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17 days from $4,999 per person
This 17 day small group escorted cruise and tour with 16 guests or less features 5-star hotels and the best ship in China, 34 meals, in-depth sightseeing and shore excursions, port charges, luggage handling, all on-tour transportation and 5 internal flights.
This sweeping voyage takes you deep into the ancient history of China past, the captivating spirit of China modern, and through the magnificent scenery at the heart of this amazing land. Enriching days of expertly guided sightseeing come to the perfect close each evening... The luxury hotels and intimate 5-star ship are the very best in China!
Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, Yichang, Suzhou, Shanghai, Guilin and Hong Kong, China
Engaging Discoveries
Touch Antiquity in Xian, a rare opportunity to examine and handle priceless ancient artifacts.
- Come face to face with the elusive Panda and stroll the ancient streets of Ciqikou.
- Immerse in the ethereal, mist-enshrouded landscapes of Guilin as you raft down the tranquil Yulong River
- Marvel at the timeless beauty of China’s ‘Garden City’ on our full-day excursion to Suzhou, including a cruise on the ancient Grand Canal.
- 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Day 1 - Welcome to Beijing!
Check in to the luxurious Peninsula Hotel ideally situated in the heart of the historic capital close to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.
Day 2 - Full day sightseeing in the capital
Enriching full-day sightseeing begins in Tiananmen Square, one of the largest and grandest public plazas in the world. Then join your expert guide to follow in the footsteps of Ming Dynasty Emperors… Your exploration through the vast Forbidden City reveals an impressive collection of palaces, courtyards and pavilions. Later, rickshaws will transport you along the ancient streets and narrow lanes of a hutong, a city-center enclave where ancient courtyard homes bear witness to a fast-disappearing way of life. This evening, you and your fellow guests will sit down to a traditional Peking Duck Banquet.
Meals B,L,D
Day 3 - Great Wall & Ming Tombs Excursion
This morning you’ll journey into the rugged hills outside of the capital to the Great Wall . A scenic cable car ride ascends the steep hillside so you can walk at your own pace atop this ancient defensive structure, thousands of miles long. Later, you’ll stroll along the statue-lined Sacred Way to visit Changling Tomb, one of the greatest of the celebrated Ming Tombs . Back in the city, marvel at the iconic venues of the 2008 Summer Olympics, including the distinctive Bird’s Nest Stadium and the futuristic Water Cube where American swimmers won Gold!
Meals B,L
Day 4 - The Summer Palace and onward to Xian
After breakfast, explore the palaces, pavilions and landscaped grounds of the magnificent Summer Palace, the retreat of Chinese royalty. Then fly to Xian where’ll be escorted to the 5-star Shangri-La Hotel. This evening’s Tang Dynasty Dinner Show delights with fine cuisine and lively cultural entertainment inspired by China’s rich past.
Meals B,D
Day 5 - Touch Antiquity in the ancient capital
This morning you’ll visit the excavation site of China’s greatest archaeological discovery, where thousands of life-like terra cotta soldiers were buried 2,000 years ago to guard the tomb of an Emperor. A guided visit through the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum reveals the colorful history of the site and its accidental discovery in 1974. Then join your guide and museum staff at the Shaanxi History Museum where our exclusive Touch Antiquity experience promises a rare hands-on encounter with China’s long-ago past. You’ll have the opportunity to handle and examine ancient artifacts thousands of years old as museum curators reveal the function and history of these excavated pieces.
Meals B,L
Day 6 - Welcome aboard the luxurious MS Yangzi Explorer
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Chongqing. Upon arrival, visit the Panda Hall for an unforgettable encounter with these elusive creatures. Next up is the ancient town of Ciqikou, located just 9 miles from the bustling haert of Chongqing. Here you’ll walk along ancient stone streets graced with finely preserved homes and shops, many dating from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Later this afternoon, you’ll be escorted to the river pier to board your 5-star river ship. Settle in to your spacious, balcony stateroom before dinner is served in the elegant dining room. Later this evening, a documentary film about the enormous Three Gorges Dam will be shown in the Tang Theater.
Meals B,L,D
Day 7 - Ashore in ancient Fengdu
Early risers can join our onboard master for an invigorating Tai Chi class before breakfast. Later, enriching morning lectures and demonstrations include tea appreciation and traditional Chinese arts and crafts. After lunch, step ashore to explore the famous ‘Ghost City’ of Fengdu where numerous temples, some dating to the 14th century, feature fantastic carvings of spirits and creatures from Chinese mythology.
Meals B,L,D
Day 8 - Into the Three Gorges!
This morning you cruise through Qutang Gorge, the narrowest and some say most spectacular of the famous Three Gorges. Continue into Wu Gorge, famed for its towering, sheer-sided cliffs. Later, you step aboard smaller boats to explore the magnificent scenery of a Yangtze River tributary. In the afternoon, your ship enters Xiling Gorge, the longest of the Three Gorges. Back onboard, try your hand at Chinese painting and calligraphy before this evening’s festive Farewell Dinner. Meals B,L,D
Day 9 - Disembark and travel to Shanghai
Visit the awe-inspiring Three Gorges Dam, the largest on Earth. Tour this engineering marvel and learn about its far-reaching impact on the life and geography of the region. Step off ship in Yichang and fly to Shanghai where you’ll be escorted to the inviting Peninsula Hotel, the city’s newest luxury landmark.
Meals B,L
Day 10 - Sightseeing in Shanghai!
Today’s in-depth city tour begins along the historic Bund, Shanghai’s graceful waterfront boulevard. Then marvel at the futuristic skyscrapers of the bustling Pudong District before exploring the tranquil walkways, bridges and pavilions of Yu Yuan Garden, laid out centuries ago by a Ming Dynasty official as a retreat for his aging parents. Then tour the highly respected Shanghai Museum, renowned for its collection of Chinese art and artifacts spanning thousands of years.
Meals B,L
Day 11 - An excursion to Suzhou
Set along the ancient Grand Canal, Suzhou is famed for its tranquility, scenic beauty, and World Heritage gardens. This morning you’ll travel to this revered city to visit one of the finest; the Garden of the Master of Nets is a landscaped jewel of pavilions, waterways, and meticulous plantings. Your in-depth sightseeing includes the ancient Panmen Gate and a leisurely cruise on the Grand Canal, a delightful way to admire the traditional homes and graceful bridges which give Suzhou such charm. Return to Shanghai for another restful overnight at the Peninsula Hotel.
Meals B,L
Day 12 - Step into a landscape painting
Today you’ll fly to Guilin, surrounded by ethereal landscapes that have inspired artists and poets for centuries. Upon arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted and escorted to the deluxe Sheraton Hotel.
Meals B,D
Day 13 - Rafting down the Yulong
The dramatic limestone mountains of Guilin, often mist-enshrouded, have been revered by the Chinese for centuries. This morning’s specially-arranged Engaging Discovery begins along the tranquil banks of the Yulong River, an especially scenic tributary of the more widely known Li River. Starting by the picturesque bridge near Moon Hill, you’ll be welcomed aboard bamboo rafts for a leisurely-guided excursion down the Yulong. This gentle yet thrilling float trip will transport you deep into some of the most beautiful landscapes of the region, where emerald green paddies give way to the steep forested slopes of Guilin’s iconic peaks. Then join your guide to explore the colorful and always lively Yangshuo Bazaar. Today’s lunch features delicious regional fare.
Meals B,L
Day 14 - Onward to Hong Kong
Enjoy a leisurely morning before your afternoon visit to the Tea Research Institute. Learn about this important Chinese
tradition and commodity, see how it’s grown and in season, participate in the harvesting of tea leaves. Later you’ll be escorted to the airport for your flight to Hong Kong. Upon arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to the Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel, a luxury landmark with an enviable harbor-side setting.
Meals B,L
Day 15 - Be a Hong Kong Insider
Personally designed by our Asia experts here and in Hong Kong, our exclusive tour takes you beyond the typical sights to experience facets of Hong Kong that few visitors ever glimpse! With your private guide at your side, you’ll engage the city like a native – exploring by subway, double-decker tram and taxi. Travel to Bird Street and the Flower Market, local institutions thronged daily by city residents. You’ll ride up the world’s longest covered outdoor escalator to visit the antique shops of Hollywood Road and step aboard the Star Ferry for an unforgettable cruise across Victoria Harbor. Visit well-known landmarks like Man Mo Temple and stroll in a traditional Chinese garden tucked away in a quiet suburb. Sit down to a Dim Sum lunch at City Hall, a venue popular with busy professionals, and then explore historic Wanchai, now an exclusive city-center residential district where you’ll visit the simple but chic apartment of a typical expat.
Meals B,L
Day 16 - Hong Kong at your leisure
Enjoy this day to explore, shop, dine and relax as you wish. Your hotel’s heart-of-it-all location makes it easy to enjoy the best of Hong Kong at your own pace.
Meals B
Day 17 - Farewell to China!
Your tour ends this morning after breakfast.
Meals B
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