Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Beijing
You'll arrive in Beijing this afternoon and head to your hotel to get settled. After checking in, you can rest and prepare for sightseeing that starts tomorrow. This is mainly a travel day to acclimate and catch up on sleep before exploring the city.
- Day 2
Beijing
Start your day at Tian'anmen Square, then move on to the Forbidden City, which is one of the world's largest palace complexes with centuries of history. After grabbing lunch at a local restaurant, you'll head to the Summer Palace to see the imperial gardens. The day finishes with a Peking duck welcome dinner, a classic Beijing experience.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant), Dinner (Peking duck welcome dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Tian'anmen Square
- Explore the Forbidden City
- Visit the Summer Palace
- Peking duck welcome dinner
Landmarks/POIs Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City Summer Palace - Day 3
Beijing
Begin at the Temple of Heaven from the 15th century, then travel north to the Great Wall where you can walk along a well-preserved section and take in the views across the landscape. You'll head back to Beijing in time for free time in the afternoon and evening to do whatever you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Walk along the Great Wall of China
Optional Activities
- Peking Opera performance
- Kung fu show
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Heaven Great Wall of China - Day 4
Beijing to Xi'an
Take a rickshaw through Beijing's hutongs and old alleyways to see how locals live and experience the city's traditional side. You'll grab a noodle lunch at a local spot, then fly to Xi'an this afternoon for the next part of your trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local noodle lunch)
Included Activities
- Rickshaw ride through Beijing's hutongs
- Local noodle lunch
- Day 5
Xi'an
Visit the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, and see the Terracotta Warriors that have guarded this burial site for 2,000 years. Later, check out the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and walk along Xi'an's ancient City Wall, constructed back in 1378.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Qin Shi Huangdi's tomb
- View the Terracotta Warriors
- Visit the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
- Visit Xi'an's ancient City Wall
Optional Activities
- Tang Dynasty dinner show with classical performances
Landmarks/POIs Qin Shi Huangdi's Tomb Terracotta Warriors Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Xi'an Ancient City Wall - Day 6
Xi'an to Chengdu
Take a high-speed train to Chengdu in Sichuan province, famous for its bold food. You'll walk through Jinli Cultural Street with its old buildings from the late Qing dynasty, then stop by People's Park where you can watch locals playing mahjong or practicing tai chi. The evening includes a Sichuan hot pot dinner and a face-changing performance.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Sichuan hot pot dinner)
Included Activities
- High-speed train to Chengdu
- Visit Jinli Cultural Street
- Visit People's Park
- Sichuan hot pot dinner
- Face-changing performance
Landmarks/POIs Jinli Cultural Street People's Park - Day 7
Chengdu
Travel through the mountains to Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve, which is home to over 170 pandas. You'll learn about conservation efforts and how the area works to protect and rehabilitate these animals. The rest of the day and evening are free for you to explore Chengdu on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve
Landmarks/POIs Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve - Day 8
Chengdu to Chongqing
Take a high-speed train to Chongqing, where you'll have lunch at a local restaurant and visit the Three Gorges Museum. You'll get some time to walk around Ciqikou ancient town before boarding your ship for a 3-night cruise through the scenic Three Gorges.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant), Dinner
Included Activities
- High-speed train to Chongqing
- Visit Three Gorges Museum
- Explore Ciqikou ancient town
- Board ship for Three Gorges Yangtze River cruise
Landmarks/POIs Three Gorges Museum Ciqikou Ancient Town - Day 9
Yangtze River Cruise
A shore excursion takes you to Mountain Shuanggui to see the scenery and cliff brush writings from the Song dynasty. Back on your ship, the afternoon is free for you to enjoy onboard activities. Tonight the Captain hosts a welcome party and dinner for all passengers.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Captain's welcome party and dinner)
Included Activities
- Shore excursion to Mountain Shuanggui
- Captain's welcome party
Optional Activities
- Optional shore excursion to Fengdu (Ghost City) to visit mountaintop shrines
Landmarks/POIs Mountain Shuanggui Fengdu - Day 10
Yangtze River Cruise
You can join an optional tai chi lesson on the sun deck this morning or just relax while sailing through the Qutang Gorge, the first and shortest of the three gorges. After lunch, you'll take a boat excursion down Goddess Stream to see the scenery and mysterious hanging wooden coffins.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sail through Qutang Gorge
- Boat excursion down Goddess Stream
Optional Activities
- Tai chi lesson on sun deck
Landmarks/POIs Qutang Gorge Wu Gorge Goddess Stream - Day 11
Yangtze River to Hangzhou
Visit the Three Gorges Dam Site, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. After lunch in Yichang, you'll fly to Hangzhou, one of China's seven ancient capitals, to continue your journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local restaurant in Yichang)
Included Activities
- Visit Three Gorges Dam Site
Landmarks/POIs Three Gorges Dam Site - Day 12
Hangzhou to Shanghai
Start with a sampan cruise on West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit Linyin Temple. You'll see a tea-making demonstration and have lunch at a local tea farm. After that, you'll drive to Shanghai, China's most populous city, arriving in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local tea farm)
Included Activities
- Sampan cruise on West Lake
- Visit Linyin Temple
- Tea-making process demonstration
- Lunch at local tea farm
- Drive to Shanghai
Landmarks/POIs West Lake Linyin Temple - Day 13
Shanghai
Walk along the Bund, Shanghai's historic riverfront with iconic buildings and old trade houses. Visit the Yu Yuan Gardens, which date back to the Ming Dynasty. Your Tour Director will host a special farewell dinner tonight featuring xiaolongbao, Shanghai's famous soup dumplings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner featuring xiaolongbao (soup dumplings with at least 18 intricate folds))
Included Activities
- Stroll along the Bund
- Visit Yu Yuan Gardens
- Farewell dinner with xiaolongbao
Landmarks/POIs The Bund Yu Yuan Gardens - Day 14
Departure from Shanghai
You'll have breakfast this morning before departing Shanghai. Your tour comes to an end here after two weeks exploring China's most important cities and natural sites.
- Meals
- Breakfast
