Cruising the Yangtze River
15 days - Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo, Yangtze River Cruise, Shanghai
15 days - Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangshuo, Yangtze River Cruise, Shanghai
A true highlight of any visit to China is a cruise on the Yangtze River. This tour features a downstream cruise, together with China's most popular cities. Start in Beijing, the capital city and political and cultural center of the nation. Magnificent sights here include the Forbidden City, enormous Tian'anmen Square, the Summer Palace, and Temple of Heaven. No visit would be complete without an excursion to the Great Wall of China, certainly one of China's greatest wonders. During your stay enjoy a special Peking Duck dinner, the tasty signature dish of Beijing. Next fly to Xi'an, home to one of China's greatest wonders, the Terra Cotta Warriors. Discovered in 1974 by local farmers digging a well, the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang was uncovered, guarded by an amazing terra cotta army of generals, warriors, officials, horses and chariots. Then it's over to scenic Guilin, where the natural beauty of the Karst mountains and meandering Li River are a sight to behold. See the Reed Flute Cave, and enjoy a Li River cruise to Yangshuo, the lovely town filled with wonderful shops and restaurants, and surrounded by the magnificent scenic beauty of the area. Fly to Chongqing, embarkation point for your Yangtze River cruise. Cruise downstream, traversing the famous Three Gorges, and touring the impressive Three Gorges Dam Site. Your ship offers all the amenities expected to make your journey a comfortable and memorable one. We finish in Shanghai, China's vibrant and cosmopolitan port city and financial powerhouse. Visit the popular Bund area to see the many historical buildings that line the banks of the Huangpu River, and tour Yu Garden, the Jade Buddha Temple, and Shanghai Museum. Also see the Xiantiandi area, one of Shanghai's premier restaurant and nightlife areas.
Private tour itinerary
Day 1: Beijing. Arrive at Beijing Capital Airport and transfer by sedan to your hotel in Beijing.
Day 2: Beijing. Full-day private tour of Beijing. Visit Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, and tour the Hutongs (backstreets of Beijing). In the evening enjoy a Peking Duck Dinner. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 3: Beijing. Full-day private excursion to the Great Wall of China. Also visit the Changling (Ming Dynasty) Tomb and "Sacred Way", a seven kilometer road lined with statues of guardian animals and officials. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 4: Beijing. Full-day tour of the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 5: Xi'an. Fly to Xi'an, one of China's oldest cities with over 3100 years of history. In the afternoon tour Big Wild Goose Pagoda, originally built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty. Afterwards transfer to your hotel. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 6: Xi'an. Full-day tour to see the underground tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, guarded by more than seven thousand life-size terracotta warriors and horses. Also visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum. In the evening enjoy a Tang Dynasty Dinner Show. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 7: Guilin. Fly to Guilin, known for it's lovely scenery that has inspired poets and painters throughout the years. This afternoon visit Reed Flute Cave, where amazing stone formations of stalactites and stalagmites take on familiar shapes of people, nature, food, and other familiar objects. Later transfer to your hotel. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 8: Yangshuo/Guilin. Take a cruise on the Li River today. Wind your way through an amazing landscape of karst topography, where beautiful limestone peaks rise from the green plain at odd angles, and daily life happens along the riverbanks. Visit a local market in Yangshuo; a picturesque town of wonderful shops and restaurants, surrounded by karst mountains and bordering the Li River. Return to Guilin in the evening. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 9: Yangtze cruise. Fly to Chongqing, starting point of your 3-night downstream Yangtze River cruise. Time permitting, enjoy lunch and an afternoon tour of Stilwell Museum and Chongqing Zoo, famous for it's giant pandas. Afterwards, transfer to the pier to board your ship, and set sail this evening. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 10: Yangtze cruise. The Yangtze River is the world's third longest river, and Asia's longest. Enjoy the scenery and facilities onboard the ship as you cruise along the river. Embark on a shore excursion to Fengdu, the famous Ghost City located along the banks. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 11: Yangtze cruise. A highlight of any Yangtze River sailing is passing through the Three Gorges area. First traverse Qutang Gorge, the shortest but most spectacular, followed by Wu Gorge, and finally Xiling Gorge. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 12: Shanghai. Visit the Three Gorges Dam site. An engineering marvel, it is the largest dam project and hydro-electric power station in the world. Disembark the ship after lunch and transfer to Yichang Airport for your flight to Shanghai. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 13: Shanghai. Full-day private tour of Shanghai. Visit the Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, and the Xintiandi area. In the evening enjoy an acrobatic show after dinner. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 14: Shanghai. A free day to explore as you wish. (breakfast).
Day 15: Depart Shanghai. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (breakfast).
Meals: breakfast daily (14), twelve lunches, and five dinners.
For pricing, please contact us here.
Day 1: Beijing. Arrive at Beijing Capital Airport and transfer by sedan to your hotel in Beijing.
Day 2: Beijing. Full-day private tour of Beijing. Visit Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, and tour the Hutongs (backstreets of Beijing). In the evening enjoy a Peking Duck Dinner. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 3: Beijing. Full-day private excursion to the Great Wall of China. Also visit the Changling (Ming Dynasty) Tomb and "Sacred Way", a seven kilometer road lined with statues of guardian animals and officials. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 4: Beijing. Full-day tour of the Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 5: Xi'an. Fly to Xi'an, one of China's oldest cities with over 3100 years of history. In the afternoon tour Big Wild Goose Pagoda, originally built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty. Afterwards transfer to your hotel. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 6: Xi'an. Full-day tour to see the underground tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, guarded by more than seven thousand life-size terracotta warriors and horses. Also visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum. In the evening enjoy a Tang Dynasty Dinner Show. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 7: Guilin. Fly to Guilin, known for it's lovely scenery that has inspired poets and painters throughout the years. This afternoon visit Reed Flute Cave, where amazing stone formations of stalactites and stalagmites take on familiar shapes of people, nature, food, and other familiar objects. Later transfer to your hotel. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 8: Yangshuo/Guilin. Take a cruise on the Li River today. Wind your way through an amazing landscape of karst topography, where beautiful limestone peaks rise from the green plain at odd angles, and daily life happens along the riverbanks. Visit a local market in Yangshuo; a picturesque town of wonderful shops and restaurants, surrounded by karst mountains and bordering the Li River. Return to Guilin in the evening. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 9: Yangtze cruise. Fly to Chongqing, starting point of your 3-night downstream Yangtze River cruise. Time permitting, enjoy lunch and an afternoon tour of Stilwell Museum and Chongqing Zoo, famous for it's giant pandas. Afterwards, transfer to the pier to board your ship, and set sail this evening. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 10: Yangtze cruise. The Yangtze River is the world's third longest river, and Asia's longest. Enjoy the scenery and facilities onboard the ship as you cruise along the river. Embark on a shore excursion to Fengdu, the famous Ghost City located along the banks. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 11: Yangtze cruise. A highlight of any Yangtze River sailing is passing through the Three Gorges area. First traverse Qutang Gorge, the shortest but most spectacular, followed by Wu Gorge, and finally Xiling Gorge. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 12: Shanghai. Visit the Three Gorges Dam site. An engineering marvel, it is the largest dam project and hydro-electric power station in the world. Disembark the ship after lunch and transfer to Yichang Airport for your flight to Shanghai. (breakfast, lunch).
Day 13: Shanghai. Full-day private tour of Shanghai. Visit the Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, and the Xintiandi area. In the evening enjoy an acrobatic show after dinner. (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Day 14: Shanghai. A free day to explore as you wish. (breakfast).
Day 15: Depart Shanghai. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (breakfast).
Meals: breakfast daily (14), twelve lunches, and five dinners.
For pricing, please contact us here.
Our deluxe China tours are carefully designed to provide a unique experience in the destination, promote cultural understanding and exchange, flow smoothly from place to place, allow time for relaxation and exploration on your own, provide maximum value, and very importantly to be enjoyable. The itinerary can be modified to suit your tastes, time frame, budget, and special interests.
