to their heads before being driven up a mountain. Enjoy an opportunity to mount the ramparts of this ancient wonder.

Conclude your visit at the Sacred Way, an ancient road linking the Ming Tombs, the burial site of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty. A massive stone archway built in 1540 at the southern end of the Sacred Way, is decorated with designs of clouds, waves, and diving animals.

Day 5 Beijing

• Morning tour of Beijing's Hutongs and a Mongolian style hotpot lunch
• Participate in a group photo at Tiananmen Square
• Marvel at the ancient wooden structures in the Forbidden City

Regent Beijing Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, explore the narrow streets and alleyways of one of Beijing's Hutong neighborhoods on a rickshaw ride. Next, enjoy a special Mongolian style hotpot lunch at a local restaurant. The hotpot tradition was adopted into the local cuisine during the Mongolian conquest in the 13th century and represents a significant cultural appropriation. The guide will dine with the group and explain the elements of this unique meal.

Continue to Tiananmen Square for a complimentary group photo. The square was originally built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty. At 440,000 square meters, Tiananmen Square is the largest open square in the world. It was here that the People's Republic of China was proclaimed by Mao Zedong on October 1, 1949.

Then, visit the Forbidden City, located at the exact center of the ancient city of Beijing, where it served as the imperial palace during the mid-Ming and Qing Dynasties. Known as the Palace Museum today, its extensive grounds cover 720,000 square meters, 800 buildings and more than 8,000 rooms. The Forbidden City is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world and was declared a World Heritage site in 1987.

Day 6 Beijing & Xi'an

• Morning flight to Xi'an
• See the Small Wild Goose Pagoda
• Enjoy a demonstration of Chinese ceramics and furniture
• Visit the city wall gate and explore this city's fortifications

Sofitel Xi'an on Renmin Square Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, transfer to the airport for the flight to Xi'an. After a delicious dumpling lunch, visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, located inside the Jianfu Temple complex. This important landmark is one of the best preserved Tang Dynasty Buddhist temples. En route, there will be a demonstration of Chinese ceramics and ancient furniture as well as time to shop.

Later, visit the city wall gate of Xi'an. Explore these massive fortifications, which represent some of the oldest and best preserved city walls in all of China. Then transfer to your hotel for check-in and remainder of the evening at leisure.

Day 7 Xi'an

• Learn about Chinese culture during a lecture at the Tang Dynasty Art Museum
• Try your hand at Chinese calligraphy
• Visit the famous Terra Cotta Army archaeological site
• Enjoy a Tang Dynasty dinner show

Sofitel Xi'an on Renmin Square Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, participate in a special lecture on Chinese arts and culture at the Tang Dynasty Art Museum. An expert will introduce you to the art of calligraphy and painting and demonstrate how to write Chinese characters on special rice paper. Each participant will practice the Chinese calligraphy with a brush and paper, and take home their artwork as a special souvenir.

Then, board your touring coach and drive to the site of the famous Terra Cotta Army, among the most important archaeological discoveries of modern times. Except for its old City Wall, some 8mi/12km around, Xi'an looks like any other large industrial city. However, it holds an important archaeological treasure: The Qin Army Vault Museum, home to an army of 2,200-year-old terra cotta soldiers unearthed 25 miles east of town. More than 8,000 life-size ceramic soldiers, chariots and horses have been uncovered - only a fraction of the total buried there to protect the tomb of the first Qin emperor. Each soldier is based on an actual person of the time, and all segments of Chinese society are represented.

This evening, join your fellow travelers at a Tang Dynasty dinner show.

Day 8 Xi'an & Hangzhou

• Morning flight to Hangzhou
• Learn about traditional Chinese medicine
• Explore Qinghefang Old Street

Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Hangzhou, one of China’s seven ancient capitals, dating back to the start of the Qin Dynasty in 221 B.C. When Marco Polo passed through this breathtakingly beautiful city in the 13th century, he described it as “the city of heaven.”

This afternoon, visit the Huqingyu Tang Chinese Medicine Museum. The museum was originally a pharmacy, founded by Hu Xueyan and opened in 1878, it is still a working clinic and dispensary today. Learn about the origin of Chinese medicine, its famous doctors and the development of traditional pharmaceutics. Watch the staff demonstrate the traditional pharmaceutical processes and even try your hand at it!

Next, explore the bustling Qinghefang Old Street, the epitome of historic Hangzhou as well, as a shopper's paradise! This pedestrian street has been considered the most prosperous commercial street in Hangzhou since ancient times. Here, you'll see hundred-year old shops, folk artists, and small stalls. This is a great place to find hand-crafted stone teapots, the famous local Longjin (Dragon Well) green tea, black paper and sandalwood hand fans, and perhaps even a chance at spotting the shop owners creating some of their wares! Most of the buildings that remain from yesteryear, date to the Ming and Qing Dynasty and are sure to provide the perfect photo-op for lovers of architecture. Qinghefang Old Street isn't just for shoppers, it is also a great place to taste traditional Hangzhou cuisine and other Chinese treats. Continue to your hotel for check-in and the evening at leisure.

Day 9 Hangzhou

• Experience the beauty of West Lake on a walking tour and boat ride
• Learn about the art of green tea
• Enjoy a guided tour of the former residence of Hu Xueyan

Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, head out for a walking tour around the picturesque West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the symbol of Hangzhou. You will feel like you have stepped into a painting as you take in the sights of the tree-lined banks, pagodas perched atop rolling hills, boats lazily drifting across the lake, half-moon bridges, and more. Next, enjoy a leisurely boat ride on the lake and enjoy one of the most beautiful sights in China from a different perspective.

Next you'll discover why Hangzhou is considered the Tea Capital of China as you continue on to the green tea hills and visit a working tea plantation. A local expert will give an introduction to Chinese green tea and demonstrate how they carefully pick the leaves and brew them.

Later, enjoy a guided tour of the former residence of Hu Xueyan, a notable businessman and high-level official in the imperial court. Built in 1872 using a combination of traditional Chinese and Western architecture, the mansion is a wonderful example of a traditional Chinese garden-style house. Each room is decorated with antique furniture, giving you the feeling of stepping back in time as you walk through the house. As you move through the house, your guide will tell you about the interesting life of Hu Xueyan and about his intricate house made up of over 20 buildings, towers, bridges, and gardens.

Day 10 Hangzhou & Shanghai

• Board the bullet train to Shanghai
• Balance of the day at leisure

Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, transfer to the train station and board your bullet train bound for Shanghai. Upon arrival, be transferred to your hotel for check-in. The balance of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Day 11 Shanghai

• Wander the Yu Garden & Zhongshan Park
• View some of Shanghai's iconic sites
• Visit the Shanghai Museum of ancient Chinese art
• Enjoy an exciting acrobatic show

Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, depart on a full day tour including some of Shanghai's most fascinating places. Start at the Yu Garden, a classical Chinese garden with over 30 pavilions linked by a maze of corridors and bridges over ponds located in the center of the Old Town. Continue on to view the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Next, proceed to the Bund, also called Zhongshan Road, a famous waterfront that has been regarded as the symbol of Shanghai for hundreds of years.

Later, visit the Shanghai Museum of ancient Chinese art, which possesses a collection of 120,000 precious works. Its rich and high-quality collection of ancient Chinese bronze, ceramics, paintings, and calligraphy is known throughout the world. See Zhongshan Park, named in honor of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The picturesque and peaceful public park is a relaxing retreat for many residents of Shanghai. It is the perfect place to see people practicing tai chi and the visit is a great opportunity to interact with the locals. You'll also visit the Xintiandi area, famous for its pedestrian shopping streets and trendy restaurants.

Tonight, enjoy an exciting acrobatic show.

Day 12 Shanghai

• Full day at leisure in Shanghai, or optional excursion to Suzhou

Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Breakfast

Optional Excursion: Full day Suzhou tour with lunch (purchased locally), $95

Travel by motor coach to Suzhou, China's well-known "city of gardens". On this full day excursion including lunch, you will visit the Master of Nets Garden, explore a local market, take a ride by rickshaw for a tour of water town, visit a silk factory and embark on a boat ride through Suzhou's lovely canals. Return by motor coach to Shanghai later this evening.

Day 13 Shanghai & Yichang

• Morning flight to Yichang
• Tour of Yichang with lunch
• Board your deluxe Yangtze River cruise ship

Victoria Anna Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

This morning, transfer to the airport for a short flight to Yichang. Upon arrival, transfer to the city and enjoy a panoramic tour. After lunch, transfer to the pier to board your cruise ship, the Victoria Anna, the Yangtze's largest deluxe river cruise. Settle into your superior cabin with outside balcony and enjoy the upgraded executive-level services and amenities that are included.

Day 14 The Three Gorges Dam & Xiling Gorge

• See the impressive Three Gorges Dam at Sandouping
• Sail through the Xiling Gorge

Victoria Anna Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Before setting sail for the Xiling Gorge, the first of the three famous gorges you'll visit during your cruise, you first have an opportunity to learn about the huge dam project built on the Yangtze River. The Three Gorges Dam at Sandouping is one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken by mankind, and has been a dream for generations. The Chinese Government finally gave its approval to launch the project in 1992, some seventy years after Sun Yat-sen first proposed the idea, and was completed in 2006, and became fully operational in 2011. The dam produces electricity, increases the river's shipping capacity, and reduces the potential for floods downstream by providing flood storage space. Currently, the dam has generated enough electricity to cover more than one third of its cost.

Return to your river cruiser and begin your sail through the Xiling Gorge, longest and historically the most turbulent of the Yangtze gorges. Before the passage was made safe in the 1950s, the whole surface of the water was a swirling mass of whirlpools sucking the froth they created into their centers. Xiling comprises seven small gorges and two of the fiercest rapids in the stretch of the Yangtze between Chongqing and Yichang.

Day 15 Shennong Stream, Wu Gorge & Qutang Gorge

• Take an excursion through the Shennong Stream
• Sail to Wu Gorge, the most beautiful section of the Yangtze
• Continue to Qutang Gorge and the Kui Gate

Victoria Anna Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

After breakfast, take an excursion through the Shennong Stream. With crystal clear water, this tributary of the Yangtze River flows swiftly from north to south through deep gorges. Board a ferry boat for a relaxing ride upstream. Then, switch into smaller wooden "pea-pod boats" for an exciting, high speed adventure along this newly opened unspoiled river.

Return to your river cruiser and continue sailing to Wu Gorge, the most beautiful section of the Yangtze River, flanked by high peaks that are often capped by fog or clouds. The steep slopes of the gorge are green with trees and bushes but navigators from times past knew that the lovely scenery hid dangers, including whirlpools, quicksand and rapidly varying currents. Continue sailing to Qutang Gorge, known for its sheer and spectacular precipices and uniquely beautiful natural formations from every direction. Two mountains, the Red Passage Mountain to the north and the White Salt Mountain to the south, form the Kui Gate, a giant passage through which the tumultuous Yangtze bursts in an exciting rush of rolling and roaring water.

Day 16 Fengdu Relocated Village

• Explore the Fengdu Relocated Village
• Visit a local farmer's family

Victoria Anna Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary

Today you'll explore the Fengdu Relocated Village. During the drive to the relocated village, appreciate the spectacular landscapes of the Yangtze River. Stop and visit a local farmer's family and learn how more than 1.4 million people left their homes and settled in the relocation village.  Before returning to the ship, spend some time wandering the town and exploring the local shops and markets.

Depending on weather conditions, Shibaozhai may be substituted: Shibaozhai, with its impressive 9-story wooden pagoda, is appropriately names "The Pearl of the Yangtze." Shibaozhai is a steep rocky hill which resembles a colossal jade seal on the horizon.

Day 17 Depart Chongqing/Arrive USA

• Disembark in Chongqing
• Transfer to the airport for your return flight via Beijing
• Arrive in the USA later today

Breakfast

Hong Kong Optional Extension

Day 17 Chongqing & Hong Kong

• Disembark in Chongqing
• Fly from Chongqing to Hong Kong

New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

After disembarkation in Chongqing, transfer to the airport for your flight to cosmopolitan Hong Kong. You'll be escorted to your luxurious hotel located in the bustling heart of Kowloon, near the scenic harbor and the "Golden Mile," Hong Kong's famous shopping district.

Day 18 Hong Kong

• Morning tour of Hong Kong Island with peak tram ride
• Afternoon at leisure for independent sightseeing

New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

Your morning tour of Hong Kong Island features a ride to the top of Victoria Peak for a magnificent city and harbor view. Descend and continue to Repulse Bay and Aberdeen fishing village, a community of some 600 colorful floating homes. Conclude your tour with some time for shopping. The afternoon is yours at leisure for independent sightseeing in the city.

Tonight, we recommend an optional dinner cruise (purchased locally) aboard the Hong Kong Bauinia, where you'll enjoy a fabulous dinner, live music, and stunning nighttime views of the glistening harbor.

Day 19 Hong Kong

• Full day at leisure, or join an optional excursion

New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary

Enjoy a full day at leisure or take in the sights and sounds of Hong Kong on your own or shop to your heart's content. Alternatively, take advantage of an optional excursion!

Optional Excursion: Full Day Lantau Tour with Lunch, $110

Visit Hong Kong's largest island, Lantau, lying at the mouth of the Pearl River. Depart your hotel this morning on a scenic drive to your first stop, the viewing platform of the Tsing Ma Bridge, the world's longest road/rail suspension bridge before continuing across it to Lantau Island. Spend time in Tai O Village to enjoy a short boat ride through this fishing village, and then explore its patchwork of old streets, small shops, shrines, and temples. Continue to the exquisitely built Po Lin Monastery where you will view the majestic bronze Buddha, and explore its museum. After lunch, take in the sweeping views of the lush terrains of Lantau from the Ngong Ping cable car, a 5.7 km skyrail. Later, return to your hotel in Hong Kong.

Note: This is a regularly-scheduled, English-speaking bus tour and may have pick-up service from various hotels.

Day 20 Depart Hong Kong/Arrive USA

• Transfer to the airport for your return flight via Beijing
• Arrive in the USA later today

Breakfast

Hotels & Ship

Hotels

Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake

Deluxe

The Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake Hotel is located along the graceful banks of the city's famed West Lake, close to the central business district.

More information

New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel

Deluxe

The New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel is conveniently located in the vibrant business and shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui, east of Kowloon, on the Victoria Harbor waterfront. A Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station is a quick 5 minute walk from the hotel lobby, allowing easy access to the city’s most popular attractions. 

More information

In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.

Cruise Ship

Victoria Anna

The Victoria Anna has once again raised the bar for luxury cruising on the Yangtze River. It is one of the larger ships on the Yangtze, with a capacity of 268 passengers.

More information

Reviews & Photos

Trip Details

• What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
• Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Travel visas are required for this package. Please review the visa & entry requirements.
• Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
• Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
• Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
• What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
• What should I know about China? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
• What should I know about Hong Kong? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.

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